The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is proud to announce a new membership category, the “Digital Membership,” which will be available to qualified participants of the Volunteer Incentive Program in 2023. This new membership will serve as a thank you to the loyal volunteers in our sport for their dedication to supporting events around the country throughout the year.
The USEA Volunteer Committee submitted a proposal for this new membership category to the USEA Board of Governors for review at their August 2022 meeting. A motion was approved at the August meeting to reward volunteers that log 10 hours or more through EventingVolunteers.com with a complimentary digital version of the USEA’s Supporting Membership for the year following their service. Therefore, any volunteer that logged 10 or more hours of service in 2022 receive a Digital Membership at no charge for 2023. Only hours logged in EventingVolunteers.com will qualify towards this benefit.
“The USEA Volunteer Committee is pleased that the Board has approved this measure. Welcoming volunteers into the USEA as Digital Members not only helps grow our organization and the sport as a whole, but recognizes, in an official membership capacity, the integral role volunteers play in ensuring our events run successfully,” said Bonnie Kibbie, Chair of the USEA Volunteer Committee. “Eventing cannot run without our volunteers, and we are excited to be able to welcome them further into the fold with the passing of this measure.”
The Digital Membership will offer qualifying participants several benefits. Digital Members will have full access to the USEA’s online resources, including access to the Member Rewards Program, digital issues of the award-winning Eventing USA magazine, subscription to all USEA eNewsletters, and access to online competition and educational videos. Digital members will also have voting rights with the association and the ability to make their voice heard in advocacy for the sport of eventing. Participation in USEA Educational Activities, like clinics, seminars and camps, is another perk that Digital Members will be encouraged to take advantage of, as they provide a great opportunity to increase your knowledge base and meet new people that share your love for the sport.
If you are interested in volunteering to start accumulating 10 hours of service towards your 2024 Digital Membership, visit EventingVolunteers.com for a full listing of participating events. To learn more about the range of membership opportunities available through the USEA, please visit useventing.com/membership or contact Jennifer Hardwick, Senior Director of Membership Services, at [email protected].
About the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our sport, the unsung heroes, and the people who make it possible to keep the sport alive. In efforts to recognize the dedication, commitment, and hard work that volunteers put into eventing, USEA formed the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) in 2015. In 2017, an online management portal was designed for volunteers, organizers, and volunteer coordinators at EventingVolunteers.com (available as an app for iOS and Android).
Volunteer incentives include national and area recognition, year-end awards with ribbons, cash prizes, and trophies, a top ten USEA Volunteer leaderboard, and a Volunteer of the Year award which is given to the volunteer who tops the leaderboard by accumulating the most volunteer hours over the USEA competition year. Click here to learn more about the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program.
About the United States Eventing Association
The USEA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization committed to providing eventing enthusiasts with a competitive level suited to their individual skills. By assisting and educating competitors, event organizers, and officials; maintaining responsible safety standards; and registering qualified competitions and clinics, the USEA offers a strong and continuous training opportunity for an ever-expanding field of world-class competitors. Just as importantly, the USEA provides a means for all riders, regardless of age or ability, to experience the thrill of eventing. To learn more, visit www.useventing.com.
At the August USEA Board of Governors meeting, a proposition was brought forth to officially recognize what is commonly referred to as “Starter level” as a USEA division. For many years now, Starter level has been offered as a test at USEA approved events. The decision to recognize the level officially would allow those competing in Starter level divisions to receive recognition on the USEA Leaderboards and to compete at the Starter level at the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) in the future. The motion was approved to recognize this level, and the USEA staff have been hard at work preparing all of the rules, guidelines, and standards that will go along with this level’s recognition for the 2024 season.
Karma is developing into one of the fastest and most-reliable cross-country horses in the West. The 9-year-old bay Oldenburg mare and James Alliston won their third-straight blue ribbon together at either the four-star or Advanced level in the CCI4*-S at the Twin Rivers Fall International in Paso Robles, California, with the only double-clear cross-country round on Saturday.
Most couples share a kiss and part ways at 8:00 a.m. as they head off to their own work days, but eventing power couple James and Helen Alliston do it all together. We gave our USEA members the opportunity to submit their questions for this West Coast-based couple, and USEA Podcast host Nicole Brown gets them to share all on many topics: eventing in the U.S. versus the U.K., who is the most competitive of the two, dealing with warmer temperatures, why James likes to drive illegally slow, and so much more!
The Plantation Field International CCI4*-S concluded today with the cross-country phase, and the final standings were nearly a matter of “last one standing.” As Tropical Storm Ophelia brought a torrential downpour to the area, a number of riders decided to opt out: of 39 competitors, only six completed, and 17 withdrew before the start of cross-country.