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| HAPPY NEW YEAR! |
OFFICERS |
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
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Happy New Year! Wow, 2004 has
really flown by. I can remember, as a child, that time seemed
to crawl. Summers lasted forever and I thought Christmas would
never get here! Now that I'm, erm.... "aged" - what a nice
horsie term - time seems to fly by! Each year at this time, I
find myself reflecting on the year gone by and wondering about
the one to come. I have to honestly admit that I didn't see too
many of my resolutions from last January come to pass this year,
but that's not going to stop me from making new ones. The human
spirit is every hopeful!
As you're thinking about
resolutions, I hope you'll think about including SWVADA in your
resolve. There are many ways to support the organization -
through showing, attending clinics/symposium as either a
participant or auditor, through managing an event, or through
volunteering to help at the various events throughout the year.
Even if you're not planning to show or after you've completed
your four hours required for year end awards, we still need
you! Perhaps some of you are willing, but afraid that you
"don't know how." Don't worry! We have lots of experienced
help standing by to see you through. We also provide a little
encouraging hand holding. One of the things the membership
survey revealed was that members would like to have even more
riding and social opportunities. These can't happen without
your support - please consider volunteering for SWVADA in 2005!
Good luck with those resolutions!
Beckie
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SWVADA MINUTES
December
2004
Next Meeting: 7 PM, Monday,
January 17th 2004
The Wildflour Restaurant in Hollins
| The regular monthly
meeting of SWVADA was held on Monday, 20 December 2004 at Famous
Anthony’s Restaurant in Roanoke. President Beckie Mitchell called the
meeting to order. Board Members Present: Pam Bennington, Sue Cooper,
Susan Dallas, Gary Goodale, Gabi Hooten, Robin Jones, Susan MacIsaac,
Blanche Mahoney, Beckie Mitchell, Pat Nelson, Kim Reid, Annette Massey
Shaw, Rebecca Splan, Jeanette Shires. Board Members Absent: Laura
Nelson. Members/Guests also Present: Ellen Aiken, Bob Whitehurst. President’s Report: Beckie Mitchell 1.Welcomed the 2005 SWVADA Board Members and expressed appreciation for the work and efforts of the 2004 Board. 2. Overview: SWVADA has made progress this year. We now need to consider the direction to be taken at this point. We would like to implement all the suggestions that have been made BUT volunteers are needed to make things happen. The current Board and Committee Chairs are already overextended. 3. A review of the Constitution indicated several areas that need revisiting, such as the Awards Program and various committees. Reminded Board Members that a Board position is considered vacant if absent 3 consecutive meetings. Secretary’s Report: Gary Goodale VOTED to approve minutes as presented. Treasurer’s Report: Blanche Mahoney 1. Checking Account Balance: $8,853.16 2. Savings Account Balance: $1055.09 Awards/Points: Ellen Aiken 1. All point standings are complete. 2. Unfortunately no one qualified for the VA Horse Center Benefit Award. Need to make competitors more aware of this new award. Ellen will calculate the number of First Level, Test One entries at SWVADA schooling shows so that those entry fees can be sent as a donation to the VA Horse Center. Clincs: Annette Massey Shaw 1. The VADA sponsored Round Robin Clinic with Debbie Bowman on November 27 was enthusiastically endorsed by all participating. 2. Work in the clinic focused on the individual and many commented on the very positive approach of Debbie. 3. Many thanks to the Gustafson's for the use of their indoor arena at Chimney Hill Farm. Green Hill: Pam Bennington 1. Green Hill members will receive information packets sometime in January. 2. A PotLuck Meeting to review ideas re: stabling at GH will be held on 1/19/05 at 6:30PM at the Roanoke County Parks/Recreation Building on Kessler Road. 3. A dusk to dawn light has been installed in Ring 3. 4. Fees for park use will now include a deposit fee (refundable if park cleaned after use). 5. The Winter Show Series dates are: Jan. 16/ Feb. 13/ Mar. 13. Call 387-6256 if weather is questionable. 6. A new lock combination will be used for show facilities at the park (not the same as gate lock). Hospitality: Blanche Mahoney 1. Reminder that the Annual Banquet fee is $19. 2. Send reservations to Blanche. (Form in snail mail newsletter last month OR contact Blanche.) Membership: Pat Nelson 1. REMINDER to get dues in! 2. The email list has been purged. Will include ONLY current members (dues for 2005 paid). Long Range Planning Committee: Gary Goodale 1. Meeting was held on Tuesday, 30 November. 2. The committee completed the financial review for 2002 and 2003. The review of 2004 will conclude the study. Suggested that a Budget Committee be formed that will be a standing committee. 3. The review shows that SWVADA funds are devoted primarily to education. A copy of the report is available from Gary (all Board members will also have a copy). |
Membership Survey: Annette Massey Shaw 1. Responses number 33 to date. 2. Gave brief summary of responses which included comments re:: SWVADA’s great web site; favorable comments re: camp, video library; most responders indicated they were First Level riders. Many compete in other disciplines also. Requests: more schooling shows, more social gatherings, offer more clinics, have schooling days, make access to forms easier; many liked the networking SWVADA provides. 3. Requests, etc. will be addressed. Board discussed some ideas such as encouraging all breeds to participate in dressage, better promotion of shows, etc. Decided to combine our 2 Ride a Test Days with a schooling day (a practice arena will be set up and times scheduled). The survey has generated much discussion and exchanging of ideas. 4. IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT REQUESTS, SWVADA NEEDS MORE VOLUNTEERS. Educational Sunday: Ellen Aiken/Jeanette Shires 1. A number of speakers have been confirmed. 2. Reviewed topics and discussed format possibilities. Recognized Show: Jeanette Shires/Rebecca Splan 1. Discussed/approved raising of sponsorship fees/ads. 2. Will offer a Dover Medal Class. 3. Rebecca plans to attend the USDF Competition Secretary’s Meeting in conjunction with the USDF meeting in Kentucky on January 14. Anyone interested in going, contact Rebecca. Miscellaneous 1. Schooling Show Mgrs/Secs needed by Jan. meeting. 2. Need to review committee assignments. 3. Need to solicit show help on web site. 4. Pat Nelson will send requests to members re: how they can help as volunteers. 5. Susan MacIsaac will write Young Rider reports for newsletter. 6. Discussed how best to distribute/make available the video library to members. 7. Shared letter from member re: Life Memberships. Beckie will write a letter of response/explanation. Tentative SWVADA 2005 Calendar: Feb.27 – Educational Sunday: Ellen Aiken/Jeanette Shires Mar. 19 – Potluck/Tack Sale: Gary Goodale April 9 – Ride a Test/ Schooling Day : Mgr NEEDED April 23 – Schooling Show : Mgr/Sec NEEDED May 28 – Recognized Show : Mgr/Jeanette Shires; Sec/Rebecca Splan June 11 – Ride a Test/Schooling Day: Mgr/NEEDED July 2 – Schooling Show: Mgr/NEEDED; Sec/Pat Nelson Aug. 27 – Schooling Show: Mgr/Sec NEEDED Oct. 29 – Schooling Show: Mgr/Sec NEEDED 2005 Committees: (List includes ONLY confirmed volunteers; THERE ARE OPENINGS ON ALL COMMITTEES..PLEASE HELP!) Omnibus: Rebecca Splan Points/Volunteers Awards/Ribbons Education/Camp/Clinics: Laura Nelson, Annette Massey Shaw, Susan MacIsaac Long Range Planning: Gary Goodale Recognized Show Committee: Harriet Keys, Beckie Mitchell, Laura Nelson, Jeanette Shires, Rebecca Splan Green Hill Park: Pam Bennington Hospitality VADA Reps: Sue Cooper, Susan Dallas, Robin Jones Video Library Educational Sunday: Jeanette Shires Equipment: Bob Whitehurst Young Riders: Sue Cooper, Susan MacIsaac, Kim Reid The meeting then adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Gary Maupin Goodale, Secretary
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