Number 41 A Publication of The Finnsheep Breeders Association Spring & Summer, 1999

Short Tales

Chief Shepherd's Message

Annual Meeting and Sale

Springfield, IL is the scene for our Annual Sale this year. 'Banner Sales' is conducting the sale on behalf of the FBA. Currently there are ten entries in the sale which is being held in conjunction with a number of other breed sales, such as Shropshire and Ramboulliet. Details of the sale are included separately. Accommodation has been block booked at the Super 8 Lodge (East), 1330 S. Dirksen Pkway. Ph. (217)528-8889 or 800/800-8000. Please make you own room booking as soon as possible.

The FBA Annual General Meeting is being held at the Super 8 Lodge Springfield, IL over the period of the sale (June, 18-19 ). The agenda is included in this edition of Short Tales. It is anticipated the number of members attending the AGM will be very small. However, this does not preclude you from sending your comments or concerns with agenda items to the secretary for inclusion in discussion at the meeting. The more participation by members the better the FBA will be in the long run.

Turning to some of the items to be discussed at the meeting. Of serious concern is our financial situation. In my last message I appealed to members who have not paid the yearly activity and promotional fee for their support. One very generous breeder has anonymously contributed $1,000 to the production of Short Tales. Another has supported the web-page for the last six months. The contributions are very much appreciated and on behalf of the FBA I thank the breeders very much for the support. Our financial situation continues to be grave. A substantial overhaul of fees and revenue gathering will be necessary to rectify the situation. This will be discussed in detail at the AGM and while you may not be able to attend the meeting your ideas are most welcome. Please write our Secretary with any suggestions.

I want to make you aware that none of the Board members including the officers are receiving any remuneration for the time and effort they are contributing to running the FBA. Likewise Harry and Grace who put together Short Tales are not being paid for their time. How long all this good will can last I don't know; free rides are normally very short. Once again I appeal to those of you who have not contributed the yearly activity and promotional fee for your support.

A questionnaire was sent to members in the last Short Tales with the aim of getting members ideas on the future direction of the FBA. To date the number of questionnaires returned is less than ten. Those of you who have not returned the questionnaire, please take time to jot down a few thoughts and return it to the Secretary. If you do not have ideas on all the questions that is fine but we are after any ideas you may have on any of the questions.

I hope you all have noticed Finnsheep being promoted in numerous ways and most notably on the front cover of The Shepherd magazine. This is due to the tremendous energy of our secretary, Elizabeth Luke. She has taken time to gather photos and write articles for our benefit. If you have photos and articles that would be good publicity for the Finnsheep breed and the FBA please send them to Elizabeth.

You may not be aware that the last newsletter update on the FBA web-page has color photos with captions of the Finnish rams that provided the semen for the importation program. The page can be viewed at: www.rockbridge.net/finnsheepusa/finnsheep8.htm

If you are wondering why our web-page has not got a simple domain name such as www.finnsheep.net it is because domains cost money which we have not got at the moment. But if you feel inclined to contribute towards a domain name, please send you contribution to the treasurer.

The breed standard has been discussed at length at various meetings and is on the agenda for our meeting in June. Many breeders have concerns with the standard but before we change it we must make sure we are changing the standard for justifiable reasons and not just on someone's whim. A breed standard discussion paper is included in this edition of Short Tales with the aim of giving breeders something to think about and hopefully contribute to any change of the breed standard. I hope you give it some thought and provide feed back.

A resolution to adopt the Scrapie program has been raised at previous meetings and will be discussed at the next meeting under the 'code of animal health ethics'. I have written previously about the importance of animal health and perhaps now is the time for the FBA to seriously consider a code of animal health ethics which could be incorporated as by-laws of the FBA. If you have any thoughts on this subject please write the Secretary for inclusion in discussions at the meeting.

I hope all members have had successful lambings and I look forward to seeing you at the Annual General Meeting.