Racking Horse Breeders’ Association of America

Unapproved Board Minutes

Winter Meetings ~ February 15, 2008

 

Call to Order at 12:03 pm by President Ed Hiers.

 

President Hiers introduced Donna Kaufmann as Secretary for the RHBAA.

 

Roll Call: Present was Ed Hiers, Eddie Barrow, Tonya Beaver, Howard Bellamy, Kelly France, Darlene Harris, Ronnie Hooker, Barbara Johnston, Judy Jones, Fred McRoy, Jim Morris, Tim Toler, Sammie Tyra, Wilburn Williams and Jerome Zahnd.  Keith Ailshie was sick and Larry Street was absent because of bad weather.

 

Approval of Meeting’s Minutes

September 28 2007 Minutes; Darlene Harris moved to approve and Jim Morris 2nd motion.  Motion passed.

January 31, 2008 Conference Call: Darlene asked that Fred McRoy’s name be corrected.  Jerome Zahnd move to approve minutes and Ronnie Hooker 2nd the motion.  Motion passed.

 

President Ed Hiers report: President Hiers stated 2007 was a tough year and it was over. He thanked everyone for working hard in 2007 to pull everything together.  He said RHBAA had lost a lot of members, family members and members who were seriously hurt plus the lost of WGC horses. He remarked he had never seen a year like we had experienced with so many negatives, but at the same time had so many positive things going on.  He asked committee chairpersons to go to their meetings and establish goals for 2008.  He told the chairpersons their committees’ should strive to set goals in 2008 that were going to benefit and improve the RHBAA and work together to reach them.

 

Treasurer Darlene Harris Report:  Ms. Harris discussed the December P&L. RHBAA made net profit of $54,601 in 2007, without the sell of the land, gain $77,347 on sell of property, net profit $131,948 (taxable). Discussed taxes to be paid for 2007 on March 15, 2008; Federal $36,213 and State $7,000.  Discussion followed as to why the sell of the land could not be amended to the 2005 taxes. It was suggested to go to a tax lawyer to discuss the best way to file with the land sale.  When the lawsuit was settled we received $19,000 that was set aside to pay these taxes. Our current balance in checkbook is $25,000. The Board discussed refinancing the mortgage to lower the payment to have a better cash flow as we are paying mostly principle now and little interest. This would give us money to make improvements to the building and grounds.  There was a discussion whether to add tax money due to the loan.  Barbara Johnston asked how long it would take to refinance and Judy Jones felt it would not take long.  Judy called the bank and they are waiting on us to let them know if we want to add the taxes money due. Darlene talked about all our bills are paid off. Don Stisher talked about events and improvements that needed to be made to keep these events here yearly.  He told the Board the quarter horse people needing a warm up area. It was discussed getting prices and finding out what was submitted years ago.  He was asked what he thought the most urgent repairs needed.  Barns and new toilets were discussed and Don was to get prices and get with Jim Morris (Personal & Property Chairperson).  There was a discussion regarding the field lines and the smell by concession stand.  Jerome told how previous repairs were made and that was now causing the problems.  Don and Jim are to meet with Personal & Property committee and discuss immediate repairs needed.  Fred McRoy made a motion to approve Treasurer’s report, Eddie Barrow 2nd and the motion passed.

 

Committee Report’s

PERSONNEL & PROPERTY COMMITTEE: Jim Morris

Committee members: Jim Roberts, Shane Dumas, Fred McRoy, Darlene Harris, and Judy Jones. Sammie Tyra made a motion to approve the committee members, 2nd by Tonya Beaver. Motion passed.

  Don is to get prices for repairs and warm up area by the end of next week.  Jim went over the events that the arena has already booked for 2008.  We had 25 events in 2007 and now have 34 booked for 2008.  He discussed the renewal of barn contracts to take place after the general membership meeting on Saturday and talked about people not paying for their whole barn at World Celebration.  The rule is you don’t have to pay for your whole barn at Spring Celebration but do at World Celebration. 

MEMBERSHIP & PROMOTIONS: Sammie Tyra

  Committee members: Judy Jones, Don Stisher, Tonya Parsons-Beavers, Brian Perkins, Nell Brown, Chris Walker. Tim Toler made a motion to approve the committee members, 2nd by Judy Jones. Motion passed.

Sammie Tyra asked if his committee needed approval to give away box seats, etc, to promote the RHBAA.  It was discussed and it was okay within limits.  Fred McRoy made a motion to allow the Membership and Promotion committee to use giveaways to promote the RHBAA.  2nd by Tim Toler. Motion passed

HORSE SHOW COMMITTEE: Judy Jones

Committee members: Kelly France (Board Rep), Carolyn Blaylock, Dewey Hannon, Nicole Rehkemper, Jamie Lawrence, Nell Brown, Dorothy Jones, Ross Campbell, Don Stisher, Donna Kaufmann, Linda Townsend. Tim Toler made a motion to approve the committee members, 2nd by Ronnie Hooker. Motion Passed.

  The Committee had a meeting and went over classes for Spring Celebration.  Need to pick at General Membership meeting 3 Judges and an alternate for Spring Celebration. Have a good variety of people on the show committee who are excited about the upcoming show season.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Kelly France

Committee members:; Ronnie Hooker (Board Rep), Keith Ailshie, Andy Roberts, Andrea Brewer, Open to Add Members. Judy Jones made a motion to approve the committee members, 2nd by Eddie Barrow. Motion Passed.

  Fred McRoy asked that the negative stuff be taken off the web site. Ed asked that this committee be open to any member that wants to be on it.  There was a discussion about being positive and bringing concerns from members back to the board.

JUDGES COMMITTEE: Howard Bellamy

Committee members: Ronnie Hooker (Board Rep), Jamie Lawrence, Mike Etheredge, Jerry Goodman,  Danny Musick. Tim Toler made a motion to approve the committee members, 2nd by Eddie Barrow. Motion passed.

  Kelly France stated that 2 people have been granted their Judges license back in 2007.  She told how they had to go back and pay past dues, membership dues and judges fees.  Judy Jones brought up how some judges had lost their license and have not been given this chance to renew.  It was brought up how hard it is for apprentice judges to find shows to do their apprenticeship.  It was discussed how times have changed since the rulebook was written and that maybe the Judges Committee needed to look at their rules and make changes. 

TRAIL, FIELD & PLEASURE: Darlene Harris

Committee members: Tonya Parsons-Beavers (Board Rep), Michelle Dalton, Jimmy Lacy, Jim Morris, Debbie Morris, Randy Siniard. Tim Toler made a motion to approve the committee members, 2nd by Fred McRoy. Motion passed.

  Darlene brought up how old and broken down the obstacle equipment was.  She had a volunteer who would build the equipment for the cost of the building materials.  Jim made a motion for $500 for materials to build the obstacle equipment.  2nd by Kelly France. Motion passed.

BREEDERS’ COMMITTEE: Ronnie Hooker

Committee members: Keith Ailshie (Board Rep), Gerald Campbell, Paula Sensing, Billy Stricklend. Darlene Harris made a motion to approve the committee members, 2nd by Jim Morris. Motion passed.

  We have the RHBAA data base from Shelterwood Lab.  It was discussed that it is not worth getting blood samples from Shelterwood with all the problems TWHBA has had with what the received from them.  We will work with anyone in the next year that needs to change over a horse to DNA on a one-on-one basis.  Ronnie stated he is working on a letter to TWHBA so that the RHBAA can use their database with KY lab.

RULES ENFORCEMENT: Eddie Barrow

Committee members: Keith Ailshie (Board Rep), Ed Hiers, Danny Musick, Jamie Lawrence, Gerald Campbell. Ronnie Hooker made a motion to approve the committee members, 2nd by Tonya Beaver. Motion passed.

  The committee is working on updating the Rule Book and will have it printed by Spring Celebration.  Ed Hiers wants any rule change to be mailed out within 30 days of a change to all members.  It will be posted on the website within 2 days of any change. 

EXHIBITOR STATUS COMMITTEE: Barbara Johnston

Committee members: Sammie Tyra (Board Rep), Barbara Agnich, Lance Meisenheimer, Debbie Morris, Betsy Thompson. Jim Morris made a motion to approve the committee members, 2nd by Eddie Barrow. Motion passed.

  Barbara is working with her committee on a way to ensure everyone showing at the Spring and World Celebration has an Exhibitor Status Card.

DQP COMMITTEE: Keith Ailshie

Committee members: Kelly France (Board Rep), Kenny Ailshie, Jerry Thacker, Anthony Sauceman.  Howard Bellamy made a motion to approve the committee members, 2nd by Eddie Howard. Motion passed.

  It was discussed if fees were going up to $10 per horse.  Keith Ailshie will be asked to check into this and report back.  Someone heard that the government was working East Tennessee this year.

 

Old Business

Eligibility Protocol to Judge Spring/Fall Celebration: Barbara Johnston, Chairperson, Conley Tyra, Jim Roberts, Joe Dan Carter

1.            Judge shall not be eligible if he/she has judged the Fall Celebration within 2 of the last 5 years.

2.            One judge must have never judged the Celebration before. This would guarantee a constant flow of “new blood” into the system.

3.            Use the “Judge Olympic System”,i.e. dropping the high and low ties.  This does not stop unfair judging, but it does dilute the outcome.  It also takes care of the judge that has erroneously omitted a back number from his judges’ card.  These 5 judges would all be judging 100% of the time.

4.            An R.H.B.A.A. Board Member or any member of the Judges Committee or Rules Enforcement Committee is ineligible to judge the Fall Celebration.

5.            The Chairman of the Show Committee, Chairman of the Rules Enforcement Committee and Chairman of the Judges Committee will present a list of recommended judges, but the membership would be free to vote for anyone that meets the above requirements. The groups that are currently suggesting judges seem to be selecting the same people every year, and are not putting enough thought into their suggestions in order to put a judges group together that would be more pleasing to the general populace of the Racking Horse community. Judges need to be selected from different geographic areas with a balance of highly experienced judges and those who might have a little less experience.

6.            Revision of the Judges Contract signed before Fall Celebration will include a clause authorizing R.H.B.A.A to administer a polygraph or lie detector to the Judges after the Celebration.  OR All judges must sign a release prior to the 2008 Celebration acknowledging their consent to be examined by a polygraph test following the Celebration.

7.           An outside accounting firm will be employed to count the votes for the Fall Celebration Judges. OR if a judges name is submitted for eligibility to judge the Fall Celebration this judge would not be permitted to Chair the Election Committee or serve on the committee. Furthermore it would be more appropriate if they were not present for the counting.

Discussion followed on this proposal. Ed Hiers asked the committee to reword the proposal into a motion to be present to the Board at the Spring Celebration Board meeting.

 

New Business

Motion 1:

Ed Hiers made a motion to add at the end of 3.3:

No employee of the RHBAA shall be elected as a director of the RHBAA.

2nd by Fred McRoy.  Roll call vote was taken and motion passed unanimously.

 

Motion 2

Ed Hiers made a motion to add to the end of 3.7

Any director wishing to become an employee of the RHBAA must resign their director position first.

2nd by Tonya Beaver. Roll call vote was taken and motion passed unanimously.

 

Elected the 3 judges from the Board for Spring Celebration: Keith Ailshie, Lance Meisenheimer, Kelly France and Ronnie Hooker.

 

Ed Hiers appointed Jim Morris, Fred McRoy and Darlene Harris to count judges vote at the general membership meeting.

 

Motion to Adjourn was made by Wilburn Williams, 2nd Kelly France at 4:10 P.M.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Donna Kaufmann