General Membership Meeting
February 18, 2006
10:30 AM

Vice President Jake Jacobs called the meeting to order.  Wilburn Williams opened with prayer. Jacobs had almost lost his voice and asked Jim Morris to fill in for him when he became unable to speak.  Jacobs stated that we have a very aggressive board with new members and old members.  In our Board meeting today we heard the word unity. We want unity in the Board of Directors and in the Membership, and unity between the Board and the Membership.  If we do not unify we will cease to exist.  We need to participate with the committees.

Jacobs introduced Tim Philpot and that he wanted to speak to the membership.  Philpot filed the motion that was to be voted on today. With his cooperation and the Board of Directors an agreement has been made to postpone voting on Philpot's motion and to do a new accurate proxy vote.

Tim Philpot stated he did meet with the board and discussed his motion.  He stated the board and many in the membership feel the proxy was not handled properly.  We need to support the Board and work with them.  The board thought it was better to vote another proxy and postpone the vote.  He agrees with the Board..   We are like a family. I feel this Board has more unity than I have seen in a long time. Jacobs stated that the Board did not endorse for or against the motion, but more against the way it was handled.  Discussion continued regarding the proxy vote. Motion postponed and proxy vote to be accomplished at a later date.

Jake Jacobs asked if there was any old business. There was none. Donna Kaufmann the new registration secretary was introduced.  Jacobs said he would like to introduce the Chairmen of the committees. 

Treasurer
Treasurer Darlene Harris gave the Treasurer's report. She stated that we had made it through last year, but we do have a problem with cash flow. She stated we needed to work together and try to cut expenses without cutting quality.  We need to use more volunteers. In the office we need volunteers and volunteers for positions that were paid positions last year. Unity is important for our association. We need to try to bring members back who have left.   Jim Court asked if we were current with the mortgage payment.  Ms. Harris stated we were current.  She said we had outstanding bills and not necessarily behind - meeting our payments depleted our cash flow.  Any help would be appreciated, camper dues, etc.  June and July are slow months, little stuff helps.

ADVISORY Committee 
Chairman Howard Bellamy. He asked for the members to participate with his committee.  He told the membership if they bring it to the committee, the committee  will discuss it and bring to the Board.  We need more participation and input. 

BREEDERS' Committee
Chairman  Ronnie Hooker had talked with Elane Berry and a new committee will be selected soon.  Elane has the history of being on the Breeders' Committee.  Any input from membership will be welcome, just let us know.

HORSE SHOW Committee
Chairman  Barbara Johnston  stated this was a new position for her on the Board and feels it is a huge undertaking that requires time and money.  This Board is unified.  Each board member has committed $100.00 to sponsor the championship class.  I will be asking for volunteers to help.  She also stated that the committee was going to try to get volunteers to do jobs  and that had been paid positions or see if the paid people would do the job for a small percentage.

Exhibitors Status Committee 
Chairman Jim Morris.  We need to get the  fees regarding the status cards.   

At this time Jim Morris took over the meeting due to Mr. Jacobs losing his voice.

JUDGES Committee 
Chairman Larry Street stated we will be getting members for his committee who are devoted to seeing that judges comply with the rule book. If you have any questions or problems please contact us.

MEMBERSHIP AND PROMOTIONS Committee 
Chairman Tim Toler. The committee members are Nell Brown, Danny Musick, Lanette Toler, Marilyn Meisenheimer, Donna Stone and Wilburn Williams.  We have a lot of good ideas.  We are discussing a new member packet. This would be put together and the office would only have to put it in the mail. We will also be putting out flyers in the area for the Celebrations.  We have no money in the budget at this time.  If you have any ideas let us know.

Jim Morris introduced Nell Brown, who does the RHBAA website.  Mrs. Brown said that she was in the process of redesigning the website.  Hopefully a draft  would be done by Spring Celebration for the Board to get a preview.  She also stated that she will be trying to set up a wireless connection for the spring celebration so that results from the classes can be put on the internet as the show progresses.

TRAIL/PLEASURE Committee 
Chairman Jimmy Lacey.   At this time we are short of funds.  We will be working with the Pleasure and Amateur Associations.

RULES ENFORCEMENT Committee 
Chairman  Eddie Barrow.  The committee members are Ed Hiers from the Amateur Association, Lesley Blaylock from the Pleasure Association, Paula Sensing from the Trail Association and Keith Ailshie from the Trainers' Association We will be working on the rule book, getting some previous heads of this committee and using their knowledge and understanding.  Jim Court said he was just asking about the fact that Mr. Barrow would have two votes since he was also president of the Trainers' Association.  Mr. Barrow stated that situation would be solved.

Jim Morris asked the membership fill out their selection for judges for the Spring Celebration.

DQP Committee
Chairman Keith Ailshie.  Mr. Morris stated that Mr. Ailshie was not present, but that he had met with Lonnie Messick. He said Mr. Ailshie would keep everyone updated.  Eddie Barrow also met with Lonnie Messick.  Eddie Barrow said the 2006 Procedures would be mailed. When Lonnie Messick briefed some of the board members Vice President Jake Jacobs asked Mr. Messick about the particulars for a contract from RHBAA with NHSC.  Jacobs further requested that the contract would be like or similar to the previous one that RHBAA had with NHSC.  Mr. Messick replied that he would prepare a proposal  from NHSC  to RHBAA and present the document at the Spring Celebration.

Mr. Morris introduced the office staff.  Donna Kaufmann  works in the office as the Exhibitor Status and Registration secretary. He asked that she tell a little about herself.  She asked that the members be patient..  There was a lot of work to be done. The information needed from the older files will take a while.  Mr. Morris introduced Kim Johnson.  Kim is the RHBAA bookkeeper.  She jokingly stated that most people know her as "Hazel". 

Jerome Zahnd gave a report of events other than RHBAA that were held at the Arena.  The tract meet brought in $18,000. A congressman kicked off his campaign at the Arena and Vice President Dick Cheney attended the event.  We lost some of the horse shows because they cannot afford the stalls going up.  We have gone up on campers and stalls. It takes a lot of money to run the arena and we need funds.  Let us know if you can help.

Jim Morris stated the ballots were being passed out to the membership to select the judges for the Spring Celebration.  The names on the ballot were Kelly France, Andy Roberts and Danny Odum, please vote for one.  Mary Alice Bohannon and Billy Strickland got the top votes.

PERSONNEL AND PROPERTY COMMITTEE
Jim Roberts will address the membership for Judy Jones.
Financial Statement:

He stated we need cash,  sell some assets  or  borrow money.  Discussion followed. It would be worse if someone bought the asset.  It was worth it when it was bought. In his opinion it is the best thing.  What do we have to lose?  Registry is tied to the note.  We could lose the building, land, and the registry.   Then the registry could be sold.  Board inherited the situation when the organization split. We need to do something. It is bad that the registry is tied to the note, we can lose the registry. Question was asked if we could we sell 15/20 acres and the building would it help.  Darlene Harris said No.  We look at it as a horse facility.

The final draw was taken for the Spring Celebration judges. Elizabeth Laney drew four names.  The Celebration judges are Ed Hiers, Mike Etheridge and Terry Stone.  The Alternate is Kelly France.

Jim Morris called on Wilburn Williams for information for regarding the Chamber.   Mr. Williams said we can do what we want to do, anything we set our minds to do.  We can either look at it as a glass half empty or half full. He and Jerome Zahnd sell advertisements.  Now we are beginning to get a positive reaction from the people of Decatur.  The Fish Fry is paid for the Spring Celebration.  The Mayor has agreed to sit down and discuss how to help us.  There is a possibility of corporate sponsors.  We need to tell the people.  This is good for families.  He believes if we wrote to every club association in Alabama it would help.  If we just got 6 horses that had never been.  Welcome them back.  Jim Court asked if there was a chance we could get money from the state. Mr. Williams said he thought we could.  There is some potential for some grant money.  We need some shows from different states.  Jamie Lawrence was recognized to speak. Mr. Lawrence said he knew how trainers' and owners feel.  They came to the meeting today to vote on chains. He said we need the revenue and need to consider something from outside not within.  The trainers and owners can only do so much.  He wanted to know why did we wait so long and not tell them sooner that the vote would not be held today. We need to do what the people want and try new things.  Put in own division.  We need to change now. People don't want to sponsor because of the conflict.

As the discussion continued,  Jim Morris stated again that the proxy was invalid. Ed Hiers reiterated that the proxy vote was invalid.  Mr. Lawrence said the membership had the opportunity to come to the meetings and vote.  Other members stated that everyone had come to the meeting to vote.  They need to know if chains will be in the Spring Celebration and not wait to let them know two weeks before.  Tim Toler spoke and explained what happened regarding the proxy.  It was not handled properly. Some members heard no proxy and others were told yes on the proxy vote and they would vote at the meeting. Toler stated we could not change what happened.  We will disallow these proxies not Mr. Philpot's motion.  We inherited this situation.

Robert Dabbs said we had voted to put chain classes in.  He made a motion that it be put on hold for one year and leave it like it is.  The motion was seconded.  Ed Hiers spoke that this could not be done.  We cannot make a motion today and vote on it today.  We must abide by the  45 day rule. Lanette Toler said she personally felt the membership should give this Board the benefit of the doubt.  Chains are in unless they are voted on.  Howard Bellamy stated that the Board wanted to be fair to all the membership.

After much discussion, it was decided that the chain issue will not be voted on today.  Chains had been voted in already and they would be in the Spring Celebration. 

Discussion was brought up about a contract to sell some of the property .  Wilburn Williams said James Morrison made the agreement and it would be looked into.  

Danny Odum made a motion to adjourn.  It was seconded by Randy Davisson.