As president of the local alpaca breeders association it can be all too easy to forget what we achieve and focus on the parts we didn't do. If you are thinking of joining an AOBA affilaite and live in the Pacific NorthWest then SOJAA might be for you....

Volume Discounts
Recent bulk buys include alpaca socks, Norm Evans Field Manual (2nd edition), microchips and chip readers, feed supplements, shearing, hay and hay testing equipment, cria resuscitation kits and custom embroidered clothing.
Meetings
Regular meetings are organised throughout the year with relevant and interesting guest speakers. Either at special member only low rates or often at no additional cost. Topics such as: Inserting microchips, testing hay, nitrates and alpacas, showing fleeces, BVDV in alpacas, farm and ranch insurance, alpaca Type Conference, mini mill visit and seminar have all been featured.
Show Time
AlpacaMania our annual level III AOBA Certified Alpaca Show. Is your chance to be involved in staging the friendliest alpaca show in the world. In 2006 and again in 2007 SOJAA hosted and sponsored It’s a Fact an annual event to promote alpaca fibre and fibre arts.
Internet Activity
The SOJAA web site includes details of members’ farms, access to alpaca discussion forums, library of articles, and member mass mailing facility - all of which combine to ensure you stay informed of industry issues and other relevant topics. Members are also able to use the SOJAA "Alpaca Marketplace" to promote animals that they have for sale or hire.
Advertising
From time to time SOJAA place advertisements in suitable publications. These ads are designed to attract internet traffic to the SOJAA web site and then to your farm…the rest is up to you!
Fellowship
The opportunity to meet and get to know like minded alpaca breeders who value integrity and friendship but often have differing views on alpaca topics such as say breed standards. All views are welcome. In 2007 SOJAA members donated hundreds of pairs of socks to American troops serving in Iraq.
Knowledge Pool
Within the SOJAA membership, we have a wealth of talented people. People who will share their knowledge and experience on just about any subject you can think of: processing fibre, spinning yarn, alpaca husbandry, marketing, web design, barn construction, pasture maintenance, hay analysis and many more.
Industry Support
Each year SOJAA make a substantial donation to organizations associated with alpaca welfare. In 2005 for example SOJAA donated an endoscope to the Camelid Facility at Oregon State University. In 2006 SOJAA donated equipment to OSU which helps combat hypothermia in alpaca cria. In 2007 donations were made to Universities in Oregon, Washington and California. Equipment and books were purchased for local veterinarians .
Veterinary Scholarships
New in 2006 were a number of scholarships. These scholarships are offered to enable young vets to attend specialist camelid courses at OSU. This initiative helps build the expertise and enthusiasm for alpacas among vets in the areas where we live. These scholarships were awarded again in 2007.
Grants
Each year SOJAA makes available a limited number of grants to support activities that promote the alpaca industry such as Fibre on the Foot. In 2007 SOJAA donated money to support the collection of alpaca fibre for AFCNA the national fibre cooperative.
Charities
SOJAA supported two charities in 2005: ACCESS and Southern Oregon Humane Society.
The Bottom Line

As with many things in life, what you get out of your membership will depend to a large extent on what you put in.
"The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

Adrian Stewart - President SOJAA