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May 25, 2016
Area II Launches New Volunteer Incentive Program, "VIP"
Area II, in conjunction with Waredaca Horse Trials, Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials and the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm, is pleased to announce an exciting new program to promote and recognize the heart and soul of eventing: volunteers.
From volunteer check-in on your smartphone to an online source for organizers to coordinate volunteers, this new pilot program, the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) kicks off with big plans to streamline the volunteer experience. Area II will launch and test this idea before expanding across the country.
The cornerstone of VIP, through the generous contribution of Area II, is the website, eventingvolunteers.com. This site is poised to be the go-to place for volunteers and organizers alike. Participants can sign up for volunteer shifts at participating events directly through the site, and organizers can also use the page as a point of communication with volunteers. Eventually, this site will also feature any resource a volunteer could need including summaries of volunteer jobs, tips on what to bring for the day and information on getting more involved in the sport.
Volunteers receive a custom lanyard and neck wallet similar to those we've used at convention, recognizing them as VIP Program participants. Over time, volunteers can decorate the lanyards with incentive pins and other recognition markers as they complete volunteer time. Once at an event, volunteers will "check in" and “out” to the time-keeping system using their smartphones or manually; organizers can also check volunteers in and out.
The program will track a leaderboard for volunteers, based on the hours volunteers contribute, with bonuses for volunteers who go to events at different locations or hit hourly milestones. Volunteers will be recognized with awards at our area meeting, and nationally as the program is expanded.
You can take the new VIP website for a test drive here.
Jan 20, 2025
News
Echoing the Dream: Small Acts of Kindness in Eventing
Today, we pause to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on the powerful moment in 1963 when he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and shared his vision for a better future. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech was more than just words; it was a call to action that transcended time, culture, and boundaries—a beacon of hope that continues to inspire.
Jan 19, 2025
That “Forward” State of Mind
We’ve all been there—on the horse who pokes his way around the warm-up ring, needs leg, leg, leg coming into the combination, or brings up the rear on every trail ride. None of us wants each and every ride to be a lower-body squeezefest, nor do we wish to do anything with our crop except maybe wave it at that annoying deerfly. In this excerpt from his book The Sport Horse Problem Solver, former international eventer Eric Smiley explains the essential quality of forwardness and how to prepare the horse to expect you to look for it in all that you do together.
Jan 18, 2025
Interscholastic
Stars of the Interscholastic Eventing League Shot to the Top of the 2024 Leaderboards
The inaugural USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championships may have been the pinnacle for program members of the IEL last year, but that’s not the only exciting achievement that occurred in 2024. A total of 41 events offered IEL Team Challenges for over 360 program members, and in the end, a year-end leaderboard champion was named at every level from Starter through Intermediate. The following IEL members worked tirelessly with their clubs and on their own competitive journeys in 2024 to earn the title of Interscholastic Rider of the Year at their respective level. Join us in congratulating these up-and-coming eventers on their success!
Jan 17, 2025
Volunteers
2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year Susan Hart Makes USEA History with Gold Medal Achievement
Veterinary pathologist Susan Hart has been trapped in an “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” loop on the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) Volunteer Leaderboard since 2022. After two years of chipping away at the leaderboard, 2024 was finally her year to proverbially walk down the aisle. With a total of 691 and a half hours, Hart topped the leaderboard to become the 2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Mrs. Pastures, and win the first gold medal in USEA VIP history, which is awarded for achieving over 2,000 lifetime volunteer hours.
