Messages

16

News and Information / Re: The ABC_members database overview

« on: May 14, 2019, 12:02:07 PM »

Aww, thank you, Jean

I hope I can continue to serve this club in the years to come.  Now maybe I can just work on "selected projects" without all the additional responsibility.  I am so thankful to Dana Smith for stepping forward and taking over this role!

17

News and Information / The ABC_members database overview

« on: May 13, 2019, 12:29:22 PM »

As I leave the office I've held for nearly 4.5 years, and as we transition to our new Secretary/Treasurer, Dana Smith, I realize there are some things that should be published and have not been.

One such item is our abc members database. When I started documenting the various processes for Dana, I realized the user interface on our database was not very user-friendly. So, I went back and incorporated a new user interface.

This document is an overview of that user interface and the image below is a schema of the user interface (not of the database itself, just the user interface).



To see the overview of the database itself, here is the .pdf:

http://ameraucanabreedersclub.org/docs/ABC%20Members%20DB.pdf

18

News and Information / Re: Update on the transition from me to the new Secty/Treasurer, Dana Smith

« on: May 07, 2019, 06:57:51 PM »

Our "official" email addresses of info@ameraucanabreedersclub.org, sales@ameraucanabreedersclub.org, and meets@ameraucanabreedersclub.org will all forward automatically to her personal email address, just like they do now to mine.

I did it that way to prevent all the spam cluttering up our personal email boxes, that becomes prevalent when an email address is listed on websites, FB pages, etc.

19

News and Information / Update on the transition from me to the new Secty/Treasurer, Dana Smith

« on: May 04, 2019, 06:37:38 AM »

The first phase of the transition, electronic transfer of files, is now complete, pending Dana's final download.  This was, and had to be, broken into two steps, with the first step of zipping and transferring the "working directory" for ABC to Dana.  That working directory, even zipped, was over 2.2 GB of data/history/info.

The next step in that phase was the transfer of the ABC website files and that was recently completed and is now in Dana's capable hands.  This was another huge transfer of over 2 GB of data/files/images.

The next step is setting up all the various tools that we use to maintain website, forum, and all the other hats the Secty/Treasurer wears. 

The final step will be going through the various processes (new members, meet requests, meet reports, etc) with Dana so there is no gap.  Well, actually there is already a gap as I have saved back examples from each of the above to use as training guides for Dana.  With her background, and education, however, I expect she will pick these processes up very quickly and, just as quickly, have ideas on how to improve on those existing processes.

All of the above will be done by her official start date of 5/15/19. 

Thank you, Dana, for stepping up to the plate!

Update on my surgery: It is still scheduled for 5/21.  The cardiology reports are both in (nuclear stress test and echocardiogram) and, with one minor issue on the stress test, all is clear and I'm approved to go forward with the surgery.  I have been told I will be spending 5-6 days in the hospital and for the first week at home, will have a drain tube in my head (this is done to prevent a build up of fluid around the brain).  The neurologist that is 1/2 of the surgical team has already told me no electronic devices during that first week! (How did he know he needed to emphasize that?), so no phone, no laptop - I can't even watch TV - it's going to be a very rough week. lol

Please forgive any delays in processing new members, meet request, meet reports, etc over the last month and during this transition, and place the blame squarely on my shoulders.  My little "episodes" are more frequent, and my energy levels are not what they used to be.

Hopefully all will be healed and I'll be ready to go again this fall, as I have several shows on my "wish list" to attend!  Hope to see many of my friends at some of the shows this fall - just ignore the new mohawk haircut - it will grow back.

20

News and Information / Re: Effective April 1st, the ABC Board of Directors will need a new Secty/Treasurer

« on: April 13, 2019, 05:26:52 PM »

Mindy, they are still working on finding the perfect candidate, hopefully soon.

The limit on Board Members was discussed at length before it was finally proposed for membership vote.  There were several board members who did Not want this to be a requirement. Unfortunately when if was determined that the other club already had that requirement, the vote ended as it stands now.

The actual Board vote on this was 5 ayes, 2 nays, with one of those 2 nays later changing their vote to an aye.

21

News and Information / Re: Effective April 1st, the ABC Board of Directors will need a new Secty/Treasurer

« on: April 13, 2019, 04:18:24 PM »

A viable candidate, with the skills necessary, has been found and Jean Ribbeck has nominated this candidate to the Board.  We are now waiting for a Board vote.

Hopefully, we will be making an announcement soon.

22

News and Information / Re: Effective April 1st, the ABC Board of Directors will need a new Secty/Treasurer

« on: April 02, 2019, 06:00:10 AM »

but you've failed to share the background. ....Your response did nothing to clarify this so I went on not submitting junior reports just as it had been done for the Nationals.

Those two statements say it all, Michelle.  It seems nothing I can do, or nothing I have done, has been enough to satisfy you, so there is no need for me to post further.

23

News and Information / Re: Effective April 1st, the ABC Board of Directors will need a new Secty/Treasurer

« on: April 01, 2019, 11:23:11 AM »

I do think you have serious health issues that have impacted your duties within the club. I would not wish your current situation on anyone. I feel for your family and friends during this time as I'm sure your upcoming surgery is causing astronomical levels of stress to you and them both.

No question that my current abilities and strength are not what they have been in the past.  As far as the stress, what causes more stress to me, as well as to my family members, is seeing my character and integrity attacked.  And, no, I'm not worried about this surgery for I know in Who's Hands I rest.

Yes, I changed my post, although I'd be happy to back up what I said.  Our likes on our FB page are up, and getting close 2.5K for the first time in its history.  Post engagements are up, as well.  New members apps are at pace with previous years.  Any organization that has annual membership, with all memberships expiring on the same day (12/31 for the ABC), will experience a drop in membership when renewals are not made, then grow again during the year.  At at least one point during the past 4 years, our membership has reached a high of 402 active members.  It's cyclical and the graphs that I have provided this Board of Directors confirm that.

As to your comment about meet points - the truth is, Michelle, the Junior points for the Utah show should never have been awarded.  Our meet policy states that meet reports received after 30 days will not qualify for either rosettes or points, yet I went to bat for you and got both of those - even though the meet report was not received for nearly a year after the meet.  Yes, I make mistakes - I'm human, but when notified there is an error, I get it fixed.  Please remember that this position, as well as all the positions on this Board, are voluntary.  We give up our time, our resources, our energy, and extend our loyalty and dedication to this club because we care about this breed and this Club.

There have been just under 250 rosettes ordered and sent out - over the last 4 years - and just under 150 ordered and sent out earlier this month and that does not count all the plaques, trophies, cash awards, auction donations, and all the other things this Club has sponsored and dedicated to its members. 

And yes, I was being sarcastic yesterday and that was inappropriate, which is why I edited my own post.  But I'm not being sarcastic now.

24

News and Information / Re: Effective April 1st, the ABC Board of Directors will need a new Secty/Treasurer

« on: March 31, 2019, 03:42:44 PM »

I would also like to add there have been plenty of other notices:  on this forum, on our FB page, and in the bulletin, so there was no "negligence", nor would you be aware of the other searches we have done over the last 4 weeks.

25

News and Information / Re: Effective April 1st, the ABC Board of Directors will need a new Secty/Treasurer

« on: March 31, 2019, 02:35:11 PM »

You did not receive the email, because by your own statements, you would not qualify for the position because of your membership in another club. Junior members also did not receive it, nor others that had already been eliminated as candidates.

Your concern for my "serious health issues" is touching.

But don't worry, my time is coming to an end. Don't put the candles out on that celebration cake yet.

26

News and Information / Re: Effective April 1st, the ABC Board of Directors will need a new Secty/Treasurer

« on: March 31, 2019, 08:39:14 AM »

I have emailed the Board and let them know I won't leave them in the lurch, but I'm sure an announcement is coming any day.

27

Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: Self Blue Ameraucana Bantam Approval Process

« on: March 30, 2019, 11:15:43 AM »

(unless the show which Paul mentioned was sufficient for one of the prequalifying meets.)

Even if the numbers were there, which they aren't, it would not fill in as one of the pre-qualifying meets, as those are set by the APA after the petition has been filed.  The only thing the numbers for the last five years will give us is a "pass" to skip the pre-qualifying meets and go right into the qualifying meets.  And those numbers are not there.

As I've said before, this will be a minimum of 4 year project and could very well go into 5, if we even have enough members with APA members status for 5+ years that have been breeding the self-blue bantams for that same 5+ years to start the petition.

28

Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: Self Blue Ameraucana Bantam Approval Process

« on: March 29, 2019, 03:51:36 PM »

Susan, do any shows indicate that there were enough bantams exhibited to provide for one of the "PreQualifying" meets for the APA ?    I have not re-read the requirements from the ABA, but would that historical information help with anything else for the recognition process?   

Don, I'll be happy to do that research at some point in the future.  Right now, with my surgery scheduled, APA and ABA yearbook ads due, and everything else I have on my plate, this just is not a priority.  I have just gotten home from spending yet another afternoon at the Drs.

Timing is everything.

29

News and Information / Re: Surgery is, tentatively, scheduled

« on: March 29, 2019, 10:21:10 AM »

Susan, we will be praying for you, your surgery and recovery.That is quite a handle (otolaryngologist) for your Doctor. I won't even try to pronounce it!

If I have it correctly, it is pronounced:

Oh Toe Lair In Gol (like Golly) Oh Gist

lol...that's how I read it, anyhow

30

Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: Self Blue Ameraucana Bantam Approval Process

« on: March 28, 2019, 08:30:12 PM »

No.  It was voted that the next project would be self-blue bantams, but this project is not yet complete and there were other things that were higher priority.