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TWHBEA Executive Committee Holds April Meeting

Lewisburg, TN – The TWHBEA Executive Committee met Saturday, April 19 at Association headquarters in Lewisburg, Tennessee. Four members were absent – Senior Vice President Bob Ramsbottom, Performance Horse Vice President Connie Hess, Trainers Vice President Jamie Hankins, and Past President Jerrold Pedigo.

Following the approval of the agenda and the minutes from the last Executive Committee meeting, Administrative/Fiscal/Audit Vice President Mike Inman presented the latest financial statements for approval. He reported that $50,000 had been deposited in the Association’s reserve account bringing the balance to $255,886. He stated that the Association continues to operate on the cash flow brought in from registrations and transfers. Registrations and memberships are up $38,000 as a direct result of the Amnesty Program. Expenses are up over budget but the overage, which was due primarily to post employee benefits, was anticipated. Year to date the Association has garnered a $61,000 gain as opposed to the budgeted $148,000 loss. $30,000 in revenue was budgeted for the Voice while actual revenue was $73,000. Inman concluded by stating that if the Association can continue to average $6,500 in revenue per day, it should end the year financially ahead. The financial statements were approved unanimously.

In his remarks, President David Pruett began by welcoming Sharon Brandon back to the Association as Registrar. Inman interjected that Brandon would continue to be compensated in the same amount as she was per her post employment contract with no increase in cost to the Association. Pruett closed out his remarks by commenting on the Sound Horse Conference, which he called very informative.

Executive Director Stan Butt opened his remarks by commending the staff for their efforts in creating a new brochure specifically for the Sound Horse Conference. He also commented that it was very fulfilling to be represented at the Sound Horse Conference with President David Pruett, Vice President Dee Dee Sale, Walking Horse Trainers’ Association President Link Webb, and Dr. Doyle Meadows, Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration CEO. Turning to the 2010 World Equestrian Games, he explained that he was holding the booth space deposit until the breed pavilion was opened for reservations. He also explained that he was moving forward on having the Association become an Alliance Partner with the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Mike Inman had nothing further to report for the Administrative/Fiscal/Audit standing committee report. Breeders Vice President Dee Dee Sale began her report by welcoming Mrs. Brandon back. She then thanked everyone that had participated in the Amnesty Program and reported that several other breeds were implementing registry incentive programs.

Enforcement Vice President Chris Bobo had nothing to report so Horse Shows Vice President Bill Stricklend spoke next. He reminded everyone that weanlings must be nominated for the National Futurity this year to participate at any point in the future.

In her report, Marketing Vice President Joyce Moyer noted that Best of America by Horseback’s Tom Seay and Michelle Turner had attended the Sound Horse Conference and that Seay had given a very positive talk at the event. Moyer then announced that she was pursing a photo op with the First Lady as a means to promote TWHBEA’s partnership with the National Park Service. She closed by encouraging all Executive Committee members to attend the trail ride scheduled for September 12-14 at East Fork, Tennessee.

Owners/Exhibitors Vice President Darren Gray announced that the TWHBEA Celebration Clinics are set and will occur during the four days spanning August 26-29. He then made two motions related to the GO! Gelding Program. The first was to open the program up to shows affiliated with any HIO and the second was to implement GO! Programs in Canada and Europe. Both motions carried unanimously.

Reporting for the Pleasure Horse division, Vice President Diane McMurtrey announced that the World Versatility Show class sheet was close to being finalized and that the National Bridle Shop would once again be donating a Tennessean Saddle for the Overall Highpoint Award. She then explained that the versatility subcommittee had suggested employing NHSC and possibly Quarter Horse judges for the event. Turning to other matters, she announced that the Distance Program patches are being redesigned and that TWHBEA is now a member of the Equine Land Conservation Resource group as well as Leave No Trace. In closing, she related that Nicole Carswell is developing a program that would allow state associations to become TWHBEA state chapters. Following McMurtrey’s report, the Executive Committee recommended that only NHSC judges be used for the World Versatility Show. Inman then moved that McMurtrey, Sale, and Pruett form a versatility certification committee and meet with the NHSC to set up versatility judging clinics. The motion carried unanimously. Stricklend then moved that only NHSC judges be used at the World Versatility Show. This motion also carried unanimously.

Vice President Member at Large By Laws Debra Jack reported on seven by laws amendments recommended by her committee. Each recommendation was presented as a motion to be passed or failed by the Executive Committee. If passed by the Committee, the proposed amendments are placed on the annual election ballot to be voted upon by the general membership. The first recommended amendment, which was to disallow voting by proxy in the annual election, passed unanimously. The second, which requires members to be at least 18 years of age to vote or hold office, passed unanimously. The third, which states that in terms of the horse ownership requirement for directors a partnership does not mean a marriage but one horse owned jointly by a married couple qualifies only one spouse to run for office, passed unanimously. The fourth, which would move the annual general membership meeting from Saturday to Friday the first weekend of December, passed unanimously. The fifth, which would allow the Executive Committee to be notified of meetings via emails with receipt acknowledgement, passed unanimously.

The sixth recommended amendment generated quite a bit of conversation. This recommended amendment stated that a member who is or has served a suspension of 30 days or more from a USDA sanctioned HIO within six months prior to August 1 would not be eligible for nomination as a director. This recommended amendment ultimately failed. Jack then proposed a revised recommended amendment that altered the banned suspension period to over two months. This also failed. It was eventually decided that more input on this topic is needed, therefore Jack will address it further during the open door by laws committee meeting in May. The seventh recommended amendment served to reorganize Article 3 of the bylaws while omitting the language related to staggered terms for directors. This recommended amendment passed unanimously.

Vice President Member at Large Youth Christy Lantis reported that she had met with Celebration CEO Dr. Doyle Meadows, Pruett, and TWHBEA Marketing Director Lori Puckett to discuss All Youth Day. She explained that All Youth Day would include judging and public speaking contests as well as activities for younger children. She then announced that level 1 and level 2 Certified Riding Instructor clinics would be held in May. She closed by stating that she was putting together a summer camp that will be held at Waterfall Farms.

Under old business, Moyer made a motion that as of May 1 full adult memberships would include either one free foal registration or one free transfer. This motion carried unanimously.

Under new business, Bobo moved that the Association create an Associate Membership that would cost $45.00 per year and include the Voice magazine, the ability to conduct business at member rates, and access to all TWHBEA programs. This new membership would not include a free foal registration or free transfer or voting rights. Bobo’s motion carried unanimously. The final motion of the day, which was made by Inman, was to have it documented in the minutes whenever an Executive Committee member left a monthly meeting early. This motion passed unanimously.