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Saturday, December 29, 2007

[AlpacaTalk] Re: AOBA Shennanigans/subsidiary

--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com, libby@... wrote:
>
> Hello Heather,
>
> I hear your anger at people who give to AOBA and whom you think
somehow
> benefit more.
>
> Benefactors pay for what they get and way above that. They don't
get
> "special free priviliges...they pay dearly for them.

Libby,

You consistently fail to acknowledge the perspective of folks that
comment negatively about these issues.

If it is a donation, freely given, then the benefits should be in the
altruistic act itself, would you not agree?

If they are benefits that are dearly paid for, then let's call it for
what it is. It is not a donation, or a gift. It is a fee.

Now, if a small breeder with 10 breeding females "donates" one, they
have given away 10% of their herd.

On the other hand, if a breeder with 1000 breeding females "donates"
one, they have given away 1/10th of one percent.

The dollar value may be the same, but the difference in sacrifice (or
generosity, as it were) is huge.

If someone that makes $20k a year in farm income "gives" at
benefactor level, that represents 25% of their income.

On the other hand, if someone who makes $1 million a year in farm
income gives at the benefactor level, it represents about 1/2 of one
percent of their income.

Again, the dollar value may be equivalent, but the difference in
sacrifice is huge - so huge that the word "sacrifice" probably
doesn't even apply to the latter example.

You must remember, there are any number of people in this industry
that financed their entry with their retirements, their homes, their
inheritances, etc. and simply do not have large amounts of disposable
income, or in some cases even a positive cash flow.

While we can debate the wisdom of their decisions, that does nothing
to change the landscape.

When a "large" breeder speaks of "sacrifice" or "generosity" to those
less fortunate, it is seldom well received. Rather, it comes across
with an air of arrogance. "Let them eat cake..."

That subscription and member list that is "dearly paid for" by one,
is completely out of reach for another. The failure to acknowledge
similar inequities cost Marie Antionette her head!!

Inequity is a sad reality in our world, and in our industry. It
seems to me that we, as an industry, would do well to recognize this,
and where possible to maintain as much equity as we can. It is where
we fail in this regard that we see the most complaining.

The AOBA Marketing program has been an area that has only exacerbated
perceptions of inequity. I say this without judgment as to the value
of the program itself. The implementation of the program, especially
in recent years, has created tiers of membership beyond those
invisioned in the AOBA Bylaws. And, again, when folks are lectured
about what a bargain it represents, it often comes across as arrogant
and condescending (regardless of how "right" the words might be).

I and my family will end this year having donated far more to
charities than what it would have cost to have been an AOBA
benefactor. Heifer Intl, YWAM, our church and several other
organizations will probably acknowledge our donations with a post
card. We will not receive statutes, plaques, magazine subscriptions,
marketing or any other tangible benefit for our donations. Beyond
this post, no one except those charities that we support (and the
IRS) will know anything about it.

That, Libby, reflects the values I was raised with. Charity was done
quietly, and without expectation of return or recognition. Anything
less was considered to cheapen the act of giving.

Be that as it may, I would encourage you to acknowledge the
perspectives of folks such as Heather (who Lord knows I seldom see
eye to eye with). It is unbecoming not to.

John Merrell
Gateway Farm Alpacas
http://www.gateway-alpacas.com
Alpaca, a natural elegance.

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