at
the ADGA Convention
Traditionally, the ADGA Annual Meeting and Convention begins on a Sunday and runs through the following Saturday. Over the years, various activities have become an expected part of the week, and many specific activities have traditionally been scheduled for specific days. The activities listed below are those that have become a part of all Convention schedules. Other activities may be added as demand and interest allow. However, those below are always a part of any Convention week.
A number of the activities are paid for directly by ADGA. These are noted in the descriptions below.
Expenses for those activities that are not paid for by ADGA are paid out of the Convention fund that includes moneys from registrations, other Convention fees, fundraising, donations, etc.
For more specific information about financial responsibilities for each activity, please see “Financial Responsibilities Table” in this Handbook.
ADGA Board of Directors Meeting
The Board of Directors Meeting is held on Wednesday and Thursday. In years with a heavy workload, the Board has met late into the evening of one or more days. Also, it may be necessary to schedule time for the Board to meet on Friday morning. The ADGA Board Meeting is open to the public although only Directors or those recognized by the Board may speak. The Board may choose to meet in closed session (where the public is excluded), and Executive Committee meetings are also closed.
While Board Meetings are open to all ADGA members without charge, those attending who have not registered for other Convention activities may be asked to wear a "Guest" badge available at the Convention registration desk.
All costs associated with the Board of Directors Meeting are paid by ADGA.
ADGA General Membership Meeting
The General Membership Meeting is usually split into two sessions, one before and one after the Board of Directors meeting. The ”pre” session is scheduled near the beginning of the week, sometimes immediately after the Welcome Dinner. At this meeting, Association members are encouraged to meet their Directors and to voice any concerns they would like the Board to address. The ”post” session is held on Saturday morning prior to the Champagne Brunch. At this meeting, the newly-elected ADGA President introduces the new Association Officers and Board members and reviews decisions made at the Board of Directors Meeting. The General Membership Meeting is open to all ADGA members regardless of whether they have paid a registration fee.
Any costs associated with this meeting are paid by ADGA.
ADGA Youth Representative Contest
The Youth Representative Contest is a yearly event. After initial interviews during the Youth Program, all contestants appear during the Youth Representative Contest held in conjunction with the Youth Banquet. There, the new ADGA Youth Representative is chosen. The ADGA Youth Representative participates in ADGA’s National Show and Convention, may attend various local and regional activities during the year, and promotes both goats and ADGA Youth Programs.
To encourage attendance at the Youth Banquet and Youth Representative Contest, the cost of the Youth Banquet is usually included in the Convention registration packages with meals. Those with registrations that do not include meals may purchase separate meal tickets for this event. There is no registration fee for attending the Youth Representative Contest.
ADGA is responsible for certain costs associated with the Youth Representative Contest. See the "Financial Responsibilities Table" for specific allocation of costs.
Advanced Judges Seminar
The Advanced Judges Seminar is held in odd-numbered years, traditionally on Friday. Judges who have achieved Advanced Judge standing plus Judges Emeriti and Master Judges Emeriti may attend. The purpose of the Advanced Judges Seminar is to discuss changes in procedures, rules, standards, problems in the field, and review current rules, procedures, and values. For more specific information, please see the ADGA Guidebook. The Seminar usually consists of a discussion session, one or more placings classes to be done individually, and one or more group practice classes.
ADGA receives the income from the Advanced Judges Seminar and pays all associated costs.
AASRP (American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners)
Continuing Education Seminars
This Continuing Education Program for veterinarians is not ADGA-sponsored; however, it has become a regular part of the Convention program over the years. Veterinarians attending this program earn continuing education units (CEUs). The AASRP program usually runs two days, but the Convention Host Committee should work with the AASRP-ADGA liaison for specific scheduling. The AASRP handles the programming, selection of speakers, and awarding of the CEUs. Speakers are often recruited from local or regional universities and from the ADGA veterinary ”community.” Veterinarians must pay a nominal registration fee for the AASRP program as well as the regular Convention registration fee. All AASRP lectures and presentations are open to any Convention participant who has paid a regular full registration fee for that day.
All costs associated with the AASRP Program are paid for out of Convention fees that will include AASRP Program registration fees.
Banquet
and Ball
The Banquet and Ball, held on Friday night, is a highlight of the social activities of the week. Most successful evenings start with a no-host or cash bar, followed by a sit-down dinner, and then dancing. Usually, during dessert, the Convention Chair(s) welcome(s) everyone and recognize(s) those who have been instrumental in putting on the Convention. The ADGA Awards Chair presents the awards for that year (if any), and the ADGA President may add a welcome. While outside speakers have occasionally been included in this program, in general, long speeches and entertainment other than a band and dancing have not been successful. A band that plays a variety of music, especially hits from the 60s through 80s, has kept the audience on its feet until late in the evening.
The fee for the banquet and ball is included in registration packages with meals. Those with registrations that do not include meals may purchase separate meal tickets for this event.
All expenses associated with the Banquet and Ball are paid for out of Convention fees.
Breed Club Meetings
While the breed club meetings are not ADGA-sponsored activities, they are traditionally held in conjunction with the Convention. Breed clubs may elect to meet any time during the week and at any time of the day or evening. Participants usually pay a fee for this activity, which the breed club uses to defray costs of the room, room setup, and any food and beverages served. By the terms of the ADGA Guidebook, if the breed club meeting is held during the day, then those attending this meeting must also pay a Convention registration fee for that day.
Costs associated with the breed club meetings are paid by the individual breed clubs.
Champagne Brunch Prior to the Spotlight Sale
The Champagne Brunch is held immediately before the Spotlight Sale. This activity provides time for socializing and allows those who have come especially for the Spotlight Sale to meet friends and relax. The fee for the Brunch is traditionally included in registration packages with meals. People may also purchase separate meal tickets to attend this function. No Convention registration fee is charged to those who attend only the Champagne Brunch and Spotlight Sale.
All expenses associated with the Champagne Brunch and the continuing service of Champagne (plus the cost of hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar if included) during the Sale itself are paid for out of Convention fees.
Clinics and Workshops
A variety of Clinics and Workshops are offered during Convention week. These may include A.I. Clinics (both beginner and advanced) as well as Cheesemaking, Soapmaking, other Goat Products (meat, jerky, salami, etc.) and cooking demonstrations and activities particular to a Convention location (BBQ in Texas, etc.).
The local host group is responsible for securing the requisite number of does in heat that the A.I. instructors specify, as well as for semen and other equipment specified by the Clinic instructors. The ADGA Annual Meeting Committee will work with the local host group to secure the requisite kitchen equipment, supplies, and food for Cheesemaking, Soapmaking, and Cooking Workshops.
These Clinics and Workshops are not ADGA-sponsored, and participants pay not only a regular Convention registration fee but also an additional fee to attend. The Convention Host Committee is responsible for negotiating instructor contracts and participant fees and any expenses from these activities is paid for out of Convention fees.
Commercial Vendor Exhibits
Commercial vendor exhibits are available for Convention participants to visit from Sunday through Saturday during the day. Traditionally, vendors sell goat supplies, gifts, and goat-related T-shirts and clothing. Semen processors and magazine publishers as well as others with goat-related products may also have vendor space. While anyone is welcome to visit the commercial exhibits, those visiting the vendor exhibits only must be issued and wear a guest or limited access badge allowing them to visit the vendor exhibits, hospitality area, and Spotlight Sale animals only.
Vendors pay a table fee and receive two guest or limited access badges with their table. To attend any other day Convention activities, vendors must pay the appropriate Convention registration fee.
Expenses for the vendor exhibits (room, electricity, etc.) are paid for out of the Convention Host Committee. Costs for electricity, audiovisual equipment or other special equipment needs may be passed on to vendors as appropriate.
At certain Conventions, the vendors may elect to host a cash bar late in the day during Convention week. All costs associated with the vendor cash bar are paid for by the vendors themselves.
Hospitality Area
The hospitality area or room serves as a place for socializing. It works best when the hospitality area and vendor exhibits are housed in the same room or very near each other. The local goat clubs and groups are responsible for providing coffee, other beverages and light food (cookies, cheeses, sausage, etc.) and host personnel for the hospitality area. Breed clubs may have their displays in this area, and the hospitality area may also display herd books and advertising materials of those attending the Convention. Those visiting the hospitality area only must be issued and wear a guest or limited access badge, allowing them to visit the vendor exhibits, hospitality area, and Spotlight Sale animals only.
When choosing a host facility, it is important to make sure that the prospective host facility will allow outside food and beverages on site. If all food must come from the host facility, then the cost of the hospitality area may be high. Usually no fee is charged to those visiting the hospitality area as local clubs donate the food, beverages and time.
Judges Training Conference
This two-day training and testing program for judges is traditionally held on Monday and Tuesday of Convention week. The first day of the program combines a written test, discussion sessions, and classes where those attending practice placings and reasons both in groups and individually. During the second day, which is held off-site at a local fairgrounds or other facility that can house the requisite number of animals, participants are evaluated on their placement of live animals and their oral reasons supporting their placements. Besides those participating as judge candidates, anyone may attend the Judges Training Conference as an auditor or observer as long as the appropriate fees have been paid. Any current judge or Director may attend the Judges Training Conference as an observer at no cost.
ADGA is responsible for all costs associated with the Judges Training Conference and receives any profits. The local host group is responsible for providing the number of animals of the sex and ages required by the Training Conference Committee as well as handlers for the entire Judges Training Conference.
Multilevel
Program of Talks, Seminars, Panels, Clinics, Demonstrations
One of the main reasons people come to ADGA Conventions is to attend the many educational talks, clinics and demonstrations. A successful program has a varied range of session choices for both novices and experienced participants. Topics include health, basic and advanced goat management, showing and fitting, A.I. clinics for beginners and advanced students, business topics, ADGA-related topics, cheesemaking, soapmaking, cooking demonstrations and many more. Speakers range from professional veterinarians and other experts to long-time breeders and goatkeepers. Formats include informal talks, seminars with prepared speakers, panels of professional experts and panels of experienced goatkeepers, clinics where hands-on participation is the norm, and demonstrations. While most of the program choices are open to anyone paying a Convention registration fee for that day, certain clinics (A.I. and Cheesemaking included) require an extra fee and may require advanced registration.
All expenses associated with program activities are paid for out of Convention fees.
Pre-Judges
Training Conference
The Pre-Judges Training Conference is a one-day program held on Sunday of Convention week. It is a full day of instruction meant to prepare a person to be a judge’s candidate at the Judges Training Conference. An ADGA-approved instructor covers a full range of topics including ethics, oral reasons, terminology, judging individual goats, group classes, males, and showmanship. The instructor may use pictures, video, and live animals.
Participants must be registered for that day at the Convention and must pay an additional fee to attend this program. All expenses associated with this program are paid from Convention fees and any profits go into the Convention Host Committee.
The local host group is responsible for providing the number of animals of the sex and ages required by the Pre-Judges Training Conference as well as handlers for the Pre-Judges Training Conference.
Production Tester Training Program
The
Production Tester Training Program has three sessions: a General Session, a
session featuring the DRPCs, and a Sampling/Recording Session. If the General
Session is scheduled for a time when there are many competing activities, then
a videotaped General Session may be offered in the evening preceding the
sessions with the DRPCs and the Sampling/Recording session. For more detailed information about the
Production Tester Training Program, please see “Specific Information on the Production
Tester Training Program” in this Handbook.
An additional fee is charged to attend this program. All expenses associated with the Production Tester Training Program are paid from Convention fees and the additional Program fee.
Registration for the Convention
Registration is required for anyone attending any part of the daytime Convention program Sunday through Friday. All those attending a day Convention event must be issued and wear the appropriate badge. To encourage early registration, a lower fee is charged for those registering before a certain date, usually the middle of September. Registration is handled by mail, on the Convention website, and on site at the Convention facility. The registration area on site is open Sunday through Saturday during the daytime. Those wishing to buy additional meal tickets or pay for tours or clinics (that don’t require prior registration) do so at the registration area. Some events may have limited enrollment, and this should be noted in all publicity and registration forms.
The ADGA office is responsible for taking all of the incoming money and registrations and pays expenses as payment is authorized by the Convention Financial Chair. The registrar for the Convention handles the actual recordkeeping end of the registration, sets up the registration area, and provides volunteers to man the registration table during appropriate hours. The registrar is responsible for providing current registration data to the various Convention committee chairs as needed (for example, the Program Chair, the Facility Chair, etc.).
Spotlight Sale
The Spotlight Sale held on Saturday, is a highlight of the ADGA Convention. At this Sale, bucks and does of all six breeds are auctioned off to the highest bidder. Anyone may attend the Spotlight Sale without paying a Convention registration fee. Prior to the Sale, animals are housed in an on-site facility, such as the facility parking garage or large tent on the grounds. Full-time security is provided, and those attending the Convention are encouraged to visit the Spotlight Sale animals during the week.
Anyone visiting the Spotlight Sale animal facility must wear a registration badge. Those who simply want to preview the animals without participating in any other Convention activities, must be issued and wear a guest or limited access badge, allowing them to visit the vendor exhibits, hospitality area, and Spotlight Sale animals only.
The Spotlight Sale takes place in the Convention facility ballroom, set up banquet-style (from the prior Champagne Brunch), and champagne is served during the Sale as well. The Convention Committee may elect to set up a no-host bar so that something other than Champagne will also be available for sale throughout the Sale.
The ADGA Spotlight Sale Committee handles the selection of animals, presentation during the Sale, and advertising associated with the Sale. ADGA pays some costs associated with the Sale, including the veterinary and auctioneer’s fees and other (specified) expenses. The local group is responsible for transporting animals from the airport (before the Sale) and to the airport (after the Sale). The costs of housing (including tent, if used, and pens), feed, security, daily care, and clean up are paid for from Convention fees.
Any profits from the Spotlight Sale go to ADGA.
Tours
In order to encourage family participation and programming to suit a range of interests, the ADGA Convention program usually includes tours or sightseeing trips to area entertainment sites. Tours may be goat- or nongoat-related. Trips to local goat facilities and farm tours, especially those that are outstanding examples or provide a unique view of goat raising, are well-attended as are tours of cheese or other goat product facilities. By including trips to area museums, zoos, theme parks and other attractions, the whole family will have activities to fill their stay. It is usually necessary to preregister for tours and pay an additional fee. Everyone participating in a tour must also be registered at the Convention. However, for those attending only a tour and no other Convention activities, the Convention Committee may elect to charge a small badge fee or issue a guest badge.
All expenses associated with the tours are paid for out of Convention and tour fees.
Type
Conference
The Type Conference, a half-day activity, is usually held on Friday of even-numbered years. Put on by the ADGA Type Committee, it focuses on discussion and examples of structurally correct type across all breeds. The Type Committee may elect to use visual media and/or live animals to demonstrate correct and incorrect type. The Type Conference is open to all Convention participants (without additional fee) who have paid a full registration fee for the day the Type Conference is held. The local host group is responsible for providing any goats and handlers needed for the Type Conference.
Welcome
Dinner
The Welcome Dinner is usually held on Monday evening of Convention week. It may be a formal or informal affair. Its purpose is, as its name implies, to bring people together, especially those who may not have attended a previous Convention, to socialize and orient them to the upcoming activities during Convention week. While most Welcome Dinners are held at the Convention facility, in certain cases, a different site may be used (a Texas-style BBQ might be held at a local ranch, for example). When the Welcome Dinner is held away from the host facility, the Convention Host Committee must provide transportation to and from the Dinner site for all attendees. This transportation cost must be figured into the total cost of the Welcome Dinner.
The Welcome Dinner may include a speaker and is often followed by the “pre” General Membership Meeting. The fee for the Welcome Dinner is usually included in registration packages with meals. Those with registrations that do not include meals may purchase separate meal tickets for this event.
All expenses associated with the Welcome Dinner are paid for from Convention fees.
Wine and Cheese Party or Products Showcase
The Wine and Cheese Party or Products Showcase (which would feature other goat products in addition to cheese) is put on by the ADGA Products Committee. It is usually scheduled for early Wednesday or Thursday evening (the two days that generally have no other evening programming scheduled). This event showcases the wide range of goat cheeses (and other products if applicable) produced in the United States today.
One prerequisite for choosing a facility for the ADGA Convention is that the facility allows outside food (i.e., goat cheese and other goat products) to be brought on site and that the facility has sufficient refrigerated storage for the large amount of cheese that needs to be held for up to three days.
The fee for the Wine and Cheese Party or Products Showcase is usually included in registration packages with meals. Those with registrations that do not include meals may purchase separate meal tickets for this event.
The ADGA Products Committee is responsible for supplying and paying the costs of all of the cheeses presented at the Wine and Cheese Party. They are also responsible for the presentation of the cheeses. This includes providing a list of needed fruit, vegetables, crackers, number of trays, and help with the products display. The cost of all associated costs except the cheese itself are paid for from Convention fees.
Youth
Program
The Youth Program is usually held Sunday through Tuesday. The ADGA Youth Committee with the Convention Host Committee work to provide a Youth Program that is both educational and fun. The Youth Program always begins with an introductory meeting and may include but not be limited to a Quiz Bowl, Skillathon, Youth Representative Contest, Showmanship/Fitting Clinic, ADGA Scholarship Talk, goat-related talks and panels specifically geared to youth, plus tours and trips to area entertainment attractions, swimming, pizza or other evening parties, etc. A youth lounge with TV, VCR and games is an option, providing a place for youth to socialize and relax. Youth may register for a full package with meals or without meals or for a single day’s participation.
If any Youth Program events are held away from the host facility, the Convention Host Committee must provide transportation to and from the site of those offsite events.
The expenses for the Youth Program activities (except for trophies and prizes for the skill and other contests), food, transportation, and facilities are paid for from Convention fees.