I too have been told that Bert has been asked to step down as ASA exec. However I also heard that he has agreed to stay on for another 6 months before he is done with the association. This brings great sadness to me as I think a lot of Bert, and his wife, Millie. Bert and Millie stopped by the ranch the summer of 2011 on their way out to the Wyoming State Fair. We had a great time touring thru the cows. At the time the registered shorthorn cows were grazing on 1100 acres of native sandhill pasture. Both of them stated more than once how neat it was to see shorthorns in that environment. I learned a lot about shorthorn history that day! All I had to give Bert was the first 2 sires of a cows pedigree and he could recite the next 4-5 generations on most cows with ease! It was amazing. Bert and Millie stayed for lunch that day and we talked about mostly farm/ranch life and family. The next week after they were there, I received a "thank you" card in the mail expressing their gratitude for taking time out of my schedule to show them around and also for the great meal and fellowship. (Bert, if you are reading this, the pleasure was all mine.) They were a class act, a breath of freash air, and a great couple to represent the breed. They will be sorely missed! Thank You Bert!
The fact that no real reason for the board's decision really worries me as far as the prospect of hiring a quality executive secretary in the future. Maybe there is a logical explanation for why the board did what they did. But by keeping it secret and not going public with it makes it look like a very silly decision to me. Who is going to want the job in Omaha after this??????????