Tag: BLU Treasurer’s Report

Your 2018 advertising dollars at work

Posted on by uarct in News

As the 2018 sheep show and fiber festival season draws to a close, BLU would like to remind our members of the advertising dollars spent promoting the breed and the breeders during the year.
Since 3 of BLU’s stated goals are promotion related:
* To engage in the education and promotion of Bluefaced Leicester sheep,
*To provide interested people with information about Bluefaced Leicester sheep and their products,
*To promote interest in the Bluefaced Leicester breed of sheep wherever possible in order to attract new breeders for the propagation and well-being of the breed.
the board feels strongly that a large portion of the budget each year should be spent on promotion and advertizing.

Here is a list of the shows and festivals where advertising dollars were spent in 2018. These events have traditionally been attended by BLU members, either showing sheep or BFL fiber, or as vendors in fiber shows.
*Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival – $350.00 This includes support for the working herding dog demonstration given by long time breeder, Nancy Starkey, using BFLs. New this year was a sponsorship for a special award for the winning BFL fleece in the wool competition.
*Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival – $85.00
*Northeastern Youth Sheep Show sponsorship of $50.00

Because the 2018 BFL national show will be held during the Black Sheep Gathering in Oregon, there were special ads place in magazines to promote the event.
*Banner Magazine – $211.50
*Black Sheep Gathering – complimentary ad valued at $99.00

Besides promoting BFLs at shows, there are also ads placed in the major sheep magazines – The Shepherd and Sheep! both have paid listings in the breed section of each magazine, at a total cost of $80.00 per year. The Banner magazine provides space for notes from breed associations at no cost – a great benefit! And because BFLs were the featured breed in the September 2018 issue of The Shepherd, we also placed a color ad in that issue for $105.00.

Each year, Spin-Off Magazine publishes a natural fiber directory insert which lists fiber sources for its subscribers.  This year, BLU placed an ad in the breed association section, which runs $150.00.

Because we also have members in Canada, an ad was placed in Sheep Canada for $392.14

And because our breed display was in need of updating, a new banner was designed and ordered at a cost of $111.99.

The board would like to invite any member who attends a show or festival with their BFL sheep or fiber to submit a request to advertise at that show. We’d also like to remind you that BLU has banners available to borrow if you’d like to promote the breed registry at events. Besides banners, there are also promotional materials available to print here on the website. (click on “about BLU” and then on “Promotional Materials”)

Summary of April 26th, 2018 meeting

Posted on by uarct in Association Info

The BLU board met by teleconference meeting on April 26th at 6PM EDT. All board members were in attendance, as well the as Sect/Treas.
The minutes of the January 17th meeting were read and approved. The current balance in the treasury is $10,378.63. There are several ads to be placed in magazines and festival catalogs which will be paid soon.

The committee chairs have been busy working on new projects for the association. The genetics taskforce has been working on a video promoting the data collection system, NSIP, which is an industry wide program to collect data which will allow breeders to improve the commercially important genetics in their flocks and compare to other flocks using EBVs. BLU will make this video available on the website, and encourages its members to consider using this data system to make breeding decisions in their own flocks. With enough interest from members, there is a possibility of offering financial incentives to breeders to help offset the costs incurred, as all BFL breeders will benefit from the improved productivity and ability to select breeding stock based on desired traits.

The bylaws and standards committee has developed an addendum to the breed standard in which BLU recommends following veterinarian and industry standards on tail docking length. This will be on the website, sent out to new breeders, and made available to judges at shows, along with the judging scorecard.

The youth committee has suggested a scholarship program for our youth members, and will be working on a proposal for the next meeting. An online questionnaire, geared toward getting to know our youth and their needs, is being prepared.

The media committee is also hard at work. There will be an issue in the Shepherd Magazine this fall featuring BFLs. Several breeders have volunteered to write articles on different uses of the BFL. Also, the logo that we currently use will be updated so that we have a larger file for printing. The board decided to keep the style similar, but will need a new BFL head for it. For that, the media committee will be holding a photo contest. It is hoped that the 7 life members, all of whom were founding members of BLU, will agree to judge the contest.
Other projects being worked on include a video on how to grow and prepare a BFL fleece for competition, and another video on how to fit a BFL for showing.

The national show committee reported that final plans are being made for the show in June.

Board meeting notes from 1-17-18 meeting

Posted on by uarct in Association Info

The BLU board met for its organizational teleconference meeting on January 17th at 6PM EST. All board members were in attendance, including newly elected VP Meredith Myers-Null of MD as well as board members Katie Sullivan of VT and Shellie Ross of FL. President Margaret VanCamp welcomed them to the board, and also recognized outgoing members Joan Chapin, Carol Densmore, and Heather Landin for their time and service to BLU.

Sect/Treas Lisa Rodenfels gave the treasurer’s report. The current balance is $10,117.43, with a net gain of $716.27 for the year 2017.
In the secretary’s report, Lisa told the board that she she is working on a postcard to remind members to pay their 2018 dues. There are currently 106 members, up from 98 in 2016. There were 383 registrations and 235 transfers made in 2017.

Next were the committee reports. President Margaret VanCamp appointed Kat Bierkens to the Youth Committee Chair. She will begin working on an online survey for our youth to answer, since the mailed survey did not net results.
Shellie Ross is the new Bylaws/Standards chair. She will work on a draft to improve the current breed standards to include line drawings showing examples of good and poor conformation, as well as showing desirable breed specific characteristics. This draft will be presented to the board at a later time.
Katie Sullivan is the new Media chairperson. She will work on providing articles and photos to media to better promote our breed.
Margaret will take over as the Genetics Taskforce chairperson.

The National Show Committee chair, Karen Szewc, began a discussion on plans and ideas for the show during the Black Sheep Gathering on June 29th. There are 2 hotels on the fair grounds, but they do not accept blocked rooms, so it is first come, first served. The festival committee will allow us to have whatever classes we’d like. They provide ribbons, and Karen is arranging for small trophies for all class winners. Would like to get a list of the entries to the show in order to have a program printed. There will be gift bags for all exhibitors, and a banquet is planned. There will be an auction at the banquet, and it will be open to all people interested in BFLs, not just BLU members. There has been an ad running in the Black Sheep Newsletter for the past 4 quarters, and a full page ad is planned for the spring edition. She would like to donate a basket to the BSG with BFL fiber in it. There will be classes in the wool contest for BFL fleeces. Lisa will keep the website and FB page up to date with information as it becomes available. A sponsorship level was set at $50.

New business included the upcoming Maryland Sheep & Wool festival. A yearling ewe is needed for the Youth Conservation Program to be donated during the festival. Meredith Myers-Null will provide a ewe for the breed display. The board voted to add a $50 cash award to the top placing BFL fleece there.
It was also decided to have a contest for the most new memberships sponsored by existing members. BLU has always recommended buying a membership for youth members and breeding stock buyers, and would like to encourage BLU members to do this for their customers.

Summary of January 19th 2017 board meeting

Posted on by uarct in Association Info

The BLU board met for its organizational meeting on January 19th at 7PM EST. Board members in attendance included newly elected member Kat Bierkens of Oregon. In the absence of President Margaret VanCamp, due to illness, VP Joan Chapin welcomed Kat to the board, and also recognized outgoing board member Bill O’Donnell for his time and service to BLU.

Set/Treas Lisa Rodenfels gave the treasurer’s report. The current balance is $9,401.16, with a net gain of $1332.46 for the year 2016. She provided the board with a detailed printout showing each entry for income and expense throughout the year.
In the secretary’s report, Lisa told the board that she is working on a postcard to remind members to pay their 2017 dues. It will also mention the site of the 2018 National Show, the new credit card payment option for registrations, and that we now have a new BFL chat group on Facebook. There are currently 98 paid members, up from 82 at the end of 2015.

Next were the committee reports
The chair for the 2018 National Show, Karen Szewc, told the board that she has confirmed that the Black Sheep Gathering will be thrilled to host our show. They have stated that we can have whatever classes we would like. Besides the usual, the board suggested adding best headed ram and ewe, and also having aged ram and aged ewe classes. A special class to feature our youth exhibitors was also discussed. Karen will work on that plan, and will be looking for BLU members who would like to sponsor special awards for some of the classes.

The Genetics Taskforce chair, Heather Landin reported on the likelihood of importing semen from the UK now due to the long quarantine requirements and repeated bloodtesting. A possible answer to this problem is the convince USDA to accept PRC testing semen for viruses, bacteria, etc., which is already an accepted practice in cattle. She asks that interested members continue to call to push USDA to consider this option.

Youth chair Joan Chapin provided the board with a draft copy of the questionnaire she would like to send out to our current youth members. The board felt it was a good idea, and the list of questions were comprehensive. Joan would like to use the project to showcase our youth, and get to know them better, while still protecting their privacy.

A life membership was awarded founding member Becky Utecht of MN.

A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for February 1st at 7PM EST.

Summary of board meeting held January 6, 2016

Posted on by uarct in Association Info

The BLU board met for its organizational meeting on January 6th at 7PM EST. All board members were in attendance, including newly elected VP Joan Chapin of IN and board member Carol Densmore of MI. President Margaret VanCamp welcomed them to the board, and also recognized outgoing members Jared Lloyd and Cindy Cieciwa for their time and service to BLU.

Set/Treas Lisa Rodenfels gave the treasurer’s report. The current balance is $8068.70, with a net loss of $409.54 for the year 2015. Lisa went over some of the major reasons for this, which were some larger one time expenses such as computer financial programs and an ad in Spinoff Magazine.
In the secretary’s report, Lisa told the board that she has updated the membership list on the website with an alphabetic and by state list. It is also available to print out to use as a handout at events. She is working on a postcard to remind members to pay their 2016 dues. There are currently 82 members, of which 15 have paid their 2016 dues so far

Next were the committee reports. President Margaret VanCamp appointed Joan Chapin to the Youth Committee Chair. Still to be filled are the Bylaws/Standards, and Media chairs.
The Genetics Taskforce chair, Heather Landinr reported that although the border between the UK and the US has been opened, the new protocols that have been agreed upon between USDA and the EU make it difficult and expensive for UK BFL breeders to collect semen that passes these new rules. Now the entire flock must be bloodtested and all test negative on 2 separate occasions before a ram can be sent in for semen collection. A possible answer to this problem is the convince USDA to accept PRC testing semen for viruses, bacteria, etc., which is already an accepted practice in cattle.

The National Show Committee chair, Margaret VanCamp began a discussion on plans and ideas for the show at Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on May 7 & 8. Joan Chapin volunteered to serve on the committee along with Margaret and Hilary Chapin. Carol Densmore and Sharon O’Donnell with organize the fiber show events. Heather Landin will help with calling hotels and restaurants for a room block and reservations for the banquet. Margaret and Hilary will concentrate on hospitality and trophies. Lisa will work on getting sponsors for awards, and keep the website and FB page up to date with information as it becomes available. A sponsorship was set at $50. Karen Szewc has some items for a display, which she will ship to Margaret. She will also make T-shirts for the event.
Lisa reported that she had designed and placed an ad in the MS&W festival catalog to showcase the national show.
Margaret reported that she has promised 40-60 BFLs in the show. There will be classes for both white and natural colored sheep.

A life membership was awarded founding member Judith Colvin of MT. Congratulations, Judy!

The next scheduled meeting of the board is set for April. A national show committee meeting will be February 6th at 12 EST.