Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: AOBA Shennanigans/subsidiary
John,
It has been a very long time that I recall that we have agreed on
anything at all, but you have said more in your last post, far better
than I have, what many of use feel. Thank you so much for saying what I
wish I had said.
Best wishes to you and your family, John, and I do wish the best of
health and prosperity to all in the New Year.
I do wish I had the discretionary funds to donate to all of the causes
I feel strongly about. Honestly, I do not. I, and many others (even
AOBA members) do not have more money than required to pay the monthly
bills and feed our alpacas, let alone "donate" to AOBA to gain
benefactor status or the ability to donate $25K females to the AOBA
auction (which I gather is what got AOBA into trouble in the first
place?). most of us have to punch a time clock every day, and I daresay
most of us DO NOT have 6 figure gross incomes.
Heather
On Dec 29, 2007, at 9:11 PM, gatewayfarm wrote:
> --- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
> >
> > 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..
>
> 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-
> Alpaca, a natural elegance.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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posted by Chaddo at 9:26 PM
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