OTHER RECOMMENDATIONSTO FURTHER THE CONCEPT OF WORKING TOGETHER

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
TO FURTHER THE CONCEPT OF WORKING
TOGETHER

Llama Assembly | Llama & Alpaca Relationship | Internet for Organizations
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LLAMA ASSEMBLY

Llama Assembly is the only open forum available to the lama community. It has had no restrictions on who attends, who speaks, or upon what topic is addressed. It has experienced rapid growth and has made significant contributions to the lama and its owner. The development of the Lama Medical Research Group and the Interstate Transportation Model are examples of contributions of past Llama Assemblies. If there are problems with the concept of Llama Assembly, they could be related to its growth in numbers of participants. A most positive problem!

1. The Town Meeting of the Lama Community

The Lama Steering Committee regards the "town meeting" essence of Llama Assembly as the key component of its success.

This Committee Suggests:

Attendance might be directed to efficient seating patterns. No one present should feel that she or he is "sitting in the back of the bus." Large numbers call for creativity.

Seating should be on a first-come, first-seated basis, with none reserved.

No one in attendance should be denied the right to speak on any issue.

Agendas should be prepared and distributed as well in advance as possible, with supportive materials presented no later than the attendees' on-site arrival. Provision should be made for on-site additions to the agenda.

2. Authority

In the four-year history of Llama Assembly there has been no vested authority to require, enforce, or make into rules anything acted upon. Attendees have, however, collectively recommended action(s).

This Committee Suggests:

Llama Assembly should continue to be an opportunity for the lama community to come together to discuss, resolve, debate, plan and make recommendations, if it wishes.

No attempt should be made to empower Llama Assembly to act upon any facet of the lama community other than itself.

3. Arriving at Conclusion

Attendance at Llama Assembly is voluntary. Though an attendee might represent a specific organization or entity, he or she should carry no more "weight" in a discussion than the persons to their right or left, quite possibly representing no one other than themselves . When attempting to arrive at a conclusion to an issue under consideration, the following might be considered.

This Committee Suggests:

The moderator of Llama Assembly should seek resolution of a question by the Assembly arriving at a consensus of opinion, reflecting group solidarity in sentiment and belief . . . not by straw or formal vote.

4. Who Should Attend?

Since its beginning in 1992, anyone with an interest in the llama or alpaca was welcome at Llama Assembly. An ongoing problem is making certain that all know of Assembly's existence, its purpose, and its meeting dates. All should be encouraged to attend.

This Committee Suggests:

Every possible avenue of communication should be exhausted in making the total lama community aware of Llama Assembly.

Anyone interested in or involved in any way with the llama or alpaca or guanaco should be welcomed as a Llama Assembly participant.

While attendees need not be "sent" by an organization, such representation should be welcome.

5. Hosting and Continuity

From Assembly's beginning, the ILA has assumed the responsibility for planning, initially total then partial funding, and serving as its host. The ILA has also provided the moderator, the president of its board of directors, for each Assembly.

This Committee Suggests:

Funding for each Assembly should continue to be shared by each attendee being assessed a participant fee. Any surplus funds following a particular Assembly should be assigned to the Morris Foundation for current lama research.

The ILA has proven itself to be a capable host for Llama Assembly. It would seem to be in the best interests of same that the ILA continue in their role of host, if they agree to do so.

To guarantee neutrality of leadership, a professional moderator should be retained, with relative costs shared by attendees as in the first point above.

Consideration could be directed toward the formation of a three-person ad hoc agenda committee that would be appointed by fellow attendees at each Assembly. This committee's sole charge would be the development of the coming year's Assembly agenda.

To make Llama Assembly more accessible, consideration might be directed toward moving its site to a more central location, such as St. Louis or Kansas City. Attention must continue to be focused on site selection with attention paid to reasonable housing and air fare potential.

6. Is the "Double - LL" Llama Assembly Appropriate?

As the camelid community more readily refers to itself as the "lama community", and as alpaca and llama owners work side-by-side as health and welfare partners, is it time to consider renaming Llama Assembly?

This Committee Suggests:

To more accurately reflect its community and purpose, Llama Assembly could consider renaming itself with descriptors deemed appropriate by Assembly participants. "Lama Assembly" or "Llama and Alpaca Assembly" are two possibilities.

Renaming Assembly should take place at Llama Assembly '97.

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IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE
ALPACA AND THE LLAMA COMMUNITIES

There is no question that organizations of llama owners, as well as organizations of alpaca owners, have served their respective communities well. This committee is of the opinion that the active development of a closer working relationship than that enjoyed at present could be of benefit to both the llama and the alpaca and their owners.

History has proven that both communities have benefited from medical research unique to one or the other specie, as have studies common to both. The potentially restrictive influence of the recent Canyonlands issue was effectively addressed with the full cooperation of the entire lama community. Llama and alpaca owners united, demonstrating an excellent example of the advantages of working together toward a common goal.

To enhance and improve the quality of the relationship between the two species and their owners, this committee seeks consideration for the following, presented in random order:

1. The Single "L" Lama

Ten to fifteen years ago when local and regional lama-oriented organizations were formed, most were based upon ownership of the double "L" llama. Since then the alpaca has assumed a more significant role as part of the new-world camelid "mix". Some alpaca owners possibly feel no more welcome in a llama-specific organization than might llama owners in named alpaca-isolate groups.

This Committee Suggests:

Groups organized with the intent of serving all alpacas, llamas and guanacos and their owners might consider changing their group identifier to more accurately reflect their intent. For example, a group known as "The Puerto Rico Llama Association" could consider "The Puerto Rico Llama and Alpaca Association" or "The Puerto Rico Lama Association" to more accurately reflect their intent to serve all camelids in their area.
The very first entity that this committee suggests re-titling would be "Llama Assembly" which, by its name, does not reflect the inclusion of the alpaca nor the guanaco in its sphere of interest.

2. Information Exchange

The current Newsletter Exchange program effected by the ILA presents an easily accessed source of potentially useful information on local, regional, national, international and special-interest levels.

This Committee Suggests:

All lama-oriented associations, regardless of numbers of members, should consider becoming active participants in this low-cost, valuable, and most usable source of information.

3. Llama and Alpaca Shows

Many llama owners feel that participation in well-organized and presented llama and alpaca shows stimulates interest in both species in their communities. A "case" for the importance of lama shows as exposure and introduction of the animal to the general public might be built on a llama population growth comparison related to the number of shows in specific areas. The Alpaca and Llama Show Association has provided an organizational format and tools for lama shows that have served the community well over the past.

This Committee Suggests:

The entire lama community be encouraged to utilize the established mechanic of ALSA in developing shows that can enhance the visibility of alpacas and llamas in their immediate communities.
The alpaca community is urged to join their fellow llama friends in shows available every month in some part of the country.
All llama and alpaca owners are encouraged to take part in shows that are typified by a feeling of "family" and "fun".

4. Exchanging Membership Lists

One very active mid-western regional llama association has extended an open-armed invitation to 65 known alpaca owners within its membership frame of reference. Such openness will hopefully stimulate information sharing, social opportunities, and participation in local events on the part of all llama and alpaca owners.

This Committee Suggests:

Alpaca and llama associations, particularly on the local and regional level, are encouraged to work together in opening their membership to all interested lama owners. One way to initiate such cooperation would be to exchange membership lists.

5. Major Periodicals

Most of the major lama-oriented publications include pertinent informative articles on both the alpaca and the llama, usually in each issue.

This Committee Suggests:

It would be to the advantage of all camelid owners if all publishers would consider inclusion of materials relative to all new-world camelids when such is pertinent and timely.

6. The Alpaca and the Llama as Producers of Quality Fiber

The beauty of the llama and the alpaca is partially due to the varying degrees of usably fleece common to all. It may vary in length, thickness, texture, color and other factors uniquely known to fiber artists. But once the fleece is removed from the animal, the true fiber artist evaluates same as to its specific qualities - without identification as to specie of origin. There are no barriers between those who enjoy the application of animal fiber to practical use. Fiber as a source of usable product has the potential of being a major marketing tool for the knowledgeable owner.

This Committee Suggests:

Both the alpaca and the llama communities could benefit by more actively sharing educational opportunities, experiences, facilities and research focused on the lama as a viable fiber producing animal.

7. Cooperative Conference

The International Llama Association (ILA) and the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) each hold unique annual educational conferences with extensive, well-founded, well-funded and important-to-the-owner content. Attendance at such conferences is usually limited to llama owners at ILA's and alpaca owners at AOBA's conferences. Time and finances appear to be inhibiting factors barring attendance at both for many breeders. To provide the individual owner with maximum opportunity for exposure to a more broad base of all-specie information, as well as the pleasure of extending one's "lama network" and circle of friends, the following is offered:

This Committee Suggests:

There are currently four organizations with global membership bases (in alphabetical order): ALSA, AOBA, ILA and ILR. It is proposed that they consider hosting a joint educational conference as soon as logistically possible. While the complexity of constructing same might appear to be overwhelming, the advantages to the community could more than compensate for such efforts. Consideration might be directed to offering such a joint conference concept on a regional basis, making same more accessible to the individual owner.

8. Information Exchange

Communication, or lack of it, is a major stumbling block in the pursuit of better working relationships between the llama and the alpaca communities. Willing boards of directors could be instrumental in breaking down barriers should they choose to open their activities to other organizations.

This Committee Suggests:

Groups such as ILA and AOBA could consider regularly exchanging minutes of meetings.
Each organization could appoint an active liaison to the other.
Each organization could encourage representative attendance by the other at face-to-face meetings.
Each organization could consider requesting representatives from the other to serve on selected mutual-concern committees.

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INTERNET SITE FOR ALPACA AND LLAMA ORGANIZATIONS

www.lama.org
or
www.alpaca-llama.com

The Llama Trust Fund could use the Internet as a tool to help the llama and alpaca communities to come together. www.lama.org could become a resource center for lama organizations, lama owners and prospective lama owners. The site could include:

Listing of all llama and alpaca organizations with a short description of the organizations and a link to their home page. This could be a real aid to lama owners wanting to join an organization.

A calendar of events of all lama activities with the type of event, date, location, and contact person's E-mail address. These events could also be linked to the sponsoring organization's home page for more details.

Newsletter Internet exchange. Individual newsletter editors could post articles to the site. By exchanging information in electronic form versus actually exchanging newsletters eliminates the need to retype or scan the article. This also becomes a resource for anyone with access to the Internet.

Lama E-mail News (bulletin board) newsletter editors and organizations could E-mail newsworthy information directly to lama owners and organizations. Organizations and individuals could E-mail to the site messages they felt were of an urgent nature and these messages could be relayed to all lama owners with E-mail addresses. This would be of tremendous benefit when the news must be conveyed in a timely manner, such as medical quarantined closing borders or shows.

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