OCTOBER 30, 2004 , BOARD  MEETING

 

The last three meetings our president has had a roundtable discussion led by Roger Dunn  before the meeting is called to order.  The purpose is to allow the board members to bring up issues for discussion that do not fall into committee reports and cannot be voted on but might be issues that we want to deal with in the future.  These have been very helpful and make the board feel more involved. For those of  you  who don’t know a board meeting  consists of the board approving or not approving some twenty-three committee reports that are submitted by the committee chairman’s before each meeting.  We used to receive the committee reports in a bound manual sent from the home office a few weeks before the meeting.  Now we receive the reports through the inter-net at a savings of about $5,000.00 to the association. 

 

One of the issues that I brought up was to have the committee reports made available to the entire membership before the board meeting..  That way you as members can have input through your delegate regarding issues.  It has been very frustrating to me that it is very difficult for you as members to know what the issues are before the board delegate goes to the meeting.   The Board Delegates end up making decisions on their own without the input from the membership that they represent.  I think I am making progress and hopefully these committee reports will be made available to the membership in the not too distant future.

 

There was a total of 7,021 eligible votes with a total of 6,439 represented by delegates.  Sunshine, Northwest, Europe and Colombia did not have a delegate at the meeting.

 

AMATEUR OWNER COMMITTEE

 

Ron Moloff  was our A/O of the year.  One of projects that I have been working for is to have an A/O Geldings for Gold just like the open classes in Geldings for Gold.  We tabled this motion until the January meeting because of a couple of glitches that we needed to work out.  The main objection is the adding of three more classes to an already loaded show schedule.  I anticipate adding another day to the show in the future. 

 

Several months ago the Executive director advised the committee of complaints he was receiving regarding the A/O classes with regards of Sale contracts.  The complaints consisted of individuals who feel the classes are being abused by some with false Sale contracts allowing A/O to ride horses they are not truly  purchasing.  This was turned over to our committee to research and address if necessary.

 

 COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

 

The communications committee has written or is writing articles regarding past PFHA Hall of Fame horses, Equine Safety,  safety around horses, riding gear, barns, feed storage and corrals.

 

COMPUTER COMMITTEE

 

Keith Hainline  is chairman of this committee and travels to the home office every year to update things and update the stud book.  He does not charge for this time and services . 

 

CONFEPASO COMMITTEE

 

The youth mundial was held in Puerto Rico the week of August 16th.  There were seven youth from PFHA in attendance.  Fifty-Two from Colombia, over a hundred from Puerto Rico and numerous others from Dominican Republic, Aruba, Curacao.  I was very proud that High Plains donated $1,000.00 for Brooklyn Besse to Participate.  This made kind of an embarrassing situation for some of the big regions that did not support this program.  I was proud of little old High Plains with only 166 delegate votes able to sponsor and send a youth.

 

PFHA was asked to sponsor the Youth Mundial in 2006.  Because of the positive report that I got from the Besse’s I voted for this and it passed.  So the Youth Mundial will be held in the United States in 2006.  The next meeting of  CONFEPASO  will be held in Bogota, Colombia on November 19,  20 and 21 if anyone is interested in attending.

 

 

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

 

The education committee along with the Professional Trainers and the Judges and Stewards committee held a number of clinics.  Six applicant judges and sixteen renewals along with fifteen auditors attended the judges and stewards clinic that was held at Startown Stables.

 

 

ETHICS COMMITTEE

 

John Tonetti has done an excellent job of giving meaning to this committee He has made himself  very available to confer with questions regarding ethical conduct.  I can tell you from a personal experience he is very affective.  John has written two articles regarding the ethical considerations in the Trainer/Client Relationship and the Ethical Considerations in the Sale of Horses.  He asked for the board to approve making these two articles available through PFHA which we did.  They will be available through PFHA web site.

 

EVENTS COMMITTEE

 

When I got this report and started going through it I could not believe what I was reading.  They were proposing to have a Central States area Championship show in Kansas preferably  in the month of  May.  I immediately called Charlene to ask her what she knew about this which she hadn’t been consulted on it either.  We were supposed to furnish all of the labor to put on the show., announcer, gate keeper, barn/stall management, sounding board and show chair.  PFHA would stand all of the expenses but would get all of the profits.  We could have a stallion service auction and a silent auction to make money for our region.  Needless to say this became a very heated discussion with C..J. and Sharon  Dixon very unhappy with me.  Sharon even called me a few days later trying to get me to change my mind.  I am not saying that there is not some possibilities but to have it as the first show of the year when our horses havn’t even been in the  show ring for the show season yet.  And to knock us out of our spring show.  Which is our most important money maker.  I don’t think  my region would be very happy with me had I supported this.  THE GOOD NEWS IS WE GOT IT DEFEATED.  In my discussion with Sharon Dixon. I suggested we could have a meeting or a conference call or e-mail discussions involving the presidents and board delegates of each of the regions involved to kick around ideas that might make this idea a good deal for the regions involved, BUT WE A REGIONS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT OUT OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

 

EXECUTILVE DIRECTOR

 

New registrations and transfers are down; membership is holding steady; the number of regional shows and entries were slightly higher.  Across the board PFHA finances are on track with the budget.  2004 Grand National show numbers were up over the last two years.  The PFHA Horse sale had 55 horses going through the sale with 28 changing hands.  Number of horses and selling prices were down.

 

Forty-two horses went through the Fino Futurity sale with fifteen changing hands.  The average selling price was down from the previous year.   The winner of the Fino Futurity was La Reina de Los Reyes who got the $20,000.00 prize.  Last year’s high selling horse of $120,000.00 got 4th.  Davis Love III’s horse that he no sailed at $100,000.00 got sixth.

 

A number of  different show sites were explored for our 2008 show site, and there is just nothing that is available in our date requirements that will work except Perry  Georgia.  There are a number of places that are in the possible construction phases that might work for us, but until they are actually built we can’t contract them.  If we ever loose the Perry site we will never get it back.  Almost every region is in favor of a different location, most especially Florida, but there is just not a better facility that meets our requirements.

 

It was decided to hire Glenn Petty from Wake Forest, NC  to be our show manager.  Twenty-eight management companies were sent out bid forms.  They received proposals fro five.

 

It was decided to have the fall Board Meeting October 28, 29, and 30, 2005.  Be aware of this so that we don’t schedule a show on these dates.

 

Sara Holt has been hired to assist the Director of  Marketing and subsequently be the Director when Al Berry retires.  I can tell you we will miss Al .  He has done a terrific job with the funds that he has

available.   Sara will be good I think.

 

As  a side note we were taken to the home office for a tour.  It is truly a working office with no frills.  Roughly ten employees.  Poor Al and Sara are sharing  a small office that is hardly big enough for one let alone two, but they make do.

 

FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

The Association finished the 3rd quarter of 2004 on a positive note with revenue exceeding expenses by $146,404.    We discussed the financial impact of a canceled national Show.  If we had to cancel the national show our exposure would be $765,150.00 to  $852,193.00 We wouldn’t want that to happen.  We approved the existing fee schedule and the adjusted 2005 budget.  The 2005 budget is $1,748,992.00.  13% of budget goes to marketing.  Twelve  additional gelding classes and two slot classes will be added for next year.  You can see why they got really nervous when the A/O committee came at them with three more classes.  It costs about $27,000.00 per day to add another day to the show.

FUTURITY COMMITTEE

 

The 2004 Breeders Sweepstakes paid a total purse of $24,766.00

The 2004 Stallion Service Auction catalog contained 186, stallions.  So farthe number of bids has been a disappointment.

 

The 2004 Gelding for Gold classes paid a total purse of $8,761.  Dick Miller won all three Geldings for Gold classes.

 

HEARING COMMITTEE

 

Ms. Barbara Ragan  was fined  $250.00 and suspended for 90 days  for the degrading article she wrote about Capuchino.

 

HISTORICAL COMMITTEE

 

Beverlee  Kritz has volunteered to write the official history of PFHA.

Funds are still being soliciated  for the renovation of the 3rd floor.  It become a very expensive project because it has to be handicapped ascessable which requires an elevator.

 

JUDGES AND STEWARDS COMMITTEE

 

Seven new applications have been received to become judges.  Three additional candidates are in Process.

 

MARKETING COMMITTEE

 

Sara Holt came on board the first of June to give Al Berry much needed assistance and to take over his duties in 2005.  The committee met May 29 in Kissimmee, FL  After viewing a presentation by Mr. Bruce Anderson it was decided by vote to go ahead with an extensive member survey.  A total of 700 people completed the survey giving a good sampling of our membership.  The information obtained will be used to show companies how becoming a sponsor of PFHA and an advertiser is a good investment for their business.

 

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

 

Mid Atlantic PFHA is trying to form a new region.  Negotiations are under way with them to try and get them to for a chapter under  Mason Dixon.  It don’t sound like they want to form a sub chapter.

 

NATIONAL SHOW COMMITTEE

 

Cathie Siemer is stepping down as show chairman and Stephanie Livingston has volunteered so step up to the plate and become show chairman..

 

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

 

The following people are candidates are running for office.

PRESIDENT

Sharon Quinn Dixon

Robin Ratliff

 

VICE PRESIDENT

Jim Owens

Sharon Longono

Kelly Ireland.

 

SECRETARY

Lee Vulgaris

 

TREASURER

Tony Coleman

 

 

There will be an absentee ballot form and a proxy in the December and January issue of PFHW.

 

PERSONAL COMMITTEE

 

The most important business of this committee was to give a contract to C.J. Marcello.  I got numerous calls about this subject.  My answer was to either give him a contract or terminate him.  I could not believe that he had never had a contract.  This is unfair to him as well as PFHA.  Most all delegates voted to approve a contract.  It is a three year contract that automatically renews if six months notice is not given. 

 

PROFESSIONAL TRAINORS COMMITTEE

 

Kelly Cox was awarded Trainer of the year at the Granad National Show.

 

REGISTRATION COMMITTEE

 

A request was received by a new registry in Puerto Rico wanting to be recognized by PFHA.  We voted in favor as they met all of our requirements.

 

RULES COMMITTEE

 

After much work the new rule book has been printed in the USEF format and available for purchase from the PFHA office.  I copied off my rule book from the PFHA web site.  It wasn’t bad.  Only 160 pages.

So far there hasn’t been any problems identified.

RULES CLARIFICATION

 

Due to its limited use there hasn’t been any major problems

 

USA EQUESTRAIN, INC

 

Our new rule book is the same size as USEF’s  The USEF rule book has taken on a new format, it will allow for a better understanding of where you are in the rules.

     

YOUTH COMMITTEE

 

 The Youth Committee has just completed another successful year of work highlighted by the initial fund-raising drive to establish a Youth Scholarship Fund.  This effort raised over $40,000.00.

 

The Youth Committee again sponsored an essay contest and we were once again presented with more than thirty quality essays.  The grand prize, a beautiful yearling was donated by Oscar and Kendra Vasquez.  The winner of the contest was sixteen year old Kaiya Walsh of Hillsboro, Oregon.

 

The youth once again participated in what has become a very popular event, the youth trail Ride which was let by Gary and Stephanie Goscha.

 

The final youth event was the closing night presentation of the flags.

 

This report is a condensed version of the actual committee reports but should give you a summary of what all went at the last board meeting.  If you have any question or comments about any of the reports please feel free to contact my.  My new email address is sburgess67846@sbcglobal.net.  Or my phone numbers are day 620-275-0114 , or 620-275-2324.  After doing this report I am more convinced than ever that this should be available to every member before the meeting.  Then you would have the complete report at your fingertips and I would only have to report how we voted on each report.

 

The other issue that I have been talking up is to set the national show up in Divisions, so that all the youth classes are either at the beginning or the end of the show, so they wouldn’t have to miss much school.  Put all of the Bella Forma together, the Pleasure classes together, the Performance classes together and the Fino Classes together.  If someone is only interested in one division they don’t have to stay for the entire seven or eight days.  We are now big enough to justify this like other breeds do.