United States Dressage Federation

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Summary of Actions at USDF Executive Board Meetings

May 9-11, 2003
Lexington, Kentucky

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

Annual Convention

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Sue Hughes, to hold the 2005 USDF Annual Convention/Symposium in Los Angeles. Motion carried. The last time USDF held a convention in California was in San Diego in 1979.

Fern Feldman made a motion, seconded by Kat Kyle, to add text to the USDF Policies and Procedures to allow confidential on-line voting for scheduled ballots (such as the election of officers and Regional Directors) at the annual convention. Computers, PIN numbers, and voting booths will be used. Motion carried.

Sue Hughes made a motion, seconded by Kat Kyle, to recommend a USDF Bylaws change that 60% (rather than the current 75%) of the voting rights of all Delegates shall constitute a quorum at Board of Governors (BOG) meetings, beginning with the annual convention in Dallas. Motion carried. Because USDF University sessions will be held at the same time as the BOG meetings in Dallas, the Board was concerned that a quorum of 75% might be difficult to achieve. A quorum is required to conduct official business of the BOG.

Gaye McCabe made a motion, seconded by Janine Malone, to create a searchable database of previous and future motions passed by the Executive Board, which would be available during Board meetings. Motion carried.

Competitions

Melissa Creswick made a motion, seconded by Barbara Funk, to recommend a rule change proposal to USA Equestrian requiring USDF competition recognition for all USA Equestrian recognized Dressage Competitions. Motion carried. This rule change is required for USDF to have a complete database of competition results. It would give USDF the same joint recognition privilege that most of the other international discipline affiliate organizations have.

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Linda Landers, that USDF's dressage test and rule change cycle be the same as USA Equestrian's. Motion carried.

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Melissa Creswick, to accept FEI passports for USDF Horse Identification Number (HID) information for foreign horses in CDIs. Motion carried.

Janine Malone made a motion, seconded by Barbara Funk, to require debit or credit card payment for telefaxed or electronic submission of USDF recognized competition results at the time of submission, effective December 1, 2003. Motion carried.

Junior/Young Riders

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Sandi Bishop, to allow funds raised by the Youth Executive Board to be used for grants for youth riders to defer costs of attending the annual convention. If a Youth Executive Board member is on the selection committee for the grants, no Board member will be eligible to apply for a grant. Motion carried.

Janine Malone made a motion, seconded by Melissa Creswick, to approve in principle the FEI Young Riders Graduate Program and to appoint an Implementation Committee to ensure that the program is conducted well. The purpose of the program is to facilitate the transition of graduates of the FEI Young Riders program into the adult world as amateur/professional equestrians. Motion carried.

Linda Landers made a motion, seconded by Gaye McCabe, to support the FEI Young Riders Council's recommendation to award pins for good sportsmanship at the 2003 North American Young Riders Championships and the USDF Junior/Young Rider Regional Team Championships. The cost of the pins is expected to be about $250. Motion carried.

Alison Head made a motion, seconded by George Williams, to charge a $50 declaration fee for riders who intend to try out for their Region's team for the North American Young Riders Championships, effective for the 2004 NAYRC. Motion carried.

Other Councils/Committees

Fern Feldman made a motion, seconded by Sue Hughes, to organize one USDF/Premier Dressage Adult Clinic per Region in 2004 and allow a Region or GMO to share in any net profits from the clinic. Motion carried.

Linda Landers made a motion, seconded by Alison Head, to grant lifetime USDF participating membership and lifetime complimentary registration at the annual convention to all living inductees into the USDF Hall of Fame and all Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, effective immediately. Motion carried.

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Kat Kyle, to restructure the criteria for All Breeds awards so that a horse is eligible for such an award from only one breed registry. This is consistent with the policy of the Federation of North American Sport Horse Registries. Motion carried.

Janine Malone made a motion, seconded by George Williams, to recommend to the Awards Council to separate All Breeds awards into breed registry and association recognition awards. Motion carried.

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Sue Hughes, to appoint a committee to study the feasibility of developing a "lettering program," whose objective would be to assist youth in receiving recognition from their schools for their dedication to the sport of dressage. Motion carried. The program would allow young dressage competitors to receive an athletic letter from their schools for their achievements in dressage shows.

George Williams made a motion, seconded by Fern Feldman, to extend current Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Memberships to March 31, 2004. This is to ensure that Intercollegiate/Interscholastic members receive a full 12-months of benefits. Motion carried.

Janine Malone made a motion, seconded by Melissa Creswick, to establish a policy that if a USDF grant is approved, and the event for which the grant is intended shows a profit over and above the amount of the grant, the money will be refunded or not awarded. Motion carried.

Samuel J. Barish
USDF President

Janine W. Malone
USDF Secretary