Welcome All

Dear DAPNet Members and Potential Members,

DAPNet is off to a great start becoming a new organization. During the Northeast Animal Powered Field Days we had our first meeting on Sunday, October 17th. Carl Russell and Lisa McCrory are the driving force behind NEAPFD and the online discussion forum DAP. We were given a glimpse of all that they had to do to make this event happen the last 4 years, and what running DAP entails. We also learned that it has become too much for them to continue on their own, this is why they created DAPNet. We used this sunday meeting of many minds to circulate ideas of how to progress as an official non-profit organization, while also starting to unsaddle Carl and Lisa from the countless tasks it involves. In the end we decided to have a conference call meeting that was organized by David Fisher.

On November 8th, 23 of us gathered via phone to decide the next steps. We decided that we should be a non-profit group so that we can obtain grants and funding easier. To do this we will have to work under an existing 501c3 or become one ourselves. There are advantages and disadvantages to either option. A group of eight people including Carl and Lisa formed a Transition Team. We are researching the pros and cons of working under a non profit, which non-profit to team up with, even if only on a temporary basis, and what state laws we would have to abide by. The team is also working on taking over some of Carl and Lisa’s responsibilities such as treasury, administrative tasks, communication, etc.

We would like to issue our first newsletter in January as early as possible. The idea is to include articles, updates, classifieds, calender of events, a write-up of the Field days, a write-up of the member meeting, etc. We are asking you, our members, to help by submitting ideas, content, advertising and photos from the 2010 NEAPFD for the newsletter. Also we are looking for volunteers to help create the newsletter. “Many hands make light work” especially when starting a new organization. If you have ideas, content or time for our newsletter please contact Lisa McCrory or Erika Marczak (contact info below).

We are currently gathering information about working as a non-profit under Rural Vermont or Small Farms Conservancy and the state laws that govern these organizations. Our Transition Team includes Carl Russell, Lisa McCrory, Jean Cross, Geoff Pritchard, David Fisher, Erik Andrus, Brad Johnson and Erika Marczak. These folks will be paving the way for the new organization until we decide on how to organize DAPNet with officers, committees, etc. All are welcome to help, if you have a skill and would like to be involved we will be welcoming and needing more help as we progress.

We would like to thank you, our members, for your support in becoming DAPNet members. There is strength in numbers and we encourage you to spread the word and see how many others we can welcome to our network. Every dollar brought in is a dollar towards maintaining DAP, mailing newsletters and promoting NEAPFD, to name a few financial needs. More importantly, every new member is another source of knowledge, experience and friendship that we have come to enjoy and thrive upon. This may be a big world but with organizations like our own, we are able to cross huge bridges and come together to build a strong working draft animal community. Many thanks friends, have an enjoyable winter, we are looking forward to hearing from you all.

Sincerely,

Erika Marczak
Transition Team Communications Committee

P.S. Please encourage a friend to join DAPNet by filling out the form at our NEAPFD website http://animalpowerfielddays.worldsecuresystems.com/membership.html.
Contact information for newsletter, advertising and sponsorship:
Lisa McCrory, Lmccrory@hughes.net, (802) 234-5524 , 341 Macintosh Hill Rd, Randolph, VT 05060.
or Erika Marczak (518) 441-9870 or marczake@hotmail.com.