Archive for December, 2008

Posted on December 15, 2008 - by Russell

Follow-Up on Private Meeting

The TLMA and a select group of TLBAA Directors met in secret on December 12, 2008. The TLMA had requested the meeting. Those in attendance representing the TLMA were Joe Munsch, Johnnie Robinson, Mike Casey, Wes Chancey and from TLBAA there was Dr. Dameron (he tends to side with TLMA) , Lana Hightower, Ty Wehring, Brent Bolen and Maurice Ladnier. Having spoke with two of those who attended I have the following information about the meeting.

a)      It lasted about three and a half hours.

b)      The tone of the meeting was civil for the most part.

c)      TLMA leaders spent a lot of time explaining why TLMA was formed and that TLBAA should embrace the Marketing Alliance.

d)     TLMA presented a list of demands for their return to TLBAA.

a.       Replace Trails Magazine with the Journal Magazine

b.      Fire certain TLBAA staff

c.       TLMA Sale Management headed by Jim Curry would handle ALL sales.

d.      Replace certain TLBAA Directors

e.       TLMA seemed concerned about who would be the next TLBAA Chairman of the Board. They are hoping for a TLMA friendly COB.

e)      TLMA would not reveal the circulation size of the Journal

f)       TLMA wanted the TLBAA Horn Showcase to move to Oklahoma and merge with their World Horn Championships. TLBAA measured over 400 entries compared to TLMA’s 200 entries.

g)      TLMA’s boycotting of TLBAA events was discussed.

h)      The fact that the TLMA has embraced and welcomed Don L. King and SuzAnn Spindor (who stole TLBAA Funds) at their events was discussed.   

i)        TLBAA Directors listened to what TLMA had to say but there are no negotiations that need to be done.

j)        TLBAA has not at this time set any requirements for TLMA members to return, they have not be expelled or kicked out of TLBAA. They may return at anytime.

If you would like to know more about this meeting I would recommend that you contact one of people that was present at the meeting. They should be able to provide you with more detailed information.       

Posted on December 10, 2008 - by Russell

TLMA & TLBAA Have Private Meeting

On Friday December 12, 2008 an unofficial secret meeting was held between the TLMA leadership and a hand-selected group of TLBAA Directors. I do not have all the details yet as to how the meeting went. The TLBAA directors who attended were Mrs. Lana Hightower, Mr. Maurice Ladnier, Mr. Ty Wehring, Dr. Zech Dameron and Horn Showcase Chairman Mr. Brent Bolen. I learned of this meeting only a few days before it was to take place.

I contacted two of the directors, Mrs. Hightower and Mr. Wehring and they both confirmed that they would be attending this meeting. Mrs. Hightower stated she was going as a TLBAA member, not as a director and without any power to negotiate a deal with the TLMA. She just wanted to hear what they [TLMA] had to say. She also commented that she was being pressured by some individuals to attend. Mr. Wehring stated that he would not be giving in to TLMA or making any kind of concessions. He too said that he just wanted to hear what they had to say.

I would encourage all TLBAA members who want to know what happened at this meeting to contact their directors. Ask your representative to tell you exactly what was discussed at this meeting. Remember they work for the members and we have the right to ask them tough questions and to know what is going on in your association. I will post additional information about this meeting as soon as I receive it.

I believe this meeting was totally unnecessary. None of the TLMA members have been expelled or banned from the TLBAA. There is nothing to be negotiated. They are still TLBAA members, they are welcomed at TLBAA events and they can advertise in the Trails magazine just like any other member. So what is there to negotiate?

In spring of this year the TLMA presented a list of demands to a couple of the TLBAA Directors. If these demands were met they would come back to TLBAA. They would bring back their advertising dollars and start attending the TLBAA events again. Some of the demands included on this list were: the removal of several board members (even though these directors were elected to the board by the members, the TLMA wanted them removed), having certain TLBAA staff members fired, the TLMA wanted to control the TLBAA sales and they also wanted the Trails magazine to be replaced with TLMAís Texas Longhorn Journal. In other words, the TLMA wants to control the TLBAA even though they were not elected by the TLBAA membership to do so.

If the TLMA truly wants to resolve the conflict within the industry they need to cease and desist with all their negativity against the TLBAA and anyone that is not willing to let them take over the industry. We do not need to continue to have secret meetings with a handpicked group of TLBAA Directors. If TLMA has something to say or present then they should stand before the entire TLBAA Board and Membership and state their case. If they canít do this then they do not truly want to resolve the conflict that they have helped create in this industry. Let the board and members decide if the TLMA should control our Longhorn market and our association. Should the industry be controlled by an elite few?

Posted on December 8, 2008 - by Russell

Welcome to The Longhorn Round-Up News and Views

The Longhorn Round-Up News and Views is being launched as a way to continue to serve the Longhorn industry, the TLBAA and the ITLA.  I have been in the Longhorn business for almost 30 years and through this blog I will be sharing my years of experience.  I am not trying to become the official online publication of the Longhorn industry.  I feel that the associations’ magazines, TLBAA’s Texas Longhorn Trails and the ITLA’s Drover are doing a fine job of representing their associations and membership.  However, they are association owned and operated which means that they are not always in a position to report on all Longhorn happenings and the politics of the industry.  I am here to give you some “straight talk about the Longhorn industry,” the ITLA, the TLBAA and all things Longhorn.  If you don’t want an honest answer don’t ask my opinion.  If you are looking for some straight talk about Texas Longhorn cattle and the Longhorn industry then you’ll want to bookmark www.longhornroundup.com Thank you for visiting my site.