International Camelid Institute
at The Ohio State University
Initiated by David E Anderson, Associate Professor
Advisory Council: David E Anderson, DVM (Chair), Barb Baker, Jim and Barb Clair, Toni Cotton, DVM, Judy Doran, Ronnie Egnot, Norman Evans, DVM, Ben and Linda Fisco, Jerry and Libby Forstner, Murray Fowler, DVM, Sheila Fugina, Dan Goodyear, Mike and Kim Harnett, Hank Kauffman, Fred and Laura Keller, Ernie Kellogg, Jim and Judy Keske, Bill and Kathy Knapp, Steven Knoblock, Kasondra Marcus, Jack and Donna Moore, David Moran PhD, Raymond Nanko, Terri Phipps, Becky Raber, David Schieferstein, Greg and Debbie Shellebarger, Denise Stoll, DVM, Susan Tellez, Linda Berry Walker, Tim Weller, Marsharee Wilcox
Mission Statement:
The International Camelid Institute will be an education and service
facility for camelid owners, breeders, veterinarians and scientists, fiber
and textile persons, and animal enthusiasts throughout the world to advance
the well being of camelids and the camelid industry.
Objectives:
The International Camelid Institute will:
- Strive to provide owners and veterinarians with the most accurate, timely information available to optimize the health and well being of camelids.
- Serve as a centralized resource for the collection and dissemination of all facets of camelid education.
- Serve as a resource for regulatory authorities for current information about camelids.
- Maintain a database on current and contemplated research being conducted on camelids, and summarize important information for camelid owners and breeders.
- Encourage collaboration among experts around the world to seek discovery and dissemination of new knowledge.
- Act as a rapid reaction entity to issues involving emerging disease, emergency situations, and urgent health care and information needs.
- Foster education of persons in contact with the animals or industry, and will emphasize programs designed to increase the opportunities and knowledge of veterinarians, veterinary students, graduate students, and undergraduate students.
Goals:
- Develop ties with all local, regional, national, and international organizations and funding agencies involved in camelid activities.
- Develop a network of national and international leaders in research and associated camelid interests.
- Raise 5 million dollars as the core endowment for the Institute.
Ideology:
We propose to establish an International Camelid Institute at The Ohio
State University. This Institute will serve to promote education,
service, and collaboration among llama and alpaca researchers, breeders,
owners, fiber and textiles industry personnel, and animal enthusiasts
throughout the world. The Institute will serve as an information
repository, which may be shared with veterinarians, owners,
academicians, regulatory agencies or any interested party. An important
function will be to assist owners and other lay personnel to obtain
essential information from scientific research and apply it to every day
situations, much like the State and Federal Extension programs have done
for livestock and crops for decades. The Institute will strive to
acknowledge ongoing research that is being conducted on camelids
throughout the world and be in a position to help avoid duplication of
efforts. The Institute will not be the only center where research will
be conducted, will not be in the business of attracting funds for
research or administering grants, and will not be exclusionary to any
researchers with respect to information collection and exchange. The
Institute will be a service and education based entity for the purpose
of improving animal health and well being and utilization of by-products
(e.g. fiber) of the industry.
Justification:
The International Camelid Institute will be a unique entity. The presence
of a Camelid Institute will focus attention throughout the global community
on the camelid industry. This Institute is applicable to clinicians,
researchers, and specialists involved in the animal industry, textile
industry, public health, behavioral sciences, environmental sciences, and
the preservation of species. This Institute will provide a "pipeline" from
the United States to Universities throughout South America (specifically
Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina), Australia, Canada, Europe, the Middle
East, and the Far East. Based at The Ohio State University, College of
Veterinary Medicine, this Institute will help unify people with related
interest. Collaborative efforts will be sought with other universities
having interests in camelid research.
Financial Goal:
The International Camelid Institute will be funded by an endowment. How do
you make every dollar last forever? You endow it. This base fund will
provide a forever-expanding annual budget based on the size of the
endowment. Our goal for the base need to establish The International
Camelid Institute is 5 million dollars. We can do this if we all come
together. I plan to devote all my professional efforts to developing and
maintaining the center. My greatest fear is that our efforts of today will
not live on into tomorrow. That need not happen. By creating The
International Camelid Institute funded by an endowment, the Institute will
live on forever as a growing entity, changing with the industry but forever
dedicated to the camelids we have all grown to love. Join me in this dream.
Join me today. Make a legacy for us all.
How do I give?
You can become a founding member of The International Camelid Institute by
giving to the endowment at The Ohio State University Foundation. This
guarantees that every penny is used for The International Camelid
Institute. We need major donations, but ALL donations are important. You
may set-up an annual gift giving agreement with the Ohio State University
Foundation so that your total gift can grow. There are no limits. Recruit
your friends and neighbors. We all benefit from giving, especially if it
hurts a little!
Find out more at The International Camelid Institute's web site at http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/docs/ClinSci/camelid/index.html.
David E Anderson, DVM, MS
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Associate Professor of Surgery, Food Animal
601 Vernon L Tharp Street
College of Veterinary Medicine
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Anderson.670@osu.edu
Phone: 614-292-6661 / Fax: 614-292-3530
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