Message from the President
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August 2001 -- By Jill Gallagher

Next board meeting starts October 1. All agenda items and reports need to be on my desk by September 24.  

The 2000 plus-mile club- I was laughing with my sister, saying these Pygoras in the trailer can join the 2000 plus-mile club. In other words, they have traveled over 2000 miles to promote Pygoras, PBA, and Hollyhock Hollow. It ready isn’t a club, but some of my animals, on traveling to Oregon and back, for shows, have traveled way over 4000 miles. But in the last 30 days, these new guys have been to San Diego for the National Pygmy Goat Association Convention, (over 8 hours one way), and to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the American Goat Society convention, (which was 950 miles one way). At both events, we were spreading the word, PYGORA. And everywhere we went, the responds was the same. Wow, feel how soft they are, and I have never heard of this breed of goats, or yes, I have heard of them, but I have never seen one in person, wow, how neat! 

On these two trips, I met some great goat people of all types and I also got to finally talk with some people that I have only known by their voice. I got to meet our Treasure and new Registrar, face to face, Fran Bishop. She and I have talk on the phone, or e-mailed each other many, many times over the years. We both started with PBA at about the same time, which was in the late ‘80’s. And this was the first time I got to put a face on the voice. That was really great talking with her and visiting in San Diego. She is on the Board of the National Pygmy Goat Association and so since their convention was in San Diego, she flew in, and she sat with me at the PBA / Hollyhock Hollow booth were we talked about pygora goats to the public. 

The next person I got to place a face on the voice was in New Mexico, where I got to meet Laura Beers. For those new members, Laura was a past PBA Board member and our Registrar for many years. She is now the President of the American Goat Society and since the convention was in New Mexico, there she was. I am only sorry I didn’t get to visit with her much. I miss talking with her, but am glad to see she is still keeping very busy in the goat world.

I love the reaction I get when walking my pygoras into a locations were not many have every seen them before. And it only proves the point that we have a great product, with outstanding looks and super personalities. We just have to get this breed out there to the public to share our wonderful animals. It was great visiting with the other members of PBA that I also saw, and thank you to all that made me feel so at home on my travels. 

Be sure to read the minutes of the last board meeting in this newsletter. You will see what the board is working on. Also we are starting an Educational Grant program of which more information is also found in this newsletter. If you would like to be on the cc group list, which gets copies of the board meeting e-mailed to you as it is progressing, please contact me or an officer or a board member to be included. As a member on the cc group, you can state your thoughts on an item that is being discussed by the board. The board will take your thoughts into consideration as the meeting progresses. We do stick to the agenda that is presented at the start of the meeting. The board doesn’t have to respond to your comments, but they do hear you. Also if you have an issue or item that you would like to have placed on the agenda, please contact one of those persons that I have mentioned above. If you think of anything that you would like PBA to do or try, write it up and send it to me, and I will take it to the board. Remember, PBA is for all of you no matter where you are. With all of us working together, we can truly make this breed great.

Enjoy the rest of your summer,
Jill Gallagher
jgalla6868@aol.com