MattL
10-08-2009, 10:20 PM
So what do you get when you join the ABA?
The Following response is from our hardworking, passionate Secretary-Karen Unrath
Dear Prospective ABA Member,
Included in the $20 per year membership ($50 for 3 years -- $250 lifetime)
Annual Yearbook (350-400 pp full of reference material) – show results – annual club business – lots of contact information in ads – educational articles
4 newsletters per year
Postings in the database of wins (if you show and win) and cumulative awards program participation
Up to date news on offerings such as merchandise – Bantam Standard – other educational materials
Our licensed judges actively participate in continuing educational programs
We work cooperatively with the APA/ABA Youth program to generate youth interest in our hobby with the ultimate goal of keeping new young members coming in, and staying with this great hobby.
The feeling of cooperation with other bantam breeders for the purpose of promoting bantam poultry. There is no better feeling than meeting someone in the showhall with an ABA logo on his shirt and sharing information on bantams . These members become lifelong hobby partners and the understanding that we are working together for the betterment of the club is enough to make you understand that we are in the same boat with the same goal and of course some differences along the way, and we all learn from each other.
All these things simply require resources and this is where you can help. By being an ABA member, you are a supporter and believe in the promotion of bantam poultry and the cooperation between breeders that we strive to achieve.
DID you know
The ABA publishes the Bantam Standard and licenses ABA Poultry Judges. We sanction hundreds of shows per year including many fairs. Our Officers, committee heads,, and board of directors are all volunteers who meet twice a year and probably weekly on email to discuss the course of action the ABA as an organization will take.
Your question is one that I get often and quite honestly I am always at a loss of words to explain( although is looks like I made up this time)– because with me – it is part of life – not only because I am the secretary (yes paid a salary – but no commission and rather nominal I might add) – but because the ABA in my opinion is the best $20 investment in the poultry world. It is a way to stay connected to your fellow hobbyists. The yearbook – again and again – is worth the price of membership and when you sit and read it (takes awhile) you will understand that the ABA actively reviews, maintains, and improves its awards programs on a regular basis (within the budget of course and we understand how tight things are for the fellow poultry breeders)
I told one person this: When you sell birds – you may get $5 apiece - $10 a piece – or $50-100 a piece – the difference being quality. Well – who sets the measurement of the quality – some say – the male has a better tail -----says who? The Standard or sometimes the judge? Well – the Standard is either published by the APA or ABA and the judges are most likely licensed that way too. Without these organizations, there is no way to organize the qualifications of a breed or provide quality judging programs for the people who will judge them. Most buyers learn quality in the showroom and they will probably talk or learn some valuable information from an ABA judge at some point in their information gathering stage.
These are some of the reasons that we need the ABA . The ABA is non-profit and vulnerable to this economy as well. We need to continue to attract new hobbyists. I strongly believe that the ABA members are for the most part happy members who want to renew and want to support their ABA. And most of all – they believe in continuing the ABA tradition that was established in 1914. Wow – we have been around for awhile and have every intention of being there for our members in the future.
Whew---------so yes – I am passionate about the ABA and believe EVERYONE should be a member. We can only provide improvements with the help of our members and that means you and your poultry friends – so please consider joining and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Karen Unrath
American Bantam Association
Secretary/Treasurer
PO Box 127
Augusta, NJ 07822
Fax/Phone: 973-383-8633
Fancybantams@embarqmail.com
www.bantamclub.com
The Following response is from our hardworking, passionate Secretary-Karen Unrath
Dear Prospective ABA Member,
Included in the $20 per year membership ($50 for 3 years -- $250 lifetime)
Annual Yearbook (350-400 pp full of reference material) – show results – annual club business – lots of contact information in ads – educational articles
4 newsletters per year
Postings in the database of wins (if you show and win) and cumulative awards program participation
Up to date news on offerings such as merchandise – Bantam Standard – other educational materials
Our licensed judges actively participate in continuing educational programs
We work cooperatively with the APA/ABA Youth program to generate youth interest in our hobby with the ultimate goal of keeping new young members coming in, and staying with this great hobby.
The feeling of cooperation with other bantam breeders for the purpose of promoting bantam poultry. There is no better feeling than meeting someone in the showhall with an ABA logo on his shirt and sharing information on bantams . These members become lifelong hobby partners and the understanding that we are working together for the betterment of the club is enough to make you understand that we are in the same boat with the same goal and of course some differences along the way, and we all learn from each other.
All these things simply require resources and this is where you can help. By being an ABA member, you are a supporter and believe in the promotion of bantam poultry and the cooperation between breeders that we strive to achieve.
DID you know
The ABA publishes the Bantam Standard and licenses ABA Poultry Judges. We sanction hundreds of shows per year including many fairs. Our Officers, committee heads,, and board of directors are all volunteers who meet twice a year and probably weekly on email to discuss the course of action the ABA as an organization will take.
Your question is one that I get often and quite honestly I am always at a loss of words to explain( although is looks like I made up this time)– because with me – it is part of life – not only because I am the secretary (yes paid a salary – but no commission and rather nominal I might add) – but because the ABA in my opinion is the best $20 investment in the poultry world. It is a way to stay connected to your fellow hobbyists. The yearbook – again and again – is worth the price of membership and when you sit and read it (takes awhile) you will understand that the ABA actively reviews, maintains, and improves its awards programs on a regular basis (within the budget of course and we understand how tight things are for the fellow poultry breeders)
I told one person this: When you sell birds – you may get $5 apiece - $10 a piece – or $50-100 a piece – the difference being quality. Well – who sets the measurement of the quality – some say – the male has a better tail -----says who? The Standard or sometimes the judge? Well – the Standard is either published by the APA or ABA and the judges are most likely licensed that way too. Without these organizations, there is no way to organize the qualifications of a breed or provide quality judging programs for the people who will judge them. Most buyers learn quality in the showroom and they will probably talk or learn some valuable information from an ABA judge at some point in their information gathering stage.
These are some of the reasons that we need the ABA . The ABA is non-profit and vulnerable to this economy as well. We need to continue to attract new hobbyists. I strongly believe that the ABA members are for the most part happy members who want to renew and want to support their ABA. And most of all – they believe in continuing the ABA tradition that was established in 1914. Wow – we have been around for awhile and have every intention of being there for our members in the future.
Whew---------so yes – I am passionate about the ABA and believe EVERYONE should be a member. We can only provide improvements with the help of our members and that means you and your poultry friends – so please consider joining and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Karen Unrath
American Bantam Association
Secretary/Treasurer
PO Box 127
Augusta, NJ 07822
Fax/Phone: 973-383-8633
Fancybantams@embarqmail.com
www.bantamclub.com