AAA Member Update #13

 Welcome to our member update. Our fortnightly update is our way of communicating more effectively with all AAA members. 

The Board must therefore appoint a Ballot for the election of Board positions, and a Resolution has been circulated to approve the conduct of an electronic ballot as required under clause 8.1(a) of the Constitution.  The Resolution proposes to appoint TrueVote to provide professional assistance to the AAA to establish and manage the on-line voting system and to determine the result of the ballot.  

Next steps- The electronic ballot will open at the end of this week and run until 5pm on Thursday 20 September 2019.  All eligible Members will receive direct communication from TrueVote explaining how to cast your vote. 

The TrueVote ballot applies only to the election of Directors and President.  If you wish to vote by proxy on other agenda items please use the Proxy Form distributed with the notice of meeting.

​Voting by electronic ballot is quick, simple, confidential and secure – as a Member of the AAA your vote is important in dictating the future composition of the Board and direction of your Association.

Guidelines for Electioneering during AAA Board Election

These guidelines are only for candidates and their supporters.

1. Candidates will be given three opportunities to have the National Office forward written material by email to Voting Members:

i. The first will be limited to 400 words and go out with the notice of the AGM and of candidates for election;
ii. The second will go out towards the end of the first week after voting commences. It will have no word limit, but candidates should bear in mind that most email addresses have a limit on how much data can be sent in a single email;
iii. The third will go out towards the end of the second week after voting commences. Again, it will have no word limit but candidates should bear in mind that most email addresses have a limit on how much data can be sent in a single email.

2. Candidates and their supporters are encouraged to focus their electioneering material on the experience and skills they would bring to the role and their proposed policies to advance the Company and the alpaca industry. 

3. Candidates and their supporters are welcome to contact members who are known to them to urge such members to vote for themselves or their candidate, but are discouraged from direct emailing the entire membership. Their opportunity to reach the entire membership is given under point 1 above. 

4. Candidates may post on social media providing they comply with AAA's Social Media Code of Conduct. 

Public consultation on the PIC livestock sector and plant sector principles and business rules in now open.

The Australian government is proposing expanding the use of property identifiers to include the major plant production sectors, as well as the livestock sector to ensure a consistent property identification approach across the plant and animal sectors. These new arrangements will mean changes to existing arrangements.

The public consultation on the livestock sector and plant sector principles and business rules was launched on 26 August, and will be open until 1 November 2019. This is being hosted through the Department of Agriculture’s Have Your Say web page and is accessible here: https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/property-id-reforms. Stakeholders will be invited to either provide a written submission or answer questions on if they support each of the principles and supporting business rules.

National Show Update

What an amazing weekend! Canberra really turned on the sunshine for the show and we had almost 3,000 visitors come to experience alpaca life. The fashion parade was a fabulous display of our amazing fibre. Dinner was lots of fun. We were well supported by both local and national media and you may even have seen yourself on TV!  There was so much on offer in addition to the 448 animals in the show ring, including craft demonstrations and displays, retail stands, educational seminars, sausage rolls, alpaca selfies and camel rides!

A huge thank you to show convenor Sharon Dawson and her team of volunteers. Sharon said "The AAA National 2019 has been a huge event with so many components coming together beautifully to professionally present to Canberra the best of the best on show. A sensational effort from all involved and an absolute pleasure to work with the great group of volunteers I was lucky enough to have by my side, very proud of what we accomplished together."

We would love your feedback on this year's show - you can fill in the survey here or email Amanda  with further comments, using "Alpaca Nationals Feedback" in the subject line. 

National Show Results

Alpaca of the State Winners

Showing & Judging Committee Update

After much discussion within the Showing & Judging Committee, as a group we have decided to resign as a complete committee, in readiness for new opportunities for the 2020 season.

Our final date as a committee will be at the completion of the 2019 showing season on the 18th of November 2019. This means the completion of all shows and the upcoming judge intake weekend will be completed by the current committee with all recommendations put to the board after the intake weekend.

It has been demanding but successful 2 years for this committee with an impressive list of achievements. To name a few;

1. Continuing improvement both in and out of the showring with several new rule updates. ie improved biosecurity inspections, simplification of access to E-alpaca for entries, updates and education.

2. Judges workshop 2018 (held at Wyona) was rated as one of the best workshops by the judges.

3. A presence in both the 2018 and 2019 at the Bendigo Sheep and Wool show, was very well received and supported. With animal, fibre and meat on display for 2018. Then a larger presence with a successful Commercial Fleece show and education in 2019.

4. Initial judges intake weekend (held at Baarrooka) - amazing feedback from all applicants as to the level of information, professionalism and delivery of a very transparent and organised event.

5. Upcoming judges intake weekend (to be held at Ambersun) - of shortlisted potential apprentices. Promises to be once again a coup for the AAA in both delivery of training from feedback and fully supported from an amazing amount of AAA volunteers. This will enable an exceptional selection of apprentice judges to take this industry forward.

This committee would like to thank all judges, the wider membership including convenors and the numerous volunteers for supporting what is at times quite a physical and mentally demanding volunteer role. With challenges to balance numerous personalities and events Australia wide as well as the increasing commentary from social mediums.

This committee decision is not a reflection of the current or future members of the AAA Board and/or the AAA office. Nothing but support and encouragement has been given by the majority of this board. By bringing this phase of the activities of the Showing and Judging Committee to a natural conclusion, it will allow the incoming AAA board to convene a new Showing & Judging Committee.

We would hope that the momentum achieved to date would be utilised to further promote the enormous gains being made in Australian Alpaca and that the show ring will be one of the means utilised to showcase this to our members, to the public and to our international colleagues.

We wish a new committee all the best for 2020 and beyond.  

Upcoming events

• 14-15 September - Charles Ledger Alpaca Show
• 21 September - AAA Annual General Meeting
• 30 September - Royal Melbourne Alpaca Show