1997 Long-Range Planning Task Force Report

This committee recommends the following for consideration by the Executive Committee and membership of the National Block and Bridle Club:

A) Thirty-six changes to the Constitution and By-Laws of the organization (last edited in 1987). These changes cannot be voted upon until the Denver convention in January 1998 by statement of "30-day advance notice" in the Constitution. See attachment for itemized proposed changes.

B) That information regarding available jewelry be publicized to the chapters through the national convention and homepage.

C) That the former "ritual", what we are now referring to as the "induction ceremony for new members" be reviewed, updated where appropriate, and made available on the homepage and in semi-annually mailed newsletters.

D) That opportunities for more formal recognition by the American Society of Animal Science of Block and Bridle as the undergraduate arm of the Society be explored.

1) That National Block and Bridle be made directly responsible for the regional quadrathlon competitions through ASAS.

2) That National Block and Bridle work with the four sections (Northeast, Southern, Midwest, and Western) of ASAS to develop a regional student program at each of their meetings, including quadrathlon, poster, debate, and other possible competitive activities and bring the national organization into adherence with the By-Laws, Paragraph XI.

3) That National Block and Bridle encourage ASAS leadership to be present and recognized at our annual national conventions through awards presentations and promotion of the sectional meeting student activities.

4) That the National Block and Bridle Executive Committee formally petition the ASAS Board of Directors regarding these recommendations.

E) That the National Block and Bridle Club homepage on the World-Wide Web become a primary focus for national communication.

1) That the national officers be challenged to obtain chapter abstracts from all active chapters annually to be reported on the homepage.

2) That links be established from the national home-page to individual chapters and that these be updated annually by query at the national convention business meeting.

F) That workshops by representatives of the three top award-winning chapters from the previous year be presented at the national convention (for chapter activities, scrap- book, and published yearbook). The charge for this responsibility is to be made by the national officer administering that award category as the awards are presented at the convention.

G) That each chapter be required upon registration at the national convention to submit a one-page document for each of the following three categories: 1) most successful fund-raising activity, 2) most successful community/industry service activity, and 3) most successful educational activity. These are to be submitted in hard-copy and disk form. The cumulative groups of these will then be bound and made available to each club's advisor and voting delegates at the business meeting and will also be added annually as a section of the homepage.

H) That a separate meeting be held each year at the national convention to register the two voting delegates (preferably early during the convention). At this time much of the "house-keeping" business such as chapter abstracts, one-page summaries, correct electronic and postal correspondence information, and information which may be on the table can be reviewed/accomplished.

I) That the executive committee diligently pursue mechanisms for becoming involved with industry commodity organizations (NCBA, NPPC, ASI, etc.) in youth development/leadership programs. Possible programs might include "Collegiate Cattlemen's Leadership Institute", National Block and Bridle "Fellows" to serve as interns in commodity organizations, Junior "Cattlemens" Colleges, Junior Speaker's Bureaus networked through National Block and Bridle, etc.

J) That some form of recognition be established at the national level for advisor recognition (we do understand that this is being discussed).

K) That a thorough survey be completed to determine "inactive" clubs which may be targeted for rejuvenation or removal from the national roster.

Constitutions