As of May 13, 2019, a total of 14,461 volunteer hours have already been recorded for 2019. Only five months into the year and over 1,000 volunteers and 110 events have used EventingVolunteers.com. As the 2019 winter and spring season reaches an end, the volunteer leaderboards have several familiar names on top. However, with the summer and fall season yet to happen, it’s anyone’s game for who will take home the 2019 Volunteer of the Year award.
She once topped the 2018 national volunteer leaderboard and now she’s currently on top of the 2019 national volunteer leaderboard, Vicki Reynolds from North Carolina has a total of 159 hours and 40 minutes for 2019. Right behind her is Cindy Jezerski from Florida with 146 hours and 50 minutes. Rounding out the top three is Diane Bird from South Carolina with 145 hours and 25 minutes.
Since the addition of the new USEA VIP All-Time Leaderboard on EventingVolunteers.com, another known name is sitting number one – Michael Smallwood, who was the 2017 Volunteer of the Year. Since December 2016, Smallwood has accumulated a total of 553 hours and 45 minutes. The top five on the USEA VIP All Time leaderboard are as follows: Michael Smallwood [553:45], Vicki Reynolds [490:05], Diane Bird [462:32], Art Bird [409:13], and Paige Ervin [362:25].
Several factors can influence the number of hours each volunteer has, factors including the frequency of events in each area, geography and the ease of travel, and how many events are using EventingVolunteers.com. Whether it’s 100 volunteer hours or 10, every top volunteer from each area deserves recognition for their hard work. Below are the current 2019 top three volunteers from each area.
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Area X:
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 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, trophies, a top ten USEA Volunteer leaderboard, and a Volunteer of the Year award which is given to the volunteer who accumulates the most volunteer hours over the USEA competition year. Click here to learn more about the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program.
The USEA would like to thank Sunsprite Warmbloods for sponsoring the Volunteer Incentive Program.
Entries are strong leading up to the exciting return of the MARS Bromont CCI that is taking place June 8-12 in rural Bromont, Quebec. Bromont is a popular destination for North American competitors who are eager to return to this 1976 Olympic Games venue just 90 minutes from Burlington, Vermont.
Five-star season is well underway and four U.S.-based pairs have turned their focus toward the CCI5*-L at the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials which takes place June 16-19 in Salzhausen, Germany. We caught up with each rider to get their thoughts on their decision to make the trek overseas and what they hope their horses glean from the experience.
Adequan® returns as The Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA and Title Sponsor of the $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final for 2022.
The 2022 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships will take place on May 21-22 at Chattahoochee Hills H.T. in Fairburn, Georgia, and 92 championship competitors will be making the trip to Georgia to compete. Will a new Champion emerge this year or will the University of Kentucky defend its Championship title?