VADA BOARD MINUTES
MAY 7, 2006

Members Present: Bettina Longaker (CH), Dianne Boyd (Nova), Jessie Ginsburg (Nova), Alison Douglas (CC), Sandy Johnson (SE), Lynn Whiteside-Jones (CC), Anne Draine (NE), Sarah Denham (SW), Susan Dallas (SW), Meagan Jennett (CH), Beth Jandel (CH), Cindy Aspden (CH), Beth Rippel (SE), Wendy Murray (SE), and Jane Palmer (Shen).

The VADA Board met on Sunday, May 7, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville. Minutes of the Jan. meeting were approved as read.
Treasurer Jessie Ginsburg reported current balances of the Operating, Show, Chapter Grant and Shel Gafford accounts, totaling $63,087.17. The Show account has a current balance of $53,631.40, which includes a profit of approximately $45,000.00 from the GAIG Championships at Lexington last October.
A total of $3252.50 was generated by the VADA 2006 Banquet Silent Auction and 10 % of that amount, $325.25, was distributed by check to the chapters. Beth Rippel reported that the remaining money in the Chapter Grant account is not sufficient to cover grant requests for this year. It was moved by Beth that grant requests by the chapters for this year be covered by the general fund. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
In order to keep the Chapter Grant fund viable, Jessie suggested that more chapter involvement is needed to support the silent auction and that chapters be asked to generate $500.00 in donations for the silent auction by designating a member from each chapter to be responsible for coming up with items. It was moved by Jessie that each chapter elect a liason who will handle the silent auction donation and assist the chairman in setting up the silent auction at the banquet. The motion was seconded by Sharon Ackley and unanimously approved. Beth Rippel will continue to handle the Chapter Grant Program this year.
Sandy Johnson volunteered to take charge of the silent auction at the VADA 2007 awards banquet. It was asked that each chapter notify Sandy by e-mail at pemcorgiluv@aol.com as soon as possible who its designated representative will be.
Footing Campaign: Jessie reported that VADA has collected $4090.00 in donations for the footing campaign for the Lexington Horse Center. A specific arena will be designated to receive the footing and Tina will write a letter sending $4000.00 to Laura Whitford. Jessie suggested scanning the letter and putting it on the website. Jessie will continue to collect donations and send another contribution in the fall.
Championships: Dianne complemented the quality of the VADA management team and the general overall quality of the championships. She pointed out that our championship fees are also very reasonable and generally cheaper than just about any other show fees. Tina presented some ideas for using the money that we made last year. The fees will stay at $40.00 this year. All expenses are expected to go up for next year, including judges. In 2007 VADA will host the GAIG regional championships the weekend of Oct. 25-28 at Lexington Horse Center. The 2007 BLM championships will be held in New Jersey.
VADA Fall Clinic: It was proposed that the event be moved to March, 2007 and that Linda Zang be asked to be the clinician. She will be contacted by Tina. Susan Dallas suggested that the event could be held in connection with Virginia Tech and that possibility will be investigated. It was agreed that auditors should be charged a yet to be determined fee.
Membership: Beth Rippel reported that VADA’s membership reached a total of 960 in April. She reminded everyone that memberships will again be due on November 30, 2006 and chapters need to their prepare members for the change.
New Website: Wendy Murray has taken over the VADA website, VirginiaDressage.org., which is up and running and will be getting information out such as pictures, chapter activities, etc. Wendy will assist chapters in linking newsletters and websites, also. Discussion of setting up a bulletin board on the VADA website followed. Candid shots of VADA members are welcome, especially of the championships.
Chapter News:
CC: A schooling show is scheduled for June 11 at Aria Farm. No recognized show is planned for this year. CC will be approaching the State Fair Board about the possibility of having a show there. The facility is expected to host its first state fair in 2007. The chapter is becoming more active and wants to have a freestyle clinic later this year.
Charlottesville: The chapter is considering having a clinic with Lisa Wilcox later this year to discuss and try the new tests that will come out in 2007. A schooling show was held May 7.
Fredericksburg: A schooling show will be held at Touch Point Farm and a saddle fitter clinic with Karen Horter is planned. The Chapter will send 3 teams to the Jr. team competition in July. The chapter is also doing a one-day recognized show in Sept. in connection with Charlottesville.
Nevada: The recognized show with two judges on May 14th at Carlton Farms has 135 rides scheduled. The chapter will use its Chapter Grant money for a clinic with Wendy Murdoch. There was a schooling show in early May.
Nova: Nova’s schooling show series is well underway with two shows having been held already this year. A successful clinic on training volunteers was handled by Dianne Boyd. An auditor-oriented clinic with Rudolph Rostek will be given on July 28-30, 2006 at Madeira School in McLean, VA. Nova will also be hosting the July youth team competition at Morven Park.
ShenVADA: A Fix-A-Test with Helen George was held April 15 and the first of four schooling shows will take place May 20. The chapter now has 59 members.
SE: A recognized show with 100 rides was held on April. 23. The chapter will use its Chapter Grant money to host a clinic with Hokan Thorn. Eight to twelve juniors will be going to the Jr. team competition at Morven. The Jrs. will receive the proceeds from the May schooling show to offset expenses. There will be an August 13th recognized show at Carlton Farms. The Chapter now has 109 members.
SW: Main events held so far this year are a Fix-A-Ride and a clinic.
The chapter will have a recognized show on May 27 and three more schooling shows have been scheduled. The annual camp will be held in Oct. Amy McElroy from Wagener, South Carolina will do a clinic in September.

Revision of the VADA awards program was brought up by Sandy Johnson. Tina presented discussion on potential changes for VADA year-end awards for the USEF 4-year-old test. Tina will write up changes to be voted on at the next VADA Board meeting. Sandy moved that we set the equivalencies for FEI pony, Jr. and YR for year-end awards to be retroactive for the year 2006. Cindy Aspden seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Mailing list of GMO contacts: Jessie Ginsburg volunteered to be the contact for the mailing list for Adult Education for all of Region 1.
Diane presented action items for the BLM championships. A person is needed to handle Holly Veloso’s position at the BLMs. It is a paid position. It was proposed that a job description be prepared so that VADA members can apply for the position. Diane proposed and everyone agreed that baseball hats be done again this year. Samples of sweatshirts, etc. will be provided at the next Board meeting.
Championship prizes were discussed and it was proposed that in addition to jackets, a saddle pad bag or some other option be given for prizes. Samples will be provided. Other prizes were discussed as well as an additional title sponsor. VADA will not host a silent auction this year but members are urged to donate to the USDF silent auction.
Annual Banquet: Tina is investigating potential sites centrally located in the Charlottesville area. A new banquet chairman is needed.
NHYRC: Tina is again Secretary for the National YR Championships at Lexington Horse Center on Aug. 2-6, 2006. She is seeking volunteers to assist with the event.
Lynn Whiteside-Jones moved that VADA contribute $2500.00 (Bronze Sponsor) to the NHYRC. Sharon Ackley seconded. Unanimously agreed.
VADA donated $100.00 for the legislative trailride.
Next meetings: July 15 at Dressage at Lexington.
                         Saturday, Sept. 2 at the Doubletree. (Labor Day Weekend)
The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Jane Palmer