IPHA GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
The General Meeting was held at Radisson Hotel in Peoria, Il on January 20, 2007.
Meeting was called to order by President Steve Pfaff, at 1:30 pm. He welcomed all in attendance at the banquet and thanked them for coming.
The first motion on the floor was made by Lorna Wyrick, before any other business could be conducted, stating that any cell phone that went off during the meeting would be an automatic $10 donation to the Youth Fund. Everyone got a laugh out of it, but the Ayes took it and the motion was passed.
President Pfaff called for the minutes to be read from the last meeting, it was stated that they were published and Steve waived the reading.
Steve then introduced the new officers for the 2007 year. Himself as President, Jerry Wyrick as Vice President, Skip Owen as Treasurer and Sherri Davis as Secretary. He thanked them for taking on this endeavor for the coming year.
The membership report was read by Steve with the following: We have five types of memberships, Family, Farm, Single, Youth and Lifetime. In the Family we have 139 members, Lifetime 2, Single 139, Farm 16 and Youth 36. in totals we have 450 adults and 168 youth. In 2005 we had 303 memberships, which means that we have grown 10% over the last year. We have members all around the US and Canada too. The following states have IPHA members: Florida, Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana.
Steve then gave the appointed show managers report. They are as follows:
Lorna Wyrick: Gordyville April 21
Doug Nichols: Sterling 1 April 28
Pat Ross: Sterling 2 June 9
Ray Heinke: Sterling 3 June 23
Mike Sheppard: DuQuoin July 21-22
Steve Pfaff: Peoria 1 August 4
Doyle Skinner: Peoria 2 August 18
Skip Owen: Gordyville September 29-30
Tricia Angell: Bellvedere October 6
Steve thanked them all for taking this positions and thanked all the past show managers as well. He thanked all those who worked the shows last year from the office to the ringmaster and gate persons, and all the volunteers throughout the year.
Steve then read the Futurity report from the show last season. We had 1000 class entries, with 4311 entries and 1185 horses registered. He stated that it was another successful year.
Steve then called up Jana Leonard to give the Treasurer’s report for last year. Jana had handed out printed statements for everyone to follow along as she highlighted the year for the club. Jana could not talk long or loud as her voice was going. She told what the club and shows made, what the final tally was after all expenses were paid. IPHA had another great year. This was Jana’s last year as Treasurer after three years of service. Everyone applauded her for a job well done. Motion to accept the Treasurer’s report by Sharon Skinner, second by Liz Newingham, motion was passed.
We have two members up for reelection on the National Board of Directors this year, with one seat coming open. They are: Liz Newingham, (open seat), Cheryl Newman and Brian Zimmerman. Liz’s position is open because Liz is retiring this year after many years of service. Nominations were opened to the floor by the President: nominated for the seats were: Lorna Wyrick by Liz Newingham, Brian Zimmerman by Jana Leonard and Cheryl Newman by Skip Owen. Motion to close the nominations presented by Doug Nichols, second by Doyle Skinner. Motion was passed.
The area director’s reports were given the floor at this time by the President:
Old Business: none
New Business:
Board of Directors report to the general membership: The board has recommended that the following items be put to their awareness and vote.
That Sherri Davis and Co. be awarded the office management position for the two judge shows, and the POR’s be given to the show managers to hire done with electronic solutions in the next few months. Skip Owen took the floor and explained what all of that meant to the exhibitors and the club, and how it would work the shows. Motion was stated to accept by Doyle Skinner, second by Lorna Wyrick. Motion was passed.
The next floor discussion and recommendation from the board was on the electronic solution for the club as a whole. The software and computer information made at the Board of Directors meeting that morning. Steve reported that being the board is spending the members money, they needed to understand what all was going on and what that incurred. The officers then explained the Electronic Solution Committee was set up and included: Jerry Wyrick, Pete Crossman, Doyle Skinner, Ray Heinke and Sherri Davis. This committee will get together in the near future and figure out just what the club needs in software, computers and printers to take the shows up to being all done electronically. This would all be done by a budget also set by the board upon approval of the general membership. It was explained that the club has four laptops, but only two will uphold to what has to be done at the shows. Doyle Skinner added, that this needs to be done to bring us into the age of electronics and to simplify the show process. Motion to accept by Rhonda Baum, second by Paula Crossman. Motion was passed.
Skip then added that Pete Crossman has done a lot for all of us over the years as Show Secretary with keeping all the points straight and entered, keeping up the website and running smoothly, and all the behind the scenes at the shows and we all do appreciate all that he has done. Pete was applauded by all.
Steve them brought up the announcers bid for position by Rachel Baum. It was stated that Rachel kept the shows progression moving all the time and cut hours off of the show lengths. She kept things in line and kept the exhibitors informed. The way she announced was a job well done. Motion to accept her bid by John Keech, second by Sharon Skinner. Motion was passed.
The last recommendation from the board to the general members was for the Mark Harold and JR Reicherts show on May 19-20 of this year. It would be a two day show, with one day being an event day and the second day being a two judge show. The board recommended to deny the proposal to become a point show simply because the deadline to set up shows for us is January 1, they did not receive this until January 12. If they would start bending the rules for this show, what is to say where that would end up. The board recommends that next year the show be accepted if in on time for a point show and have them resubmit for the 2008 show season. Motion given to accept the board’s decision by Steve Morse, second by Lorna Wyrick. Motion was passed.
President Pfaff then gave the floor to Doug Nichols to present the trail ride to everyone for May 19-20, 2007. It was discussed with topics as meals, reservations, where to be held, how it would help the membership for the club with those who do not show or interested in showing but have paints and want to become a member. Discussion on the facility, it should have a pavilion of some sort so everyone could get together, a nice shower stall and electric hook ups for the RV’s, or whatever the people decided to stay in and need electricity. Doug said that he is open to suggestions as to where to hold the ride and would like some volunteers to help on all levels and maybe even cook! Doyle Skinner offered his services for the ride. John Keech added that this would be great for the clubs members and even in getting new members that are on the ride and that it needs to be well advertised. Lorna Wyrick added that the club goes up for the Gold Star Award every year and adding this to the list of things done by the club could boost the clubs ranking up. Discussion went on with the question of insurance coverage on a group ride, or is it better to go as an organizational ride. John Keech motioned that the ride should have a budget set for them and spend this budget on advertising, food and insurance, Brian Zimmerman second. Motion was passed.
Steve then recognized Brian Zimmerman from the National Board of Directors, giving him the floor to speak on the National Convention. Brian gave the report on the changes in the rules and regulations of the convention and how the total of APHA overall has dropped since 2002. Everyone is working together to try and get the membership back on track and back up. Brian was asked to become the Vice President of the board at the convention, he accepted.
Steve then gave the report on Central States Horseman for the club. Some discussion on going to other magazines and papers came up, as well as maybe getting into more that just one. Steve stated that no other could give the rates that Central States does at this time. Steve Morse motioned to accept the report, Doyle Skinner second. Motion was passed.
Steve recognized Cheryl Newman to give her report on the Horse Fair for this year. The fair is being held March 2-4 at the fairgrounds in Springfield, Il. The IPHA booth will be set in the same place as last year, and Cheryl stated that they always bring in at least twenty new members at the fair and are hoping for more this year. This also coincides with the renewals that are done there too. She gave the approximate cost of the fair for this year to the members for their approval, but stated that the total she has does not include the extra passes they get every year and the electricity for them. Discussion took up with Ray Heinke that they need a few more extra passes this year, and asked the membership to allow them up to ten. (Six passes come with the package.) Cheryl stated that they would also be selling the youth items again, as that was a large draw to the sales from last year. Ray then made the motion to let them buy the extra passes and pay for the electricity. Doyle Skinner second, motion was passed.
Steve then went to the committee reports. First on the floor was Pat Ross with the Awards report. The awards budget changed for this year because of the following: for the 2007 show season, the club dropped four classes and picked up ten new ones, which left us with six new classes. For the new classes it did raise the budget up somewhat. Pat proposed that all classes except halter where the grand or reserve has less than twenty-five points, a trophy will be awarded instead of the original choice awards that they have now. This would reduce the budget somewhat. Discussion started up immediately with Rhonda Baum stating that this would go against the people or kids that show in just certain classes and not the rest of the show. It was not fair to them to be penalized for not showing in rest of the classes, and they should have the same opportunity of choice like all the rest. Another discussion came on the heels of that one with the prices of the awards and how this change would affect that. Pat stated that the difference in the total would not be affected for the weekend awards and the POR’s as well. The discussion ended and Brian Zimmerman made the motion to vote on whether or not to accept the change. This motion was amended by John Keech by his stating that if the prices were not going to change, then we should leave the awards system as it is, it was second by Sharon Skinner. Motion was passed.
Steve then gave the floor to Steve Morse on the Directory report. (Steve was filling in for wife Connie who was delayed) Steve stated that the approximate number of ads sold in 2006 were totaled higher than the year before and leaving the directory fund with a profit for next year to begin on. The directory pulled in 37 advertisers this year, up from last year too and hoping for more this year. A discussion was started with a question on why the directories were not mailed out, and printing more that what we already were. Steve explained that it would be very costly to send a directory out to each member and that is why they are located at every show, meeting, horse fair and wherever the club may be. It was then asked by a member how the members got them that did not or could not attend these functions or options. Steve simply put, that if they cannot get to something, then they just don’t get one or they could ask someone to pick one up for them. Another question from the floor came across with the inserting the stallion auction into the directory and getting them out earlier so they would have them before the banquet in January. Steve told them that yes this could be done, but not with the pictures and all the descriptions and that it change everything from advertisers deadlines to the stallion auction deadlines as well. If it is decided that that is what everyone wants done, then it can be, but to remember that every deadline will change for next year. This will include the publishing dates; it will move it all up to approximately one month earlier. A motion from Sharon Skinner stated that the Futurity and Directory committee’s should get together to review this new deadline and possibly add the stallion auction as an index listing to the directory with the supplement here at the banquet. Second by Connie Alexander. Motion was passed.
Steve then read the show listing, the show managers and the judges for each show for the coming year. Jerry Wyrick also explained that all the judges were hired except for two shows and he would have them sealed in a couple of weeks. At this time, Steve introduced Ray Heinke as the Show Committee Chairperson. Jerry and Steve both stated to keep an eye on the website, the changes will always be posted there as soon as they happen. The website is: www.illinoispainthorse.com
Steve then gave the membership another important message: the November meeting held every fall is a very important meeting for everyone to attend. It was set on a Sunday so most everyone could be there. This is the meeting where everything happens for the following show season. The classes are changed, the show schedules are changed, we elect officers at that time and go over a lot of items that can affect us all as members. He asked that all attend if they wanted a voice in what happens to the club the following year. Connie Alexander asked if it would be possible to put a suggestion box at the office at the shows for those who cannot get to that meeting to have an input in what happens. Steve said that this was possible and we will see what we can put together for just that.
Jessie Bond then gave the Futurity Report.
As the meeting was winding down, a friend of one of own, Dayna Smart took the floor with the news that Dayna had just lost her lifetime companion. She said that Dayna had always supported the club and she felt that it would be nice if we showed her that same support now that she needed it the most, and she read a letter from Dayna to all of us. It was asked that everyone sign the card for Dayna and if you could, please give a donation to help her with all of these last expenses. Dayna could not attend the banquet this year for her award, as she is still having trouble coping with everything right now, but she would like to let everyone know that she thanks each and everyone of you for your thoughts and prayers for her at this time in her life. The basket and card were left at the front table throughout the night.
With that said, Doyle Skinner motioned to adjourn the meeting, second by Lorna Wyrick. Motion passed.
Steve adjourned the meeting at 3:05 pm.