02/01/10

Executive Committee Holds January Meeting

Lewisburg, TN – The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) Executive Committee held it’s first meeting of the new-year on January 25th at association headquarters in Lewisburg, Tennessee.

Following the call to order, roll call, and the approval of the agenda from the December 5, 2009 meeting, Administrative/Fiscal/Audit Vice President, Rob Cornelius, presented the financials for the periods ending November 30, 2009 and December 31, 2009.  In summary, he explained that TWHBEA had ended the year with a projected profit of $4,063 pending final year audit approval and that actual revenue for period one (December 2009) was very close to projected revenue. He stated that the year-end audit was currently well under way and that he would report on that at the next executive committee meeting.

In his remarks, President David Pruett commended the association staff and urged the committee to work together. He reported that his goals for the year included increasing membership, encouraging mare owners to breed and register foals, seeking other revenue streams, and working more closely with directors as well as state and local Tennessee Walking Horse clubs. In closing, he reminded everyone that 2010 would be another tough year financially for the association.

Senior Vice President Dee Dee Sale centered her remarks on urging each executive committee member to get involved with the hands-on promotion of the breed at events such as horse fairs and competitions.

Discussing his goals for the year, Executive Director Stan Butt stated that the emphasis for 2010 would be on expanding the association’s membership with an ultimate goal of 12,000 members by May 1. He also identified the GO! Gelding Program as a major area importance, saying that the goal is to have 100 plus geldings enrolled in the program for 2010.

In the first standing committee report of the day, Administrative/Fiscal/Audit Vice President Rob Cornelius touched on the ongoing year-end audit and reported that the association’s tax returns were being prepared. He also mentioned that he was in the process of reviewing the banks and insurance companies associated with the association.

Breeders Vice President Jack Heffington, in his first report discussed the association’s drop in the numbers horses registered and transferred over the past three or four years. He urged everyone on the committee to be mindful of the numbers and to think about ways to improve them.

Kasey Kesselring, Enforcement Vice President, was absent and provided no report.

Dr. Linda Montgomery, Equine Welfare Vice President, began her report by asking for suggestions on ways to better educate the average owner about basic horse care. She also discussed ways to be more proactive in helping horses in need.
In his report, Horse Shows Vice President Bruce Vaughn related that the “How to put on a Horse Show” packet that his committee has been working on is near completion. He then discussed the importance of the regional futurities.

After a few comments about plans for the upcoming year, Marketing Vice President Marty Irby turned over much of his report to Marketing Director Chris Coffey. Coffey discussed TWHBEA’s plans to attend the International Equestrian Festival, which will take place in Lexington, Kentucky, in conjunction with the 2010 World Equestrian Games. He explained that TWHBEA would have 10’x20’ booth as well as round pen at the event and that there was a possibility that test rides would be offered. He stated that Sam Sorrell, who lives very close to the venue, had agreed to let the association have two stalls for the duration of the event so that horses could be present throughout. Coffey also discussed Extreme Cowboy Race World Champion Tracy Pinson’s upcoming exhibition at Road To The Horse. He covered the TWHBEA trail ride and trail obstacle challenge scheduled for May 7, 8, and 9 at Circle E Guest Ranch in Winchester, Tennessee, and then turned to other marketing efforts for 2010. Those efforts included ads in Trail Rider and Hoofbeats, various horse fairs around the world, and expansion of the GO! Gelding Program. In closing, he acknowledged L & M Awards for their sponsorship of ribbons for the Youth Challenge Program and discussed the possibility of developing a special logo for TWHBEA’s 75th anniversary.

Owners/Exhibitors Vice President Stephen Brown focused his report on TWHBEA’s international efforts. He reported that the International committee had new members from Thailand, Poland, and Australia. Turning to the U.S., he said that, in addition to the Celebration clinics, clinics might be held this year at the Pleasure and Colt International.

Ty Irby, Performance Horse Vice President, talked about the need to promote shows outside of Middle Tennessee. He asserted that this was essential to ensure the growth of the industry.

Reporting for the Pleasure Horse committee, Vice President Rick Wies began by discussing the possible revitalization of Regional Versatility Shows. He then gave a brief overview of the revisions to the Versatility Program that took effect on January 1, 2010, including the need to update the Versatility Rulebook.  Turning to the trails programs, he announced that the association would continue to partner with various national organizations to recognize Tennessee Walking Horses excelling in various trail disciplines. Concerning the 2010 World Versatility Show, Wies said that it was most likely that the show would once again be held at Miller Coliseum in conjunction with the Pleasure and Colt International and that the schedule would be expanded one day to accommodate the Versatility Futurity.

Training Vice President Wayne Dean touched on the revival of the Youth Challenge Program and asked everyone to support the program. He then announced the dates for the 2010 National Trainers’ Show – March 17 – 20.

The begin his report, Vice President Member At Large By Laws, Buster Black, vowed to try to bring by laws alive for everybody. He related that all of the revisions to the Board of Directors manual had been approved. He also announced that he had been named Chairmen for the AHC National Committee of State Horse Councils.

Margo Urad, Vice President Member At Large Youth, reported on various youth initiatives for 2010. The Tennessee Walking Horse Youth Association will have a prominent presence at the American Youth Horse Council convention in Lexington, Kentucky, March 19 – 21. Additionally, the youth will have a silent auction at the Semi-Annual Board of Directors Meeting in May and a new youth eNewsletter is in the works.

Following the standing committee reports, the committee reviewed the requests for excused absences from the December 5, 2009 Board of Directors meeting. The requests were approved.

As there was no old business to be discussed, the committee moved on to new business where discussion centered on the various organizations and fees in the industry and ever-increasing level of confusion among average horse owners.

The next meeting of the TWHBEA Executive Committee will take place Monday, February 22, 2010, at TWHBEA headquarters in Lewisburg, Tennessee. The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m.

 

A vital part of the first executive committee meeting of the new-year is the establishment of the operating committees. Below are the committee appointments made at this meeting.

Administrative/Fiscal/Audit – Rick Chovan, Nancy Lynn Greene, Joyce Moyer, Billy H. Thomas, Bruce Vaughn, Rick Wies, D.S. Monier, Jack Heffiington, Timothy Britton

Breeders – Marsha Yzaguirre, Elsie Darrah, Dodi Speece, Steve Whitmer, Carrie Benedict, Sally Sigman, Harold Dean Givens, Rob Cornelius, Connie Bryant, Linda Roy, Dee Dee Sale, Ty Irby, Donald K. Goodbee, Jody Lynn Rodriguez, David Williams

Equine Welfare – Dr. James Baum, Dee Dee Sale, Tommy Kirkales, Tom Kakassy

Horse Show – Sherrie Szucs, Kathy Zeis, Noble Stout, Pat Stout, Vicki Pennick, Larry Arvin, Brenda Carlon, Dodi Speece, Carrie Benedict, Gail Walling

Owners/Exhibitors – Kirk Peters, Barbara Civils, Denise Rowland, Gail Walling, Dee Dee Sale, Fran Cole, Tammy Valmus, Connie Bryant, Linda Starnes, Brenda Carlon

Performance Horse – Bruce Vaughn, Rick Womack, Brenda Carolon, Barbara Civils, Marty Irby, Gail Walling, Terri Mosley, Jim Huffman

Pleasure Horse – Stephen Brown, Kirk Peters, Glenda Levin, Linda Starnes, Linda Roy, Sandy Harris, Tammy Valmus, Joey Manos, Marietta Gambrell, Larry Arvin, Curt Rosemann, Kathy Zeis, Sherrie Szucs, Dodi Speece, Steve Whitmer, Pat Stout, Sherry White, Lauren B. Murrell, Nicole Carswell, Marty Irby, Joyce Moyer, Jody Lynn Rodriguez

Marketing – Marty Irby, Joyce Moyer, Jack Haefling, Ginger Barton, Dee Dee Sale, Jennifer Potts, Bob Cherry, Bruce Vaughn, Denise Rowland, Ty Irby

Training – Tom Kakassy, Nicole Carswell, Jim Huffman, Lauren B. Murrell, Dodi Speece, Rick Wies, Christy Lantis, Rick Womack, Jim Cornelius, Kasey Kesselring

By Laws – Charles W. (Bill) Wright, Jack Haefling, Marietta Gambrell, Fran Cole, Allison Smart, Marty Irby, Winky Groover

Youth – Terri Mosley, Barbara Civils, Christy Lantis, Sherry White, Carol Wakefield, Dee Dee Sale, Nicole Carswell, Linda Starnes, Carrie Benedict, Beverly Kirk, Kathy Zeis, Rick Wies, Joyce Moyer

TWHBEA Appreciates TWH Book Sponsors

TWHBEA-WHTA Youth Challenge Application for Show Managers