By Christy Howard Parsons, Publisher

Copyright 2005

2006 TWHBEA Executive Committee Elected

           At the TWHBEA Board of Directors meeting Saturday afternoon, the new 2006 TWHBEA Executive Committee was elected. The nominating committee of Dr. Donald Longest, Beverly Greenup, Joe Dietz, Smoky Carswell and Paula Andrews put forth a slate of nominees. The only nomination from the floor was for Edie Whittenmeyer for Vice President of Horse Shows. The nominating committee had selected Dee Cantrell for this position. After a written ballot election, Whittenmeyer was reelected to serve on the Executive Committee.

            The other Executive Committee members and their offices are as follows: Jerrold Pedigo, President; Jane Meredith, Senior Vice President; Charles Wharton, Administrative/Fiscal; Kathy Zeis, Breeders; Rhonda Martocci, Enforcement; Larry Lowman, Marketing; Iris Schumann, Performance Horse; Marietta Gambrell, Pleasure Horse; Jack Haefling, Owners/Exhibitors; Jamie Hankins, Training; Sid Baucom, Member At Large Bylaws; Ann Kuykendall, Member At Large Youth; and Sharon Brandon, Secretary/Treasurer.

This Board of Directors meeting was open to TWHBEA members as TWHBEA’s HIO Sanctioning Plan was unveiled to TWHBEA members. The plan had previously been presented during the weekend to the WHTA Board of Directors, WHOA, and informally to other industry organizations.

President Pedigo began with a review of the reasons that TWHBEA had decided not to renew the current NHSC contract. [These reasons are the same as those presented at the WHOA meeting and are presented in that story on this site.”]

Pedigo did not give the PowerPoint presentation which had been given to WHTA and WHOA, but passed out the same copies of the Plan which had been passed out to both groups. [See a copy of this plan on this site;]

After reviewing the Board’s reasons, Pedigo took questions from the floor. When asked what the time frame for the negotiations were, Pedigo answered they would begin immediately.

Questions about how the plan was to be funded revealed that the costs of the plan had not been included in TWHBEA’s 2006 budget because the budget had been completed prior to the creation of this plan. Pedigo explained that the plan would require additional funding but would also provide services to the entire TWHBEA membership.

Pedigo further explained that the estimate for costs to TWHBEA in the first year were approximately $600,000 but that revenues would be received in excess of $300,000 for a net cost to TWHBEA of $250,000-$300,000.

“When you take all of the costs of the current NHSC contract into account, this is relative close. It might be $50,000 - $100,000 greater than our current commitment,” explained Pedigo.

“We will be able to fund the proposed sanctioning plan without an increase in dues or an effect on our membership,” furthered Pedigo.

Pedigo fielded questions about whether TWHBEA was setting up an HIO.

“Just for emergency purposes. My individual goal is for TWHBEA to be coordinator of all the HIOs,” Pedigo said.

When asked what the feedback from the other HIOs had been, Pedigo answered, “At this point, I can’t say it’s positive. But to be fair, it’s only just been presented to WHTA and WHOA and they haven’t had adequate time to evaluate it yet.”

“This is one way for the show industry to make the decisions about the show industry,” Pedigo elaborated.

“Would the criteria for entering show records be if they were under the HIO umbrella?” came the question from the audience. “Yes,” answered Pedigo, “non-participating HIOs records would not be accepted into iPEDs.”

When asked about the status of beginning of the year sales and horse shows, Pedigo explained “As of right now, the NHSC is in operation and will continue to accept shows.”

Wayne Dean wanted to make sure his opinions were heard. “We need to stick together until that Operating Plan is signed. We are all working for the same thing,” said Dean.

“I couldn’t agree more. The Operating Plan is very important,” responded Pedigo.

Dr. Donald Longest said, “I think this plan bring us together. We’re split up now. This brings us together.”

Board of Director Phyllis Heppenstall agreed. “I think this is a great plan,” she said. She also suggested TWHBEA appoint a point person for questions and to put additional information on TWHBEA’s website.

Immediately Kathy Zeis and several other members of the Executive Committee pointed their fingers at President Pedigo.

Earlier in the meeting Ms. Heppenstall also questioned Charles Wharton regarding the budget and the numbers used for planned increases in revenues and expenses. She asked very responsible questions regarding vice presidents’ responsibilities for the budget and regarding presentation of salaries in the financial statements.

Wharton’s report indicated that the 05-06 budget was for $4.9 million in revenue and expenses for a projected profit of $11,000. As a non-profit organization, the National Board spends its revenue on its many valuable programs. Some of the planned expenses for 2006 include $102,000 for the pleasure horse market (including a new 20,000 planned expenditure for trail ride development activities); $526,000 on marketing; $142, 000 on NHSC related expenditures; $172,000 on youth programs, $52,000 on the performance horse market, and $75,000 on horse show development.

Craig Evans reported to the TWHBEA board regarding the lawsuit which was filed by TWHBEA against the National Walking Horse Association (NWHA) which is headed by Don Bell. [See separate news item on this site.]

The lawsuit and the proposed sanctioning plan are not reflected in the 05-06 budget as they had not happened when the 05-06 budget was formed.

This Board of Directors meeting was open to TWHBEA members as TWHBEA’s HIO Sanctioning Plan was unveiled to TWHBEA members. The plan had previously been presented during the weekend to the WHTA Board of Directors, WHOA, and informally to other industry organizations.

President Pedigo began with a review of the reasons that TWHBEA had decided not to renew the current NHSC contract. [These reasons are the same as those presented at the WHOA meeting and are presented in that story on this site.”]

Pedigo did not give the PowerPoint presentation which had been given to WHTA and WHOA, but passed out the same copies of the Plan which had been passed out to both groups. [See a copy of this plan on this site;]

After reviewing the Board’s reasons, Pedigo took questions from the floor. When asked what the time frame for the negotiations were, Pedigo answered they would begin immediately.

Questions about how the plan was to be funded revealed that the costs of the plan had not been included in TWHBEA’s 2006 budget because the budget had been completed prior to the creation of this plan. Pedigo explained that the plan would require additional funding but would also provide services to the entire TWHBEA membership.

Pedigo further explained that the estimate for costs to TWHBEA in the first year were approximately $600,000 but that revenues would be received in excess of $300,000 for a net cost to TWHBEA of $250,000-$300,000.

“When you take all of the costs of the current NHSC contract into account, this is relative close. It might be $50,000 - $100,000 greater than our current commitment,” explained Pedigo.

“We will be able to fund the proposed sanctioning plan without an increase in dues or an effect on our membership,” furthered Pedigo.

Pedigo fielded questions about whether TWHBEA was setting up an HIO.

“Just for emergency purposes. My individual goal is for TWHBEA to be coordinator of all the HIOs,” Pedigo said.

When asked what the feedback from the other HIOs had been, Pedigo answered, “At this point, I can’t say it’s positive. But to be fair, it’s only just been presented to WHTA and WHOA and they haven’t had adequate time to evaluate it yet.”

“This is one way for the show industry to make the decisions about the show industry,” Pedigo elaborated.

“Would the criteria for entering show records be if they were under the HIO umbrella?” came the question from the audience. “Yes,” answered Pedigo, “non-participating HIOs records would not be accepted into iPEDs.”

When asked about the status of beginning of the year sales and horse shows, Pedigo explained “As of right now, the NHSC is in operation and will continue to accept shows.”

Wayne Dean wanted to make sure his opinions were heard. “We need to stick together until that Operating Plan is signed. We are all working for the same thing,” said Dean.

“I couldn’t agree more. The Operating Plan is very important,” responded Pedigo.

Dr. Donald Longest said, “I think this plan bring us together. We’re split up now. This brings us together.”

Board of Director Phyllis Heppenstall agreed. “I think this is a great plan,” she said. She also suggested TWHBEA appoint a point person for questions and to put additional information on TWHBEA’s website.

Immediately Kathy Zeis and several other members of the Executive Committee pointed their fingers at President Pedigo.

Earlier in the meeting Ms. Heppenstall also questioned Charles Wharton regarding the budget and the numbers used for planned increases in revenues and expenses. She asked very responsible questions regarding vice presidents’ responsibilities for the budget and regarding presentation of salaries in the financial statements.

Wharton’s report indicated that the 05-06 budget was for $4.9 million in revenue and expenses for a projected profit of $11,000. As a non-profit organization, the National Board spends its revenue on its many valuable programs. Some of the planned expenses for 2006 include $102,000 for the pleasure horse market (including a new 20,000 planned expenditure for trail ride development activities); $526,000 on marketing; $142, 000 on NHSC related expenditures; $172,000 on youth programs, $52,000 on the performance horse market, and $75,000 on horse show development.

Craig Evans reported to the TWHBEA board regarding the lawsuit which was filed by TWHBEA against the National Walking Horse Association (NWHA) which is headed by Don Bell. [See separate news item on this site.]

The lawsuit and the proposed sanctioning plan are not reflected in the 05-06 budget as they had not happened when the 05-06 budget was formed.