Myths, Questions & Answers Regarding the American Cervid Alliance
What is the American Cervid Alliance?
The American Cervid Alliance (ACA) is a leadership council comprised of representatives from state and national elk, deer, and exotic associations. The leaders of these associations meet regularly to assess the latest attacks on our industry from over-regulation, harmful legislation and threats to our right to raise cervids... The ACA essentially functions as the United Nations of the cervid industry. Much like the UN has member nations, the ACA will have member associations. The ACA has not been created to nor will it replace any association and individual producers will not become members of the ACA.
What is the mission of the ACA?
The mission of the American Cervid Alliance is to protect and promote the private property rights of individual members of our participating cervid industry associations. The American Cervid Alliance will explore all avenues through education, negotiations, research, lobbying or legal challenges to preserve the rights of our members to explore private business ventures that include breeding, raising, harvesting, marketing and legal movement of farm raised cervids.
How does the ACA work?
Every deer, elk or exotic association which agrees that the industry leaders across the nation should be working together to solve issues can appoint a representative to sit on this leadership council. Each association will have one vote in decision making of the alliance’s direction and action. The ACA by-laws ensure each participating association’s vote will only be represented by the person their association appoints.
Is the ACA a new association?
The ACA is a 501c4 non-profit organization. It is setup as such with a set of bylaws and mission statement to ensure the requirements of transparency, voting decisions, and structure. There must be a formal process in place to ensure every association’s voice will be heard and on the record no matter how large or small the association may be. The ACA is a leadership council of all participating associations and is not intended or setup to replace any existing association.
Does the industry already have this leadership forum?
No, there is and have been several leadership forums between various groups in the industry but there has never been an effort to united this many associations from the deer, elk and exotic world to bring everyone to the table. The ACA has had verbal commitments of support from over 30 associations.
Why do we need the ACA?
Since the escalation of CWD regulatory requirements from the state and federal level it was evident there was not sufficient communication between industry leaders regarding strategy. Leaders must work together to not duplicate efforts and have an open line of communication to exchange ideas.
How did this get started?
After the United States Animal Health Association Conference in fall of 2012, various state and national association leaders sought feedback from their counterparts in regards to future plans to improve the industry regulations. It was evident there was a lack of communication and these participants sought a forum to work together as a team. This small group of concerned cervid leaders was the genesis for the ACA.
What is a member association’s role in the ACA?
The ACA by-laws require each association that wishes to be included in the alliance to submit a letter from the association to the ACA appointing one individual as their representative to vote and be the voice of the association. In the event that representative cannot attend the meetings, the association appoints a temporary proxy transfer for that meeting. This ensures only appointed representatives will speak for their respective association.
How do associations vote?
The representative from each association will have one vote on issues. This ensures all associations will have an equal say in decision making. In addition, all votes other than procedural votes will be roll call so each association’s voice will be on record.
Can you be involved if you are not the voting Leadership Council member?
Yes. The By-laws offer language to accept any suggestion made by a cervid breeder in the industry to have the council take under consideration. The council meetings will also be open and you can offer your opinion.
Who are the ACA Leadership Council members?
The council member is the voting representative appointed by their state or national association to be their voice on the leadership council.
What is the leadership council?
The leadership council is the group of member associations that participate in the American Cervid Alliance.
Can more than one person from a members association be involved?
Yes, the ACA wants to utilize as much experience and expertise as possible. Though to ensure equal representation of the member associations, each member association will only have one vote therefore will only have one official voting councilman. The decision of a member association's councilman is up for their respective association to decide.
How will the industry know what happens with the ACA?
The minutes will be distributed to ACA members to be filtered down to their respective memberships. The minutes will also be posted on an ACA web forum. The voting records of members will be included in the minutes. Minutes will be taken by the Secretary/ Treasurer.
Who is the leader of the ACA?
There is no formal president of the ACA. There will be a moderator to organize the conference calls and business. A Secretary/Treasurer will be voted in to handle required duties.
What issues will the ACA work on?
The ACA will be tasked with reviewing regulatory, legislative, and public relations issues. The ACA may take action to assist in a state or federal issue decided by majority vote of the council members. The ACA will accept donations from any individual or organization that believes it can be used for the good of the outcome.
What are the member dues?
None. There is no money requirement for an association to participate. The ACA asks for thoughtful input and assistance in spreading the message. The ACA will accept monetary or auction donations to be used in issue assistance.
Where does the money come from?
Donations have come from associations, individuals and ranches that believe in the ACA’s mission to have leaders work together as a team on issues and agree to implement solutions. Every donation is logged and available for viewing.
Where does the money go?
The money will be used only by majority approval of the Leadership Council to assist in industry issues.
Will individuals have input?
Yes. There is a provision in the bylaws allowing for the consideration of an issue any industry supporter submits to the moderator. The ACA asks for any input or suggestion from the dedicated industry supporters.
How will the ACA be transparent?
The ACA meeting minutes will be distributed along with financial statements. Financial statements will include line by line donation and expenses for everyone to see where every penny goes. The ACA believes this is essential for its members to have access and is also required by federal law.
How do we help the ACA?
The ACA simply asks for good faith participation to work together as a team to improve the cervid industry. Spreading accurate education and communication is key. If any association does not want to participate that is their right but we would hope for the good of the industry that they will not impede the work of the participating associations and leaders.
What is the American Cervid Alliance?
The American Cervid Alliance (ACA) is a leadership council comprised of representatives from state and national elk, deer, and exotic associations. The leaders of these associations meet regularly to assess the latest attacks on our industry from over-regulation, harmful legislation and threats to our right to raise cervids... The ACA essentially functions as the United Nations of the cervid industry. Much like the UN has member nations, the ACA will have member associations. The ACA has not been created to nor will it replace any association and individual producers will not become members of the ACA.
What is the mission of the ACA?
The mission of the American Cervid Alliance is to protect and promote the private property rights of individual members of our participating cervid industry associations. The American Cervid Alliance will explore all avenues through education, negotiations, research, lobbying or legal challenges to preserve the rights of our members to explore private business ventures that include breeding, raising, harvesting, marketing and legal movement of farm raised cervids.
How does the ACA work?
Every deer, elk or exotic association which agrees that the industry leaders across the nation should be working together to solve issues can appoint a representative to sit on this leadership council. Each association will have one vote in decision making of the alliance’s direction and action. The ACA by-laws ensure each participating association’s vote will only be represented by the person their association appoints.
Is the ACA a new association?
The ACA is a 501c4 non-profit organization. It is setup as such with a set of bylaws and mission statement to ensure the requirements of transparency, voting decisions, and structure. There must be a formal process in place to ensure every association’s voice will be heard and on the record no matter how large or small the association may be. The ACA is a leadership council of all participating associations and is not intended or setup to replace any existing association.
Does the industry already have this leadership forum?
No, there is and have been several leadership forums between various groups in the industry but there has never been an effort to united this many associations from the deer, elk and exotic world to bring everyone to the table. The ACA has had verbal commitments of support from over 30 associations.
Why do we need the ACA?
Since the escalation of CWD regulatory requirements from the state and federal level it was evident there was not sufficient communication between industry leaders regarding strategy. Leaders must work together to not duplicate efforts and have an open line of communication to exchange ideas.
How did this get started?
After the United States Animal Health Association Conference in fall of 2012, various state and national association leaders sought feedback from their counterparts in regards to future plans to improve the industry regulations. It was evident there was a lack of communication and these participants sought a forum to work together as a team. This small group of concerned cervid leaders was the genesis for the ACA.
What is a member association’s role in the ACA?
The ACA by-laws require each association that wishes to be included in the alliance to submit a letter from the association to the ACA appointing one individual as their representative to vote and be the voice of the association. In the event that representative cannot attend the meetings, the association appoints a temporary proxy transfer for that meeting. This ensures only appointed representatives will speak for their respective association.
How do associations vote?
The representative from each association will have one vote on issues. This ensures all associations will have an equal say in decision making. In addition, all votes other than procedural votes will be roll call so each association’s voice will be on record.
Can you be involved if you are not the voting Leadership Council member?
Yes. The By-laws offer language to accept any suggestion made by a cervid breeder in the industry to have the council take under consideration. The council meetings will also be open and you can offer your opinion.
Who are the ACA Leadership Council members?
The council member is the voting representative appointed by their state or national association to be their voice on the leadership council.
What is the leadership council?
The leadership council is the group of member associations that participate in the American Cervid Alliance.
Can more than one person from a members association be involved?
Yes, the ACA wants to utilize as much experience and expertise as possible. Though to ensure equal representation of the member associations, each member association will only have one vote therefore will only have one official voting councilman. The decision of a member association's councilman is up for their respective association to decide.
How will the industry know what happens with the ACA?
The minutes will be distributed to ACA members to be filtered down to their respective memberships. The minutes will also be posted on an ACA web forum. The voting records of members will be included in the minutes. Minutes will be taken by the Secretary/ Treasurer.
Who is the leader of the ACA?
There is no formal president of the ACA. There will be a moderator to organize the conference calls and business. A Secretary/Treasurer will be voted in to handle required duties.
What issues will the ACA work on?
The ACA will be tasked with reviewing regulatory, legislative, and public relations issues. The ACA may take action to assist in a state or federal issue decided by majority vote of the council members. The ACA will accept donations from any individual or organization that believes it can be used for the good of the outcome.
What are the member dues?
None. There is no money requirement for an association to participate. The ACA asks for thoughtful input and assistance in spreading the message. The ACA will accept monetary or auction donations to be used in issue assistance.
Where does the money come from?
Donations have come from associations, individuals and ranches that believe in the ACA’s mission to have leaders work together as a team on issues and agree to implement solutions. Every donation is logged and available for viewing.
Where does the money go?
The money will be used only by majority approval of the Leadership Council to assist in industry issues.
Will individuals have input?
Yes. There is a provision in the bylaws allowing for the consideration of an issue any industry supporter submits to the moderator. The ACA asks for any input or suggestion from the dedicated industry supporters.
How will the ACA be transparent?
The ACA meeting minutes will be distributed along with financial statements. Financial statements will include line by line donation and expenses for everyone to see where every penny goes. The ACA believes this is essential for its members to have access and is also required by federal law.
How do we help the ACA?
The ACA simply asks for good faith participation to work together as a team to improve the cervid industry. Spreading accurate education and communication is key. If any association does not want to participate that is their right but we would hope for the good of the industry that they will not impede the work of the participating associations and leaders.
