ILR Board of Directors Minutes

ILR BOARD MINUTES

ILR Board of Directors Conference
September 11, 2002
12:06 PM EDT

Meeting was called to order at 12:06 EDT by President Sally Rucker.

Present: Art Kennel, Jack Moore, Sally Rucker, Sally Taylor and Jan Wassink, Registrar. Karen Baum joined the call at 12:15 EDT.

Motion: Jack Moore. Approve minutes of August 28, 2002, teleconference meeting. Second, Sally Rucker. 4 Ayes.

The October teleconference call will be held Wednesday, October 16, 2002, at 12 Noon EST.

1. Registrar’s Report: Jan Wassink presented the Registrar’s Report which included the financial report and update on the building. Jan has arranged for Darrel Anderson from the National Pedigreed Livestock Council to talk with the BOD during the next conference call.

2. Financial Committee Report: there was discussion of the proposed membership dues. The deadline for the postmark of ballots is September 15, 2002. Results will be announced in a press release as soon as the ballots have been counted by the CPA.

3. Strategic Planning Committee: Art Kennel is preparing a memo and will ask for input from the BOD. He suggests we set aside time from each teleconference call to begin the process of working toward a long-term program. The BOD will also allocate a block of time for this purpose at the face-to-face meeting in May 2003.

4. Public Education Committee: There was discussion regarding updating address and contact numbers for the former ILA brochures. Alan Schmautz is working on a problem with web searches on American On Line. Members using AOL as their internet service provider should contact AOL to inform them of the problem.

5. Government Relations Committee: The ILR/BOD is committed to supporting the USAHA seat on the Executive Committee and will continue to pay the annual dues required for USAHA. ILR will continue to accept donations from the llama community to support representation at USAHA. Art Kennel suggests we establish an advisory group to assist the ILR BOD. There will be a press release to explain the Government Relations Operating Fund and the Government Relations Endowment Fund and how members can participate. At the present time $1550.00 has been donated by ILR members and regional associations to the Government Relations Operations Fund. The money from this fund is earmarked for reimbursing Bob Frost’s expenses to attend the 2002 USAHA Annual Meeting. Motion: Sally Taylor. In keeping with our policy to support ILR’s seat on the Executive Committee at USAHA the BOD instructed Jan Wassink to transfer $1000.00 as its 2002 donation to the Government Relations Operating Fund. Of this donation $600.00 will pay the USAHA dues for 2003. Second. Sally Rucker. 5 Ayes.

ILReport: Jack Moore discussed topics, article assignments and deadlines for the next ILReport.

6. DNA Report: For some time the ILR BOD has been investigating alternative methods for DNA testing. The BOD realizes the added expense to pay a veterinarian for drawing blood for DNA testing and for overnight shipping of blood samples might reasons some owners do not routinely send samples for DNA analysis on their registered animals. In addition, the UC Davis requirement that all samples have a bar code added an extra step since owners must now contact the ILR office to request the bar code before they can submit a blood sample. Over the past year, Jan Wassink contacted several labs that provide DNA analysis. In making comparison of these labs Jan felt that Maxxam Labs in Canada offered the best service. Maxxam currently provides DNA service to several purebred horse registries as well as registries of other species. In talks with Maxxam Lab, Jan learned that it is possible and practical to obtain DNA results from a single drop of blood. That drop of blood can be collected on a special card that can be then mailed to the lab in a regular envelope. This prospect alone is an exciting step forward. There are many owners who will feel confident in obtaining a drop or two of blood onto the DNA card without the necessity of a special visit by their veterinarian. Even if the owner is not comfortable with this process, obtaining a drop or two of blood should be easier for less experienced veterinarians than procuring a tube of blood. The cost of mailing will be greatly reduced. Since these cards can be stored without refrigeration or freezing, storage will be simplified. Cards could be stored at the ILR office until testing is requested by the llama owner. The cost of Maxxam services to the ILR members who DNA their llamas will be unchanged. The ILR BOD is very excited about being able to offer this much improved and streamlined option to our membership who DNA their llamas. Motion: Sally Rucker. Jan Wassink should send the proposed Maxxam contract with revisions suggested by the ILR attorney, Joe Fonfara, to Maxxam for their consideration. Second: Karen Baum. 5 Ayes.

7. Nominations Committee: Jan will contact members to serve on the Nominations Committee for the 2002 election.

The ILR BOD thanks the members and regional organizations for their donations to the Government Relations Operating Fund. To date there are donations in the amount of $3550.00. Individual donations were received from Glenn Pfefferkorn, John and Ainsley Walden, Karen Conyngham, Charles and Carol King and Lynda and Eric Sontag. Llamas of Minnesota donated $360.00, South Central Llama Association donated $500.00 and ILR donated $2000.00.

Meeting adjourned at 2:45 PM, EDT.

Respectfully submitted,

Sally Taylor
Secretary