Alpacas Magazine - 2010 Spring

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34 Alpacas Magazine
North American Alpaca News
Camelid Community 2010:
Pulling Together in Fragile Times
How is the economy affecting
our world as camelid owners
and what can we do about it?
Our community in the
camelid world comes not from
what we do with our animals
but from the very fact that
we have them. It is critical
that we identify with the
whole of our community and
not just one of its constituent
parts. Can we be more inclu-
sive rather than exclusive?
Can we achieve a sense of
commitment and solidarity
that plays out in real life? The driving force of any
community is cooperation, and that has been one
of our main goals at Camelid Community.
In today’s economic climate, we in the camelid
world need a vision that goes beyond mere plans
for adjustment. We need to imagine new ways to
accomplish our objectives if we are going to do
well by ourselves and our animals. More of the
same – including bigger and better of the same –
just isn’t going to cut it in our new economic envi-
ronment. We need to realize that and move on.
The main purpose of Camelid Community is to
discuss “the state of the union” within the camelid
world, and we would like to continue to have rep-
resentatives from all geographic regions, national
groups, and local and regional breeder/owner
groups. Past Camelid Community gatherings have
provided significant contributions to the commu-
nity at large and proved that our various alpaca
and llama groups can work together without
taking away from each other. We need to expand
that cooperative effort even further. To propose
discussion topics for this year’s open forum, con-
tact either Barb Baker ) or
Sheila Fugina .
A complete report on
Camelid Community 2009
is available at ,
the web site for the
International Camelid
Institute.
More specific details on
this year’s agenda will be
forthcoming as we receive
your input.
Camelid Community is
being held in Kansas City
with easy airport access and
central proximity for people
coming from all parts of
the country. The name Kansas City is synony-
mous with great food, and Saturday night dinner
at a popular area restaurant is included in your
conference registration fee. Kansas City is also
a sight-seeing and shopping mecca, and the
nightlife is nationally renown – so you might
want to extend your stay a day or two.
Because we try to keep costs as low as
possible for everyone, the registration fee for
Camelid Community 2010 is still only $75
(a late fee of $15 will be charged for registrations
made after July 5). This includes conference
fees, as well as Saturday breakfast (continental),
lunch and dinner. The conference is being held
at the Radisson Kansas City Airport, located at
11828 NW Plaza Circle (just off Ambassador
Drive), which is about two miles from the
Kansas City Airport (MCI). The hotel offers
free shuttle service to and from the airport.
Please contact
for registration information.
© 2010 Karl and Linda Lintz