IN THIS ISSUE: pgs 6-14 pgs 24-37 pgs 38-42 SEE YOU AT: - ariLIST
IN THIS ISSUE: pgs 6-14 pgs 24-37 pgs 38-42 SEE YOU AT: - ariLIST
IN THIS ISSUE: pgs 6-14 pgs 24-37 pgs 38-42 SEE YOU AT: - ariLIST
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
AOBA Education<br />
Committee Update<br />
The Education Committee supports AOBA by providing<br />
quality education and professional development opportunities<br />
to its members. We are dedicated to improving<br />
members’ knowledge and understanding of the health and<br />
husbandry needs of the alpaca, of the market for alpacas and<br />
alpaca products, and of recent advances in alpaca science<br />
and the alpaca industry. We believe education is the key to<br />
the success of the individual alpaca breeder and to the longterm<br />
well-being of our industry.<br />
Members<br />
■ Ian Prokop, Chair – Alpaca Vista, Suris@alpacavista.com<br />
■ Wayne Aldrich – Shepherd’s Purse Alpacas, LLC,<br />
info@shepherdspursealpacas.com<br />
■ Laura Berry – Buffalo River Alpacas,<br />
berry@buffaloriveralpaca.com<br />
■ Deb Hill – Cloud Dancer Alpacas,<br />
clouddancer@infomagic.net<br />
■ Jim Perry – Ambler’s Alpacas, ambalpaca@aol.com<br />
■ Carol Roberts – Alpacas del Sol, alpacadsol@cs.com<br />
2003 ACTIVITY<br />
During 2003, the Education Committee implemented<br />
a prototype of Carol Roberts’ concept of a web-based<br />
“Speakers’ Links,” and the concept was approved by the<br />
AOBA Board. When implemented on AOBA’s Members’<br />
website later in 2004, this will give Affiliates access to a<br />
nationwide list of speakers and topics for their local events.<br />
Deb Hill’s project for an AOBA Alpaca Production<br />
Handbook was also approved and is in development. This<br />
Handbook is being modeled after the Sheep Handbook,<br />
produced by the American Sheep Industry Association.<br />
Laura Berry’s web- and print-based survey of AOBA conference<br />
attendees is producing a wealth of information on how<br />
to provide better service and information to our members.<br />
Wayne Aldrich, Jim Perry, and the rest of the Committee<br />
are involved year-round with identifying and contacting<br />
speakers and workshop instructors for the National<br />
Conferences. During the conferences, Education Committee<br />
members provide on-site assistance with the education<br />
sessions and workshops.<br />
PO<strong>IN</strong>T OF CONTACT<br />
Ian Prokop<br />
360-779-1846<br />
suris@alpacavista.com<br />
6<br />
Visit the Education Page at<br />
www.alpacaowners.com<br />
for the most up-to-date<br />
information on the Education<br />
Committee’s activities.<br />
JTCC Completes Training,<br />
Certification Program<br />
It is my honor to be able to extend a huge “Thank You” to<br />
our Judge’s Training and Certification Committee for a job<br />
extremely well done.<br />
Each year, the Judges Training and Certification<br />
Committee (JTCC) is responsible for planning and implementing<br />
a training clinic for future AOBA judges. Applicants<br />
are required to file a résumé of experience to be accepted into<br />
the three year program, then attend an instructional clinic<br />
where they are taught to judge fleece, halter, and performance<br />
categories. They are not only tested on their practical,<br />
hands-on ability and oral reasoning skills, but must also<br />
acquire a predetermined passing score on a lengthy written<br />
exam. Having been involved in three of our past clinics, it’s<br />
not an easy week for apprentices. It’s a very demanding<br />
clinic with much information to be learned in a short period<br />
of time.<br />
The membership has every reason to be extremely proud<br />
of the current JTCC members. They tackled the December<br />
2003 Judge’s Training Clinic with professionalism and teaching<br />
skills that were no less than remarkable in every way.<br />
A facility was rented, speakers and teachers were hired, and<br />
a group of new apprentice judges was certified with very<br />
little lead time to prepare for the clinic.<br />
Gail Campbell and Cheryl Gehly, thank you for your<br />
organizational skills and leadership for this clinic. The hours<br />
you gave AOBA toward the success of this clinic are deeply<br />
and sincerely appreciated. Your fellow committee members,<br />
Rick Stumpf, Bill Coleman, Dana Brier, and Gordon<br />
Anderson combined to formulate a winning team attitude<br />
and spirit of success. We are very grateful for your dedication<br />
and long hours of team effort.<br />
Cameron Holt and Amanda VandenBosch, Judge Advisors<br />
for this committee, are always there to help as well. Both<br />
Cameron and Amanda continue to share their knowledge,<br />
talents, skills, and leadership abilities and give abundant<br />
hours to guide the future of our Judge’s Training Program.<br />
We feel so fortunate to have their input and guidance<br />
throughout this process.<br />
On behalf of the AOBA Board of Directors, thank you.<br />
All of you did a fabulous job for the continued success and<br />
future of AOBA. We are grateful for your dedication.<br />
Amy McCroskie<br />
President and Director<br />
Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association
Change language