Minutes the MSSBA Meetings

September 9, 2006
Meeting at Jefferson Fair Grounds, Jefferson, WI

In Attendance: Nicole Zeien – Windy Z Acres, Kim Nikolai – Kimberwood, Gail Von Bargen,
Jane and John Eager – Highland Hollow, Linda Demaree – Gavinhale Acres,  Chris and
Alan Greene – Shepardwoods Farm, Pat and Mary Ellen Kelly – Meadowwoods, Susan and
Caz Sydlo – Northwind Farm, Mary Glenn Fuchs, Glennsdale Shetlands, Penny Picha – Country Lane Shetlands, Laura Matthews, Naomi Gordee – Pearl's Pride, Steve and Kath Vogelmann – High Cross Farm,
Mary Zastrow – Z-Ranch, Kate Goebel – Crestwood Farm

The business meeting was very short.   

Financial Report

Future Meetings:

• The spring meeting will be at Kate's Crestwood Farm.  Date to be determined later. 
• The summer meeting is still open. 

Web Committee: 

• Kim is expanding the description area sales pages.
• Members would like to be able to add their pictures and Kim will look into that.
• Fleece sales pages will also be added in the future. 

2008 AGM Committee:

• Two speakers have been found so far; one will speak on milking sheep and one on cheese making. 
• The grounds are set – Jefferson Fairgrounds, during the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival. 

Board Nominations:

• The terms expire at the end of this year for all current board members.  Any member can run for office. 
• We will be electing four members-at-large.  The four elected members will determine who will hold each of the offices.
• Please get your nominations to Nancy Larsen or Mary Zastrow before Oct. 31^st!  Anyone running should also get a short bio to Nancy or Mary to be included with the ballot.   

Other Business:

• 4H – in order to have a Shetland class at the state fair, we need to have ten people showing.  These must win at the County level to qualify.
• NAILE –The North American International Livestock Exposition at Louisville, KY needs 50 Shetlands for a class.  More information is available on the NASSA web page.

Meeting Date: July, 15, 2006
Place: Nancy Krohn's Bluff Country Shetlands, Houston , MN

The Summer Meeting of the Midwest Shetland Sheep Breeders Association was called to order by President Mary Ellen Kelly at 12:52 p.m. July 15.

Old Business :

• Advertising - Julie mentioned "Sheep!" Magazine is going more towards the hair sheep and she would like to see us advertise in homestead magazines such as "Countryside"

“Hobby Farms" and other magazines which might be more attractive to beginning farmers who would like to buy Shetland Sheep.

Sheep Building at Jefferson , WI is being reserved for us. It is too early for volunteering for AGM 08. NASSA give $2,000 towards the AGM.

Rug Contest - we are looking at next year to allow non members to pay an entry fee to enter the rug contest to generate some income.

Treasurers Report was given by Nancy Larsen; There is a balance of $3,114.44. There has been $608.57 expenses since January with $847.50 in deposits.

New Business :

Web Page - Members can use for free advertising.

We need volunteers for ribbon placements at Jefferson . We need 2 for each class.

Friday Night and Saturday Morning we need people to hang rugs.

We have lots of new MSSBA members and we need ideas on generating income from fleece and sheep. Mary Ellen volunteered to start a Yahoo Group to kick ideas around in.

Upcoming elections of officers - Nominations will be taken at Jefferson .

Nancy Barnett brought up the Missouri Natural Colored Wool Show at Sedalia every lst weekend in June needing more Shetlands so we can have our Shetland show back.

Julie suggested a mass mailing to NASSA members encouraging membership in the MSSBA.

Meeting adjourned at 1:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Nancy Burnett, Substitute Secretary