knabe said:
-XBAR- said:
And until mandatory reporting in enacted, the EPDs will always be bogus.
bogus. gigo.
Just my opinion here.
Collecting information from multiple sources and pooling it into one central database is a great idea provided the information being submitted is accurate. Unfortunately, many breeders don't see the economic value in recording performance information. They don't believe it leads to a dime extra for their seedstock. People without the weigh scales, enthusiasm or motivation to collect data will simply submit "guesstimates" if forced by their association to do so.
I suppose in a perfect world every breeder would be all stoked up about collecting accurate, meaningful performance information and submitting it. But, until there are some serious economic incentives for those that do and/or severe discounts for those that don't it won't happen?? I am sure there are many commercial bull buyers who will only deal with producers who are diligent about documenting birth weights and performance information. I don't know how any serious breeder can plan for success if they don't record performance.
Churchill was quoted as saying.... "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried".
Starting a new association is a huge project. Flawed as may be, democracy is the only pathway in my opinion.
However, just because a majority vote in support of any particular decision doesn't mean it will prove to be the best choice. Any new association formed won't be perfect either. And besides, if a new Association beats the odds and becomes successful it will eclipse the existing association and therefore, won't you have all the same people right back onboard? It's the people, not their cattle, that are the issue right??
Collectively, people make mistakes and bad decisions all the time in the political arena as well as on both private and public Boards. The best candidate doesn't always win the election and, mistakes do occur....hence Churchill's frustration.
Volunteer Boards are often troublesome. You have a diverse group of people hopefully contributing an equally diverse set of skills and talents. No one gets paid for their "time and work" and consequently accountability can be an issue. Poor attendance, incomplete assignments and poor communication by individual Directors can occur. A good President or GM can make the world of difference. Leadership is everything.
It's only my opinion..... A "good" breed association has a Board that protects the registry and makes any serious effort available to improve the accuracy and integrity of the Herd Book.
A good Board understands the high importance of effective communication to the membership; it not only listens, it reaches out and encourages feedback and ideas.
A good Board has an over-arching vision which includes not only an agenda and plan for the current year but a longer term view....a 5 year plan of where they want to take the Association and breed. Simple, modest and realistic goals and targets around increases in membership and transactions is just one aspect. And, those goals are articulated openly to the membership so they all understand the direction being taken.
People want to belong to and invest their money in something they see is on the move upwards. Momentum isn't easy to generate but once you get the "flywheel" spinning good things start happening. Any successful organization has a "hum" to it....you can feel it. It's a postive vibe.
I am not against our Association in Canada implementing mandatory WHR but I sure don't agree with the idea that some breeders have the option to remain exempt simply because they were members before 2001. Members should be equal in all ways should they not?
And no...I don't have a bad "attitude".
