Minutes of the Membership Meeting of the
North American Wensleydale Sheep Association

June 23, 2007

Black Sheep Gathering, Eugene Oregon

Directors Present: Barbara Burrows, Sherry Carlson, Myrtle Dow, Joanie Livermore, and Karen Tipple
Directors Absent: Sandi Hanson, Neil Kentner
Members Present: Janet Bousier, Martin Dally, Nancy Irlbeck, Angelique Laskowski, and Lois Olund

President Barbara Burrows called meeting to order at 2:30pm.

Minutes of the meetings of May 7, 2005 and June 23, 2006 were approved as written by motion of Lois Olund, seconded by Martin Dally. The motion passed unanimously.

Treasurers Report
Sandi Hanson was unable to attend the meeting but provided 2006 account activity and bank balance as of May 31, 2007. We have a current bank balance on May 31, 2007 of $2482.89.

Sherry Carlson explained that a system of checks and balances are kept between Sandi and Sherry to make sure that registrar’s invoices that itemize certificates issued balance with funds received from members. Sherry stated that we strive to be transparent in our financial records and any member may request info regarding our treasury.

Advertising Budget

Since our net income for 2006 was $730, members felt that it was time to expand our advertising. Sherry had copies of magazines and the cost for maintaining an association display ad in each. She explained that we have had a display ad designed and formatted for business-card size and also for a 1.5 column-inch size. The purpose of these display ads – which consist of (1) our logo, (2) the website address, and (3) the text “The finest and most valuable luster longwool in the world” – is to direct the reader to our website where all our members are listed.

Members present agreed that we should continue to maintain our association listings in The Shepherd ($40-12 issues) and Sheep! Magazine ($40-12 issues).

Joanie Livermore made a motion to buy display space in: The Marker ($80-4 issues) and Lois Olund seconded the motion. The motion was submitted to a membership vote via mail and the motion passed 18 for, 0 against.

Martin Dally made a motion to buy display space in the Black Sheep Newsletter ($144-4 issues), seconded by Janet Bousier. The motion was submitted to a membership vote via mail and the motion passed 17 for, 2 against.

It was noted that The Banner Magazine offers publication of “Association Breed Notes” at no cost and we felt this would be a good way of publicizing our association. Our display ad will head the column and Joanie Livermore has volunteered to write a monthly column.

The cost to advertise in Spin Off magazine or Shuttle, Spindle, and Dye pot magazine is approximately $640/year (each) for 1.5 column inch ad. Members were equally divided in their preference of which magazine to choose, and a consensus could not be reached. Sherry was asked to obtain more information on each of these periodicals such as circulation, renewal percentage and where the magazine is available other than by subscription. The issue was submitted to a membership vote via mail and the desire to advertise in either of these magazines failed -- 8 for, 16 against.

Long Range Plans

Barbara (Burrows) Renfroe said that for several years we have been talking about having a Wensleydale show. She mentioned that options might be the Heart of America show in Sedalia MO in May or the state fair in Tulsa OK in Sept/Oct. Others mentioned Rhinebeck NY in October where the Leicester Longwool will be the featured breed. Martin Dally agreed that our Wensleydales are not at their best advantage when having to show against other breeds of sheep. It is also difficult for judges to compare breeds such as Shetland, Romney and Wensleydales in the same class – as often happens at fairs and festivals. He said that the Black Sheep Gathering would offer Wensleydale classes if we can guarantee 5 breeders and 20 sheep. Members in attendance felt that they could support this effort and it will be determined later this year if classes in 2008 would be separate for black sheep, white sheep or both.

Barbara mentioned that the World Congress on Colored Wool will be held in Brazil in 2009 and several members indicated that they were planning to attend.

Breed Standards

There have been comments and questions about some of the characteristics we have been seeing in the upgraded animals and Sherry wrote to several Wensleydale breeders in the U.K. as well as the breed secretary who answered on behalf of the Council there. Specific points in question were the appearance of scurs/horns, and spotting pattern in the wool (such as in Jacob sheep). The Wensleydale council responded briefly that: scurs are occasionally seen but breeders are discouraged from using such rams; and the presence of spotted animals has not been seen. One UK breeder of colored Wensleydales sent a more detailed response stating much the same on the scur issue. As to spotting, she referenced many early studies on color genetics that would have surely noted the existence of these genes (which they did not), and she believes that if they do exist, they were probably introduced by inadvertent crossbreeding within the last 30 years. Although one occasional small spot may be seen, the U.K. Wensleydale association does not recognize spotting pattern. The members discussed the issues as separate items:

Scurs:

References state that a “scur” is a small horn, often misshapen, not firmly rooted to the skull. (Thus, a ‘horn’ is firmly attached to the skull). Since Wensleydales are polled animals, it was agreed that both horns and scurs should be limited by definition. A motion was made by Barbara Burrows, seconded by Karen Tipple, that any registered animal, at one year of age, should not have a scur or horn over 3/4” in length, and that breeding with rams having scurs or horns should be discouraged. The motion was submitted to a membership vote via mail. The motion passed 19 for, 0 against.

Spots:

There was mentioned that a Wensleydale lamb had been born with large spots and thus the discussion led to size and placement of spots, or if spots should be allowed at all.  To clarify, this discussion specifically refers to spots in the wooled area of the sheep.

The U.K. breeder who responded to our letter cautioned us to remember that many Wensleydale breeders in the UK also raise other breeds of sheep, including Jacobs, and rams do jump fences. This is, of course, speculation but she noted that such spotting patterns are definitely not seen in UK Wensleydales.

We then discussed small spots, either black spots on white animals or white spots on black animals and many agreed that they have had animals with small spots. Some have seen lambs born with one or more spots that disappeared as the fleece grew. Karen Tipple made a motion to limit “spots” to one spot in the fleeced area not to exceed 2.5 cm (the approximate size of a quarter) at one year of age. Lois Olund seconded the motion. The motion was submitted to a membership vote via mail and the motion passed 15 for, 3 against.

There is currently no size limit or definition for spotting outside of the fleeced area. We have, in the past, discussed the fact that our foundation breeds of Lincoln and Cotswold occasionally show spots on the legs and/or faces and ears. Their respective associations discourage but do not disqualify for these spots – and we previously agreed that we would accept these spots in our upgraded animals at the present time.

Collection of Genetics from UK Rams

Martin Dally said that he would be going to Europe in July and intends to look for two white and two colored Wensleydale rams to collect.

Resale of Imported Semen

Martin explained that the USDA rules for importing semen from the U.K. state that individuals may import for their own use but cannot legally sell to others. Under the terms of Martin’s MOU with the USDA, he may import for sale to the end user only and the semen may not be resold after that. Martin said that there is a NAWSA member (who he did not name) who has re-sold semen and the matter has yet to be resolved. Martin said that if the matter cannot be resolved with the USDA, he would request that the board consider removal of the member from the Association on the grounds of unethical behavior. 

Policy from Board minutes of July 12, 2001:

 “Our Bylaws do not specifically provide for removal of a member or other punitive action due to inappropriate behavior. Directors agreed that they would review any issue regarding unethical behavior that is brought to the attention of the Board by an active member. It was felt that since the membership elects the Board to be their representatives, the Board should have the authority to consider these matters and to take any action that it feels is appropriate without having to bring the matter before the entire membership. David Moran said that ethical behavior is very important to the Association and board action should be timely and decisive. Martin Dally stated that the Board is the steward of the integrity of the Wensleydale breed”.

Selling Animals in the VSFCP

Barbara Burrows said that there were concerns that each state reads and enforces the Federal scrapie program rules differently and this makes it impossible for our national membership to adhere to the regulations. A new booklet from APHIS has been printed with updated regulations and it is Barbara’s understanding that everyone enrolled in the VSFCP should be receiving one in the mail. However, she pointed out that this new booklet does not specifically address the movement of animals produced with imported U.K. semen. Joanie Livermore volunteered to write to APHIS to explain that while we are diligently working to adhere to the Federal regulations and to keep our membership informed, state-by-state uniformity of compliance by the federal veterinarians is nonexistent, and we request that they review this issue.”

Membership Chairman

Sherry Carlson asked if there was anyone who would like to help her with the paperwork of the association. Specifically, this would entail mailing out membership renewal notices and reminders, and keeping a spreadsheet of membership information. Lois Olund volunteered to take over this task. Thank you Lois!

Next Meeting

Due to the probability that we will have a national Wensleydale show at Black Sheep Gathering 2008, Martin Dally made a motion to hold the next NAWSA membership meeting in Eugene OR in June 2008. Seconded by Lois Olund. Setting the next meeting location is at the will of the Board and the 5 board members present all voted for this location.

As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:10pm.

Minutes submitted by Sherry Carlson