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Message
from the
President
click
here
for past
messages
November
2004 -- By
Susan
Prechtl
The
leaves are
falling and
the fleeces
on the goats
are growing
in thick and
luxurious.
To a certain
extent I
love this
time of year
because when
it’s dark,
I’m done!
All that
really means
is that I
have less
time to get
some weekly
chores
accomplished
during the
daylight
hours, but
it does give
me a bit
more time to
sit and spin
or knit each
evening.
It’s truly
a pleasure
to handle
the fibers
that come
from our
lovely
Pygora
goats.
Whether you
dehair and
card or comb
it by hand,
or send it
off to a
commercial
establishment
to be
processed by
machines,
the end
product is
truly
beautiful
and it does
spin up into
some
heavenly
yarns. The
demand for
Pygora
fibers is
growing
because of
the efforts
of some of
the quality
breeders
within PBA
who have
been finding
opportunities
to showcase
and promote
their
products.
But whether
you have
Pygoras for
their fiber
or as pets,
or as milk
and meat
producers,
their ease
of care and
their
physical
hardiness
makes them
ideal for
small
acreages. If
you would
like to help
PBA sing the
praises of
the Pygora
goat,
elsewhere in
this
newsletter
is
information
about how
and where
you can
volunteer
your time
and
services.
PBA has some
very
talented and
gifted folks
within its
membership
and we hope
you will
come forward
and
volunteer to
join a
committee.
The
Advertising
Committee is
looking for
some new
members. If
you’d be
interested
in helping
explore
options for
various
formats and
opportunities
to promote
Pygora
goats, PBA
can use your
help!
Fiber
Committee
– We’ve
had one
person come
forward and
is willing
to help put
together
some
information
for PBA’s
website on
processing
fiber and
how to use
it. If you’d
like to help
with this
project
(collect
information
and ideas,
photos,
etc), please
consider
raising your
hand.
The
Education
Committee
has a
vacancy.
There are
funds
available
through PBA
for
educational
projects.
This
committee
evaluates
the incoming
proposals
and
applications
for the
educational
grants.
Youth
Committee
– There is
a need for
someone to
develop and
administer a
PBA program
for youth.
This could
include
working with
4H, FFA, or
any other
program that
caters to
young
people. The
PBA board of
directors
firmly
believes in
supporting
youth and
would truly
like to get
a
high-energy
person
involved in
this
committee.
If you have
some ideas
or some
experience
in this
area, we
hope you’ll
step up to
the plate!!
Show
Secretary
– This
person
ensures that
show
sanctioning
occur
according to
show rules,
maintains
the ribbon
inventory
and ships
them out to
the local
show chairs.
This is an
important
position
and, while
we’d love
for there to
be more
shows across
the country
each and
every year,
right now
there’s
only about
five, so it’s
not a
labor-intensive
job.
Within this
current
newsletter
you will
also find
ballots for
you to vote
on some
important
issues. A
committee of
members
spent
considerable
time and
effort
evaluating
PBA’s
bylaws and
put together
an updated
version. We
think these
new bylaws
will bring
us into the
current
century and
better
reflect how
PBA should
function. We
think these
new bylaws
allow
flexibility
in some
important
areas while
maintaining
protections
and
guidelines
for
everyone.
Please take
a moment or
two to read
through the
recommended
bylaws, fill
out our
ballot and
return it.
In addition
to the
bylaws, you
will find
some
recommended
changes to
the breed
standards.
These
recommendations
came about
as the
result of
the recent
fiber study
performed by
Yocom-McColl.
Again,
please
consider
these
recommended
changes and
fill out
your vote
accordingly.
Louellen
Kelly has
graciously
agreed to
complete the
term of a
board member
who recently
resigned.
Lou brings
with her an
extensive
knowledge of
Pygora goats
and their
fiber, and
she is
detail
oriented and
well
organized.
We’re all
going to
benefit from
having her
on board!
By the time
you hear
from me in
the next
newsletter,
the hectic
political
goings on
will be over
and the
holiday
season will
be behind
us. During
these busy
times, be
sure to take
some time to
appreciate
and spend
time with
your
families and
friends.
From here at
Hidden
Meadow Farm,
I wish you
all PEACE,
HEALTH, AND
HAPPINESS!
Susan
Prechtl
Hidden
Meadow Farm
pygora@clatskanie.com
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