Jan 29, 2015
Fact Sheet Regarding USEA Area Realignment
Fact Sheet Regarding USEA Area Realignment and Area Competitions, Championships, Young Riders, Adult Riders, and Awards Programs
The proposal to change the USEA Area boundaries from those originally defined in the by-laws originated more than three years ago. The USEA Board of Governors, working with Area Affairs, discussed the increasing difficulty of operating Areas that did not accord with state lines and noted that there were ongoing record keeping and administrative difficulties associated with cross-border Areas. Further, the Board noted that other successful national sport horse organizations also used state boundaries to define their regional divisions.
After appropriate notice was distributed in the proxy statement to members in the fall of 2014, the USEA membership voted to change the original by-laws, providing for the drawing of Area borders along state lines. Any further changes to the by-laws must be made pursuant to the same procedures, including notice and a vote by the USEA membership. As a result of these by-law amendments, western Pennsylvania became part of Area II.
Subsequent to the Annual Meeting, certain members in western Pennsylvania raised concerns about the changes. The Board of Governors, working with the Areas involved, has ensured that members in these locations will not see any reduction in their membership benefits or privileges from this change. The Board of Governors will review the concerns of the members in the impacted area and discuss the issue further at its meeting in August. The Board of Governors would like to thank the Area Chairs and Councils from Area VIII and II for working together on this issue.
Competitions
- Members living in the affected portion of Pennsylvania, like all other USEA members, may continue to compete in any event in any area they wish to. There is not, and never has been, any restriction on where USEA members may compete.
- The two competitions in this portion of Pennsylvania will be listed in the Omnibus in the sections for both Area II and Area VIII. Area II and Area VIII will coordinate on any calendaring issues involving these competitions, should the need arise.
- Riders in the affected portion of Pennsylvania may compete in either Area Championship (but only one championship) provided they obtain the required qualifications, and limits on out-of-Area qualifications will be waived for results obtained in either of the respective Areas.
Programming
- Riders living in the affected portion of Pennsylvania may choose to join the Young Riders, YRAP, or Adult Rider programs in either Area II or Area VIII, with all the privileges of other members of those programs.
- Young Riders and Adult Riders in the affected portion of Pennsylvania may declare their intention to compete for either Area II or Area VIII teams or Championships, including NAJYRC and should contact the Adult Rider Coordinator or Young Rider Coordinator in their chosen Area as soon as possible. Young Riders in the affected portion of Pennsylvania electing to qualify and compete for Area VIII must also file a Declaration of Area with the USEF and with the Area VIII Young Rider Coordinator by March 1.
Year-End Awards
- Riders and horse owners may declare their eligibility and sign up for year-end award programs in either Area.
- The Area II year-end awards program is open to any member who submits a completed Area II year-end awards registration form to the Area’s Points Coordinator by the required deadline. Area II will remove the three-to-one out of Area exception rule for qualifying results.
- Riders in the affected portion of Pennsylvania will be considered eligible for Area VIII year-end awards even if they live in the affected part of Pennsylvania if they declare as Area VIII by Mar. 1.
Click here for a PDF of this fact sheet.
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