Start: 6:00pm, End: 6:59pm
Attended: Rebecca, Kim, Faith, Jason, Kari, Kelsy, Kris
Quick Recap
- The Michigan Alpaca Association board meeting focused on financial updates and upcoming events.
- The group discussed the current bank account balance of $11,019.33, outstanding invoices including $201.50 to Web Savvy Marketing and approximately $400 to Dr. Pam Walker, and plans for a fiber collection event at Faith’s Mill on June 13th.
- They explored the possibility of creating discounted dryer balls for members using collected fiber, with Jason and Faith discussing logistics around processing and timing.
- The board also reviewed plans for an upcoming color genotyping webinar at the end of the month and discussed potentially hosting a neonatal class in early spring.
- Finally, they considered the possibility of setting up a separate event space at the upcoming Michigan Alpaca Show to sell association products and attract general public interest.
Summary
Bank Updates
Kris reported paying $1,000 for a donation and needing to follow up with the bank regarding paperwork and a new card for Rebecca.
Association Payment Methods Discussion
The group discussed payment methods and outstanding bills for the association. Rebecca noted that Pam Walker cannot accept credit cards or PayPal, requiring them to mail a check. They reviewed current financial obligations, including an unpaid invoice from Web Savvy Marketing for website work and a reimbursement to Cotton Creek Farms for the fiber exchange. Rebecca mentioned ongoing website issues that required technical support, which she approved based on her expertise in the matter.
Alpaca Webinar and Invoicing Updates
Rebecca clarified her work on the Alpaca 101 webinar, explaining that she had organized the recording and assets in Google Drive, added attendees to the MailChimp list, and sent an email with all materials to members and the board. Jason mentioned that Pam had updated the amounts for some drugs in the Medicine Cabinet, advising everyone to review the new version. Rebecca noted that Cotton Creek would need to invoice Michigan Alpaca for a payment of $215.10 and mentioned an outstanding invoice of approximately $200 from the previous year. The conversation ended with Faith inquiring about materials for an upcoming show.
Membership and Operations Update Meeting
The team discussed current membership numbers, with Rebecca reporting 64 active members including 17 new members this year. Faith announced she had contacted Biosecure and Topknot Shearing about distributing “What’s Next?” cards, with plans to distribute around 200 cards within the next month. The group reviewed financial matters, including outstanding invoices from Web Savvy Marketing ($201.50) and Dr. Pam Walker ($400), and discussed a potential membership plugin that Rebecca will demo to evaluate its benefits before making a decision on implementation.
Financial Records and Event Planning
The team discussed financial record issues, discovering incomplete documentation including a 2024 990N form but no records from 2025. They agreed to seek a CPA for non-profit accounting services, with Kris and Kelsy offering to contact their respective accountants. The group also reviewed upcoming events, including a color genotyping webinar at the end of the month with 60 interested participants and 15 registered, and a fiber collection event at Faith’s Mill on June 13th. They discussed potential improvements to the fiber collection process and explored the possibility of creating mass-produced items like dryer balls from member-fiber, with Jason and Faith agreeing to investigate the feasibility and timeline for this project.
Fleece Processing for Dryer Balls
The group discussed plans for collecting and processing fleece into dryer balls. Kim suggested starting with a pre-stock of processed fleece to encourage more donations. Jason explained his washing schedule, noting that collections would be processed in the fall. They agreed to separate the fleece by color, with whites, grays, and fawns being preferred for dryer balls, and discussed how to combine colors effectively. The group aligned on starting with a gray-colored product to test the process.
Discounted Dryer Balls Program Proposal
The team discussed offering discounted dryer balls to association members through a fiber donation program. Jason proposed using donated fiber material to create approximately 1,000 dryer balls, with options to either give members direct discounts or provide them with wholesale pricing through a monetary system. The group agreed to develop a detailed process for the program, considering both costs and profit margins for the association.
Member Profiling and Neonatal Class
The team discussed two main topics: member profiling and a potential neonatal class. Regarding member profiling, they agreed to explore adding options to the sign-up form to categorize members (e.g., store owners, tour operators, crafters) once they transition to a paid plugin. For the neonatal class, Kim reported that Cheryl is available most of next spring, and the team decided to aim for an early March timing before nationals, with plans to use WooCommerce for ticket sales and potentially set a minimum attendance requirement. The conversation ended with Jason bringing up a topic about a building at the Michigan Alpaca Show, though the discussion was cut off in the transcript.
Michigan Alpaca Association Event Planning
The group discussed the possibility of hosting an event at a Michigan Alpaca Association show, with a focus on attracting the general public rather than just alpaca owners. Kelsy volunteered to check out the venue and take videos or photos to assess its potential. The team agreed to observe public attendance at the upcoming show to determine if the event would be worthwhile. Jason suggested that marketing the event could be handled by his wife, though Rebecca declined to take on this responsibility.