The Canadian Goat Society

The CGS Board met by zoom on April 12^th. All six current Board members were in attendance and participating.

President Sandy Howell chaired the meeting.

Topics addressed during the meeting:

• Following the creation of a vacancy on the CGS Board for the province of Quebec all current CGS members in Quebec were contacted to determine if they wished to submit an expression of interest in filling the position.  Raynald Dube from Ange Gardien had submitted an expression of interest. The Board approved a motion appointing Mr. Dube to fill the position and complete the current term.

• After the March Board meeting all current CGS Licensed Judges had been invoiced for renewal fees. The Board received an update on the volume of renewals-the meeting was held prior to the deadline for payment of fees.

• The Board has recognized a need to review and potentially revise the Policy and Procedure Manual for CGS Judges Licensing Conferences. After both JLCs for 2022 have been held a working group led by Director Chris Grab will conduct the review and propose revisions.

• A report was received on the upcoming JLC West scheduled for mid-May in Alberta. A motion was approved to have the exam, which is always part of the process available for completion online for the first time, with hard copies available also.

• Ongoing investigations into the future of registry systems and service for CGS had yielded some fresh information. This information was shared with other small ruminant groups involved in registry services and discussions continue.

• An application to host a JLC in Ontario in October was reviewed.

• A complaint and accompanying fees were received by CGS from a member regarding violation of Section 25 of the CGS by-laws. The Board of CGS investigated the matter and found the complaint to be correct. The Board approved a motion that parties against whom the complaint was made will be denied the privilege of renewing a CGS membership or becoming a CGS member during 2022.

• The Canadian Nigerian Dwarf Association had created a valuable Buyers’ Guide document and made it available for use by CGS. This offer was accepted and the document will be shared by CGs for educational purposes especially for first time and newer buyers and owners of registered goats.

• A progress report on plans for a 2022 CGS Yearbook publication was delivered. First step in the process is a contest to find a superb cover photo for the publication. The contest involving goat-related photos is now open. Entries are to be sent to the CGS email address info@goats.ca by August 31, 2022. At upcoming Board meetings rates for advertising will be determined.

• The Board requested establishment of a calendar of upcoming events and deadlines on the CGS website at www.goats.ca . (Now available on the website.)

• The Board reviewed a proposed and detailed CGS Youth Recognition Program developed by a committee led by directors Tanya McCarthy and Jonathan Dugdale. Work will proceed on this topic toward full introduction of the program.

• In answer to questions about adding breeds to the herd book of CGS the Board asked that direction be provided to owners of animals of these breeds on the process for recognizing them, and also direction on whether the breed is best suited for the CGS herd book or the Canadian Meat Goat Association herd book.

• CGS finances to March 31, 2022 were reviewed along with current bank and investment balances at the time of the meeting.

Next meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

This meeting took the form of Zoom call on March 15, 2022.

The following topics were addressed:

-Determination of a resource for parliamentary procedure for CGS meetings.

-Confirmation of the Executive Committee for CGS for 2022 President Sandy Howell; First Vice-President Susan Frazer; Second Vice-President: Chris Grab.

-Given the resignation of Quebec director Catherine Lord the Board addressed filling the vacancy. A motion was approved to contact all current CGS members in Quebec to solicit expressions of interest in filling the Board position. ( Quebec members were contacted very soon after the meeting.)

-Nomination of a panel of Ed Cavanagh, Coordinator; Eugenia Carnegie and Lorraine Keeping for the JLC West in May was approved.

-The Board approved sending of invoices for renewal of licenses for 2022/2023 for all Judges on the official list with a deadline for payment by April 15, 2022.

-The Board determined that there is need for a full review of the Policy and Procedure manual for Judges Licensing Conferences. Chris Grab and Jonathan Dugdale were asked to lead the review.

-Further work on determining a roster of classifiers and trainees for classification and work to ensure uniformity in performance of classifiers took place.

-The Board approved a motion to expand our reserve/investment fund by a further $5,000.

-The Board engaged in a discussion about expanding education for buyers and sellers of purebred, registered breeding stock so that all requirements of the CGS by-laws and the Animal Pedigree Act are met.

This meeting was held in mid-February prior to the CGS AGM.

Highlights of the meeting:

-President Sandy Howell expressed thanks to Callum McLeod, Karen Cavanagh and Ed Cavanagh for their service on the Board during their terms in office.

Howell also welcomed three new members to the Board-Chris Grab from Alberta, Tanya McCarthy and Jonathan Dugdale both from Ontario.

-All Board members provided an introduction including a recounting of their experiences working with goats and with other organizations and boards.

-The 2021 financial statements, reviewed by our chosen accounting firm, were approved. In 2020 the margin of revenue over expenses had been $2127 while in 2021 the same margin was $31,050. During the year a reserve/investment fund of $30,000 had been established.         

-Topics addressed during the meeting were the on-going review of by-laws and work that had been done with Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, the re-launch of classification in 2022, ongoing review of options for registry services either through an updating of the system used by our current service provider or investigation of other options, publishing of a high quality Yearbook of accomplishments at the end of 2022, ideas on establishing a CGS Youth Recognition program, approval of a budget for 2022, approval of an application to host a Judges Licensing Conference in Alberta in mid-May 2022, work on a proposal for a Judges Licensing Conference in Ontario during 2022.

The Board approved naming Barry Van Camp of Blackstock, Ontario as the CGS nominee to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.