Committee help!!!

[Ethan Tapper]

Speaking of community…

The DAPNet Board of Directors has established several committees to cover all the things that we need to do. The only problem is that as a relatively small group of people, we lack the time and especially the specific expertise to do everything in the way we know it should be done. Which is why we’re asking all you loyal DAPNet members, especially those with time or specific expertise in on of the focus areas listed below, to join one or more of our committees. WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! Please consider taking a stake in our community and helping us out. Thanks a lot!

—-Outreach/Communication
-Newsletters
-Websites
-Membership, Promotion and Advertising
NEEDS: People with experience or interest in website maintenance and layout, graphic design, paper and online publications, writing, and recruiting members for a non-profit organization.
Contacts: Jen Judkins, Erika Marczak, Ethan Tapper, Pam Rickenbach, Ed Thayer, Mark Cowdrey

— Programs & Events
-Annual Meeting
-Smaller/regional/satellite gatherings
-NEAPFD
NEEDS: People with experience or interest in event planning and organization.
Contacts: Ken Mulder, Tim Harrigan, Ed Thayer, David Fisher

—Development/Budget
-Funding
-Grant opportunity research
-Grant writing
NEEDS: People with experience or interest in accounting, managing the budget of a non-profit organization, GRANT WRITING, and investigation of financial opportunities for DAPnet.
Contacts: Reva Seybolt, Jean Cross, Brad Johnson, Mark Cowdrey

—Governance
-Nominations
-Organizational issues
-BoD issues
NEEDS: People with experience or interest in the ongoing governance, development and administration of a non-profit organization.
Contacts: Jen Judkins, Tim Harrigan, Ethan Tapper, Reva Seybolt

[dominiquer60]

We also want to extend this to all of our DAP forum users. If you are not registered please consider registering and joining the conversations. If you are a registered user and enjoy using the forum or see value in what we offer when you do use it, please consider becoming a member of DAPNet.

Anybody is welcome to join a committee. There are many minor tasks that seem small, but are a huge help to those of us committed to the organization. Join us to help proof read the newsletter, join us to write some content for the website, want to hold a recognized workshop at your place, join our events and programs committee. Do you know of a grant opportunity that would apply to us, pass it on to our budget committee.

The Board of directors is only a group of 12 people that volunteer their time to advance this organization and to help others interested in draft animals. No one on the board of directors is paid or gains any financial benefits from being involved. We do become familiar with other members and benefit from all of the great resources and discussions that all of us DAP users are exposed to in person at events and online. The only paid person on staff is our wonderful Administrator Jean Cross, she does a lot of grunt work and keeps our books, records and database in one central location, things that a volunteer should not be expected to do.

So please contact any of us with any questions or suggestions, and better yet solutions that you would be willing to help work on.

We are here to help each other be better long distance neighbors in a small but growing community.

[Robin]

A year or so ago, I requested literature about DAP to hand out at events that I attend, also inquired about helping with mailings, etc.
I was to receive the literature. Never heard a word more….no literature arrived, nor did I hear about my request to help with the mailings, so………that was the end of that!
I do some local events in the Hudson Valley area. I would be willing to hand out any literature available.
We also do a plow day in the spring. If anyone would want to come to that with items to sell, bring draft animals, etc. I am sure that could be arranged. Stay in touch!
Robin

[dominiquer60]

Robin,

I remember that and I have to admit that I dropped the ball. Sometimes transitions are overwhelming to say the least and we certainly had our share of hiccups last Spring. But now we have some new ambitious board members (not trying to put down past board members at all) and our Administrator! We are slowly working towards some promotional materials and such for some small events that are coming up. If you could email Jean she can put you on the list of people that are having these materials mailed to them, or if you want she could email them to you when they are done and you could print them out too.

Having a presence at events like yours is a great opportunity to let people know who we are and the resources that we have to offer them. I think that this year will be much smoother as we restock our committees and settle in to ourselves, most of all having Jean as a central contact for members and directors will be most helpful. In just the few months that she has been hired she has already made a huge difference.

Your past help and offers are greatly appreciated,

Erika

[Robin]

Some of the posts are not actiive….like 3 day old fish……they are outdated…..more attention needes to be placed here!
My thoughts only.
Robin

[jen judkins]

@Robin 29593 wrote:

Some of the posts are not actiive….like 3 day old fish……they are outdated…..more attention needes to be placed here!
My thoughts only.
Robin

Robin, can you elaborate on what you mean by this. It seems out of context with the discussion and I don’t understand what, exactly you are saying. Sorry, I’m blonde…sometimes things have to knock me over before I see them.;)

[Ethan Tapper]

We still need volunteers for our committees. We have had some people come forward, but could definitely use some more help. Everybody’s volunteering their time, and the more people that share the load, the less we each have to do. It’s all about just getting folks into working with draft animals.

[Robin]

I offered to hand out fliers/info at events I attend with my oxen. I am in the Hudson Valley of NY. I did send an e-mail to Jean. I have not heard back. Is this something you would like me to do?
Also, the Hudson Valley Draft Horse Assoc. will hold a spring plow in Accord, NY on April 28, 2012. We would like to have more draft animals join us. This is free, open to the public with some vendors, food, plowing, etc. If anyone would like to join us, please let me know. We are open to suggestions. Last year it was well attended. There will be dry camping space for anyone wanting to spend the night with their animals. Perhaps this could be a joint venture.
Feel free to contact me for more information.
Thanks,
Robin

[Ethan Tapper]

Hi Robin,
Sorry for the snafu. We are in the process of developing informational resources for our organization. What we do now is hand out the most recent copy of our newsletter (which just came out). Let me know about the specific events you will be attending (in private message form, so we don’t clog up this thread) and I will be in touch with Jean about getting you some newsletters. I will also contact the board of directors’ programs and events committee regarding that event. We are interested in finding ways of forming coalitions with regional draft animal groups, such as the group you mentioned, so that could be an opportunity for us to connect in that way. At the very least it would be great to have someone there representing DAPNet.

Do you have any interest in any of our committees? We sure could use your help if you do.

[Ellen Anderson]

Hello Ethan, Jen et al. I would be happy to volunteer writing newsletter content if you need that. I also have experience organizing non-profits. I am now having a problem that illustrates the dilemma facing this organization, namely that there are not enough teachers
and/or trainers to build skills among people who would like to begin farming/logging with their horses. They must be out there but I can’t find them. I am having to put my plans to start my draft mare in harness because I don’t think it is safe to start by myself and I can’t find help. I would have, therefore, a selfish reason to do some organizing and writing. Maybe I would come up with a network in Massachusetts where I could get some help. The NOFA workshops were great but now what?
Let me know how to help myself and DAP.

[jen judkins]

Ellen, That is awesome. I will put you in touch with Erika Marczak, the Newsletter committee chair about conttributing to the Newsletter…she will be thrilled!

Where do you live in MA? Are you close enough to come to the logging workshop in Athol. I would bet we can find someone local for you to get help from. jennifer.

[Robin]

I have a sincere interest in the group, however, I am not that close to the core group. I am not a spring chicken any longer,but do a few things with my oxen at local events. I am very involved with the Hudson Valley Draft “horse” Assoc. I say “horse” because I am there with my oxen and others have mules. This is a real fun group, lots of older folks with years of experience, but they are aging, some no longer have animals..
If you have been to Tunbridge when I was there, you know me and the kind of support I can give you.
For more info etc. you can PM me. I will PM Ethan very soon.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Robin

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