AAA Member Update April 2020

The AAA monthly update is our way of communicating with all members. 

Membership renewals for the AAA will open as usual in June through the eAlpaca platform. The gifted renewals to members that had lapsed this financial year was a once-off opportunity to engage lapsed members and to get animals that may otherwise be lost to the pedigree herd registered. The Board will not offer this again. 

The AAA has been impacted by the COVID-19 situation, and the cancellation of shows up to 30 June has affected members. At this stage, the National Show is still planned to go ahead and the convenors continue to work behind the scenes to ensure that if the show is able to be held it will be an event not to be missed. A decision and announcement will be made no later than 30 June. 

The Board is continuing with the annual planning and budgeting process, developing key activities to fit within the existing AAA strategic plan. Codes of Conduct and policies are also under review. In conjunction with the AYE, the Board has been developing regulations for engagement in the youth space. 

My sincere condolences go out on behalf of the AAA to Rod and the Sales family after the tragic loss last week of passionate VCR member Ann Sales. 

Treasurer's Update 

• The Association whilst experiencing challenging times is hopeful of being successful in applying for the JobKeeper payments for staff members and receiving some of the other financial support initiatives available to businesses and not for profit organisations.   See the ATO for more information on available benefits if your business has faced a COVID-19 related downturn. 
• We are currently working on the details of being able to offer members the ability to pay their membership quarterly, as an aid in these difficult times.

• Ian Frith  -  for the donation of two alpacas and access to 607 alpaca for testing
• Fiona Vanderbeek  - for liaising with the relevant project partners.
• CEO Amanda Olthof for her guidance, keeping things on track & lobbying
• Dr Jane Vaughan for her expert knowledge and demystifying the veterinary jargon
• Licensed Exporters (Sue & Steve Ridout & Carolyn Young) for sharing their exporting knowledge and experience.
• The 20+ AAA Members who provided invaluable statistical data on their exporting business.

MATC Operational Plan - The MATC is currently developing its Operational Plan for the 20/21 Financial Year.  This plan will link directly to the AAA Strategic Plan. Market access and development is one of the three priorities in our industry’s strategic plan – in particular, the development of customer-driven domestic and international markets for Fleece, Animal Sales/Genetics, and Meat and Hides.

Prue Walduck on behalf of the MATC (Carolyn Austin, Mick Williams, Annemarie Ashton-Wyatt)

• The Board has endorsed the appointment of Natasha Clark, Angela Preuss, Peter Kennedy-Gane and Shane Carey as Senior Judges following a recommendation from SJC regarding judge career progression. The current judge ranking system will revert to a tiered system. The newly appointed senior judges will help with transition arrangements and support the current intake of apprentice judges.
• The AAA is developing a re-vamped Convenors and Stewards Manual. This will be the first part of a whole Showing Compendium, to cover show operations from initial approval and planning right through to publishing results, accounting for funds and de-briefing volunteers, exhibitors and judges. Maddy Bissels,  eAlpaca Shows Administrator, Is undertaking the task of front and back-ending the  Manual with the other key elements of putting on shows of all sizes.  If you have input to provide, please contact Maddy at esperancealpacas@gmail.com