AlpacaGram 13.27 | Proposed Bylaws Changes
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Dear AOA Members, The AOA Board of Directors is asking you to vote on a proposed change to the AOA Bylaws. The vote opens December 7, 2026, and closes Monday, December 21, 2026, at midnight. Passage requires approval by two-thirds of members with voting rights who actually cast a vote. What You Are Voting OnThis vote is on a Bylaw change only. If the Bylaw change passes, it would authorize the Board of Directors to establish and maintain a separate registry, called a Percentage Registry, for alpacas not currently registered in the closed AOA Registry. The Board would develop the specific rules, fees and policies if and when members approve the Bylaw change. If the Bylaw change does not pass, AOA will not create a Percentage Registry. Proposed Bylaws AmendmentsThe four proposed amendments update AOA's Bylaws to:
The full language of the proposed Bylaws amendments, with proposed additions shown in red underline and deletions shown in strikethrough, is below. Bylaws Amendment #11.1 Statement of Purpose. The purposes of Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (the “Association”) shall be the following: 1.1.1 To promote awareness of alpacas and alpaca products; 1.1.2 To maintain an official DNA validated genealogical registry system and a separate percentage registry system for alpacas which are not DNA validated; 1.1.3 To administer an alpaca show system; 1.1.4 To provide education to the Association’s members and to the public about the operation of sustainable alpaca businesses; 1.1.5 To market alpacas and the use of alpaca products; 1.1.6 To promote scientific research to benefit the alpaca industry; and 1.1.7 To do any and all things necessary or incidental to achieve the purposes specified above. Bylaws Amendment #212.2.3 Except as provided in Section 12.2.6, tThe approval of two-thirds of members with voting rights actually voting on the measure shall be required for any amendment to the Association’s policies and procedures or any other action which would (i) reopen the Association to the registration of alpacas which are not Pedigreed Alpacas, (ii) allow the Association to enter into an inter-registry exchange protocol or similar agreement with a foreign registry or association, or (iii) eliminate the requirement for scientific testing as validation of the parentage of an alpaca to be registered in the Association. For purposes of this Section 12.2, a “Pedigreed Alpaca” shall mean an alpaca that is the offspring of two parents that are both registered with the Association. The approval of two-thirds of members with voting rights actually voting on the measure shall also be required for any amendment of this Section 12.2.3. Bylaws Amendment #3Current Bylaw with Proposed Amendments: 12.2.5 Except as provided in Section 12.2.6, tThe approval of a majority of members with voting rights actually voting on the measure shall be required for any amendment to the Association’s policies and procedures or any other action which would include any registration standard in the policies and procedures which is inconsistent with scientific testing as validation of the parentage or is in addition to the requirement that the alpaca be a Pedigreed Alpaca, as defined in this Section 12.2. The approval of a majority of members with voting rights actually voting on the measure shall also be required for any amendment of this Section 12.2.5. Bylaws Amendment #4New Bylaw Proposed: 12.2.6 The Association will establish and maintain a registry (the “Percentage Registry”), separate from the DNA validated genealogical registry maintained by the Association, for the registration of alpacas which are not Pedigreed Alpacas. An alpaca may be registered in the Percentage Registry as either a “Listed Alpaca” or a “Percentage Alpaca”, with requirements and criteria for these registrations as specified by the Board of Directors in the Association’s policies and procedures. About the Linked PresentationAlso linked is a presentation prepared by the AOA Task Force that developed the Percentage Registry proposal. It is intended to help members understand how a Percentage Registry could work in practice. Because the specific policies and procedures would be set by the Board after any Bylaw passage, some details in the presentation—such as show participation rules and advancement criteria—represent only the Task Force's thinking and are illustrative, not final. The membership vote is only about amending the Bylaws to allow for the Percentage Registry. Pro and Con StatementsPlease see the linked Pro and Con statements. The Pro statement was written by the Board members who voted in favor of proposing the Percentage Registry to the membership. The Con statement was written by the Board members who voted against proposing the Percentage Registry to the membership. Please review all items provided by the Board:
You will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in dialogue during forthcoming online roundtable discussions, with dates to be determined. As we move forward together, we encourage every member to stay informed, engaged and respectful of the many perspectives within our community. Whether you support this proposed Bylaw change, oppose it or are still considering your position, your voice and participation are valued. Open dialogue and thoughtful discussion are signs of a strong and healthy organization. While we may not always agree, we share a common commitment to the success and future of the alpaca industry. Thank you for your thoughtful participation in this important vote. |
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