| Suri Network News |
March 2016
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President's Letter Yup, you did just receive a newsletter in January! We don't usually send them out this frequently, but there is just so much to tell you about! We use several means of communication throughout the year: emails, newsletters, and our Suri Members Facebook Group page. Communicating electronically helps conserve financial resources as well as paper. Please be sure your email address is up to date in your Suri Network account (Go to www.surinetwork.org, then log in to your account. If you have forgotten your password, just click to get a new one.) As always, if you have any questions, ideas, or concerns, please contact me or any of your Suri Network Board members and we will be happy to talk. Patty Hasselbring President, Suri Network 2016 Suri Network Summer Symposium - Hotel reservations are open!  Mark your calendar now for the 2016 Suri Network Summer Symposium and Fleece Show, themed "Weaving the Fabric of Our Industry". A block of suites has been secured at the Embassy Suites Loveland - Hotel, Spa & Conference Center for the 2016 Suri Summer Symposium and Fleece Show.
Please call 1 800 EMBASSY (362-2779) and ask for the Suri Summer
Symposium block with code SUR. The group rate is $139.00 plus tax, for
up to two people per suite, for a suite with either two queen beds and a
queen sized sofa sleeper or for a suite with one king bed and a queen
sized sofa sleeper. The Hotel will assess a $15.00 fee for the third and
again for the fourth person in each suite. The
Hotel will offer the group rates until midnight on Friday, July 15,
2016 or until the block is sold out, whichever happens first.
Additionally, the above rates include a full hot breakfast and evening
reception, both served daily!
Get the 2016 Symposium on your calendar now! Details about speakers will be coming very soon. Breed Standard Review Our Breed Standard Review Committee has been hard at work looking at the Suri Breed Standard and preparing recommendations for revision. The committee, co-chaired by Tim Sheets and Linda Kondris, consists of Karl Heinrich, Cheryl Gehly, Gail Campbell, Amanda Vandenbosch, and Randy Coleman. Our breed standard was developed in 2006, and is the first alpaca breed standard ever. Livestock breed standards are generally reviewed periodically and we are excited that we have this committee to undertake the process. The draft has been completed and after approval by the Board it will be distributed for comment from membership. We anticipate that it will be ready for a membership vote on the same ballot that new Board members are proposed. Nominating Committee Hard at Work
The Nominating Committee for 2016 has been appointed: Liz Vahlkamp, Al Cousill, Tim Sheets, Linda Kondris, and Patty Hasselbring are identifying potential Board candidates and making contacts.
The Suri Network Board consists of five Trustees, each serving two year terms for a maximum of two consecutive terms. Current Board members and terms are: Patty Hasselbring, President - 2nd term expires 2016 Jill McElderry-Maxwell, Vice President - 1st term expires 2016 Randy Coleman, Director - 1st term expires 2016 Alvina Maynard, Secretary - 1st term expires 2017 Andrew Reed, Treasurer - 1st term expires 2017 Three positions will be open in 2016. The bylaws call for two candidates to be nominated for each open position. Therefore, the Nominating Committee will recruit a total of six candidates. Candidates will be announced and voting will occur this summer. New Board members take office at the Annual Meeting held during the Suri Symposium in August. Suri Network Live! We know that it is not always geographically or financially feasible to attend a conference or training session in person. So, last year we developed a series of webinars - one hour sessions on various topics of interest to members. In 2015 we had webinars on fleece, fleece shows, and water quality. Our second webinar in 2016, "All About Soil Quality" will be held March 23, from 7:30-8:30 pm CST. Gary Horrisberger from Holmes Laboratory will discuss the importance of good soil quality, how to test soil quality, and what to do if you need to make corrections in your soil. January 14, 2016, at 7:30 pm central time. Cost is $35 for non-members and $25 for members. Register here! Branding Project This year the Product Development Committee has begun working on a branding project that will brand Suri material. We will provide updates as this exciting project progresses! Livestock with Alpacas A popular article in the 2015 PurelySuri magazine was the article about other livestock and alpacas. This article has been formatted as a standalone document, and is available now in the Suri Network members' library. In addition, the article will be reprinted in Alpacas Magazine this year. Kudos to Suri Network Board member Jill McElderry-Maxwell on this well-crafted and greatly appreciated article. Special Thanks to Suri Impact Breeding Auction Donors The Suri Impact Breeding Auction, hosted by AlpacaStreet.com was held over Super Bowl weekend and brought in over $4,000 for the Suri Network. In addition to raising funds for the Suri Network, the auction gave members an opportunity to obtain genetics from quality herdsires in their local area and across the country, showcase their top herdsires, and expand their genetics. The AlpacaStreet auction page received over 2,000 hits in just those few days!! Thank you to all our auction donors and to those who made winning bids. Herdsire donors: Wings and a Prayer Alpacas, Barbara and Randy Coleman Heritage Farm Suri Alpacas, Tim and Beth Sheets Free Radical Ranch, Jennifer Leigh Myka LadySong Farm, Judith Korff Red Gate Alpaca Farm, Kraig and Teri Quamme Experienced Suri Partners, Jennifer Hack, Hillary Devin, Joyce and Greg White Triple H Ranch, Shambalah Alpaca Ranch and Grandview Suri Alpacas, Jennifer Hack, Hillary Devin, Lisa Hasselhorst Triple H Ranch, Jennifer Hack Love me Alpacas, Vicky Telesko B I Bar Ranch, Julie and Ted Ritschard Hasselbring's Harmony Ranch, Patty and Britt Hasselbring The Suri Stud Stable, Patty and Britt Hasselbring and Jude Anderson and Alan Cousil Pucara International, Jude Anderson and Alan Cousil 2 Point Farm, LLC, Nancy Lindemood Miller-McMahan Alpacas, LLC, Joe Miller and Ray and Candy McMahan Sweet Blossom Alpaca Farm, Debbie and Narvel Pettis Thanks to our Winning Bidders: Mike and Janet Wilkins Lori Olson-Zorn Patty and Britt Hasselbring Michael and Sherry Alpert |
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