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WHOA Board Members Meet
Friday, January 23, 2009


by Maggi Painter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The WHOA Board Members meet on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at 10 a.m. the Miller Club in the Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Eighteen board members were present on this extremely cold Friday morning.

WHOA President Frank Neal announced who was going to be the WHOA representatives for the NHSC. David Pruett, Mark Farrar, Frank Neal and Bob Medina had been appointed. This brought up quite a lengthy discussion. Bob Ramsbottom wanted to know why those individuals decided to sit on this board since they had just resigned from it in August. “Because I believe there have been changes made and we thought it would be a good idea to have the president of WHOA and the president of the TWHBEA on there,” said Neal. Kim Bennett stated he personally liked who had been appointed to the board and Judy Martin thought with Neal and Pruett returning to the board, this meant things were moving forward.

Kim Bennett was asked to announce the results of the election. Ty Irby, Jean Baum, Bob Lawrence, Lynn Womack, Kathy Owens, Virginia Stewart, Bruce Vaughn and Andrew Waited were the eight who were elected for the three-year term. With three seats open, Don Hancock, Darren Gray and Andy Rippy were appointed for a one-year term.

Tommy Hall was asked to go over the financial report. Hall stated 2008 was not financially successful but the new programs implemented in 2008 were successful. It was brought up to look at membership fees. Bruce Vaughn proposed to up the temporary amateur card to $25. Hall mentioned they had gone through the WHOA Quest High Point Program and highlighted the names of people who did not hold an amateur card and was going to send out a letter stating they need to receive payment for 2008 or they would be on suspension. They would also need to purchase an amateur card for 2009. A committee consisting of Dee Dee Sale, Iris Shuman, Bruce Vaughn and Tommy Hall were appointed to look over the membership fees.

Hall stated that the Performance International lost $13,000 in 2008 and the Pleasure International lost $500. Hall asked what the board thought of the Pleasure International going to trophy and ribbons only and cutting out the prize money. A motion was made and passed. Hall also stated the Pleasure International would be cut to five days in 2009. Hall mentioned he thought it would be a good idea to talk to the show managers of the one-night shows and suggest they go to trophy and ribbons only to help them make money so they can continue to have these shows in the future.

Dee Dee Sale spoke about the Youth Committee. Sale thought it would be a good idea to have two camps this year. One would be a day camp for the younger children, 7-11, which would be four to five days followed by the weeklong camp for the older children, 12-17.

Mark Taylor reported on the WHOA/TWHBEA Academy shows. Taylor stated 2008 was very successful for the Academy Program. Taylor stated there are five shows scheduled this year and the Academy Championships will be held on March 21, 2009, at the Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville, Tenn. Taylor announced that Manna Pro and World Champion Horse Equipment were going to be sponsors this year.

The next board meeting will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009.

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