[dominiquer60]

We will try to put this in a prominent place in the newsletter with a picture of Sam from NEAPFD, which is good because we a lacking a little content. We may be able to give this event promotion up to a half page. It is just enough info to get folks attention and that is what really counts at this point, they can mark their calendars, the little details will follow in time. Thanks Jen for sticking with it and tracking him down.

[dominiquer60]

Welcome!
This is a great place for beginners to start (working draft beginners that is). There is so much information here that it can seem overwhelming at times, but don’t be afraid to ask questions, you will get many answers, use what works for you. Have fun, be safe and enjoy.

[dominiquer60]

Can I suggest that since we don’t have details but do have a date, that Jean put the following in the newsletter to drum up some interest (the sooner we get this on peoples radar the more success we have promoting it):

Spring Plowing Workshop with Sam Rich, Winner of the 2007 National Walking Plow Contest. This multi-day DAPNet workshop will take place at We-Li-Kit Farm in Abington, CT the weekend of April 21st (rain date weekend of April 28th). There will be room for a limited amount of student teamsters, but auditors are welcome. Be on the look out for more information on this unique opportunity to learn the technical details of plowing using draft animals from one of New England’s finest plowmen. Discounted rates for DAPNet members, so if you haven’t already, please become a member or sign up for our eNews (http://www.draftanimalpowernetwork.org) for the most up to date information about this event.

We can tweak it of course, but since Jean really needs this info yesterday to get the newsletter out on time, I think that something like this would be a good teaser for now. P&E can mail a tri-fold when the details are straight. Sam doesn’t sound like someone that we can rush to get the details into this newsletter. Just my two cent, what do you all think?

[dominiquer60]

Hooray for you, have fun with your new adventure!

[dominiquer60]

If harnessing a tall horse is an issue, I have seen harnessing platforms that can easily be built so that grooming and harnessing are less of and issue for vertically challenged folks. I know of a gentleman that built one so that his wife can help him comfortably. It takes a little lumber but if you stand to benefit from such a tool, it may be well worth it and it also keeps the little people in a safer location while they work around big horses.

[dominiquer60]

I am all for electronic committee reports, I am happy to submit a brief one here and now to the best of my knowledge

Communications Committee Report for the 1/8/12 BOD Meeting

Membership-
Ethan is in contact with Justin of BlueStar who is developing a logo for DAPNet (free of charge?) and we will be able to use this in our informational material and any logo items that we choose to sell. Once the logo is complete he will be designing an informational brochure to promote membership that can easily be destributed. Membership is up after the solicitation letter, Jean will hopefully have a number for us.

Website- Jen is working with Pam to update some of the content on the main .org site. We have been having a high volume of spam on DAP.com, but Jen has been doing her best to keep it to a minimum. We still don’t have a god handle on vBulliten, Ed refuses to return calls. Jen in looking into the platform that Phil Wilson has to offer, this would allow us to combine the websites into one and would give Jen the ability to have more help updating the website, for example Erika would be able to post newsletters to the archives when the time comes instead of needing Jen to do it. Combining websites could be costly, just to through an educated guess out there ~$10,000.

Newsletter- Waiting for 2 pieces of content and some more advertising, but should be out by the end of the month. The newsletter committee added another advertising rate based on the success of other organizations, a buy 3 quarterly display adds at one time and get the 4th free. This 25% off discount is available to advertisers that pay for the year up front. Having this rate will save on time soliciting adds and make advertising with us more appealing. Personally I was able to find someone willing to do this right off the bat, hopefully there are many more to come. If you have not seen the budget for 2012, we plan on printing 300 of each issue with the exception of the summer issue, we will print 1500 to have many extras to pass out at events such as HPD (I hope to be going out to Michigan this summer). The Newsletter committee is looking forward to working with Finance and P & E to develop levels of sponsorships for the newsletters, website(s) and our events, we hope to attract more income for our organization with this unified front.

Overall we are trying to fine tune our efforts by improving on last years and working on increasing income so that we can afford them.

Any questions, please feel free to email me, I hope this makes it easier so that we can tackle our budget during the meeting.

Erika

[dominiquer60]

Andy,
In my grade school years I raised a good number of Dominiques and Old English bantams. I too started with an incubator, some years were better than others. The last two years before I sold the flock for college books, I used one broody hen for all of my hatching needs. The last year she hatched 5 clutches and over 60 chicks. I would leave the chicks with her for a few days and then move them to a brooder once they were eating and drinking well. If she accepted them I gave her another clutch of eggs, and the cycle would just continue. She constantly had food and clean water in front of her and I would let her out of her cage twice a day if she chose to. I kept her in a cage to protect her from the menagerie of sexes and ages in the rest of the coop, plus it was where she chose to start nesting, all I had to do was shut the door. The only thing that I would have done differently is to put a fresh piece of sod under her for every clutch to give the eggs enough moisture. Certain breeds are more prone to broodiness, my hen was a Dominique, but I have had some good banties and a Buff Rock as broody hens.

[dominiquer60]

The catalog is great, but I smell a road trip to Michigan this July to see it myself, plus I could stop at Roeters to find more cultivating toys.

[dominiquer60]

Here are the minutes from the meeting this evening, let me know if there are any changes to be made or clarifications to those that were not able to participate.

Communications Committee Meeting 1/2/12

Participants: Ellen, Erika, Ethan and Mark

Newsletter:
It was agreed that a newsletter ad rate discount would be a good tool to help gain advertisers and attract them for the entire year, making less leg work for Jean and more upfront income. The rate decided on will be a 25% discount for committing to 4 quarterly issue, in other words buy three get one free. This rate can be applied to all sizes of ads from classified to a half page. This rate was decided on because it has been successful for similar organizations in the area.

Content for newsletter is coming together and advertisers are still coming in and welcomed. A letter to BOD members will be sent out ASAP with the discount rate so that perhaps last minute advertisers can take advantage of the discount, this will also be posted on DAP.com.

Website:
Ethan reported that the Lost Arts gentleman that proposed helping us merge both websites into one platform may be questionable, Ellen has not found any info on him or valid references. There is still interest in combining both websites and Jennifer is looking into possibilities. There is a steady stream of new DAP.com registered members.

Mission Statement/Charge:
Develop and maintain communications within both DAPNet as an organization and with other Draft Animal Organizations. Promote our organization, websites and related educational workshops and demonstrations. Develop and maintain a quarterly newsletter, websites and other appropriate strategies and tools.

Budget:
Erika will be working with Reva this coming week to develop a budget.

Promotion:
Ethan will contact Dale Stoltzfus about deadline for HPD Booklet ad and will work on getting the logo from Justin and approving it on time for this deadline if possible. When the logo is complete he will work on an informative DAPNet brochure that can be used for promotions.

Other Discussions:
-There was talk about writing another recruiting/donation letter aimed at the DAP.com registered users that are not members or haven’t donated recently. Erika will work on this and run it by the Exc. Committee before the BOD Meeting next week.
-Another idea for membership based on Public Radio is a sustaining membership, members sign-up to have a certain amount charged to their card on a monthly basis, this may not be appealing to some members though, just a thought.
-The group was wondering if it is possible to easily email promotions to the registered DAP.com members.
-In order to appeal to advertisers it would be good to include a link to the newsletter archive page on DAPNet.org in the eNews every time a new newsletter is added to the archives, it would be good to post a link on DAP.com as well. The content and DAP.com post can be written and posted by someone other than Jennifer to spread the workload.

[dominiquer60]

Awesome, talk to you all Monday at 7pm

Have a great weekend!

[dominiquer60]

So it looks like Pam and Ed are the only ones that have not responded to scheduling first monday of the month Comm Comm meetings. Let us know it this time of the month works for you two.

If all goes well it looks like Monday Jan 2nd will be our first regularly scheduled meeting.

Thanks,

[dominiquer60]

I am a member of this group and we have an nice mix of ox enthusiasts. If you are also a facebook member I highly recommend this group, there are some great pictures and conversations from all over the continent.

[dominiquer60]

Nothing like a good small job for a young pair, I did anything that I could imagine with my little ones. Great Job and Happy Holidays.

[dominiquer60]

Great job Tim and Will! He seems to have taken well to the single work.

[dominiquer60]

Merry Christmas to all, may your family and animals be well, rows be straight, timbers fall where you wish, and your springs run clean in the coming new year. Special thanks to those of you caring for animals so that others may visit loved ones!

[Author]

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