The largest group in recent years attended the annual fall meeting at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Utica. Thirty adults and 12 Juniors were in attendance. Much socializing went on prior to the business meeting as members enjoyed catching up with each other's lives. President Cindy Warner was finally able to get the meeting called to order. There was a moment of silence for our two deceased members over the past year, Bill Warner and Lee Majeskie. Announcements were made about the Dairy Shrine Banquet, to be held at Lynfield on Feb. 28th, 2009 and scholarship applications for this program were handed out. Also, discussion was held re: changing the due date for Brown Swiss Scholarship applications to coincide with the Shrine's. Kathy Whitman and Jennifer K. Hill will head up the scholarship committee and announce changes in the very near future. They will be posted on the website as soon as they are available so all interested youth should keep checking there. Scott Hood announced the Association will continue to pay the cost of the meal at the annual banquet for all youth who turn in a record book. He also brought some suggested changes for the Royalty Program which were supported by the membership. They also will be posted on the website, www.marylandbrownswiss.org, as soon as available in completed form.
Cindy announced that Kathy Whitman has agreed to assume the office of Treasurer from Judy Majeskie. Tommy Remsberg and Marcia Molesworth will be responsible for Production Awards. Scott Hood and Mr. Ed Frye will be the nominating committee. There was a discussion and successful motion to add a Junior Show to the Open Show during State Fair. Judges were discussed for MD shows and the membership voted to ask Ronnie Heffner or Mike Heath to judge at Field Day on July 18th, and for State Fair they chose Chris Lahmers or Norm Magnussen. The Mid-Atlantic Calf Sale will be held April 18th, 2009 and consignors are already contacting Cindy. The National Convention and Sale will be in Springfield MO July 8-11, 2009 and will be in Maryland in 2011.
The website is current as far as Cindy, Suzan Thompson and Jake Thompson are able. We would like for the membership to send photos, sales ads, articles and any other content you would like to see to jthompson@frederickmd.com. We need to get in the habit in order to have a great website when we sponsor the convention. Who doesn't want free advertising? The photos are also used to create the displays taken to fairs and conventions, and a slide show can be made for use at the convention so please send us some!
The Juniors reported on their activities over the year, followed by National Director Allen Bassler who gave us an inside look. Allen gave us the method that the national organization uses to select judges for national shows. He is now the chairperson of that committee and asked for feedback from the members. He was given many suggestions on the process and we will be contacting other state association to learn their thoughts. Allen also discussed the subject of genomics and how using it can test for traits and DNA on bulls with 70% accuracy, long before they have any daughters in production. Holstein has many thousand bulls that have been tested and Jersey has a large number also. Swiss have only 350 bulls tested and a decision is needed soon if the membership wants to invest $20,000 to preserve and enlarge the Swiss genomic program. There is an incentive program in the works and a mailing soon to go out on the subject. The computer system and employee job descriptions at the main office were also discussed by Allen, along with possible changes to the classification system.
Following the very productive meeting the group again enjoyed fellowship as well as a delicious covered dish luncheon. So delicious, in fact, that people were roaming the room to see who brought what and ask for the recipe. There is no lack of culinary talent amongst our membership! Pictures of the meeting are also posted.