United States Dressage Federation

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Summary of Actions at USDF Executive Board Meetings

December 1 and December 5, 2003
Dallas, Texas

The following people attended the meetings: all 13 Executive Board members, Executive Director Stephan Hienzsch, and many USDF office staff members.

Programs

Linda Landers made a motion, seconded by Kat Kyle, to allow hosting regions or GMOs to share any net profits from clinics for the 2004 USDF/Premier Dressage Adult Clinic Series. Motion carried.

Janine Malone made a motion, seconded by Melissa Creswick, that (1) the University Committee will determine speakers at the annual convention, after approval by the Executive Board, and (2) the Instructor/Trainer Council will recommend Symposium clinicians, using input from the University Committee, to be approved by the Executive Board. Recommendations should be sent to the Executive Board for approval at least one year in advance for both University sessions at the annual convention and for the Symposium. Motion carried.

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Kat Kyle, to approve the revised Executive Board policy on council/committee proposals for new programs and projects, or revisions to current programs. Motion carried.

Fern Feldman made a motion, seconded by Melissa Creswick, that the Lettering Program Feasibility Committee revise the Lettering Program guidelines, to be approved by the Executive Board. The committee will choose a small number of GMOs to conduct a pilot program in 2004, and oversee the implementation of the program for re-evaluation in December 2004. Motion carried.

Melissa Creswick made a motion, seconded by Sandi Bishop, to approve Kathy Connelly as an Examiner for the Instructor Certification Program. Motion carried.

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Kat Kyle, to approve the following fees requested by the Instructor/Trainer Council, effective April 1, 2004: a $40 annual fee for all recognized teachers and certified instructors, a $25 one-time processing fee for associate instructors, and a $65 fee per workshop for organizers.

Linda Landers made a motion, seconded by Melissa Creswick, to charge a small fee, determined by the USDF staff, for hard copies of organizer guidelines, for USDF programs, that are available online. Motion carried.

Marketing

Melissa Creswick made a motion, seconded by George Williams, to give a favorable discount on USDF merchandise for Participating Members, effective April 1, 2004. Motion carried.

Kat Kyle made a motion, seconded by Gaye McCabe, to change Section D.2. of the Advertising Policy in the USDF Policies and Procedures so that 100% (instead of 30%) of the advertising proceeds for Regional Newsletters will be deposited in the Region's USDF bank account. Motion carried.

Janine Malone made a motion, seconded by Fern Feldman, that Stephan Hienzsch draft a policy regarding licensing and branding of products, based on input received from the Executive Board at this meeting, for approval by the Board. Motion carried.

Awards/Competitions

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Melissa Creswick, that the Executive Board appoint a task force to study the concept of USDF-recognized Schooling Shows. The task force will include Janine Malone and representatives from the Awards, Competitors, and GMO Councils, the Budget and Finance Committee, and other Councils/Committees, as appropriate. Motion carried.

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Kat Kyle, to approve the proposal from the Committee to Evaluate the Awards Program (CEAP) to add percentage point(s) to scores earned from multi-judge panels for the calculation of year-end awards only. Motion carried. This proposal is expected to be presented to the Board of Governors (BOG) for approval on December 5, 2003.

Melissa Creswick made a motion, seconded by Fern Feldman, to approve the proposal from the CEAP to limit Vintage Cup awards to amateur riders. Motion carried. This proposal is expected to be presented to the BOG for approval on December 5, 2003.

Membership/Personnel

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Fern Feldman, to give Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Members the same discount as Group Members who are also Participating Members. Motion carried.

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Gaye McCabe, to discontinue the auto renewal system for Participating Members, effective immediately. Motion carried. With the change to a fixed Participating Membership year, remembering when to renew is no longer as problematic for our members.

Fern Feldman made a motion, seconded by Alison Head, to allow the executive director to appoint staff members as advisors (non-voting) to USDF Councils/Committees. Motion carried.

George Williams (vice president) made a motion, seconded by Barbara Funk (treasurer) to grant regional directors a $750 reimbursement for expenses to attend the annual convention, beginning in 2004. Motion carried.

Miscellaneous

Janine Malone made a motion, seconded by Kat Kyle, to recommend to US Equestrian to hold future Dressage Technical Delegates clinics on the weekend in conjunction with the USDF annual convention. Motion carried.

Janine Malone made a motion, seconded by Fern Feldman, that the Executive Board appoint an ad hoc committee to investigate the feasibility of providing web pages or links for all nine regions on the USDF Web site. Motion carried. Sandi Bishop, Fern Feldman, Theresa Hunt, Kat Kyle, and Linda Landers agreed to serve on the committee with Bill Adams.

Fern Feldman made a motion, seconded by Kat Kyle, to make the Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Committee permanent, with Sarah Geikie as the Chairman for 2004. Motion carried.

Janine Malone made a motion, seconded by Gaye McCabe, to discontinue the designation of revenue from five-year and life memberships to the Circle of Friends. Motion carried. The cost of supporting these membership categories is far greater than what is allocated to the membership budget. This motion was supported by the Membership Committee.

Samuel J. Barish
USDF President

Janine W. Malone
USDF Secretary