Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders & Exhibitors Association
Attn: 2014 Executive Committee

    Re: California Director Removal - Christy Lantis

Dear President Smith and Executive Board:

Our Association's Board, voting without exception at our meeting January 14, 2014, is in full support of our duty elected director to TWHBEA, Ms. Christy Lantis. Christy was elected as a director from California by a wide margin, and has performed her duties admirably. We have been impressed with her willingness to not only perform as a director to TWHBEA, but to also serve on TWHBEA's Executive Board, as an officer, specifically as Vice President of Enforcement (2012), of Performance (2013), and now for the Admin/Fiscal/Audit Commitee (2014).

I have known Christy for several years, and she has been an active member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Association of California, now one of our directors. Additionally, she serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the West Coast Walking Horse Trainers Association. Christy is supportive of all divisions of our great breed, and is always helpful with our youth members.

This removal action appears to be spiteful in nature, an attempt at a "second bite of the apple" for the election of our California representative, an attempt to replace the clear winner with the loser. The efforts appear to have been less than open and honest and do not seem to have the best interests of TWHBEA in mind. The advocates are not citing cause for the removal, and some say the recall effort is intended to be a test case for removal of other directors and officers.

Removal from TWHBEA without cause of a duly elected board member (and even whether to permit such) should be revisted in board governance discussion. The methods and requirements currently in play are not satisfactory.

TWHAC is grateful that the TWHBEA Executive Committee is taking this matter seriously. Our Association wants you to know that we DO support Ms. Lantis, and we appreciate her dedication, responsibility, time and efforts.

Thank you.

Best Regards,

James O. Heiting
President