ORIGINAL CONCEPT PAPER - 1993

Title:  Formation of the United States Goat Council

Submitted by:  U.S. Goat Council Steering Committee Members

1.      Mr. Tom Carter, President AMGA

2.      Ms. Kay Keen, Executive Director, AMGA

3.      Ms. Linda Campbell. President ADGA

4.      Mr. Mike Lange. President CAPRA

5.      Dr. Thian Hor Teh, Langston University

6.      Mr. Norman Kohls, American Boer Goat Association

Mission:  To protect and advance the American goat industry

Objectives:

1.      To lobby for legislation to protect and advance the American goat industry

2.      To promote and educate main stream consumers on American goats and goat products.

3.      To encourage and support research on American goats and goat products.

4.      To develop foreign markets for all American goat products.

Potential National Organizations Representing a Segment of the U.S. Goat Industry and Supportive of This Proposal are the following:

1.      American Meat Goat Association

2.      American Dairy Goat Association

3.      Cashmere Producers of American

4.      American Goat Society

5.      Mohair Council of American

6.      American Angora Breeders Association

7.      American Pygmy Goat Association

8.      American Boer Goat Association

9.      Fainting Goat Soceity

Potential State Organizations supportive of this proposal are the following:

1.      Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Associations

2.      Texas Cashmere Association

3.      Texas Dairy Goat Producers Associations

4.      Mohair Producers of Oklahoma

5.      Nebraska Mohair Producers Association

6.      Heartland Cashmere Association

7.      Eastern Cashmere Association

8.      Sates Department of Agriculture

9.      E (Kika) de la Garza Institute for Goat Research

10.  Other State organizations

Plan of Work

1.      Request support from National and State organizations including state Departments of Agriculture (Oct. 93)

2.      Initiate appointment of Board of Directors by various national  goat associations (Dec. 93)

3.      Draw up plan for a National check-off program to collect money from every goat sold at public auction .

4.      Work with US Congress on a National Check-Off Program for goats

5.      Investigate potential to hire and executive director and an office staff to manage the program and activities of the US Goat Council.

6.      Develop logistics to activate lobbying capabilities

7.      Research available avenues to market and promote American goats and their products nationally and internationally

8.      Secure grants to support goat research to advance the American goat industry

9.      Pursue funding to publish educational materials concerning the goat and its products

Benefits to US Agriculture, Economy and Consumer

1.      Goats are an environmentally friendly small ruminant that survive on marginal range lands not suitable for other livestock.

2.      Goats can serve as biological control of weeds and brush in range and grazing lands for sustainability of natural resources.

3.      Goats provide diversification into alternative agriculture products for enhancing national and rural economies.

4.      Growth of the goat industry creates jobs and enhances the GNP

5.      Promotion and export of American goat germ plasm and goat products overseas for foreign exchange aids equalization of the US balance of trade.

6.      Goat meat provides a high quality  lean meat that is low in cholesterol and saturated fats for the health conscious consumer.

7.      Goat milk products provide a high quality food source that is readily digestible and suitable for consumption by a large r proportion of consumers.

CONSTITUTION OF THE US GOAT COUNCIL

This Council shall be known as the U.S. Goat Council, and shall at all times be operated and conducted as a non-profit Council.

The purpose of this Council shall be to act as the goat industry liaison in all promotional relationships with government and other bodies, to promote all facets of the American goat industry and to represent all industry organizations.

The principle place of business shall be the permanent residence of the Secretary/Treasurer of the Council.

The logo of the Council shall be in the form impressed hereon immediately below.

BY-LAWS

Article I. Membership

Section 1.  Any National  organization recognized as representing a segment of the U.S. Goat Industry and who pledges itself to support the constitution and by-laws of the U.S Goat Council may become a member of the Council on the payment of one hundred dollars due on January 1.

Section 2.  Members of the Council shall be retained and expelled in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Directors may, from time to time, adopt.  In all matters governed by the vote of the members, each member, represented by one director, shall be entitled to one vote.

Article II.  Directors

Section 1.  The Directors of this Council shall consist of the duly elected representatives from each of its member associations.  The member association shall elect its representatives to assume office by January 1 of each year.  The Directors shall elect their own officers annually, but no later than January 15.

Section 2.  The business and property of the Council shall be managed and controlled by the Directors.

Article III.  Annual Meeting

Section 1.  The regular annual meeting of the members shall be held at such time and place as may be fixed by resolution of the Directors for the purpose of electing officers and for the transaction of such other business as may be brought before the meeting.

Article IV.  Vacancies

Section 1.  In case of vacancy of any officer position, the Directors shall have power to fill such vacancy for a time not extending beyond January 1.

Article V.  Duties of The President

Section 1.  It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Council.  He shall appoint such committees as are deemed necessary by the Council and shall be ex-officio member of all committees. He shall perform such other duties as usually pertain to his office.

Article VI.  Duties of The Vice-President

Section 1.   The Vice-President shall preside at all meetings of the Council in the absence of the President and, in such event, he shall have the authority to perform the duties of the President.  He shall assume the duties of the President in the event of the vacancy in the office.  The Vice President is program chairman at each annual  meeting.

Article VII  Duties of the Secretary Treasurer

Section 1.  The secretary/Treasurer shall give due and proper notice of all meetings of the Council and shall record the proceedings of the same. All committee meeting records shall be kept by the Secretary/Treasurer and copies sent to the President, Vice-President and each member of said committee.  He shall receive all moneys and keep an accurate account thereof.  All checks drawn on funds of the Council shall be signed in the name of the Council by the President and Secretary Treasurer.  He shall have charge of all, if any, publications, subject to such rules and regulations as Directors of the Council may from time to time provide.  He shall make such reports of the receipts and disbursements and of his activity and in such form and manner as the Directors may direct.  He shall give a surety bond in an amount to be fixed by the Directors but in not instance shall said bond be less than five thousand ($5,000.00) dollars.  The accounts of the Secretary Treasurer shall be audited annually or at such times as the Directors may direct.  A copy of the report shall be supplied to each officer and director by the auditor.

Article VIII Meetings of the Directors

Section 1.  Meetings of the Directors shall be at such time and place as the President may direct.  The President may call a meeting of the Directors at any time by giving ten days' written notice to each Director,  a majority of which shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Article IX  Duties of the Board of Directors

Section 1.  The Directors shall have the management of the affairs of the Council and shall exercise all such powers and do such acts as are usually done by Directors, subject at all times to the Council's Constitution and By-Laws.  It may adopt such policies as are necessary for the transaction of its business.

Article X  Amendments to Constitution

Section 1.  This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any annual meeting when the proposed amendment has been sent to all Directors two weeks prior to the annual meeting.  The approval of two-thirds of the Directors present at the annual meeting shall be required for the adoption of any amendment.

Linda S. Campbell