The NAWSA is very excited to announce that we are sanctioning work on a very specific and special project. ‘The Moorit Project’ established by Dr.Nancy Irlbeck and with the support of the NAWSA, will be working with the cutting-edge minds in genetic research to support the work she has done with her flock of upgraded Wensleydales and seeking Moorit genetics. This pilot project will be using new breakthroughs in testing for Moorit genetics in sheep developed by Dr. Chris Posbergh.
Dr.Nancy Irlbeck who is a Clinical Associate Professor Department of Animal Sciences at Washington State University has been involved with the NAWSA over the last several decades. Dr. Irlbeck has provided the NAWSA with specific and detailed information on the NAWSA animals that she has been working with, and has satisfied the Board that her well-kept records, integrity, expertise, and dedication to this project is worthy of our support and encouragement. This is a unique and experimental project that has defined parameters and protocols.
Nancy will be proceeding in her work and reporting to the BOD periodically and will be in complete control of this project. She is familiar with the NAWSA upgrading guidelines and breed standards and will be setting the short- and long-term goals and procedures along with regular reports to the Board.
The ‘Moorit Project’ will have its own separate registry and papers under the NAWSA umbrella. Each animal will have data indicating if they express Moorit coloration, if they are known carriers of Moorit genetics, or if it is unknown if they have the recessive Moorit genetics. For the time being, animals in this registry will NOT be registered in the regular NAWSA registry and will not be able to be bred outside the confines of the Moorit project to produce registered NAWSA animals.
Note: if it is determined that the Moorit coloration is found in UK registered animals, and has been introduced here in the states by the utilization of purebred UK Wensleydale semen, there is a good possibility that they will eventually be moved into the regular NAWSA registry.
Dr. Irlbeck will be overseeing the breeding within the Moorit Project, and she alone will approve any and all breedings. Other breeders are encouraged to contact Dr. Irlbeck to discuss the possibility of purchasing animals and working with her to have their own flock.
Transfer of registration within the Moorit Project animals will be handled like any other NAWSA transfer with the additional condition that Dr. Irlbeck approve of each transfer. As with all NAWSA animals, they may be sold without papers, and serve productive lives as grade animals and will NOT be allowed back into the registry.
Only Dr. Irlbeck (or if she is unavailable, the NAWSA Board of Directors will temporarily step in) will set the specific guidelines for breeding and registration of these Moorit Wensleydales. This is NOT an open program, although it is available to NAWSA member shepherds who would like to work under Dr. Irelbecks complete supervision.
The breeding protocols, testing of animals, and criteria that lambs must meet will be set by Dr. Irlbeck with the approval and backing of the BOD and must be completely adhered to for any offspring to be included in the Morrit Project.
Zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83468141723?pwd=YjVmaWtMMXBSdkZ4R2krRXpHSVpwZz09
Passcode: 451163
Agenda
Call to Order
Attendance
Treasury report
New Board Member – Welcome Jill McIntyre
Updates: News page on website, Communication, clarification on ‘the body of the fleece’ as it applies to quarter sized spots, restate our purpose as a registry
Moorit Project Begins – Dr. Nancy Irlbeck
Zoom Meetings for Information Exchange - Carolynn
Advertising – Lois Olund
Membership welcome packet review to send to members. Would folks like to see the NAWSA membership card continue, what info would be helpful to add to the welcome packet?
Membership thoughts and input on moving forward to survey members on several topics:
Adding specific data to collect with our registrations (for instance spotting, fading, extension dominant, etc.) If there is interest in this, would someone like to chair a committee to examine what possible data members might like the NAWSA to track.
Possibility of changing the Active membership rules for voting to simplify the process, perhaps use one date a year to look at registrations within the last two years, and granting ‘Active’ member status for that calendar year.
Thoughts on changing the 2-year window for registrations, with perhaps an increased fee
Other topics members would like to explore?
Call for volunteers
Adjourn
Congratulations to Sheryl Meacham of Gwenyth Glynn Longwools for winning champion Natural Colored Yearling Ram and Champion White Yearling ewe at the 2022 Michigan Fiber Festival sheep show. Her Wensleydales made a big splash in and out of the showring. Well done!!
8_25_2022
If you are interested in volunteering for a Director position, please send your self nomination along with a brief bio to NAWSA secretary Sheryl Meacham at gwenythglynn@yahoo.com by September 17th 2022.
7_25_2022
We will be trying a new approach to getting news and info to membership. It was suggested at the last BOD meeting that in lieu of a newsletter, we create a 'news' page on the website. If anyone has news or info they would like to have appear on the page, please send to Lois Olund (membership director) lolund@peak.org and we will work to get it up and running.
If you would like to volunteer to help work/maintain the website, please contact a board member, we would welcome the help.
We know that the best way to promote our lovely breed is for people to get them in front of the public eye. To that end, we are producing 2' x 3' banners to be used when doing a breed booth or when out in front of the public. If you are interested in getting one for your next show or fair, please contact Virginia (yellowfarm@gmail.com).
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: Self nomination of candidates for a Directorship for the NAWSA board shall be considered valid when written nomination is received from any active member postmarked no less than 60 days prior to the Annual Membership meeting, (THIS YEAR THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPMEETING IS OCT 17). The Secretary of the Association shall mail a ballot for election of Directors to each active member no less than 30 days prior to the annual membership meeting. No ballot shall be counted as valid unless such ballot shall have been received by the Secretary of the Association no less than 7 days prior to the annual meeting. Results of the election shall be announced at the annual membership meeting and the members of the Association shall promptly be notified by mail or email of the election results.
So if you are interested in volunteering for a Director position, please send your self nomination along with a brief bio to NAWSA secretary Sheryl Meacham at gwenythglynn@yahoo.com by September 17th 2022.
We are putting together a Survey Monkey survey to Active members to see what your thoughts are on several topics. When you get your survey, please take time to fill it out, as it is a way to gauge the support or lack of, for several different ideas. Anyone who would like to work on putting the survey together, or who may have topics for consideration, please contact Virginia.
The NAWSA has established a committee tasked with exploring ways to promote the Wensleydale to young shepherds, contact Carolynn (carolynn@blessewesheepcompany.com) or Allyson ( awhiting1@nycap.rr.com ) to become involved.
CONTACT US AT Info@WENSLEYDALESHEEP.ORG or contact any Board Member directly.
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