By Sharon Higginbotham

The meeting was called to order at 10:10 a.m. by President Marty Irby. Mrs. Sharon Brandon called the roll.

The first order of business was approval of the agenda followed by approval of the minutes May 28, 2011, meeting.

The standing committee reports given at the general membership meeting on Friday were again given to the International Board of Directors with the following additions.
 
Kathy Zeis, Chairman of the Breeders’ Division Committee, stressed the importance of having “an IT person of the caliber of Rick Clardy” and commended him on getting the online breeding report program up and running among other important online services and she declared he had “moved TWHBEA into the 21st century.”
 
Thomas Kakassy, Chairman of the Performance Horse Division Committee, upon the completion of his report, again stressed the importance of unity between all aspects of the breed. He reported that an ambassador of the breed program to exhibit walking horses in areas not familiar with the breed is being discussed and will be acted upon in 2012.
 
Wayne Dean who was not present at the general membership meeting on Friday, gave his report to the Board of Directors. He reported that TWHBEA would be taking over the Academy program in 2012 and that Academy would be part of the Celebration Versatility Program in 2012. As far as donations go, Dean said, “We have some, but we need more”. He explained the need for a strong Academy program to engage families and get them interested in our great breed. He ended his comments by saying, “I believe in this great horse, I’m going to do everything I can to promote this great horse, and I appreciate all of you for doing the same thing.”
 
During Member at Large Buster Black’s Bylaws Committee Report, member Fran Cole from California raised the question that the oath of  office that the new Directors took this morning was not the Oath of Office posted on TWBHEA’s website. President Marty Irby explained that the Oath of Office was amended by the Executive Committee at it’s November meeting by a vote of 8 to 6. There was further questioning that the new Directors took an oath they did not run on. Black promised that early in 2012, his committee would address the oath of office, standards of the code of conduct and the mission statement of the Association. Chris VanHorn, new Director from Oklahoma, addressed the membership and stated the oath she took today was not the oath she ran on.
 
Linda Starnes, Member at Large for Youth, was not present yesterday but thanked Joyce Moyer for giving her report, had no additions to it, but did explain the Parelli Game of Contact, something she learned at a recent seminar. Black interjected that Maggie-May White is to be commended as a youth ambassador for our breed and the entire membership concurred.
 
The next order of business was approval of the annual audit for 2010.

The next order of business was approval of the 2011-2012 proposed budget. This was tabled until after item 9 so that everyone would have time to review the proposed budget.
 
The next order of business was the report of the Nominating Committee by Joe Rankin. The slate of officers from 2011 was recommended to continue in 2012 with two exceptions. Dee Dee Sale was recommended to replace Kathy Zeis whose term has expired on the Breeders Division Committee and Christy Lantis was recommended to replace Mike Hicks whose term has expired on the Enforcement Division Committee. There was one nomination from the floor for Sherry White for Pleasure Division Committee. White addressed the membership regarding her qualifications. Rick Weiss, present Pleasure Division Committee Chair, explained his qualifications to continue. A vote was taken. While the votes were being counted, the meeting adjourned for lunch at 1:20 p.m. to reconvene in 30 minutes with the seating of the new officers.
 
When the meeting was reconvened shortly after 2:00 p.m., President Irby reported that Rick Weis won the vote and would retain his seat as Chairman of the Pleasure Division Committee. With that being reported, the new officers were seated.
 
The next order of business was the approval of the time and location of the next meeting. The next meeting of the International Board of Directors will be
May 26, 2012, at TWHBEA Headquarters in Lewisburg, Tenn.
 
The proposed 2011-2012 budget was approved.
 
There was no old business.
 
Under new business, Irby reported how the meeting with Dr. Chester Gipson of the USDA came about and, subsequent to that meeting, how the meeting of TWHBEA, the Trainers Association, WHOA and the Celebration came about. Dr. Gipson is stressing that our industry must speak with one voice as relates to the performance horse. Irby said that Wayne Dean has been very instrumental in getting the four groups to meet and form a committee to address the goal of unity of voice as regards the performance horse. Buster Black, a member of the American Horse Council for years, took Irby and Thomas to the American Horse Council this year and they came away with a good feeling as the Tennessee Walking Horse registry is the only breed registry that has seen growth in the last several years.
 
Comments from the Board Members were addressed and the meeting was adjourned at 2:50 p.m.