(Article from TWHBEA website, released 3/30/09)

Lewisburg, TN – The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association Executive Committee met February 28, 2009 and March 22, 2009. The focus of the February meeting was the 2008 year-end audit. Administrative/Fiscal/Audit Vice President Mike Inman presented the figures. Focusing in on two in particular, he reported that for 2008 revenue was down $787,016 while expenses were down $1,764,050. Both Inman and President David Pruett urged committee members to cut their budgets and be creative and innovative in promoting their programs. The only action taken at the February meeting was a motion made by Vice President Member At Large Debra Jack to rescind the Association’s current code of conduct and to develop a new code that is more applicable to current conditions.

At the March meeting, Inman reported that, for the third straight month, registrations are down. Overall, the decrease indicates a 27% drop from budget.

In his remarks, President Pruett discussed the Sound Horse Conference and suggested that each Executive Committee member should try to attend in 2010. Executive Director Stan Butt talked about his recent trip to Kentucky, which included meetings regarding the Kentucky Breeders Incentive Fund, the World Equestrian Games, and our breed’s representation at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Topics covered in the standing committee reports included TWHBEA’s new Equine Welfare Committee, the dissolution of the NHSC, the April 15 deadline for determining the 2009 Celebraiton Clinics, futurity nominations, which are up over 2008 and 2007, and ways to attract new and returning members. It was announced that Tracy Pinson would be competing in Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy Race, which is televised on RFD-TV. It was also reported that the World Equestrain Games Selection and Steering Committees had been established. The Selection Committee will include Dave Whitaker, Jan Keyser and Sharon Gueck DeFord. The Steering Committee will consist of Bob Cherry, Jan Keyser, Mark Farrar, Doyle Meadows, Diane Lashoones, Mag Ranft and Marilee Moran.

Three actions were taken at the March meeting. A motion was made and passed to rescind a motion previously passed that required an annual review of the GO! Gelding Program. The second motion that was passed was to support the insurance programs for TWHBEA members made available by Bodey Insurance subject to semi-annual reporting and annual review. Finally, the third motion passed was to establish a committee to develop a code of conduct and business ethics for the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and employees of TWHBEA in the spirit of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.