Spring 2023 Agenda
VIA ZOOM
- Regional Director welcome and update
- Schooling show awards demise
- Region 8 Financials
- Regional Representation on Committees needed
- Adult Programs
- Historical Recognition
- Youth Clinic – Bobbi Carleton
- USDF Convention
- VOTE for your Participating Members!
- Schedule
- Grants for youth to attend
- Fundraising for PM Delegate travel
- Change of Fern Feldman Fund name
- Committee Reports
- Freestyle/Instructor Training – Sarah Geikie
- FEI Youth Committee – Bobbi Carleton
- Freestyle “Challenge” – Regina Cristo
- Show Calendar communication solutions?
- Fall Meeting in person?
- New Business
Spring 2023 Meeting Notes
REGION 8 SPRING MEETING
June 5, 2023 6:00
Zoom
HCV welcomed everyone.
Unfortunately, the Schooling Show Awards program has been shut down due to liability concerns over Safe Sport enforcement. The USDF is looking at ways to replace it, but this won’t happen this year.
Sally Davenport reported that our finances are in good shape. The bulk of our funds are held for Jr/YR events and PM Delegate travel expenses.
We currently need Region 8 representation on the Adult Programs and Historical Recognition Committees. Sally Davenport volunteered to join the Historical Recognition committee, and there are a couple of people who may be interested in the Adult committee.
Bobbi Carleton talked about the Youth Clinic with Sabine Schut-Kery this coming weekend. There are 8 riders and auditors are welcome. Sarah Geikie mentioned she had been very impressed with the quality of the youth riders and their horses that saw at the NEDA Spring show. She believes we can be very competitive at NAYC. She also talked about several very creative fundraisers including a capella singing for a fee and crown making.
The Convention is in Omaha this year (11/29-12/2) and HCV encouraged all to vote for the PMs and to think about attending as well. It will be a much more robust program with lots of education opportunities. There are also grant opportunities for youth to attend.
The Fern Feldman Fund was created to raise money to help the PMs with travel expenses. Fern has requested that the name of the fund be changed to reflect the actual use of the funds and she suggested to rename it the USDF Region 8 PM Delegate Fund. All agreed.
Committee Reports:
Regina Cristo reported on Freestyle – The roundtable was very well attended with over 300 calling in. She also proposed a Region 8 Freestyle Challenge. She is happy to find a sponsor for a cash prize for high score. Details to be ironed out, but the group felt it was best to start with lower level AA classes. All were very excited. Later she passed on a request from Dolly Hannon regarding the behavior of trainers and competitors at a recent show. Regina and Dolly through her reiterated that there is no place for bad sportsmanship.
Anita Jaffe reported on Regional Championships – They are in the process of the following initiatives:
Virtual scoring
Mentorship Program for show management training
Updating e-scribing directives
Joint working committee of TDs and show management
An education session for the Convention
Nominated and endorsed Sue McKeown for at large delegate
Sarah Geikie reported on the Instructor/Trainer Program – The program has been restructured with input from top USEF and USDF people. She described the pilot program in place this year, with the first very successful workshop held in Utah. 40 attended the general education program on the first day, and 8 professionals attended the second day. As the program rolls out, it will be extended to 2 tracks – general education and professional development with a mentorship program for those wishing to go on to certification. On-line education is coming soon.
Bobbie Carleton reported on the Youth – We have a good group of youth applied for slots to NAYC and we hope to be able to field full teams for both Jr and YR. She will be encouraging them to get fundraising going. Last year their expenses were all covered from fundraising.
Karry Brothers reported on “L” program – She and Christy Lemoine developed an Xcel Spreadsheet to greatly ease the burden of scoring. HCV mentioned that Lois Yukins continues to believe Region 8 has the best training programs and is very grateful for all the support we give.
Concerns have been raised regarding the late delivery of the NEDA Omnibus as many use it as a tool to plan their show season. NEDA described the difficulties of getting it out on a more timely basis as due to the updating of the tests this year, the slow response of show managers to prize list details and proofing, and lack of control over the printer. NEDA plans to institute strict deadlines for inclusion to be able to get the book out sooner. They did warn however that the economics of publishing the OPL are very bad, and there is a chance it will not be printed going forward. Discussion ensued as to the viability of on-line publishing only, with Beth Jenkins saying that a NEDA survey indicated a very strong desire for the physical book. Susan Rizkalla suggested using Amazon Publishing. HCV promised to make sure the Region 8 website was current on show listings and will continue to include a link in the monthly newsletters during show season.
HCV asked whether we should have an in-person meeting in the Fall. Concerns were expressed that wherever we chose to meet, it would be too far for some to attend. Jane Marie Law suggested the idea of a regional convention, in addition to the National Convention. Bobbi Carleton suggested a regional get-together at the Championships. HCV will follow up with show management to see the viability of this. Everyone thought this could be a great opportunity to spend some “fun” time together and showcase all of the Region’s GMOs.
The meeting concluded at 7:30.