HAPPY THANKSGIVING, and much success in your Holiday Sales.
GLAA Nomination Committee: We need volunteers to serve on our Nomination Committee. According to our by-laws, in order to have an election, this committee is necessary, so please consider stepping up. The committee simply accepts the nomination letters. We will then email them to the members with the ballot that determines the winners. If interested in this simple Committee post, please contact Chris Rogers here. There are three seats available, one vacant and two up for re-election. Any member interested in running for the Board must submit their letter of interest and bio to the Nomination Committee.
GLAA Membership Dues: 2020 memberships expire December 31. Renewal memberships are due by January 1, 2020. New members may Join GLAA HERE. Current members can Renew GLAA Membership HERE, and member login is required. Our website is secured with an SSL Certificate (https://) as well as secured by McAfee for online password and payment safety. (Keep reading for the alternative of mailing your registration.)
Now is a great time to join GLAA! A fantastic value at $50 a year, membership benefits include an updated website where you can advertise your farm, alpacas, store or events, and search for other member farms, alpacas or products near you. In addition, your OpenHerd site is synced to the GLAA website for even more marketing opportunities. GLAA also annually sponsors a nationally-known alpaca expert to present important alpaca topics. Past speakers have included the renowned Alpaca Veterinarian Dr. Norm Evans, Fleece Expert and Judge Cheryl Gehly, and Product and Marketing Professional Wini Labreque. Check out the upcoming events section for the 2020 Winter Seminar! Every presenter has received excellent reviews and always offered fresh and exciting content for learning something new in the ever-changing alpaca industry.
For those of you who are not computer savvy, we will accept your membership registration via snail mail. Please download and complete the GLAA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION.
UPCOMING EVENTS
REGISTER NOW!
2020 GLAA WINTER SEMINAR
January 25, 2020
Our Speaker:
Since 1996, Dr. Shauna Brummet and Jeff Skinner have operated Hobby Horse Farm Alpacas producing high-quality Huacaya alpacas, proven scientifically and in the show ring. They have also bred and shown champion Samoyed dogs since 1988. While serving the alpaca industry as a board member and Chief Scientist of the Registry (2004 – 2012), Shauna led the development and implementation of the ARI (now AOA) EPD program – our industry’s global leading genetic analysis tool. Shauna also serves on the Alpaca Research Foundation board of directors (1998 – 2004 and 2012- present).
Dr. Brummet is President & CEO of BioHio Research Park, College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University and is Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Animal Sciences. Dr. Brummet has broad experience in life science and ag bioscience research, product development, start-up and global companies, open innovation and technology commercialization, and technology-based economic development.
Dr. Brummet holds a BS in Microbiology from Purdue, an MS in Analytical Chemistry and PhD in biochemistry from The University of Akron, with molecular biology post-doctoral work at OSU. Dr. Brummet currently serves on the governance board of I-Corps@Ohio, the board of directors of BioOhio – the Ohio life sciences industry advocacy organization, LARAD, Inc. and Nanicula, Inc. boards of directors.
The seminar is again being held at Lecture Hall 212 in the Animal Science Building at UW-Madison at 1675 Observatory Drive, same location as two years ago. Registration for the seminar is live here.
Continental breakfast provided by Panera will be available at 8 a.m. Box lunches will be provided by Panera. A selection of lunch combinations will be available on the registration form.
The topic selected for the seminar is Making Sense of EPDs and How to Use EPDs to Improve Your Herd
Seminar cost is $55 for PAID 2020 GLAA members, $60 for PAID 2020 members from neighboring affiliates and $110 for non-members. After January 16, the fees are $65 for GLAA members, $70 for affiliate members and $120 for non-members.
Host Hotel – Best Western Plus Inntower at 2424 University Ave. Room cost is $120, and the group code to receive this price is 1188-1. Phone number for hotel is 608-233-8778, Option #4. Registration cutoff date is DECEMBER 26, 2019. Shuttle is available and will leave at 7:45 am for the seminar. Otherwise, there is free parking at Lot #36 at 1645 Observatory Drive, near the lecture hall. The hotel is a 6-minute walk to the seminar.
WISCONSIN ALPACA & FIBER FEST
APRIL 25-26, 2020
NEW FOR 2020! Two separate shows in one weekend! The Great Midwest Alpaca Festival and the Wisconsin Alpaca Fiber Fest. A fantastic double show plus the Walking Fleece Show!
NEW LOCATION! Alliant Energy Center, New Holland Pavilion 1, in beautiful Madison, Wisconsin! Home to some of the largest fiber guilds in the country!
Announcing our 2020 Judges:
Wisconsin Alpaca & Fiber Fest Halter – Amanda VandenBosch
Wisconsin Alpaca & Fiber Fest Walking Fleece – Cheryl Gehly
Wisconsin Alpaca & Fiber Fest Spin-Off – Andrea Candlish-Nissan
The Great Midwest Alpaca Festival Halter – Ken Hibbits
Register for the Spin-Off online starting November 1!!
Spin-off entry deadline is January 20, 2020.
Click Here for Complete Information and Registration
Mail spin-off entries to Chris Rogers by January 30.
Chris Rogers
Whisper Meadows Alpacas
4451 Whisper Lane
De Pere, WI 5411
All Spin-off entries must include:
(1) 2 oz. fiber sample in gallon zip-lock, WEIGH CAREFULLY
(2) Copy of alpaca’s ARI certificate
(3) Color photo of alpaca (3 ½ X 5 or 4 X 6)
(4) Spin-off Entry Tag (from online registration site link above)
(5) Check for $35 per entry to Wisconsin Alpaca & Fiber Fest (plus $8 for mailing back entries, if requested)