CLRC ANNUAL MEETING AND WORKSHOP A SUCCESS

 

Representatives of 23 breed associations were in attendance at the Annual General Meeting of CLRC in Calgary, Alberta on April 1, 2000. They were welcomed to the meeting by Chairman Don Swanston, who had also hosted the representatives at the Chairman’s Reception the previous evening.

 

During the meeting, highlights of the year’s activities at CLRC were presented by General Manager Ron Black, and by members of the Board of Directors. Among the accomplishments noted were the significant improvement in turnaround time for processing work, reorganization of the registrars into teams, and an increase in the volume of work processed on behalf of the current member associations over 1998. The Members and Pedigrees information on CLRC’s website had been redeveloped and expanded. The information is now posted for 33 associations, and is the subject of many very positive comments. Two new member associations, the Canadian Blonde d’Aquitaine Association and the Canadian Lowline Cattle Association, were welcomed to CLRC. It was also announced that the process of replacing CLRC’s current computer system will begin later this year. Overall, it was noted that the interest of breed associations in the services provided by CLRC is increasing.

 

Elected to the Board of Directors during the meeting were; Bryon Wilson, St. Eugene, Ontario (Canadian Llama and Alpaca Association), Peggy Newman, Blackie, Alberta (Canadian Sheep Breeders Association), Dan Stephenson, Okotoks, Alberta (Canadian Shorthorn Association) and Gerry Lalonde, Cumberland, Ontario (Canadian Horse Breeders Association). Continuing on the Board are Don Swanston, High River, Alberta (Canadian Percheron Association), Betty Small, Harriston, Ontario (Canadian Swine Breeders Association), and David Trus, Ottawa, Ontario (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada). Following the meeting, Mr. Wilson was elected as Chairman for the next year, and Mrs. Newman was elected as Vice-Chairman.

 

A very informative Workshop was held on March 31st. Presentations were given on: Setting Up and Maintaining a Website, the Canadian Cattle Identification Program that will be implemented on January 1, 2001, and on the services provided by Beef Improvement Ontario. All three topics generated many questions and a lot of round-table discussion. For a more detailed summary of the Workshop presentations, please contact the CLRC office.

 

It was announced that next year’s Annual Meeting and Workshop will take place on April 6 and 7, 2001 in Toronto.