Local representation has always been a right deemed essential by a democracy. ARPAS, as a democratic organization is no different. Chapters provide a way to exercise that right. Our founders recognized the need for chapters and provided for the establishment and governance of chapters (ARPAS Bylaws, Article XIV). You will soon be asked to ratify a change made to this article by the ARPAS Governing Council to allow more flexibility for our members in choosing their local chapter affiliation.
We are pleased to announce that the petition to establish the North East Chapter of ARPAS was accepted by the Governing Council in January. We are appreciative of the efforts of Tim Snyder and Jud Heinrichs as well as other ARPAS members in this region. Officers have been elected and the constitution and bylaws are being completed.
We also want to call your attention to a meeting to be held during the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference to organize a new chapter serving members in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Dwight Roseler is spear heading this effort with assistance from Mid-West Director Jim Spain. If you are attending this conference, please plan to join us at 7 am, Wednesday April 21 to vote for formation of this chapter.
Our established Chapters-California, Pacific NW, Arkansas, Washington DC, Southern Great Plains and Colorado/Wyoming/Nebraska are all conducting annual meetings to insure local representation for our members. Hopefully, many of these chapters will grow to at least 50 members and be entitled to have representation on the ARPAS Governing Council.
Additional Chapters are welcome. If you would like to propose a new ARPAS chapter, please contact any ARPAS officer or the Executive VP. We still have many ARPAS members that are not participating in the affairs of ARPAS and feel they lack representation at a local level.