YEAR END REPORT        September 28, 2004
COMMITTEE: History
COMMITTEE CHAIR: Shari Reyna
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Ardell Ainsworth, Betty Ann Boal, Gene Dershewitz, Mrs. Linda Eder Colquitt, Anita Gilley, Meg Hicks, Julie Einseidel, Linda R. Johnson, Mrs. Nancy Lake, Gary Moore, Vivian Proctor, Sue Rucker, Christina Strickland

STATEMENT OF GOALS & OBJECTIVES FOR THE YEAR:
1. encourage celebration of ADGA's Centennial
2. Accomplish acceptance/transport of oldest animal data cards and oldest historic documents to the National Agricultural Library for preservation.
3. Write historic articles for the ADGA membership during the Centennial Year.
4. Help Sheila Nixon videotape ADGA pioneers as a permanent record of important ADGA history.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE WORK & ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR:
· Traveled to the ADGA office, with Director Pat Morford where we spent a 10 hour day packing up the oldest animal records and the oldest, most delicate registration volumes for shipment to the National Agricultural Library.
· Articles printed in the United Caprine News (written by Chair)
- Centennial preview
- ADGA's early years
- ADGA/s middle years
- Tenth Cross Wars
- Redistricting
- Historic herd crossword
· Articles printed in News & Events (written by Chair)
- ADGA's founders
          - Mary Farley Awards
          - First Spotlight Sale
· Videotaped interview with one director emeritus (travel expense absorbed by Chair)
· Videotaped several long-time ADGA members at the National Show (all expenses absorbed by the Chair)
· Pursued, vigorously, the National Agricultural Library representative to once again obtain acceptance of our historic records. These records will be transported to NAL within a week of this report.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT - COMMITTEE EXPENSES:
Chair was reimbursed $300 of expenses incurred for trip to Spindale after convention. The balance of expense for that trip and for all other travel, telephone, etc. expenses was absorbed by the Chair.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED:
· Chair unable to transport records to NAL after 2003 convention.
· NAL would not return calls or e-mail to Committee Member Gary Moore. NAL contact person retired during the time when the original agreement was in place but when the EC were unwilling to allow Gary into the office except during a very specific time when Gary was unable to go. After a prolonged period when ADGA did not follow through, NAL no longer responded to Gary's inquiries. Finally, in frustration and because he had pressing duties on another committee, he suggested that I take over the attempt to renew our agreement with them. After a great deal of time and perseverance and some 25 phone calls, I was finally able to speak to the appropriate person at NAL (on September 25). I was told that our lack of follow-through had given them the feeling that there was no urgency. I was able to convince her that the delay was a situation beyond my control and that the need for protection and preservation is indeed real and immediate.

Things have changed somewhat, however, since we first contacted NAL. A change in Administration has resulted in considerable budgetary pressures. NAL no longer has the immediate funding to guarantee us the sort of on-line access we have previously visualized. At this time they will preserve, protect and provide access to necessary information by the ADGA office. The possible avenues for on-line access will be given to us as soon as they know their budgetary projections for the next year. These possibilities include 1) the posting of our information by a library intern as a project or assignment (no cost to us); 2) funding of data entry through an educational or livestock preservation grant (something that the History Chair is willing to pursue); and 3) and of the first two augmented by some level of funding from ADGA.

It should be noted that Gary Moore has volunteered his services as an "intern" to work on our records.

· History Chair was contacted by members concerned about the reassignment of herd names that they felt should be preserved as historic.
· Time constraints prevented History Chair from 1) completing as many articles on ADGA history as she planned to do (the research required is very time-consuming)and 2) completing the documentation of existing herd names (as she had planned to do prior to the annual BOD meeting). With luck, it will be ready by the end of the year.

DECISIONS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION:
1. The committee requests permission, during the coming year, to carefully compile a list of herdnames with potential historic significance; this list to be held for a period of 10 years in order to provide the opportunity for a nomination to be prepared. (Committee vote: 12 yes, 1 no, 1 non-response.)

Rationale: Although we certainly want no more undocumented Historic Herd Names, there are truly a number of them that merit preservation. The Nomination Forms and accompanying instructions (constructed by the History Chair) are finally on-line at the ADGA Website and available to the membership. The Chair is also putting on a workshop at the Annual Meeting for the specific purpose of guiding members through the process. This interim protection will bring awareness of the issue to the membership and encourage the documentation that will allow acceptance by the BOD.

2. The committee requests that any remainder of the funds made available to the History Committee be allocated to the processing of our records at NAL. (Committee vote: 12 yes, 1 no, 1 non-response) Rationale: In 1998, the year the BOD voted to transfer records to NAL, there was $645 allocated for a trip to Spindale by Gary Moore and $5000 approved for associated expenses (actual use of which to be approved by the EC). Given that most (not all!) of the records have already been transferred, combined with the reduced budgetary situation at NAL, it seems appropriate that ADGA provide some support towards at least the preliminary cataloguing (and ongoing access for the ADGA office). There is $3349.46 remaining from the original $5645.00.

2001: Gary Moore and Shari Reyna made an initial trip to the ADGA office to do an initial survey of historic materials to be sent to NAL. Gary was reimbursed $335.66.

2002: Shari Reyna and Chris Strickland traveled to the office and spent three 10 hour days locating, inventorying, labeling, and boxing up oldest materials for storage in the vault. They were reimbursed $1659.88.

2003: Shari Reyna and Director Pat Morford traveled to the ADGA office after convention and spent a 10 hour day. The ADGA Board approved $300 for this trip. (The Chair paid all other travel expenses and almost $200 in packaging supplies). Total expenses: $2295.54 Total remaining: $3349.46.

3. The Committee requests that the Pioneer Program be placed formally under the umbrella of the History Committee. (Committee vote: 12 yes, 1 no, 1 non-response). Rationale: The Pioneer Program, begun by Sheila Nixon, is a much-needed effort to videotape ADGA members who have contributed to the interests of ADGA. She recognized that many of ADGA's pioneers, the individuals who shaped our organization, have passed on without their stories being told. This is an opportunity not only to preserve these stories for future ADGA members, but to allow current ADGA members to "know," through these interviews, at least some of the folks about whom they've "heard" but haven't had the opportunity to meet. Placing this program within the History Committee seems a logical step to formalize this program and recognize its significance to our organization.

WORK TO BE COMPLETED BY NEXT YEAR'S COMMITTEE:
· Compilation of the list described above if this be the decision of the BOD
· Writing at least 6 more historic articles in the next year for publication as well as for N& Events (the latter should I be asked by the office.).
· Completion of as many videotaped interviews as possible, given time and financial limitations.
· Provision of historic attractions for the National Show in Spokane (already in the planning stage).
· Continuing the update on documentation of "ADGA's First 100 years."
· A trip to the ADGA office, at the expense of the Chair, to inventory and pack up the remaining records still in the office and not entered into the computer; to have the many unlabeled microfiche records professionally analyzed for quality &"shelf-life" and to ascertain content and label them.

LONG RANGE GOALS (5 YEARS) FOR COMMITTEE:
· Continuing the "re-creation" of publishable quality documentation for historic ADGA herd names and awards.
· Solicitation of historic materials pertaining to ADGA history (to be evaluated then preserved or distributed as approved by the BOD).
· Continued videotaping of interviews with ADGA "pioneers."

Chairperson's Signature: _Sharilyn Reyna