Northeast Animal Power Field Days Ideas needed

[Carl Russell]

DAPNet can be all things to all people, but I was hoping to draw people’s attention to the fact that what supports it all is a network. A contact list is not a network, until someone starts to massage it, to connect with people, to connect individuals with similar interests, or to create opportunities for shared experience.

As you think of concrete things to do, don’t forget that at least someone in the group should be thinking about how the network functions, how the energy/ideas/excitement/money flows, and how to keep it vital.

Here is a quote from the original grant proposal that supported the development of DAPNet…..

Many of the skills and methods required to use draft animals as effective motive power are best learned through observation, hands-on experience, and under the guidance of mentors. Traditionally these cultural assets were provided through familial and community interaction.

As we all work to improve our skills we depend on a wide network of mentors, equipment suppliers, and resource people. The challenge is in overcoming the barriers of distance and limited association that restrict the growth and personal development of practices not prevalent in today’s society.

It is the goal of DAPNet to establish an organization supported by member dues, sponsorships, and grants, to provide resources that create strong connections between a widely dispersed group of people, providing opportunities to share knowledge.

The idea behind DAPNet was not to create another Green Mountain Draft Horse Association-like group, not to compete with these types of groups, but to facilitate the interlacing of opportunities that are available to people interested in learning about draft animal power. Field days, workshops, newsletters, and websites are all effect and useful concrete tools to utilize, but keeping the network alive and active should remain one of your objectives also.

So as you make plans for another NEAPFD, just bare in mind that the event can offer opportunities not only to the attendees, but also to the organization to strengthen ties, and increase stature (if only figuratively) within the draft animal power community of interest.

Carl

[Tim Harrigan]

When I question the networking component I am not suggesting that networking is not good, or desirable or necessary. My sense is that networking is our strongest component. And I don’t keep a balance book or do cost-benefit analysis regarding time spent networking and connecting with other organizations. This is not a question of for or against. Of course, networking is hugely important. Some of the challenge I have seen is translating networking into action that supports our goals and values, and thereby builds and strengthens the organization. So my question is really if we should be doing more, than how much and in what ways that are different from what we are doing now? And to what end? So we use the term ‘networking’ quite freely as if we have a common agreement and understanding of what it means, but actually it can mean just about anything. So if the sense is we should be doing more networking, it implies to me that we should be doing something different or better. So what exactly does that mean in the context of limited time, limited dollars and other resources? Not suggesting a reduction in networking, just wondering why more networking is where we need to invest limited resources.

[Andy Carson]

@Tim Harrigan 37604 wrote:

So we use the term ‘networking’ quite freely as if we have a common agreement and understanding of what it means, but actually it can mean just about anything.

This is true. Perhaps I have a different view of what network is and this is why I have somewhat different thoughts about it. I generally think of networking as being “chummy” with other people or organizations in an effect to “court” them. Most people (and organizations) who are “chummy” avoid conversations about many subjects I consider important to myself and to our organization. This includes (but is not limited to), discussions involving life and death descisions involving animals, the mention of pain when discussing training aids like bits and goads, policy and politics, philosophical approachs to training/working with animals, philosophical approaches to how we impact the environment, what “organic” means, what “humane” means, and a million other topics that might offend someone or cause disagreement. I think that as an organization, we are brave in discussing these important topics and provide an important service. We have a plurality of opinions on most of these topics and I think representing these openly and honestly is important. I fear that if networking means “being chummy” we will stop discussing these and other important issues so as to not offend potential networking partners. So long at this compromising of our own viewpoints and our collective viewpoint doesn’t happen, I am not opposed to networking either, but I think a little worry about the potential of a compromised viewpoint (even to a small degree) is reasonable.

[Carl Russell]

I was not suggesting that there was more networking that needed to be done, just to think about how the network…. works.

BUT… since you asked I will throw out….. for example, when I reviewed the Athol Logging workshop registration I saw a few things right off the bat. First of all there is no DAPNet web address on there at all….. Also, while I was mentioned, there was no mention of anyone else who would be involved. I appreciate that DAPNet is compensating me, but as a professional offering resources that have taken years to refine, DAPNet could present itself much more meaningfully to me if I could see how my involvement in this workshop was broadening my exposure to a wider community. This was done easily by adding a bit of bio, or my website. Also, since there are several other players, including the Farm School, I felt it was important that the promotional material express some of what they are bringing to the workshop.

Another idea that occurred to me a while ago….. when was the last time a DAPNet representative contacted Lynn Miller? He might be interested in knowing where DAPNet is these days. He might be interested to know that Neal Perry gave a keynote at the annual gathering talking about inter-generational farming, and that it made one think about the Small Farms Conservancy, wondering what was up with that these days, and wondering if Lynn would like to write a short piece for the DAPNet Newsletter. He might be interested to hear about possible plans for upcoming NEAPFD and that he will be kept in the loop in case there is something he would like to contribute.

I wonder about sponsorship on DAP.com, and whether it would make sense to talk with Jake Blanc, or Leon Wengerd, or some of the harness shops to let them know how much interest there is on DAP.com about their equipment. Let them know that DAPNet is considering providing rotating sponsorship to draft animal power equipment dealers at affordable rates (just conjecture on my part, but an unveiled suggestion), and find out what they think about that. If you get a few, it might lead to others. There is nothing wrong with interest in DAPNet coming from both directions.

Reaching out to people, and businesses, using the connections that DAPNet has to effectively highlight their involvement in the shared learning experience can be done with no additional cost to what you are doing now. Someone just has to take responsibility to see that it happens. All of these examples have real possibilities for financial gain, in exchange for very minimal work.

As far as NEAPFD and networking, it is just a matter of presenting resources that DAPNet has in their best possible light, on an ongoing basis, to show potential supporters how their involvement and sponsorship can not only help DAPNet members and NEAPFD attendees with new knowledge, but will also gain themselves effective and professionally presented exposure. It also shows DAPNet members how valuable the organization is because it has demonstrated access to some of their most important and revered resources.

Carl

[Rick Alger]

Back to the opening question, I would love to sit in a room with other horse loggers and thrash out the finer points of a large cooperative logging project.

I would also like to talk with folks working horses about the possibility of seasonal lend/lease arrangements.

As far as size of the affair, I guess a large one is best for creating interest, and a small one is best for maintaining commitment.

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