[AlpacaTalk] Re: Fwd: Thanks for all your sharing
John,
Thank you, Thank you
Toni Kester
--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
>
> That long, rambling dissertation is a perfect example of the damage
> that is done when people "go silent".
>
> It doesn't go away, it takes on a life of its own. It becomes
> cancerous, malignant, and it grows to take in more and more
innocent
> people.
>
> A shame, and largely avoidable.
>
> I don't believe that there is a dark conspiracy led in an
oreganized
> manner by some group of dour dons sipping cognac and smoking cigars
> in a walnut panneled room somehwere.
>
> I don't believe that malevolent forces are at work trying to take
> over the alpaca industry for themselves.
>
> It is far simpler than that, and based entirely in human nature, at
> least from my perspective.
>
> If 5-10% of the US herd had originated on my farm, either through
> births or breedings, then I would expect that my farm would appear
in
> the names of many, many alpacas on many farms across the country.
> That doesn't make all those owners part of a conspiracy. (Where do
I
> come up with 5-10%? Assuming 1,000 sold offspring a year for 10
> years, that would be 10% of a national herd of 100,000).
>
> If I had that big of a stake in an entire industry, you can be darn
> sure I would be doing all I could to make the industry a success -
a
> success that molded to my vision and my model. That isn't greed,
> "it's just good business." (Which I seem to remember was a line in
> the last Pirates of the Carribean movie.)
>
> That there are ways to "make" money by giving money away should be
no
> surprise, and there is nothing wrong with it.
>
> That influence comes with prestige and wealth should not be a shock
> to anyone...
>
> Of course, envy and suspicion should not be a shock either...
>
> All human nature.
>
> Who are we to judge who is a sycophant, who is made, and who is
> making it on their own?
>
> I really do believe that this industry is mostly full of well
> intentioned people doing the best they can. That said, it is my
> opinion that AOBA marketing has created a monster. It attempts to
> support an unsustainable model by throwing more and more money at
it.
>
> It results in people buying into the industry that can ill afford
> to. (I actually saw an alpaca add the other day that began with a
> statement to the effect of, "You deserve to be a millionaire.
>
> Alpacas are not an investment, they are not a lifestyle and they
are
> seldom huggable. They are livestock, that need to be fed and
watered
> and cleaned up after. They keep you home on vacation, keep you up
> late at night, have a multitude of ways of causing unexpected
> expenses, and refuse to sell themselves. They break legs, get sick
> and even die - none of which is reflected in the current marketing.
>
> They are the source of endless angst, unbounded joy - all bundled
up
> as a little fuzzball with a long neck and legs.
>
> They are the Capitalists playground, and are subject to all of
> capitalisms dreams AND excesses.
>
> As long as people judge their success in this industry by how much
> they make, or how much they can write off, or any other dollar
based
> criteria, we will have only greater and greater problems.
>
> Jan Davis is one of the most timeless, respectful women I have had
> the privilege to have known. Does she get crabby? No doubt (sorry
> Jan, but it's true!) Does she conspire, cheat, steal or talk
> negatively about others? I have never seen it!
>
> But hey, I do the website for the International Alpaca Odyssey, so
I
> am probably a part of this conspiracy too, right? Oh, and I am a
> sitting Director, so surely I am!
>
> I will debate the direction of AOBA and our industry with anyone.
> The Forstners may be worth far more than I can dream of, but I know
> Jerry puts his pants on the same way I do every morning. He may
not
> always take a cotton to my perspectives and opinions, but I have a
> right to RESPECTFULLY press my point - even though it may at times
be
> at his expense. He MAY be arrogant, vindictive and used to getting
> his way, but I doubt he is malevolent or evil, as he is often cast -
> just another man doing the best he can with what he has, for better
> or for worse.
>
> Libby reminds me of a broody hen. She protects her clutch, even to
> her own demise. I long ago realized the futility of logic, since
> anything that has the apearance of an attack on those she cares
about
> precipitates an amazingly strong emotional reaction to defend -
> rather like that hen pecking at my hand when I snag her eggs.
> Doesn't do any good to talk nicely to the hen, and even less good
to
> try to convince her that giving me the eggs is the logical thing to
> do.
>
> Do these "rich folk" manipulate the rest of us? Hardly. They
fight
> amongst themselves just as much as the rest of us do. They even
hold
> grudges - sometimes for years. Some of those grudges are
> legendary!! Forstner/Stachowski
> them all here?
>
> You know what I think? I think we are all pioneers. We have the
> potential to create a new primary agricultural industry here in the
> United States. It is in our grasp people! But to make it happen
we
> have to work together.
>
> It's not about who can sell the most animals at top dollar, who
wins
> the most ribbons, who writes the most books or does the most
> seminars, which mini-mill will succeed, which will fail, who will
> overspend themselves or who will get rich.
>
> It's about the fiber and the farm. It's about sustainable
> agriculture. It's about small farms with hard working families
> raising kids away from gangs and drugs making enough money off of
> their little piece of paradise to survive and thrive, and maybe to
> even have something to pass on to their grandchildren.
>
> And none of that is going to happen as long as people look upon
each
> other with suspicion and distrust, and spread hate and bile in the
> background.
>
> Nor will it happen if our leadership thinks they know the better
way
> and actively work to shut off dissenting opinions (that is, unless
> its me ;-)).
>
> It will happen if we start listening and acknowledging different
> perspectives. It will happen with communication and respect. It
> will happen with an engaged and active community of owners and
> breeders and producers.
>
> It will happen when we recognize that our treasure is not in what
we
> can make from our alpacas, but what we can make out of our alpacas.
>
> It will happen when we judge our success not with our wallet, but
> with our will, our desire, and our success.
>
> Enough soap box time for me.
>
> John Merrell
> Gateway Farm Alpacas
> http://www.gateway-
> Alpaca, a natural elegance...
>
> Oh, by the way, if AOBA won't use you that want to volunteer, I
have
> it by a credible source that AFCNA would very much like to use your
> energy and skills.
>
>
> --- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
> wrote:
> >
> > In my current unfortunate position as Chief Question Asker, I
> received
> > this email, and not from Ana nor from John. This is someone, I'll
> be
> > quite honest, that I had never heard of before. But that makes no
> > difference, I'm sure most people never would have heard of me if
> I'd
> > sit down and shut up and just assume the position and take
> everything
> > that's given to me, or offered at exorbitant pricetags... I hope
> more
> > people will have the courage to speak up and tell what they know.
> >
> > To me, dear Libby, this is not about you or your family. This is
> about
> > AOBA and that WE, the members, should be calling the shots, and
WE
> > should have services that are affordable to all members, not just
> those
> > who have a spare $1500 or $5000 every year, in addition to $795
for
> the
> > FRG plus $5k for I love alpacas, plus whatever the hell the fees
> are
> > for a 1/3 page ad in the other pubs... I know, I really do get
it,
> this
> > is pocket change to you. But to many of us, this is a major
portion
> of
> > our yearly gross income. It's about fairness. I really don't care
> how
> > <certain people with names and identities deleted> have got AOBA
> > controlled, it's about US. The rest of us. We deserve a chance
too.
> >
> > Heather
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Heather:
> > >
> > > You ARE on the right trail! Follow the money and games, and you
> will
> > > find yourself at Jerry and Libby's doorstep!!!
> > >
> > > Perhaps it has been such a long 2 years, and most folks forgot
> (or are
> > > too new) but AOBA resides in a fat lease in Jerry's building,
in
> the
> > > state where they know how to play the game like this new corp.
> without
> > > articles of incorporation and by-laws! And, since it has now
come
> into
> > > the open that there may not be ANY by-laws or articles of
> > > incorporation, AND MONIES have been moved out of AOBA the next
> HUGE
> > > question becomes "WHO CONTROLS THE MONEY?" I find Ana and Floyd
> to be
> > > intelligent people, none of all this anguish puts a darned
cent
> in
> > > their pockets, but does outline their knowledge and concern.
YES,
> they
> > > originally made friends, or so they thought with the Magical
> Family,
> > > BUT when they would not play it their way, Magical simply
pulled
> the
> > > rug they had extended to them out from under them. This left
them
> with
> > > little business, made them look bad, and broke! But still, all
of
> this
> > > will not put a cent in their pockets, only put on the table
what
> has
> > > been played with under the table, by those who are power
mongers!
> But,
> > > they also got them booted from AOBA, so they had zero
visibility
> in
> > > the industry as a whole!
> > >
> > > Perhaps it has been so long since the move most have forgotten
> about
> > > the pallets of documents that shipped NOT to the new office but
> wound
> > > up in storage in a warehouse controlled by a BOD member, and
how
> many
> > > BOD persons are also ILA members own MFI alpacas? Follow the
> money; it
> > > will lead you to the truth!
> > >
> > > I do see how Libby finds ANA to be the problem, but no one
hears
> > > Libby recanting how greedy the judge found them in their
lawsuit
> > > against Land of Lakes, and how little he awarded them, in light
> of the
> > > 85 million they filed suit for. But that should not make Libby
> and
> > > Jerry greedy, it's ok that that amount would have jacked up the
> cost
> > > of all other products that the company makes. It will also be
OK
> and
> > > JUST FINE when no other companies want to label anything for
> alpacas,
> > > because they now see us as a sue happy group of greed driven
> idiots,
> > > so why take on the liability and do the R&D to make a darned
> thing for
> > > us. BTW, yes it would help the industry if a large med
> manufacturer
> > > labeled a product for us, and we pulled our heads out and co-
> opted
> > > advertising nationally for it, as then folks would see our
> animals in
> > > the ads! DUH! Attached to a well-known pet brand, gosh, what a
> > > concept!
> > >
> > > There are puppets and puppeteers in this game and there are
many
> who
> > > have been legally threatened should they go to far with this!!!
> Steve
> > > Hull is perhaps the cheapest to buy puppet in the whole game
but
> that
> > > is how a guy, who with his education only owns ½ interest in a
> very
> > > small herd winds up in the national team plays errand boy for
> those
> > > with the money, and NO you can not recount ballots Steve
> destroyed
> > > them his oversight RIGHT! He did not know any better, great
> one!!!
> > > After all, it was the Jerry's team that put him in the news and
> it is
> > > an annual stop on his seminar list and he is on the BOD, and
ILA
> where
> > > his ok is needed when expected and Erin, check out her herdsire
> row,
> > > too much MFI to be clean and ILA as well and Amy, same news!
And
> when
> > > you do these searches you will be amazed they all have the same
> > > pattern! PROOF: All this is on alpaca site posts of the past so
> should
> > > be in archive, UNLESS Rick cleaned those out for them!! I also
> see Jan
> > > Davis has had to put her 2 cents in, while she was a funding
> source
> > > for the interveners, has her hands in every political
situation,
> > > backs the competing shows of THE INTERNATIONAL ALPACA SHOWS, is
> or has
> > > been a ILA member and who's herd is registered under the DAVIS
> > > RESIDUAL TRUST, Wish we all had so much in trust you had to
form
> a
> > > residual trust to carry the overload! OK, my bad. But since
> everyone
> > > gets a turn at bad why not ALL OF US USE THAT EXCUSE!!!
> > >
> > > Yes, I am very sure Libby would like this discussion to end,
it's
> > > getting too touchy, and she's out of quick answers and Amy, her
> best
> > > friend who is also a member of ILA, and owns MFI animals, just
> had a
> > > brief moment of oversight on this whole thing RIGHT, does it
not
> seem
> > > some or most of this should not have been up to a review
> committee?
> > > And before becoming a done deal, been put on the ballot? Oh,
then
> they
> > > would have had to get more of their friends to put their names
on
> > > these decisions that are in our best interests? (Are we taking
> turns
> > > with our oversights, and whoops moments? And that makes it OK?)
> > >
> > > Let's look at the nominating committee? Yes, Rick Horn is part
of
> > > that, and it's no surprise! Why do they come up with so few for
> our
> > > consideration? One or two names you know, and a few you have no
> idea
> > > why they are running AOBA has a form that always went out with
> your
> > > renewal on the reverse side it asked WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED
and
> it
> > > listed committees, volunteering why are these names NEVER
> contacted?
> > > We have filled them in, and so have many other farms and not
one
> ever
> > > got contacted to participate! Why are we not drawing talent
from
> the
> > > vast membership? BECAUSE they cannot control newcomers or
> EXPERIENCED
> > > BREEDERS WHO IS NOT IN THEIR CLICK? Unless they choose them
from
> their
> > > group of their circle! This same game applies to ARI also, how
> else
> > > could THEY control both!
> > >
> > > Why and HOW did a committee (WHO ARE THESE THIEVES) agree to
take
> away
> > > the purchase rights of the database with addresses and emails,
> which
> > > had always been available to every member and only, give it to
> > > benefactors? This is a change in status and this keeps the
little
> guy
> > > from ever doing a mailing or their own blast to the membership
> unless
> > > you are a benefactor or PAY MORE to have them send out a blast
> that
> > > may be incomplete since you have no way to check where all it
did
> or
> > > did not get sent?
> > >
> > > There are many more examples of these dirty games and they all
> have to
> > > do with pulling the wool over the new kids face
and keeping the
> > > competition to the few no less!!! No different then when they
> changed
> > > that each farm could enter three animals per class from the
> original
> > > two, we certainly do not think it was the small breeders wish,
> but
> > > Greg Mecklem got it done, and Linda Barry Walker left the
> committee,
> > > and the industry has not had another day of her time or talent!
> There
> > > is a gal who has been down every road, and found a safe
crossing.
> When
> > > it got to where she would be advantaged over her clients (The
> small
> > > guys), she no longer had any reason to play with them. Rather
> then add
> > > the number of entries per class, how about we limit the number
of
> > > animals any one breeder could bring to a show, instead they
hide
> > > behind others, how else can a large farm get dozens of pens,
> right by
> > > the ring? You and I can only buy a limited number of pens? How
do
> they
> > > get 50+ into 4, or 5, or 6 pens? They do not; they buy pens
under
> > > their OTHER registered names and dominate the shows! Magical
and
> TNT
> > > Farms, and buy multiple other pens! But that makes it OK? NOT,
> it's
> > > shooting the loopholes, and when that's not enough, they put
more
> > > animals under / into farm pens bought by other farms, as
personal
> > > favors. Could we change the way they play? Yes, but they would
> then
> > > just have them shown by others with permission to show slips,
and
> > > still wind up dominating the show by their registered name!
> Unless we
> > > put a stop to it, things will only get worse, and they do have
> judges
> > > as friends and silent partners, and so where does it stop.
Unless
> we
> > > go to show handlers, by drawing, and no owners show their own
> animals
> > > there will never be a way to keep it clean! Just like horses,
the
> > > judges know who needs to win for them to be hired to judge!
> > >
> > > Too bad there are so few who have done the homework and who
read
> the
> > > map! You are right on target, you do not need to be a member to
> be
> > > affected, you only need to have one alpaca, and the value of it
> will
> > > be changed by what this INDUSTRY does!! And if we let the over
> funded
> > > trust babies, and independently wealthy run this like their
game,
> no
> > > one else will have any security at the end of the day. For
these
> folks
> > > it's not about money, it's the power of the play, they care not
> if
> > > anyone else is happy, or fulfilled in what they do, only that
> they
> > > have others looking up to them and all their toys, and MORE
POWER
> AND
> > > CONTROL!
> > >
> > > I would think it would not be a bad idea for every member of
> alpaca
> > > talk and the other groups to invite other alpaca site members
to
> join
> > > your list, and to invite the newbies to contact a small ranch
for
> a
> > > clear objective. Yes, it may blow off a few sales for us all,
but
> we
> > > will keep a clean shirt, and know we have truly informed those
we
> can.
> > > With any luck it will cost the big boys a few sales as well!
> Rather
> > > then let them continue with their line of BS.
> > >
> > > Be happy you are down to the last three, most of the rest of us
> still
> > > have way too much on the table, and as it looks more of us will
> be
> > > looking to leave then to stay. I am sure there are many others,
> who
> > > like us are burned out on the crap, and tired of the BS.
> > >
> > > Thanks for your energy!
> >
>
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posted by Chaddo at 12:45 AM
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