Post by AnnB (NE) on Nov 29, 2011 8:39:45 GMT -5
I'm posting this here so that it will be seen:
Over the Thankgiving Holiday there have been some major developments concerning AMJA&R - we were targeted for a hostile takeover.
The following email from the Association went out to a large portion of the membership, I am reposting it here for those that didn't get it and so that others can see what's going on.
Ann B
______________________________________________________
From: Maureen Neidhardt Rare Breeds
Dear American Miniature Jersey Association members and enthusiasts…
Upon receipt of the message that Kim Jones of Mary Janes Farm has sent to each of you I feel that I must lay out the Mission of the American Miniature Jersey Association and Registry, LLC as an update and as a refresher of what the AMJA&R does stand for.
I also must clarify the real intentions of the proposed Heritage Jersey Organization.
From a very small beginning based on the foresight of Fonnie Thoman of Crown City, Ohio, the AMJ has been steadily growing to it’s current over 1000 registered head of homestead cows. These numbers range from Foundation Pure Miniatures to Foundation Pure Mid Miniatures, Breeding stock and percentage animals so the base of actual Foundation Pure Miniatures is a small genetic base in the bovine world. But we are growing and the pace is picking up.
We work with you at nurturing the cows and preserving the pedigrees of these fine little cattle. Today’s trend toward smaller cattle with less feed intake and more production is a great match with the Miniature Jersey realm.
The AMJA&R is currently in the process of completing a substantial update to the web site and will be incorporating a regular newsletter or blog so the membership will be able to enjoy regular communication. The AMJ yahoo group moderated by Ann Bledsoe of Wymore, NE is available at all times. It is titled amjaminijerseys@yahoogroups.com tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/AMJAMiniJersey/
And can also be reached by going to Ann’s web site www.freewebs.com/arrowheadridge and clicking on the link. I will try to keep you apprised of the website progress via the talk groups but the first evidence will be there by or before December 15, 2011.
The excitement of owning, raising and using the produce of the Miniature Jersey is catching on at a good and healthy pace as folks are recognizing that they want to have their own self sufficiency and sustainability while teaching their children the benefits and the family values that all go together.
The AMJA&R is here to record your pedigrees and serve as a communicator, ambassador of the breed and the association. When the time is right, we are more than ready to look toward formation of and the sanctioning of local clubs, regional shows, etc.
If members in any geographic area reach the point of wanting a club please contact us for our support and guidance. We encourage members working together and sharing their common interest. For the most part, we simply do not have the numbers of cattle or members to try to expand ‘before our time’. Such a move can do more harm than good as the market is created before the supply is available.
I do have the Registry know how based on having started and been the Executive Director and Registrar of 4 registries plus assisting in the formation of several others over the past 29 years. I have registered upwards of 20,000 cattle through these organizations. Working at treating members equitably is a huge part of keeping a registry running and I do work at treating you all equally.
For the time being the most important thing that each and every one of our members can do is to spread the excitement. Work in your home area, raise your little Jerseys, work on your herds and tell your neighbors. Get involved by doing exhibits at local shows and introduce what you are doing and show the merits of your stock and it’s production to all who will listen. You can ask for classes wherever the numbers are great enough, or ask to be included in existing dairy classes at your fairs and open shows. Show your sense of responsibility to home…work on reality. Put your money, your investment, into building business close around you. This is what will create the possibility of forming local clubs as the interest grows. Do you want to travel with your cattle to distant shows to compete or will you be among those who “Do Good Work” right in your community. Now is the time to ‘hold things close’ as we work on sustainability and self sufficiency in tough economic times.
Mary Jane’s proposal goes along with Kim Jones statement to me that the Miniature Jerseys could be the next big Farmgal fad. Is that how you would wish to be perceived?
While publishing Rare Breeds Journal I experienced the fad/flash in the pan exotic businesses as they went through Ostriches, Emus, Potbellied Pigs and many more. In excitement people would call me asking that very question, “What is going to be the next big fad?” Where are they now? Done and gone with exception of a very few who were in it from the heart.
What started as a very friendly call from Mary Jane offering to help with the AMJ web site seemed innocent enough but after a couple of more contacts the situation escalated to the real motive behind her call. She wanted to take over ALL of the registry not just the web site. Their projected goal is to register 100,000 cows in the next 10 years. (Where will they come from?) It is to become a full time job for Kimberly Jones and several other staff members (of Mary Janes organization). These are some of the things that you have not been told with the message telling of the formation of the Heritage Jersey Organization.
They also want a place on the web site to evaluate you as sellers. Policing the membership is not the duty of a Registry. It is a good way to earn a lawsuit.
Mary Jane’s Farm is the title of Mary Jane Butters magazine and Mary Jane represents the commercialization and branding of an industry that does not require it. Are we looking for branding and franchising?
She offers you a ‘free’ year’s membership in exchange for your AMJ certificates. That is a really small investment on her part in exchange for our pedigrees. Copying them is a lot easier than developing them. After that what will her charges become? Great introductory rates are generally followed by real charges. What is the cost literally and figuratively?
The AMJ has been very much ‘blind sided’ by the sudden efforts of Mary Jane Butters and her secretary, Kimberly Jones (who apparently needs more work) to “take over” the Miniature Jersey realm. Each of you as members and enthusiasts and friends of the AMJA&R have the opportunity to support or reject this movement. The AMJA&R represents the homestead cow and her contribution to the betterment of our country and our living conditions. We invite your feedback. What do you as members wish to see the AMJA&R accomplish? We will listen to your comments, evaluate them fully and then do the most we can to work in unity for the honest and useful good of the Association.
Please send your e-mail comments to rarebreed@bbc.net , call me at 308-665-1431 or write with your wishes, we are receptive to hearing them.
Respectfully submitted,
American Miniature Jersey Association and Registry, LLC
Maureen Neidhardt, Registrar
P.S. To answer the question of members who wish to be able to view pedigrees online, our software company reports that we do not currently have this option but they are working on it and will let us know as soon as it becomes available.
Over the Thankgiving Holiday there have been some major developments concerning AMJA&R - we were targeted for a hostile takeover.
The following email from the Association went out to a large portion of the membership, I am reposting it here for those that didn't get it and so that others can see what's going on.
Ann B
______________________________________________________
From: Maureen Neidhardt Rare Breeds
Dear American Miniature Jersey Association members and enthusiasts…
Upon receipt of the message that Kim Jones of Mary Janes Farm has sent to each of you I feel that I must lay out the Mission of the American Miniature Jersey Association and Registry, LLC as an update and as a refresher of what the AMJA&R does stand for.
I also must clarify the real intentions of the proposed Heritage Jersey Organization.
From a very small beginning based on the foresight of Fonnie Thoman of Crown City, Ohio, the AMJ has been steadily growing to it’s current over 1000 registered head of homestead cows. These numbers range from Foundation Pure Miniatures to Foundation Pure Mid Miniatures, Breeding stock and percentage animals so the base of actual Foundation Pure Miniatures is a small genetic base in the bovine world. But we are growing and the pace is picking up.
We work with you at nurturing the cows and preserving the pedigrees of these fine little cattle. Today’s trend toward smaller cattle with less feed intake and more production is a great match with the Miniature Jersey realm.
The AMJA&R is currently in the process of completing a substantial update to the web site and will be incorporating a regular newsletter or blog so the membership will be able to enjoy regular communication. The AMJ yahoo group moderated by Ann Bledsoe of Wymore, NE is available at all times. It is titled amjaminijerseys@yahoogroups.com tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/AMJAMiniJersey/
And can also be reached by going to Ann’s web site www.freewebs.com/arrowheadridge and clicking on the link. I will try to keep you apprised of the website progress via the talk groups but the first evidence will be there by or before December 15, 2011.
The excitement of owning, raising and using the produce of the Miniature Jersey is catching on at a good and healthy pace as folks are recognizing that they want to have their own self sufficiency and sustainability while teaching their children the benefits and the family values that all go together.
The AMJA&R is here to record your pedigrees and serve as a communicator, ambassador of the breed and the association. When the time is right, we are more than ready to look toward formation of and the sanctioning of local clubs, regional shows, etc.
If members in any geographic area reach the point of wanting a club please contact us for our support and guidance. We encourage members working together and sharing their common interest. For the most part, we simply do not have the numbers of cattle or members to try to expand ‘before our time’. Such a move can do more harm than good as the market is created before the supply is available.
I do have the Registry know how based on having started and been the Executive Director and Registrar of 4 registries plus assisting in the formation of several others over the past 29 years. I have registered upwards of 20,000 cattle through these organizations. Working at treating members equitably is a huge part of keeping a registry running and I do work at treating you all equally.
For the time being the most important thing that each and every one of our members can do is to spread the excitement. Work in your home area, raise your little Jerseys, work on your herds and tell your neighbors. Get involved by doing exhibits at local shows and introduce what you are doing and show the merits of your stock and it’s production to all who will listen. You can ask for classes wherever the numbers are great enough, or ask to be included in existing dairy classes at your fairs and open shows. Show your sense of responsibility to home…work on reality. Put your money, your investment, into building business close around you. This is what will create the possibility of forming local clubs as the interest grows. Do you want to travel with your cattle to distant shows to compete or will you be among those who “Do Good Work” right in your community. Now is the time to ‘hold things close’ as we work on sustainability and self sufficiency in tough economic times.
Mary Jane’s proposal goes along with Kim Jones statement to me that the Miniature Jerseys could be the next big Farmgal fad. Is that how you would wish to be perceived?
While publishing Rare Breeds Journal I experienced the fad/flash in the pan exotic businesses as they went through Ostriches, Emus, Potbellied Pigs and many more. In excitement people would call me asking that very question, “What is going to be the next big fad?” Where are they now? Done and gone with exception of a very few who were in it from the heart.
What started as a very friendly call from Mary Jane offering to help with the AMJ web site seemed innocent enough but after a couple of more contacts the situation escalated to the real motive behind her call. She wanted to take over ALL of the registry not just the web site. Their projected goal is to register 100,000 cows in the next 10 years. (Where will they come from?) It is to become a full time job for Kimberly Jones and several other staff members (of Mary Janes organization). These are some of the things that you have not been told with the message telling of the formation of the Heritage Jersey Organization.
They also want a place on the web site to evaluate you as sellers. Policing the membership is not the duty of a Registry. It is a good way to earn a lawsuit.
Mary Jane’s Farm is the title of Mary Jane Butters magazine and Mary Jane represents the commercialization and branding of an industry that does not require it. Are we looking for branding and franchising?
She offers you a ‘free’ year’s membership in exchange for your AMJ certificates. That is a really small investment on her part in exchange for our pedigrees. Copying them is a lot easier than developing them. After that what will her charges become? Great introductory rates are generally followed by real charges. What is the cost literally and figuratively?
The AMJ has been very much ‘blind sided’ by the sudden efforts of Mary Jane Butters and her secretary, Kimberly Jones (who apparently needs more work) to “take over” the Miniature Jersey realm. Each of you as members and enthusiasts and friends of the AMJA&R have the opportunity to support or reject this movement. The AMJA&R represents the homestead cow and her contribution to the betterment of our country and our living conditions. We invite your feedback. What do you as members wish to see the AMJA&R accomplish? We will listen to your comments, evaluate them fully and then do the most we can to work in unity for the honest and useful good of the Association.
Please send your e-mail comments to rarebreed@bbc.net , call me at 308-665-1431 or write with your wishes, we are receptive to hearing them.
Respectfully submitted,
American Miniature Jersey Association and Registry, LLC
Maureen Neidhardt, Registrar
P.S. To answer the question of members who wish to be able to view pedigrees online, our software company reports that we do not currently have this option but they are working on it and will let us know as soon as it becomes available.