I'm asking members of SCHBS for some support here.
Some of you may be aware of, and indeed may use in other context, the "Grassroots" software for managing pedigree breed data, herd books etc. It's a well established system used by a wide range of breed societies already. It also has two additional elements - Pedeweb, which allows breeders to update their own information via the internet - and Geneped, which allows very detailed analysis of kinship data, which is of particular use to breeds that are numerically very small.
Some months ago, I was delighted to read in "The Ark", the RBST's magazine, that SCHBS had been awarded a grant by RBST to purchase "Grassroots". Last month, I was very disappointed to learn that, for undisclosed reasons, SCHBS had decided NOT to take up the grant to buy "Grassroots" but planned to submit a revised bid for funding to upgrade the existing database, which has some significant shortcomings.
I am now given to understand that RBST has asked SCHBS to reconsider the purchase of the "Grassroots" system and that this will be considered at a meeting of the SCHBS Management Council next week (although I do not know the exact date).
Despite the fact that the SCHBS Management Council has not seen fit to inform members at any stage of the process - application, award, rejection, revised bid and reconsideration - or ask for our views, I believe as members, we have a right to make our views known and to support those on the Council who favour the introduction of "Grassroots". My own view, as you might have guessed, is pro Grassroots.
I am therefore asking members of SCHBS who are members of THIS forum to contact SCHBS and make your views known, regardless of which option you favour.
The email address for the Society is
[email protected] and the email address for the President of the Society, Eleanor Arthur, is
[email protected].
This is an important issue for the future wellbeing of the breed, IMHO
The link below if to the website of Grassroots, simply for information.
http://www.grassroots.co.uk