Creating an Outline for Change.
Recognizing that our camelid world has, indeed, changed and that we are at a critical point for action, those attending Camelid Community 2008 accepted the challenge to create an “Outline for Change” to take back to llama and alpaca organizations across the country. Participants in Camelid Community 2007 set the stage for this year’s event by identifying industry weaknesses and strengths. This year’s gathering focused on the issues the 2007 group deemed critical to our community’s success, including:
*Though “strong local and national organizations” was listed as a strength for the camelid community as a whole, organizational conflicts and politics topped the list of threats to our community. It was felt personal agendas, the baggage of history and fear of change have helped to fuel declining memberships, a breakdown in regional organizations and a general lack of cooperation and collaboration.
*Education was seen as vital for a variety of audiences, but the most critical need for education and accurate information seemed to be with new and potential owners, especially those having no contact with camelid organizations. The prevalence of misinformation, especially on the Internet, was seen as a major factor contributing to the need for sound education.
*The need for more and better communication was deemed critical—between the llama and alpaca industries; between the camelid community and other livestock and companion animal industries; between the camelid community and the agricultural community in general; between the various camelid organizations; and even between organizations and their own members.
In tackling the critical issues that were identified last year, those at Camelid Community 2008 rallied around the following quote from anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Attendees were divided into two groups, one focusing on dissemination of camelid information to various audiences (education and outreach), and the other on methods of communication between organizations and industries (holding “conversations” and having dialogs between groups within the camelid community and without). After coming together and expanding on each other’s lists, the whole group came up with what they considered the most important areas to concentrate on immediately. They included:
*Produce a simple camelid care brochure/fact sheet that can be mass produced and widely distributed.
*Put together a camelid press packet for use by llama and alpaca organizations and owners across the country to assist in their publicity efforts.
*Identify and compile contact information for other livestock organizations, publications and web sites; agricultural and small farm publications; and fiber publications.
The group at Camelid Community felt it is important that we as a community start taking a unified and consistent approach with our camelid information, especially with the “outside world” of new and potential owners. Other livestock and companion animal industries are way ahead of us in this regard, and we could learn from them.
*Though “strong local and national organizations” was listed as a strength for the camelid community as a whole, organizational conflicts and politics topped the list of threats to our community. It was felt personal agendas, the baggage of history and fear of change have helped to fuel declining memberships, a breakdown in regional organizations and a general lack of cooperation and collaboration.
*Education was seen as vital for a variety of audiences, but the most critical need for education and accurate information seemed to be with new and potential owners, especially those having no contact with camelid organizations. The prevalence of misinformation, especially on the Internet, was seen as a major factor contributing to the need for sound education.
*The need for more and better communication was deemed critical—between the llama and alpaca industries; between the camelid community and other livestock and companion animal industries; between the camelid community and the agricultural community in general; between the various camelid organizations; and even between organizations and their own members.
In tackling the critical issues that were identified last year, those at Camelid Community 2008 rallied around the following quote from anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Attendees were divided into two groups, one focusing on dissemination of camelid information to various audiences (education and outreach), and the other on methods of communication between organizations and industries (holding “conversations” and having dialogs between groups within the camelid community and without). After coming together and expanding on each other’s lists, the whole group came up with what they considered the most important areas to concentrate on immediately. They included:
*Produce a simple camelid care brochure/fact sheet that can be mass produced and widely distributed.
*Put together a camelid press packet for use by llama and alpaca organizations and owners across the country to assist in their publicity efforts.
*Identify and compile contact information for other livestock organizations, publications and web sites; agricultural and small farm publications; and fiber publications.
The group at Camelid Community felt it is important that we as a community start taking a unified and consistent approach with our camelid information, especially with the “outside world” of new and potential owners. Other livestock and companion animal industries are way ahead of us in this regard, and we could learn from them.