Member Services Bulletin A Fresh Start With the New Fiscal Year

by Kaitlyn Fulmer, REDSPro and Registry Specialist

The start of a new year is always refreshing, a time to set new goals and align with your purpose. One might think this can only be done on Jan. 1 as the new year is rung in, but it can be done any time a reset is needed.

For RAAA, it is always July 1, with the start of the new fiscal year. For me, this means I get to purchase a new planner for the office, my home and, of course, the cows and ranch activities. While thinking about the annual planner and scheduling dates, make sure to pull out the Total Herd Reporting calendar and write the deadlines down, along with the National Red Angus Convention that will be held Sept. 13-15 in Denver, Colorado.

Membership dues are billed mid-July, along with the Spring Total Herd Reporting assessments. To stay in good standing and to fully participate at convention, make sure these invoices are paid in a timely manner.

New Registration Resources for THR Reporting

The registration department has been working on new resources for members to use for THR reporting. The first new resource is Red Angus Alley – a valuable service that offers a personalized, one-on-one meeting with a member of the registration staff, free of charge. These meetings are scheduled based on the member’s availability and can be used for any purpose that is relevant to their needs.

Whether it’s registering a new animal, transferring ownership or simply seeking advice on how to navigate THR reporting, Red Angus Alley provides a dedicated, knowledgeable representative to assist with any inquiries. This service is a great benefit for members who want to ensure their animals are properly registered and want to have access to professional advice and support. Some examples of topics covered in Red Angus Alley meetings are:

• Calf crop registration help

• Understanding the basics of THR reporting

• Using third-party applications with REDSPro (CowSense, CattleMax, etc.)

• Cleaning up herd inventory and catching up on registrations

• Learning how to use more advanced features in REDSPro

• New members registering animals for the first time

* Note: These are specific to registration, however we are happy to bring other Red Angus team members into the conversation to help you with your questions.

Schedule a meeting by going to: redangus.org > herd management > Red Angus Alley

To help us prepare for the dedicated time, please make sure to fill out our short questionnaire regarding your needs and wants for the scheduled time.

The other resource that is new within the department is the use of the Iorad tutorial platform. Iorad is a powerful software that helps RAAA staff create step-by-step guides and tutorials quickly and easily. This will replace the previous YouTube video tutorials. Iorad allows members to view tutorials as an interactive tutorial with click-by-click instructions, scrollable list, video, slideshow or as a PDF download. Tutorials are also available in more than 50 different languages. This platform will allow registration staff to keep tutorials in line with the constant updates that are being made to REDSPro. Iorad tutorials will be housed on the Red Angus website under Herd Management > How-To Guide.

Fee Increases

• Reactivation fees have increased to $50 within six months of inactivation and $100 for more than six months of inactivation. These new fees went into effect May 26, 2023.

• Total Herd Reporting fees have increased to $27.50 per active cow from the previous $20 per active cow, effective July 1, 2023.

• The transfer fee structure has changed to allow for transfers to be completed within 120 days of the date of sale at no cost, and $25 transfers after 120 days from the date of sale. This new structure is effective July 1, 2023.

To see our detailed fee sheet, visit RedAngus.org > herd management > offline forms > fee sheet.

DNA Reminders

Lab shipment days are Tuesday and Thursday.

The national office currently has testing supplies available for purchase. Please contact the DNA department at dna@ redangus.org or 940-387-3502, Ext. 8, for any questions or to place your order.

• Blood cards: $1/card

• Hair cards: $1/card

• TSU Box of 10: $30

• Applicators: $45

• TSU 96-well plate: $5

• FedEx Shipping for TSUs: $25-$30 (location dependent)

Remember, it is never too early to submit your DNA samples! Submit today to avoid the busy season rush. //