UPDATE on Environmental Disaster Relief Effort!
received - 6-11-10
Hi - Thanks to all 45,000 businesses and thousands of individuals we have enough hair, fur, fleece and feathers to make more than 25 MILES OF BOOM!
Over 10 miles has already been made by hundreds of volunteers! And it is being deployed in municipalities in Florida and Alabama now. WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS :)
We CANNOT TAKE any more boxes of hair, fur or fleece so PLEASE DON'T SEND ANY MORE AT THIS TIME. You have all been AMAZINGLY GENEROUS!
We do not want to see any boxes returned by accident.
You are all on the database and we will update you if and when we need more donations. We are still accepting sign ups because we want a list of all businesses who want to participate in this recycling system for emergency spills.
Photos of your haircuts in action are on the way!
Best wishes,
Lisa Gautier
President
www.MatterofTrust.org
Support Call for Environmental Disaster Relief Effort!
Dear Ohio Alpaca Owner,
The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is causing environmental havoc across the southern coastal states. Destin, Florida is one of cities that is expecting a huge wave of oil beginning late this week. They have discovered that alpaca fleece will be a key element in protecting Florida's beaches. Alpaca fiber is being stuffed into panty hose and will be used to create a barrier to absorb the oil (there is video of the process on the Sunshine Shore Facebook page). They are calling for any unused fiber. They can use blankets, seconds and thirds. This may not be the use you intended for your fiber. However, if you have fiber just sitting around, they could use it to save Florida wildlife and beaches. We have arranged for a truckload shipment to Florida this week.
We need your fiber donations! Two Drop off points are available for the next fiber call. Please continue to watch this site for the drop off dates when the next truck will be available.
Northern Ohio East - Cheryl & Albert Laufer, owners of Spirit Wind Alpacas of Turning Point Farm. Their address is 11245 Music St., Newbury, Ohio. Phone number: (440) 564-7639.
and
Northern Ohio West - Dennis Radesic, Club Suri Alpacas
Address is: 12740 S. Reed Rd. Grafton, Oh (Eaton TWP) Rt 83 & 82 area, Phone number: (440) 748-6078
We are also collecting funds to underwrite the fuel costs incurred for the first shipment. Please make your donations payable to OABA and forward them to:
PO Box 172, Blacklick, Ohio 43004
Or you can send an e-mail to treasurer@alpaca-farms-breeders.com to make arrangements for your donation.
Thanks to everyone serving as collection points, donating fiber or money for the relief efforts!
PRESS RELEASE: FLEECE FOR FLORIDA
OHIO ALPACA FARMS RESPOND TO THE CRISIS
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
Alpacas, cousins of llamas, are known for their fabulous natural fiber and their eco friendly nature.
Today both of those qualities are being used to help soak up oil that’s being released by a leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico. Environmental experts say hair is one of the best ways to clean up and absorb oil. One of the organizations leading the charge for collecting hair and fur is called Matter of Trust, a non-profit in San Francisco. So, in a flurry of action this week Ohio alpaca owners around the state put together an action plan to help our fellow Americans to the south.
A 52 foot truck left late Thursday night, southbound to Florida, with nearly 10 tons of fleece where it’ll be used in booms to surround and soak up spilled oil. The alpaca hair and other natural materials including human hair, wool and feathers are stuffed into nylon stockings and used to make the floating booms.
Additional efforts are in the works to extend the collection both from Florida boom stuffers and Ohio alpaca owners that were not able to contribute to this week’s collection effort.
ADVERTISING IN OHIO ALPACA LIFE MAGAZINE
Missed your opportunity to advertise in the first issue?
Reserve your ad now for issue two!
Click here for important advertising info!
OABA SURVEY - HELP US HELP YOU!
OABA is currently conducting a significant survey in order to accomplish a number of goals which will benefit individual Alpaca farms, as well as the industry as a whole. The results of the survey will assist OABA in showing the economic impact that the alpaca industry has. It will also provide insights as to how your farm fits into the picture of the industry at large. Additionally, the survey will provide OABA members with an opportunity to give the Board of Directors feedback as to what you think we are doing right, and what we need to improve upon. While OABA is conducting the survey, we are attempting to build a profile of as many Ohio farms as possible, and so we are not only asking for you to print out & complete the survey, but we are also requesting your help in directing non-OABA farms to the survey link, so that they may also complete and mail it in. Remember that the more completed surveys we receive, the more valid & useful the data derived from it will be. Please discuss the importance of this survey with as many alpaca farms (both OABA & Non-OABA members) as you can, and direct them to this web page so that they may participate!
This is one of the most important things that OABA will be doing in 2010, and it will only succeed if we can count on your participation. It is the fervent wish of the board of directors that OABA be an effective & dynamic organization, and this can only be the case if our members share this committment. So please click on the link below, print out your copy of the survey, and mail it in as soon as you can! We thank you for your timely support in this important endeavor.
Please click here for the survey!
OABA Mission Statement
OABA was formed to combine the unique talents and efforts of all member farms in Ohio, regardless of size, allowing for more effective marketing, education and support, thereby facilitating success beyond those achievable as individuals. Join us today and begin to recognize the benefits for yourself.
BENEFITS:
- Free copy of "Ohio Alpaca Life" magazine delivered to your home each quarter
- Listing of your farm in"Ohio Alpaca Life", with live link to your website in online version
- Alpacafest - a world-class show that draws many breeders and the general public
- Discounted stalling at Alpacafest
- An easy way to network with and locate fellow breeders
- An easy way to form strategic alliances with other breeders
- Educational events at each quarterly meeting and other times throughout the year
- Web site traffic from this site
- 10 Free herdsire listings on this website
- Listing in our "Find-A-Farm" Feature on this website
- Combined marketing efforts of entire organization for all members
- Access to sell your Ohio made products in the OABA farm store booth
- Disounted Price on the Bi-Annual Camelid Vet conference - a daylong event held at OSU
We are very open to discussing other benefits and value we may be able to offer!
The cost is $35 for 100 brochures or $20 for 50 brochures.
