VRPC Meeting News

Virginia Region: RS News from November 17 Regional Council Meeting

The minutes will also be distributed.

Forty important people, including the DC’s of all 13 clubs, were present at our Regional Council meeting. Eleven of those present are graduates of USPC or The British Pony Club. We are very fortunate to have help from these high caliber volunteers.

Calendar: (See attachment.)

Many calendar dates were set but some remain to be established and confirmed, so stay alert for updates. Clubs stepped up quickly to volunteer as organizers of rallies and clinics. Marion Miller will be passing the baton to Jackie Horn to coordinate rallies. She plans to have a February orientation meeting with rally organizers, especially for those new to the job.

Be sure to give a heads-up to your members of the EARLY rallies:

February 24: Quiz at Powhatan School, Millwood

April 5, 6: Dressage at Commonwealth Park, Culpeper

Another early date is the next Regional Council meeting:

March 1 in the morning; the site to be determined.

Election/appointments: Regional officers are changing considerably for 2008. The depth of qualified volunteers is great in the Virginia Region so we can give some faithful officers a break. Our nominating committee has been an active one resulting in this approved slate:

RS: Carol Noggle

VRS, Education: Katharine Hardy

VRS, Activities: Jackie Horn

Secretary: Mary Jane Skidmore

Treasurer: Dawn Bellinger

Appointees are Brian Smith as HMO and Pat Leins as Regional Instruction Coordinator (RIC)

Horse Management:

Brian Smith, returning HMO, offered to provide HM education, such as a “Rally Survival” program, to clubs so be sure to get in touch with him soon. He has established an HM Google list for Assistant Horse Management Judges that can be accessed from our VRPC website.

National tests in VRPC:

Our large set of National testings this year successfully boosted our number of members with National ratings. An HB rating, two B ratings, two C3 traditional ratings, two C3 and B Dressage Specialty ratings yielded 13 HBs in our first year with this rating, 6 new C3 or C+ members, 10 new Bs, one new HA, and one B Dressage. Our overall pass rate, according to USPC, was 75%. The pass rate for Bs was 71% -- unusual because it was higher than that for C3s – 43%. Several C3 candidates had horse health issues that meant last minute changes so this certainly affected the results.

We learned specifics about the Dressage specialty test, including the major sections on cavaletti, so that we can provide a much better preparation program for our members.

Funds:

With a very good financial status we can plan to add programs for all members, including Ds, that can provide educational and social opportunities. Jenn Mosle, of MOCPC, has again volunteered to develop D programs and Patrice Nelson, of NMPC, volunteered to have her club sponsor the first activity for Cs.

Membership:

Our membership as of November 2007 was analyzed to help in our planning. Our 368 members include 191 Ds and unrated, 157 C1 through C3s, and 17 H, B and HAs. Thus, we have only 17 more Ds than Cs and up. There are more members (73) rated at the C1 level than at any other rating. We have more 12 year old members (41) than any other age group, although 40 members at age 16 are very similar. Our clubs range in size from 9 to 54. How to retain these members is an ongoing quest with many factors to determine.

One recruitment example was the open house that RBPC had in October at Frying Pan Park. Tremendous preparation and publicity set a high standard. Dawn Bellinger reported that the Pony Club members were the vital part of the open house day.

Also, Massanutten PC had an exhibit at the Shenandoah County Fair, distributed flyers at schools, and had an interview with the local newspaper published with photos.

Awards

Virginia Region has prize-winners! Amy Brown, a C2 member of Rocky Run PC received third place in the USPC Foxhunting Writing contest; the Virginia Region was third in the Flash Teamwork award, and Dawn Bellinger’s letter about the generous help of Virginia members was published in the USPC News.

Accolades and awards for their contributions to Virginia Region successes were given to these retirees: Marion Miller, VRS; Mary Ann Turner, Secretary; Sian Simon, Treasurer; Wendy Schmitt, HMO; Teresa Harp, RIC.

Thank you to Katharine Hardy and her family for hosting several activities at Millwood Farm – the HB mock test, HB test, and especially the C3 and B Dressage Specialty tests in August.

Ideas:

Your ideas for “best practices” were an important and welcome part of this meeting. Some of these are listed here:

1. Could USPC provide a template for websites?

2. A D3/C1 overnight Regional camp was recommended.

3. Interclub ratings are helpful to cover costs of examiners.

4. Preps for National tests should not include C1s with the C3s and up.

5. Rally arrival time: Could there be a later morning start time?

i. Friday night arrival is hard because of school requirements;

ii. Letters to principal asking for exemption of attendance requirement can be effective. This varies by school system.

iii. Could the HM judging schedule be adjusted to help reduce rally time?

6. Are Multi-discipline rallies an alternative this year?

7. Consider having a fall rally, e.g. Games, Dressage to ease the spring schedule.

8. Establish a viable Regional Junior Board. Tricia Roberts will pursue this.

9. Schedule upper level un-mounted sessions (ESP) in the afternoon to avoid conflict with foxhunting hours on Saturdays.

10. Provide some Regional lessons for C2s and for C1s.

11. Have the regional officers’ Corporate Membership fees paid with Regional funds.

12. Encourage Tetrathlon with a TET FUN day: ODHPC and CFPC are interested.

Future thinking:

Remind future H and H-A candidates to register early for First-Aid courses. We insist that the course be hands-on.

We need to establish a selection criterion for the 2009 National Youth Congress.

Consider a reduction in the Virginia Region dues at the March 2008 meeting.

Camp Schedules (see attachment.)

Championships: We need to secure hotel reservations and recruit a hotel coordinator.

Reminder: There is a Land Conservation section on the rating Standards now – C2s need to know the acreage at the Eventing Rally site, and the name of the owner.

Thank you to Mary Ann Turner for coordinating with the Best Western for our meeting room and lunch. The lunch hour was an important time for informal sharing also!