Shetland Sheep: Rich in History, Rich in Textiles

Shetland Sheep: Rich in History, Rich in Textiles! Our farm mission is to enjoy and promote the wonderful diversity of the Shetland breed by fully utilizing to the best of our ability all they have to offer historically. We believe the best preservation and management of this breed includes it's full spectrum of history. We encourage old and new shepherds alike to join in the fun by engaging in fiber arts, especially spinning and knitting, as this breed is so intimately linked with those aspects of the arts.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

What can YOU do?

1. Work to eliminate the bullying camp. How? Vote them off the board. Don't buy sheep from them. Don't buy sheep with their farm prefixes.

2. Write to the current board via direct email (addresses of each in the newsletter) and ask each of them to work for the whole membership, including those who wish to continue protecting and preserving the true Shetland sheep. They can do this by reversing Appendix A. They can also do this by allowing transparency to return (for example, the latest board minutes on the site are from early March...so much has happened since then! But the membership continues to be in the dark).

3. Insist that planners of the sheep shows and those on the board of directors take a hiatus from showing during their tenure. This is just good business for the promotion and honesty of the breed. (I do not think this should apply to the planners' and board members' children, since kids cannot help that their parents wish to be involved.)

4. Insist that honest communication be restored to the organization's website list. Insist that violators who post graphic language not pertaining to sheep...such as illegal drugs, homosexuality, offensive name calling (such as "snotty Brits") and alcohol abuse be left unposted and violators given "watch" status on their memberships. If it happens twice by one member, that member should be removed from the breed organization. This strong language should fix the problem. Those of us whom are engaging in professional commerce with our sheep, wool, and meat deserve and expect protection from these unethical, unprofessional internet bullies. Currently, they are supported by our current board by such posts getting on the list, and by not removing them promptly unless pressured...a lot.

5. Write to our breed organization president and insist that website moderators be held accountable for censorship of honest questions. Demand that moderators be removed from the position and no longer paid if they allow inappropriate language to "slip...oops I let that one go...and that one go....and that one go..." into public viewing, or by withholding sincere, appropriate questions because they might reveal a problem within the board's actions. As members of this organization, we have the right to expect and demand this accountability.

The camp has embattled our membership and take joy from crazy, unethical debates. It is their way of getting people to stop "coming around" unless you take their view. This is not right. We all know who the camp members are. It's time to send them on their way.

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