We received our first National Show entries in the mail today. The entry deadline is May 11 and the stall reservation deadline is May 18.
Membership Annual Meeting – Tuesday, June 23, 1:00 p.m.
Regional Club Workshop – Wednesday, June 24, 9:00 a.m. (repeat at 2:00 p.m.)
Board of Directors Meeting – July 3 – July 5
Award Banquets
There are currently about 100 banquet attendees for each of the youth and open/non-pro award banquets. We will continue to accept reservations (without late fee penalty) through the end of April. Starting May 1 we’ll charge a late fee but will accept reservations up until 72 hours prior to the banquet when a final head count is due to the caterer.
One of the few ways ApHC directors get “paid” for their service on the Board is to receive a lifetime membership and jacket. Dave Schjeldahl, Idaho Falls, Idaho (Terriroty I), and Stacey Sordahl, Fairview, North Carolina (Territory 5), will be ending their term of service this summer. At the Board of Directors meeting in Moscow last week, each was presented with a jacket. They were also given our sincere thanks for making the commitment to the Appaloosa Horse Club.
It’s my guess that members don’t fully realize the investment of time, money and energy required to serve as a board member. Whether you live in their respective territories or not, I’ll suggest that it’s okay to communicate with directors to say “thanks” for their work, not just when things aren’t perfect.
Thank you Dave and Stacey!
It’s always important to have a variety of talent within the overall mix of people serving on an association’s board of directors. In this case, Dave Schjeldahl, Idaho Falls, Idaho, is a cowboy poet, musician and singer. He will be a retired ApHC director as of the summer meeting, so it was especially fun to get a dose of Dave’s specialty during a break in the action at last week’s board meeting.
Thanks, Dave, for your contributions to the Appaloosa Horse Club and for being such a good example of charm, cheer and dedication.
The schedule of activities for the ApHC Board of Directors meeting this week in Moscow included an informal discussion of the business climate and priorities to address in the new fiscal year, which begins April 1. Agenda items such as membership, breeding, registrations, youth programs, marketing and finances were all considered critical topics. The Regional Club and Trail Committees conducted brief workshops in preparation for tomorrows slate of regular committee sessions.
Day One of the ApHC Board of Directors meeting this week in Moscow included a presentation by representatives of the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. The facility is interested in hosting the Appaloosa National Show if or when the ApHC contract concludes in Jackson, Mississippi. The Board was given a preliminary look at expansion and improvement plans at the fairgrounds and an overview of the city itself. Specifics of an official proposal will be provided in July.
In the photo are Tony Biancalana, Director of Internal Operations for the Iowa State Fairgrounds and Appaloosa Horse Club director Dave Schjeldahl, from Idaho Falls, Idaho.
The ApHC Board will be meeting in Moscow next week. A tentative schedule, along with agenda and discussion items for various committees and the full board, can be found on the Web site at http://www.appaloosa.com/association/bod.htm.
It is important to note that several items of discussion and some specific recommendations that came out of last year’s town hall meetings are on the table. Our advisory committees have also been helpful in identifying issues of interest and/or concern. The challenge for directors — and with all of us these days — is to develop a clear set of priorities and address the topics that have the best potential for members, for fiscal management, for something beyond a temporary band-aid and for the benefit of our horses.
No excuses, I’m just late getting to #4.
What would you consider the Top Three priorities for the Appaloosa Horse Club in 2009?
Without trying to lead you in one direction or another, the topics could include: membership, registration, shows, regional clubs, trail/distance, racing, breeding, communications, on-line services, governance or whatever else you consider important.
Let’s talk about the non-show segment of the ApHC membership.
Which areas of “other” activity do you see as the best opportunities for growth? Some of your choices might include polo, trail, dressage, distance, driving, endurance, ranch horse, racing, open and specialty events, etc.
And, part two, share examples or ideas from your part of the world that illustrate good ways to introduce new folks to the breed.
Let’s talk about World Show qualifying. We hear from regional clubs that it’s getting tougher to pay for facilities, judges and other expenses related to hosting an ApHC-approved show. We’ve heard the viewpoint expressed that it’s too easy for horses to qualify by going to one or two shows. Some folks say we need the bigger, multi-judged shows in order to attract exhibitor numbers, but at the same time, many regional clubs wonder why we can’t level the playing field and insist that everyone have two-judge shows.
Question: Should the point system for qualifying be adjusted upward, be changed in some other way or left as is?
Question: Should Open and Non-Pro horses/exhibitors be required to earn the same number of points to qualify?
Question: Should Youth exhibitors be required to earn qualifying points for the World Youth Show?
Question: What would you do with the system to make it better for ApHC and the regional clubs?
Okay, I know I keep sneaking extra questions in there, but most of you like to cover several angles at the same time anyway. So, let’s see what happens.
As you can imagine, there are countless issues for the Board of Directors to consider these days. Leading up to a meeting in March, we’ll be asking for your input on a variety of proposals and suggestions. Your comments will be posted here and they will be provided to the directors.
For today:
Should Non-Pro’s and Youth exhibitors be allowed to show a leased horse?
Follow-up question: Should the Board consider allowing joint ownership of a horse between a Non-Pro exhibitor and an Open exhibitor?
The ApHC Board of Directors held a special meeting August 28th to clarify some key issues for members and exhibitors. Regarding the trial period for announcing finalists in National and World Show open classes, rather than individual line-ups under each judge, the Board agreed to suspend the experiment. At the upcoming World Show, individual line-ups will continue for those classes in which this procedure has traditionally been used.
On the subject of pay-outs from the Performance Permit “incentive fund,” the Board clarified the process for determining how and where a horse qualifies for awards. A qualified horse can win only one award, but may certainly be shown in more than one zone. The award will be based on whichever zone provides the horse with the highest money-earning potential. If there is a tie, meaning the horse ends up ranked the same (for instance in second place) in two or more zones, the horse will earn the monetary award in the zone in which it earned the most points and will be removed from contention in the other zones leaving that money to be paid to the other eligible winning horses. Or, if the horse places first in one zone and second in another zone, it will receive the first place monies and be removed from contention in the zone in which it placed second.
A clarification was made to an earlier decision to accept horses registered with the Appaloosa Horse Association of New Zealand into the International Registration Incentive Program. The rule will specifically identify the Studbook Registry of AHANZ, and not apply to horses in a recently developed “Non-Studbook Registry.”
Exhibitors in Masters division of non-pro Trail, Western Riding and Reining are not required to earn a qualifying point in order to compete at the 2008 World Show. These classes are currently non-pointed classes at regional shows, therefore the qualification requirement forced exhibitors to compete and earn points in regular Non-Pro classes. The Board of Directors will continue to evaluate the various Non-Pro categories and requirements, but agreed that an immediate adjustment was necessary in this case.
Performance Department
We will be mailing premium checks from the National Show at the end of this week.
The World Show premium book is at the printer.
We are processing show results from the 10th of August. All shows held through the end of August count toward World qualifying.
Newly elected Appaloosa Horse Club President Frank Larrabee and ApHC senior staff met recently to develop specific financial goals for the current fiscal year and to initiate a specific response to the realities of a changing economic climate. Rising costs are affecting the horse industry, the Club and its members. The strategy sessions were meant to address both the revenue side of the Club’s activities and all categories of expenditures with the primary goal of preserving members’ equity in the association and to end the year with a balanced budget.
“Our job as directors and staff is to work harder and smarter to maintain the core strengths of the Appaloosa Horse Club, provide honest stewardship of the resources necessary to maintain a high level of member services and sponsored programs, and to enhance the overall appeal of the Appaloosa breed” Larrabee said.
A number of cost-cutting measures and basic savings are included in the plans. Some of the key areas include reductions in staff travel, personnel costs and administrative expenses. Several proposals for cuts related to Board of Director meetings will be considered for both the short and long term. According to President Larrabee, the serious work of maintaining members’ equity should start with the board leading by example to evaluate all costs of doing the Club’s business. A reduction in the number of face-to-face board meetings, limits on travel expenses for directors and other controls are expected to be implemented.
Program expenditures specific to shows, trail rides and awards will be adjusted to account for significant savings as well. In combination with administrative cuts by the board and ApHC management, the club expects to realize a savings of at least $250,000 to help sustain current levels of member equity.
Additional strategies on the revenue side include repackaging sponsorship agreements, being more aggressive in reaching out to potential new supporters, providing a variety of Journal and web site advertising options and promoting the benefits of programs such as the International Registration Incentive.
July 6, 2008
National/Youth Shows
The Board of Directors will gather input and consider swapping schedules so that the National Show (open and non-pro) is held during the first week and the Youth World is the second week. Part of the reason for considering such a move is to give youth exhibitors more of a break between the end of school and the shows. There are also conflicts with mandated testing in some states.
Appaloosa Foundation
A new 501(c)(3) foundation will be formed to provide ApHC members with expanded opportunities to invest in research, education, youth programs and other charitable activities.
Breed Standard
The Planning & Review Committee will update the currently inactive breed standard for inclusion in the Appaloosa Handbook.
World Qualifying Points
A group of directors is looking at possible adjustments to the number of points required to qualify for the World Show. It is being suggested that points be adjusted annually to more appropriately reflect the level of competition in various classes and categories.
International Registration Incentive Program
The board accepted the Asociacion del Caballo Appaloosa de Mexico as an approved registry for the international incentive program.
Foundation Pedigree
Beginning in 2009, and every 10 years thereafter, the minimum percentage of FPD eligibility will increase incrementally by requiring one additional horse in the preceding four generations of the applicant horse to be registered with the ApHC; that is 23 out of 30 beginning in 2009, then 24 out of 30 beginning in 2014, and so on.
Horses may enter the FPD program at the percentage level requirements that were in place at the time of their birth.
Medications
Approved administration guidelines for Omeprazole (GastroGard or UlcerGard).
July, 2008
Officers elected for 2008-09 include: Frank Larrabee, President; Chuck McWhirter, Vice President; Chair of Planning & Review, Laura Lyon; Chair of Finance, Jack Zuidema; Chair of Rules Committee, Debby Letham; and Chair of Marketing, Dennis Dean.
The Board of Directors made a temporary appointment to fill a vacancy in Territory V, Zone A (Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi). Monty Holmes, Cabot, Arkansas, will serve until a special election in the spring of 2009. At that time, he may also run as a candidate for a full term.
Lynette Thompson, Garfield, Washington, was sworn in as the new director from Territory I, Zone A (Washington, Oregon, Alaska, British Columbia and Yukon).
Board Notes
No action was taken on the subject of changing Non-Pro age divisions (a previous motion to study the issue had caused some concern).
Discussion in the Regional Club Committee focused on the need for ongoing communications and ApHC support for non-show activities. There was a question about whether recommendations from town hall meetings have been addressed. In many cases, the suggestions became board motions or discussion topics. Several of the items have also been incorporated into program planning and customer service procedures in the office. We’ll work on a complete checklist that will be distributed.
The ApHC World Sale will include a silent auction of stallion services. Resulting foals will be eligible for Sale Incentive Classes. Owners of stallions sold in the service auction will also be eligible to pay entry into the incentive classes.
There was definite enthusiasm about a “National Appaloosa Day,” which could involve a variety of promotional activities at the regional club level. Stay tuned for more plans but let us know what you think and how your regional club might participate.
It is a consensus of interested folks that we need to bring back a more complete and more regular Journal listing of leading sires and leading-the-nation categories.
We are also exploring ways to get ApHC moving forward to make on-line registration a reality.
A proposal for double-pointed “Zone Shows” was discussed. Also on the table is a proposal to support smaller regional clubs by double pointing some two-judge shows. The board will be working on both ideas during the next few weeks.
ApHC will conduct a “workshop” at the 2009 National Show involving regional clubs, show secretaries and/or others.
A summary of board motions will follow soon.
Although not an active campaigner for the position, Frank Larrabee, Corrales, New Mexico, was elected Appaloosa Horse Club President at the Board of Directors meeting last week in Jackson, Mississippi. Frank is a past-president and has been active for several years as the lead guy in international marketing. Several important intiatives have been launched in places such as Brazil, Australia and South Africa because of Frank’s efforts. The new International Registration Incentive Program in particular, came about due to his work toward a more global Appaloosa reach.
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