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Region 9 Page...
Region 9 Director
(Virginia, Kentucky,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia)
Mike Vaughn
(270) 322-8332
email
me |
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NOVEMBER MESSAGE
This will be my last note to you all as
the director of Region 9. I have had this position through more
than a few dire circumstances and have seen a lot of things done to keep
them from happening again.
We are now in the process of constructing
a program to initiate required genetic testing in the ADCA that will be
a great boost for us in the worldwide community of Dexter cattle.
Every other registry worldwide that I have contacted has required this
testing for years, and they were all wondering when we are going to
start it. This program will give credibility to our registry,
involving such farflung things as import of foreign and export of
American Dexters, as well as recognition of our animals, as they will
now comply with the worldwide standards that are in use.
There are two different programs being
worked on: genotyping of all bulls registered and random parentage
testing. BOTH of these are very worthwhile in my book, as they
both will do different things with the data that we obtain. Random
parentage testing will underscore the validity of registrations until
those data can be done using the genotyping of all bulls. It will take a
few years to gain enough data from the genotyping of all bulls to use in
verifying registrations.
We are also working on construction of
new standard operating procedures that will supplant our old rules and
regulations as well as new articles of incorporation and bylaws.
Until these are completed and accepted, we are really in a lurch.
We have no legal way to vote to accept something, as that will require
all of the directors to fly to a central location or have a conference
call. (These can be REALLY EXPENSIVE.) We WILL work these problems out
as we have in the past.
I have met many wonderful people as a
director, too many to individually recognize here, as that would double
the size of this
Bulletin! I would,
however, like to recognize a few who really stand out to me for their
tireless devotion to Dexter cattle and the ADCA as an organization: Pam
Malcuit, for setting up, implementing and mentoring our excellent
testing programs with Texas A&M as well as Dr. Gus Cothran at Texas A&M.
Gene Pittman, for being a resource and helper on some projects.
Sandi Thomas, Carol Koller and Dan Butterfield, for running one of our
most important committees, the Genetics & Pedigree Committee, giving
tireless energy and attention to any questions I have sent to them.
Rick Seydel and John Foley, for being voices of reason in most things
and great people to talk to. Jonny Morris and his brother, for
saving my asterisk at the AGM by helping with the promotions and many
other things. John Potter for breeding a GREAT HERD SIRE for me and
being a constant resource of very accurate information as well as
co-chair of Genetics & Pedigree Committee and a great friend.
THIS IS GETTING TOO LONG-WINDED, so if you are not mentioned here, you
are NOT forgotten by a long shot.
As I have said, I am beginning work on a new endeavor that is NOT
cattle-related, and I feel that this will take so much time and energy
that I will not be able to look after Region 9 the way it should be.
Please fill out your nomination forms and vote proxies or show up
at the meeting on Nov. 15 at my farm in Mineral, Va., to place your vote
for our new director. I will be available to assist the new director
until he/she gets used to the new job.
YOUR INVOLVEMENT AS A MEMBER is crucial to the running of the ADCA.
Please take the time to participate and make the ADCA better for us all.
Robert Seddon
Mineral, Virginia |
