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4/20/10
Executive Committee Holds April Meeting
Lewisburg, TN – The TWHBEA Executive Committee held its latest meeting April 19, 2010 at Association headquarters in Lewisburg, Tennessee. Absent from this meeting were Marketing V P Marty Irby and Performance Horse V P Ty Irby. Following the approvals of the agenda and the minutes from the March 22, 2010 executive committee meeting, Admin/Fiscal/Audit V P Rob Cornelius presented for approval the financials for the period ending March 31, 2010. Cornelius noted a decrease in revenue of $8,000, primarily due to a still pending disbursement from USLGE, and an increase in expenses of $1,800 for an actual loss of approximately $16,000 compared to a budgeted loss of $6,740. It was noted that the expected USLGE disbursement will amount to $9,900 and that taking this sum into account, the association is on budget.
In his remarks, President David Pruett stated that he was deeply saddened by the recent loss of both Wink Groover and Dr. Bob Womack. He then reported that for the first time in a long time first time registrations, transfers, and memberships were up over last month and the for the first time in 22 months the Association had seen an increase in total members. Closing out his remarks, he stated that the book, “The Tennessee Walking Horse: An American Tradition,” was at the printers and that 100 copies would be available at the May Board of Directors Meeting.
Executive Vice President Dee Dee Sale related that she, along with Pruett and TWHBEA staff member Sarah Gee would be attending the Kentucky Equine Summit April 26 and 27. She also briefly discussed her work on the surveys completed by TWHBEA board members.
Stan Butt, TWHBEA Executive Director, also expressed his sadness over the loss of Mr. Groover and Dr. Womack and said that tributes to both of these Industry Icons would be featured in the May issue of the Voice and posted on the TWHBEA website. Turning to recent accomplishments of the association, he remarked on the success of Equine Affaire Ohio, upticks in registry business, the GO! Gelding Program, which now as 104 entries, continued monthly reminders about the membership drive and the May 1 deadline, which determines the number of directors in each state and region. He also mentioned his up-coming trip to the Mane Event in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Looking to the future, he explained that the staff of the Association was working with a human resources consultant to improve customer service and efficiency.
In the first standing committee report of the day, Admin/Fiscal/Audit V P Rob Cornelius reported that revenue from membership dues was under projections slightly, down $1,300, revenue from transfers is holding steady, revenue from new foal registrations and DNA testing is up, and revenue from iPeds is up. He stated that, taking into account an expected disbursement from USLGE of approximately $10,000 and an expected National Futurity Sponsorship of $20,000, the association is extremely close to positive numbers and well ahead of budget projections.
Breeders’ Vice President Jack Heffington focused much of his report on the work of the Registration Simplification Subcommittee, explaining that it was working on potentially making it possible to submit Stallion breeding reports online. With an eye to the future, this committee is also looking into on new foal registrations as well as online transfers. To close his report, Heffington motioned that every committee be re-appointed when a new executive committee was elected. The motion carried unanimously.
Enforcement Vice President Kasey Kesselring provided the briefest report of the day stating that there are not enforcement issues at this time.
Reporting next, Equine Welfare Vice President Dr. Linda Montgomery discussed the association’s potential involvement in issues of equine welfare. She related that updated list of equine welfare facilities had been prepared and was ready to send out to her committee.
Bruce Vaughn, reporting for the Horse Shows Committee, talked of the ongoing show season and expressed his hope that it would continue to run smoothly. He then reported that FAST would be funding the TWHBEA Canter Challenge and that a horse show to raise funds for this was planned for July 4, 2010 at Calsonic Arena.
Reporting for the Marketing Division, Marketing and Program Director Chris Coffey gave a rundown of the association’s recent promotional activities including a Bedford County Mounted Patrol Meet and Greet at Tractor Supply in Shelbyville, Equine Affaire Ohio, at which the association garnered $6,300 in total revenue, the success of the GO! Gelding Program, and Ag Day at the Tennessee State Capital. Turning to future events, he talked about the upcoming Trail Ride and Extreme Cowboy Race at Circle E Guest Ranch, TWHYA Golf Scramble, the International Equestrian Festival, which will include a breed parade and a breed appreciation day, the World Versatility Show, and the planned Extreme Cowboy Race at the Celebration. Coffey also reported that he was working on sponsorship deals with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Tennessee Department of Tourism, and Tucker Saddles.
Owners/Exhibitors V P Stephen Brown reported that he would be holding an International Subcommittee meeting prior to the German Championships horse show. He also reported that preparations are underway for the European Championships and that TWHBEA had been invited to exhibit at the San Marcos fair in 2011. The San Marcos Fair, which attracts millions of visitors, is held in the heart of Mexican horse country.
Pleasure Horse Vice President Rick Wies discussed the new Extreme/Sport division of the Versatility Program and the possibility of somehow helping out the regional versatility shows. He then added Dee Hasler of Illinois to his committee.
Reporting next, Trainers V P Wayne Dean announced that a memorial for Wink Groover would be held on April 27, 2010 at 10 a.m. at Fairhaven Baptist Church in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He then reported that shows were showing a lot of interest in including the TWHBEA Canter Challenge class. Turning to his role as liason between TWHBEA and the WHTA, Dean related that a lot of trainers are dissatisfied with TWHBEA’s promotion of the show horse and that he felt it was important that TWHBEA do something to reach out to the trainers – possibly a horse show. It was stated that several venues promoted the performance horse including the All-Youth day at the Celebration, TWHBEA sponsored 4-H judging clinics with performance horses in several states, the TWHBEA Canter Challenge, as well as the Celebration.
VP Member At Large By Laws Buster Black reported that no proposed by law changes had been submitted by the April 1 deadline.
In the final standing committee report of the day, V P Member At Large Youth Margo Urad reported on the progress of various youth projects including the silent auction that will be held during the May Board of Directors meeting, the TWHYA Golf Scramble scheduled for May 28, 2010, and All Youth Day at the Celebration.
Topics covered under old business included the association’s new online classifieds, which should launch in the near future, the 75th anniversary reception that will be held the Friday before the May Board of Directors meeting, the member benefit card which was suggested at the last Executive Committee meeting, ongoing efforts to work with horse auctions on rule compliance, the decision to publish in the Voice the names of those suspended from conducting business with TWHBEA, the need to revisit the penalty structure for late registrations, and the results of the surveys sent to board members. One motion was made and passed under old business - to approve the new member benefit cards.
Under new business, discussion centered on a letter sent by Celebration CEO Dr. Doyle Meadow concerning TWHBEA’s sponsorship of the event, the ongoing work of the Tennessee Walking Horse Foundation, continuing meetings with SHOW, WHOA, and WHTA and the need for better communication between and within the groups, the American Horse Council Convention and TWHBEA participation. Two motions were made and passed under new business. The first was to authorize President Pruett and Executive Director Butt to negotiate a sponsorship agreement with the Celebration to be presented to the TWHBEA Executive Committee for approval. The second was to approve David Pruett, Dee Dee Sale, Jack Heffington, Christy Lantis, and Debra Jack as the board of directors for the Tennessee Walking Horse Foundation.
The next meeting of the TWHBEA Executive Committee will be held the morning of May 29, 2010, prior to the TWHBEA Board of Directors Meeting.
–Sarah Gee
For further details or information, please contact (931) 359-1574.
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