This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello Ruth, I know this has been explained to you before but I guess Iâll repeat it. There are some very good reasons that the annual Face to Face working meeting is held currently in Florida (or anywhere where itâs not 20 below zero in January). Here are a few. #1 The weather is good (usually). You might think that the reason we say this is to lounge by a pool (Iâm not even sure if the hotel weâre at has one). The real reason is that very few flights into Orlando are cancelled because of a snow storm. If we held the meeting where the most Fjords are located some owners might come but some of the Board Members might not. It's very important that all the Board members attend the working meetings. A very big reason for the annual Face to Face meeting is for the Board to meet and plan for the next year. This is the only time we see each other officially. The Annual meeting is a one hour block out of three days of Board meetings. Last year I was outside for less than 1 hour total â the whole weekend! We meet in a board room Friday, Saturday and Sunday. #2. Plane tickets and hotel rooms are pretty cheap to Florida (Orlando is a hub) and since almost everyone has to fly somewhere why not go where it is cheaper? #3. For years we had the meeting in the Midwest and very few if any people besides the Board Members spouses show up. One year, one of the Board members was late because of the weather. Anywhere we have the meeting people will have to take time off from their farms to travel. Would you come if it was in Wisconsin? How about Minnesota? Keep in mind that itâs in January and your flight could be cancelled or delayed because of the weather. #4. We (the Board) have to meet somewhere. We have to take time off from our farms as well (I have to hire help each year to be able to attend the Face To Face Meeting). I am sure you know that the Board is a volunteer group. There are few if any perks to this job and if I can come down to Florida a day or two early with my family for a mini vacation I believe there is nothing wrong with that. It might help balance out the extra work my family has to do on my part so I can be a member of the NFHR Board. Donât worry Ruth â the NFHR doesnât pay their way. I doubt you believe this is the only chance one has to have a voice in the Registry, especially since you write to the Board throughout the year. It is the only chance to meet the Board members, talk to them and to see what makes them tick though. Maybe you should take a trip to the meeting â you might find that we are not what you think. Iâd also like to comment on Warrenâs views of the Face to Face meetings. He has never been to one and doesnât know the value of the meeting. He never spoke against the meeting while a Board member â only after the knowledge of not being re-elected did he say anything negative about the Face to Face meetings. Sounds like sour grapes to me. Maybe he would have been a better Board member if he was able to attend one. He might think itâs a holiday but in reality itâs a bunch of work, very valuable work. And finally, being from northern Wisconsin (and having had melanoma) my butt is not tanned at all thank you. Yours, Mark McGinley THANKS for the announcement and invitation Curt, I do truly appreciate a registry memo.
I'm sure Fjord demographics would illustrate that most Fjord caretakers will be in wintery bondage to their charges at that time; doling the hay, maintaining water, and conserving fuel expenses, so I can't imagine much of a turnout given the distance and expense, other than the affluential few. A person on the other Fjord list recently mentioned that they thought this winter getaway to a sunny funland was an outrageous registry expense, but I don't begrudge anyone a holiday ...it's the fact that this is the one and only annual opportunity to have a voice in registry business that galls my hide. (no proxy vote). My Christmas wish is that some day Donald Trump buys a Fjord, gets interested in registry business, and throws your tanned butts out of Florida. hah. Ruthie, nw mt US
