Carol Kozlowski presided over her final Board of Governors meeting as USEA President this afternoon at the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. After the meeting was called to order, Kozlowski delivered her President’s Report in which she highlighted the accomplishments of the Association as a whole, but also thanked each of the Vice Presidents and Governors for their contributions to the USEA.
“I want to thank each of you here for your willingness to be a part of the very small group that really does do most of the heavy lifting and makes a very genuine and generous effort to nurture our sport into the future,” said Kozlowski. “It’s a tired phrase but I feel apt here. ‘If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.’ Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being willing to speak up, disagree, discuss, and produce a hybrid vigor that represents the best we all bring to the table.”
Rob Burk gave a brief CEO report which he will expand upon on Saturday at the Annual Meeting of Members, and then the Board got down to business. They approved two incoming Area Chairs:
Morley Thompson Jr. gave his Treasurers/Vice President of Admin & Finance report which had a much more positive outlook than 2018. The USEA came in within 99% of budget and revenue and while starters revenue was down a bit, several other areas were up including merchandise sales having a large impact. The 12-month net ordinary income was right on track. A few key indicators that Thompson touched on included:
Most of the committees will meet during the week and report back to the Board on Sunday, but a few action items were brought forward.
Diane Pitts, Chair of the USEA Foundation, gave their report to the Board. Pitts and the Foundation are excited to be focusing on raising money for the Poggio Horsemanship Fund, and over $25,000 has already been raised. The Foundation is looking forward to hearing from the past grant winners at their meeting tomorrow as well as awarding a new group of grants on Saturday night. The Foundation is going to be working on a strategic plan as well as rolling out a Kyra King Stuart Planned Giving Initiative. Tink Eichell gave the Foundation’s financial update which reported that financials are just under $2.8 million and they did 12 percent in asset performance last year.
Jeff Newman and Mary Coldren from the Maryland Five-Star at Fair Hill then gave a presentation about next year’s new event. Newman reported that the construction progress is meeting all the deadlines with the arenas completed and all permanent cross-country complexes and paths finished in time for winter. A full presentation about the event will be given tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.
Jenni Autry, the USEF Managing Director of Eventing, gave a brief introduction of her staff to the Board and said that she is looking forward to continuing to work with the USEA to have strong bonds as we work towards mutual goals.
The USEA Board of Governors will reconvene on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. for the final meeting of the weekend.
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The USEA Annual Meeting & Convention takes place each December and brings together a large group of dedicated USEA members and supporters to discuss, learn, and enjoy being surrounded by other eventing enthusiasts. The USEA organizes multiple seminars in addition to committee meetings, open forums, and tons of fun! The 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention is taking place at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, December 12-15, 2019. Click here to learn more about the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.
The USEA would like to thank Adequan, Bates, Nutrena, Charles Owen, Standlee Premium Western Forage, SmartPak, Mountain Horse, Parker Equine Insurance, Rebecca Farm, Auburn Laboratories, Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles, Nunn Finer, World Equestrian Brands, Gallops Saddlery, Revitavet, Hylofit, and Tryon International Equestrian Center for sponsoring the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.
Being spontaneous has paid off for Kevin Keane and Sportsfield Candy. “I bought him on a Wednesday and showed him on a Thursday,” Keane recalls about his first event with his Irish Sport Horse gelding, then 9 years old, at Plantation Field Horse Trials (Unionville, Pennsylvania) in September 2016. “I owned him for part of a day, and the next morning I showed up at a CCI and jogged him up for a two-star, and we went clean and clean and clean.”
THANK YOU to everyone who has already entered the USEF/USEA Recognized CDCTA Spring Horse Trials scheduled for Sunday, April 9 in Berryville, VA. We will continue to take late entries through Friday, March 24 using USEA’s Xentry system. If you still want to come compete, please enter! The late fee has been waived through Friday, March 24.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation announces the appointment of long-term US Equestrian employee Hallye Griffin as Director of FEI Sport. Griffin will assume the duties of former Director of FEI/High-Performance Sport, Graeme Thom, who has chosen to step away from his role to attend to personal matters.
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is thrilled to announce that Sidelines Magazine will not only be returning as a “Media Partner of U.S. Eventing,” but they will also be supporting the Association as a “Contributing Level Sponsor of the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program” and a “Prize Level Sponsor of the USEA American Eventing Championships.” Sidelines Magazine will give the USEA additional promotion and exposure through their printed and digital media products, while also providing prizes for participants at the AEC and EA21 clinics.