WRHA Board Meeting
2/2/2009
Bellevue Library
Meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.
Attendees: Judy, Jeanine, Sue, Janet, Cheryl, Dave, Darren & Cathy
Treasurer’s Report: Judy reports that we have $28000+ in our checking account.
Darren reports that rumors are out there that the WRHA is disbanding. Will add an item to the
newsletter that we are still alive and well!
Show Committee/Awards Committee Report:
Cathy has confirmed our May show dates with the Monroe Fairgrounds – 5/28-5/31/09
One judge has been hired for the April show in Wenatchee. Discussed whether or not we need to
hire a second judge and decided that we WILL hire a second judge. Caroline will take care of this.
Darren wanted to know whether or not we were going to award Bob Berg Buckles again this year.
After a bit of discussion we decided to go ahead and order buckles for the April and May show
IF we could get them for $200 or less. Darren will contact Bob Berg and (assuming the price is
right) order 6 buckles: 4 for April and 2 for May.
We have decided NOT to award the saddle pads for reserve this year. Alternative awards were
discussed, including stirrups that could be etched (similar to a Nettles stirrup). Sue will look into
the possibility of doing this.
The Appleatchee contract has been submitted to them with a couple of stipulations. We agree to
fill the red barns first, but will NOT use any stall that is deemed to be unsafe. Specifically, we
will not use any stall with gaps under the walls and/or doors that are big enough to get a foot
through and stalls with broken hinges and/or latches. As was the case last year, no stallions can
be stabled in the red barns. Brian has told Cathy that the Appleatchee Board was agreeable to
these changes, but he has not yet returned the completed contract for signature.
In an effort to alleviate complaints and problems with stall assignments, the Appleatchee stabling
rules are going to be published in the premium so that everyone understands why they are being
stalled where we put them. If we are able to fill the red barns, preferential stabling in the
permanent barns will be given to WRHA sponsors based on their level of sponsorship. This will
also be explained in the premium.
There have been several changes to NRHA classes this year. Discussed putting out an article
explaining the changes, i.e., Novice Horse Level 1 & 2, Rookie Level 1 & 2, change in int/limited
NP earnings qualifications, etc. WRHA will be fined for any ineligible riders, so we will need to
be alert to any possible ineligibles going in the wrong classes.
We will ask Bob to be our announcer again this year and hire Joelle as the gatekeeper. Dave will
contact Fossil Productions for video services at Wenatchee and Janet will contact Country Boy
BBQ for the catered dinner in Wenatchee.
Jeff has said he will no longer be available as show secretary after the May Monroe show. We
will have to start thinking about someone to replace him and they must be certified by the
NRHA. We will also need to secure the software Jeff has been using and his database when he
leaves.
Discussed some cost cutting measures we will take in 2009:
1) Added money for the April show has been reduced and some club classes have been eliminated
and replaced with NRHA classes. Fewer club classes means fewer awards need to be purchased
for individual class awards (i.e., NRHA trophies go to first, so no club award need be purchased).
2) We will mail out the class list, entry form and stall reservation form only prior to the show
rather than mailing out the entire show premium. Premiums will be printed and will be available
at the show. This will cut down on mailing costs and printing costs because fewer premiums will
a show. We already have an October date reserved sneed to be printed and postage will be less
for a lighter item. This will also give more time for sponsors to get signed up closer to the show
date and still leave us time to get them in to the premium.
3) Last year’s budget for class awards was $3400. Discussed reducing the class award budget.
Jeanine moved that we budget no more than $3000 per show for class awards with the goal being
to try and keep expenses at $2500. Darren seconded – PASSED
The budget for 2008 year end awards will be the same as last year. Cheryl has agreed to donate
11 first place pictures and the club will purchase the remaining awards. Year ends will be
awarded to the same set of classes as last year with placings from 1-3. Sue will handle
purchasing year ends and Janet will send her a class list.
The NRHA classes for April have already been submitted for approval to the NRHA. Cathy
will finalize the April class schedule to include the club classes.
Sponsorship:
Dave would like to revise the sponsorship levels. He will work out a plan for 2009 and will start
sending out sponsorship solicitations by the end of February or early March. Sponsorship ads
have been running starting with the June Monroe show and going through the following year’s
first Wenatchee show. Dave would like to add new sponsors to the spring Wenatchee show
premium as an incentive to signing on as a sponsor.
Newsletter:
Jeanine will be putting out a newsletter shortly. Hopefully this will reassure everyone that the
WRHA has not disbanded and that the show will go on!
Old Business
Discussed the pros and cons of having a show at Moses Lake. Spanaway was also mentioned as
a possible site for hould we decide to switch the fall show from Wenatchee to Moses Lake.
Cathy will also check with Moses Lake and see what other dates they might have available.
Tabled the topic for now. Much will depend on how much cooperation we get from
Appleatchee this year.
Sue said she has some prizes left over from last Fall’s RAF show. We agreed that we should use
them at some point during the year, possibly at the 1 day show if we have one. Cathy is going to
check and see if she has any electric scooters left from prizes given in years past.
New Business
2009 Officers and Board of Directors
Judy Caton, Pres.
Jeanine Kern, VP
Janet Hurlburt, Sec.
Jeff Lansidel, Treasurer
Darren Stancik, director
Dave McKim, director
Cheryl James, director
Sue Muir, director
Caroline Schaefer, director
Cathy Martin, director
Due to personal commitments, Jeff is having to limit his involvement with the club. Judy will
call him to see if he wishes to continue on as treasurer. If not, we will need to find a replacement.
NRHA is back to encouraging reining at the grass roots level, so that prompted a discussion of
putting on a one day “fun show” or even a small NRHA approved show. Several sites would
work for this including Rhodes River Ranch, Bridle Trails State Park, Spanaway or Donida
Farms. After a bit of discussion, Dave agreed to check on the possibility of doing a show at
Donida Farms in mid to late August. It was suggested that if we decide to do another show that
someone other than the existing show committee be responsible for it. Dave and Cheryl agreed to
work together on this.
Judy has just returned from the NRHA convention with a lot of information about the changes
happening within the NRHA. She also reports that the RAF show will be held the weekend after
our Wenatchee show in October, 2009.
With no additional business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janet Hurlburt
WRHA Club Secretary
****ACTION ITEMS****
1. Second judge for Wenatchee spring show-Caroline
2. Order 6 Bob Berg buckles for Wenatchee and Monroe IF price is $200 or less-Darren
3. Stirrups for reserve awards for derby, classic & futurity?-Sue
4. Explain eligibility requirements for the new Novice Horse & Rookie levels and eligibility
changes in NRHA classes-All
5. Contact Country Boy BBQ-Janet
6. Videographer
7. Contact Bob G. and Joelle D.-Caroline
8. Get show software & database from Jeff-Judy
9. Mail class list, entry form and stall reservation form for Wenatchee-Janet
10. New sponsorship levels-Dave
11. Finalize Wenatchee class list (club classes)-Show Committee
12. Purchase Year End Awards-Sue
13. Send Sue a yeaar end results list-Janet
14. Explore possibility of a 1-day show at Donida-Dave/Cheryl