Holstein (Continued from Page ASS) lection and assembly. “In over 37 years, about $35 million has been put back into the Pennsylvania economy through the sale of cattle,” said Johnson. During brief farewell comments to the business meeting assembly, retiring PHA executive director Nichol noted that he had worked with 18 different state Holstein presidents and had the opportunity to do nuuiy interesting things. He reminded memben of what he sees as tremendous marketing oppor tunities for cattle opening up in countries that formerly relied on European suppliers, due to linger ing concerns around the world over the disease BSE. Nichol also noted that he hopes to remain active in the dairy indus try and plans ff> write a book about his experiences with the registered Holstein business. “I sec an ever-changing dairy in dustry and a need to develop new programs as it downsizes,” pre dicted Ken Raney in his interim executive director report “We’re asking for your input and your ideas.” He attributed the success of PHA to the commitment and en thusiasm of thousands of volun teers over the years and to the work of a dedicated staff that helped lead the state organization to national and international leadership. Raney said he hopes to continue thePHA’s involvement in both do mestic and international sales of Club Membership Goal Awards: L-R, Myron Bonzo, Beaver/Lawrence Counties; Paul Hartie, Activities Commit tee Chairman; Laszlo Moses, Mercer County. •• A v Progress /e Jtry Aw! mon: jny Thomas Kelly and Ed Brake; Rear, Clarence Stauffer, Holstein Field , Ken Umb e, Donald Selpt, John Howard, Warren Sutton, Lewis Berkley and Thomas Dum, Hols tein Field Rep. Annual Meeting Salutes Nichol, Promotes Raney cattle, noting a current sale selec tion and assembly of cattle for de livery to Saudia Arabia. The new executive director also shared his hopes of revitalizing the Spring Showcase and Eastcrnal National sales, both offering opportunities for PHA members to merchandise from their breeding programs. “By working together, our best opportunities lay ahead,” Raney predicted. Two members of the executive board were elected during meet ings of two of PHA’s six member ship regions. Creedin Comman. Carlisle, was re-elected from the Southcentral region. Doug Seipt, Easton, was elected to represent the Southeast region, replacing re tiring member Dean Hartman, Sinking Spring. Hartman also served as convention chair for the Reading annual meeting. Resolutions supported at the an nual meeting included one that re flected Pennsylvania Holstein members’ dissatisfaction with cur rent beef prices. That resolution called for a change in the beef checkoff program, in which no promotion funds would be de ducted for any animal selling for less than $lOO. That resolution is to be forwarded to the National Beef Board and, if rejected, a refer endum on the national beef promo tion checkoff program would be called for. Other resolutions unanimously supported by the PHA assembly included farm vehicle exemptions for trailers and semi-trailers for Awards; L-R, Jay Houser, Centre County; Rick Allen, Fayette County. farm use, support for the Right to Farm Act, keeping food safety is sues under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Agriculture, tax-valuing farm residence land the same as agriculture land when under Clean and Green jurisdic tion, and the appointment of a committee be made to study ethics issues as related to the dairy cattle industry and reporting its findings back to the PHA board and mem bership. PHA further supported a resolu tion to support Obie Snider, Imler, to be reappointed to the Penn State Board of Trustees. WINTER FORUM In a departure from prior years, a state Winter Forum session was held during the Thursday after noon session of the annual meet ing. Winter Forums, conducted by representatives of national Hol stein, have traditionally been held at several locations across the state. Their purpose is to inform and gather grassroots input from the membership and delegates to the national convention, on policy proposals being offered for con sideration by the national organi zation at each annual meeting. Leading the discussion at the Winter Forum were national presi dent and Pennsylvanian John Cope, Grantham, Pennsylvania’s national directors Ron Wood, Mansfield, and John Howard, Wil low Street, and national Holstein OMaatr PA Junior Holstein Calf Raffle Winner: L-R, Robert & Doris Schaffer, Ellzabethville, PA. Ticket sold by Heidi Mill er, Stephanie Anderson at the halter with State Dairy Prin cess Angela Werley. PA Holstein Past Presidents with Bill Nichol: Kneeling, Samuel Minor, William Nichol and Obie Snider; Standing, William Conyngham, Laszlo Moses, Lewis Berkley, Wayne Harpster, John Cope, George Bridenbaugh, Elvin Hess, Jr., Jay Landis, Russell Jones and Donald Seipt. Hall of Fame Winner: Seated, Jenny Lee Shue and Robert Gltt; Standing, Steve Wood, Chris Wood, Mike Gitt, Linda Gitt, Doug Gitt and Tina Gitt. chief executive officer Steve Kerr. Two key issues which generated lengthy debate were a proposal to raise registry fees and a proposal to make changes to an open hard book pf Holstein registry. The pro posals will likely go to delegate de bate and voting at the 1997 nation al convention. In outlining the proposal for a registry fee increase, national pre sident John Cope reviewed the Holstein Association’s financial history of the past several years. During the 1980 s decade, Holstein operated profitably five of the 10 years. No year in the 1990 s had National Holstein finances oper ated in the black, until 1996, when a robust last quarter pushed finances into slight profit margin for the fiscal year. While the Asso ciation is basically debt-free, the annual income is not covering the cost of operating the organization. The registry fee increase pro posal as presented would raise the (Turn to Page A3B)
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