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■ Alpaca Association of Western Washington (AAWW)
The new year brings a couple of new members to
our board, which now consists of:
Catherine Skinner, President
John Ellis, Vice President
April Works, Treasurer
Elsa Leyden, Secretary
Randy Brealey, Director
We all express a sincere ‘thank you’ to Wendy
Paton and Barbara Banks for their guidance and
contributions during their terms in office.
As you receive this issue, we are making final
preparations for the sixth edition of Alpacapalooza,
AAWW’s annual show that has played a
significant role in the growth of the alpaca industry
in our corner of the country. Display and stall
spaces fill almost immediately when our registration
packets go out, and there has been increasing
pressure to expand the show.
A larger and more cohesive facility has been
found at the Western Washington Fairgrounds in
Puyallup (we might consider giving you a priority
booking for space if you can pronounce it properly!),
but site remodeling will delay our move until
■ California Alpaca Breeders Association (CALPACA)
With the successful joint AlpacaFest West Halter
and Fleece Show behind us, it’s time to launch
into plans for the second Monterey Pronk, April
23-25. With Pebble Beach only a stone’s throw
away or should be a golf swing away or maybe
even a pronk away… the Monterey/Carmel area
provides a superb location. Many members are
also involved with the Fiber on the Foot in Red
Bluff, May 1.
Many thanks to two extremely capable BOD
members who are moving out of state. We truly
appreciate Stan Ault and Brian Wick’s contributions
to CALPACA.
Upcoming quarterly meetings are Feb. 21 at
Dave & Brenda Barboza’s Rancho Nuevo
Comienzo, Valley Springs, and May 8 at Dr. Tom
AOBA: 856-439-1076, AOBA@ahint.com ■ ARI: 703-610-9022, bjstanger@alpacaregistry.net
2006. In the meantime, we continue at our current
facility in Monroe (no extra credit for that one).
As Barbara Banks wrote in the last issue of this
newsletter, a concerted effort has been made to
expand the volunteer base within our organization
and it is rewarding to see its success.
Volunteering the first time is the most difficult,
but after that it comes much more easily, and
whether on starts because of incentives or peer
pressure or a desire to learn more or to feel a part
of the group (or even because of a little guilt), the
participation is a major reward in itself when the
show is completed.
So get involved. You will enjoy it; you will feel
good about having done it; you will get to know
more people better; and you will help prevent
burning out those who keep taking on far more
than their share. And to all those who have done
far more than your share to date, we owe a great
debt of gratitude for the event and the organization
that we have.
Enjoy your alpacas and the great people these
wonderful creatures will bring into your lives!
Contact: Randy Brealey, randy@TheAlpaca-
Place.com or (425) 413-3900.
& Robyn Houts, Southern Cross Farm, Gilroy.
Following that, the next meetings are August 14th
and November 13th. For more detailed information,
see our web site at: www.calpaca.org
At the November 2003 meeting, Mike Scott,
Dale Davis, and Wendy MacBain provided inspiring
event updates. For education, Ruth Elvestad’s
seminar on fiber preparation was very helpful to
the many new alpaca owners who will experience
their first shearing day this spring. Robyn Houts,
who had judged the Fleece Show at AlpacaFest
West, commented on aspects of the show, as well
as desirable qualities in fleece.
Contact: Robyn Houts, Robyn@southerncrossfarm.com
or (408) 848-2893.
Affiliate News
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