Approved Meeting Minutes
Iowa Horse Council Meeting
Held at Prairie Meadows Backside Chapel Area
Altoona, Iowa
February 24, 2008
The February 24, 2008 meeting of the Iowa Horse Council (IHC) was called to order at 1:04 p.m. by President Paynter.
Board Members present:
Harold Ault Sally Blount Jessica Boor
Burton Butler Rebecca Cordray Mike Foster
Steve Goretska Dora Guffey Carolyn Hasbrook
Kim Houlding Bill Paynter John Vriezelaar
Associate Directors present:
Cindy Binning (IDMS)
Amy Warther (IQHA)
Members present:
Kellie Staker
Guests present:
Carol Bascom, 1505 D Ave, Vinton, IA 52349
Cathy Erickson, 30650 River Bye Lane, Adel, IA 50003; skeets2570@mac.com
Denise Goretska
Susan Ramsey, 360 NE Cherry Ave, Earlham, IA 50072; grullahorse@gmail.com
Twila Vriezelaar
Dec 2007 Minutes - The minutes of the previous board meting were read by Boor. It was noted by Blount that it is not the Olympic Games in Kentucky in 2010, rather the Alltech\World Equestrian Games at Kentucky Horse Park. Motioned to accept the minutes with the corrections by Vriezelaar; seconded by Goretska. All ayes, motion carried.
Treasurer’s report – The treasurer’s report was emailed to everyone and then a copy was passed around for everyone that did not receive the email or look over them could view it. To provide those who had not reviewed the treasurer’s report time to familiarize themselves with it, a decision to come back to accept the treasurer’s report was made. The BOD did not return to the treasurer’s report for acceptance before adjourning the meeting. Paynter did mention that Telleen was very pleased that the budget was done and completed early on.
Old Business:
*Guests from Iowa Equine Promotional Task Force were present to request an endorsement from the IHC to support the establishment of the Bill. Ramsey and Erickson presented to the BOD that the Bill to form the Iowa Equine Commission is now stuck in a “drawer” waiting to go forward. The Task Force’s ultimate goal is to get the commission formed and a new full-time position with IDALS created whose sole purpose would be to work for and provide an informational center for Iowa’s equine industry. This position would be searching and contacting organizations and associations to stay current on the equine events, legislature, etc. in Iowa. Discussion and question/answer was held. It was motioned by Guffey for the IHC to support the establishment of the Senate Bill File 2131; seconded by Goretska. Ault motioned to amend the motion to support the establishment of the Senate Bill File 2131 to a motion to have the IHC BOD vote to support the Senate Bill File 2131 or vote to be undecided on the Senate Bill File 2131; Blount seconded. Vote held on Ault’s motion was held: 2 in favor, 6 opposed, 1 abstained, & 2 non-voting directors. Vote held on Guffey’s motion was held: 7 in favor, 2 opposed, 1 abstained, & 2 non-voting directors. A letter will be drafted by Boor, sent to Paynter for approval, and then mailed to Chuck Schott of the Iowa Equine Promotional Task Force. It is recommended that if you would like to support the Bill contact your senator.
*Guffey provided the handouts: “High Traffic Area Pads for Horses” and “Pervious Concrete as a Flooring Material for Horse Handling Area”
*Warther questioned where the IHC stood on Equisure currently. Paynter reported that Equisure has not returned his phone calls.
*Reminder: Dates of the Horse Cruelty Investigation Short Course sponsored by the IHC is being held March 18 and 19th, 2008. This short course is being provided for law enforcement; a limited number of non-law enforcement will be accepted.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Administration:
Boor reported that the administration committee held a meeting prior to the board meeting and received good feedback from Cordray on the Annual Meeting and ideas for the committee was starting to be formed.
*Annual Meeting – Boor reported that 66 people attended the IHC Annual Meeting in January. Cordray has created a very good timeline for the next person to work from. Cordray would not like to head up the 2009 Annual Meeting and suggested that a non-board member be found to work on this. Boor requested that the BOD consider the proposed 2009 Annual Meeting date of January 18, 2009 (the third Sunday of the month); due to newsletter time constraints, other annual meetings, and membership knowing that board meetings are on the third Sunday of the month. It was motioned by Sally to accept the proposed 2009 Annual Meeting date of January 18, 2009; seconded by Houlding. All ayes, motion carried.
*Website – As per the request of the BOD at the December 2007 meeting, Boor presented the new web design and other bid costs for the IHC website. Boor noted that the IHC is to support the Iowa Equine Industry and that she was not successful finding any website design company in Iowa with equine ties. Therefore she suggested staying with the web design she has come up with; handouts were provided of her design for the BOD to review. Boor would continue to update the website a minimum of one time per week (when items are submitted) versus a professional company would only update the website one time per month. Boor mentioned also if we would want to allow payment of dues online, we would have to accept credit cards. Warther made the suggestion of checking into PayPal. It is currently unknown if we are able to do this with our non-profit status or the PayPal related fees that would be passed onto IHC from PayPal; Boor will check into this and report back. Discussion held. Suggestions to her design were made: include a website hit counter, Warther motioned to keep the website design with Boor; seconded by Vriezelaar. Houlding motioned that since it would cost $100/month to maintain/update the website through a professional company that the IHC pay Boor this amount. Boor noted that this was not necessary and that continued support of the IHC BOD be provided, as software upgrades and other expenses that could accrue and would rather have this than payment. Houlding withdrew her motion. REMINDER from Boor: If you would like to have something posted on the website you MUST have it submitted to her by Thursday at 10pm each week for it to be posted on Sunday by 10pm. If it is received after this deadline it will not be posted until the next weeks posting. If there is something that is an emergency or needs to be updated right away, you MUST notify her of this in your request and she will get it posted. As before Boor will be operating the website as professional as possible, so she will still not be spell checking, providing grammatical checking, and will not automatically assume that things should be posted/updated, this MUST be provided by the committee chairs. Please remember that no professional website company would do any of this.
*Membership – Boor reported that Holste is in need of more stickers and magnets, so if you have ideas please submit them to Boor or Holste. Warther advised that Vista print (www.vistaprint.com) will provide free (plus shipping) magnets, flyers, etc… with some restrictions. This information will be passed along to Holste and the administration committee. Boor also requested that if you have any ideas as to what should be included in a “New IHC Member Packet”, please let her know – the committee will start working on putting something together so they are pre-made.
Promotions:
*Awards and Scholarships – Paynter reported that Zukowski has received 3 applications for Awards and 3 applications for Scholarships; these are due March 1, 2008. Cordray advised that Zukowski has another person working with her on this committee. Cordray also encourage the sub-committee chairs within the Promotions committees to get members to work with them.
*Grants and Sponsorships – Guffey reported that there has been one application received in each category of Trail, Education, and Equine Welfare; both are due March 1, 2008. Guffey also mentioned that she was contacted by Brushy Creek, who is applying for another grant for playground equipment for their campground. For this grant, Brushy Creek must receive the most votes on a designated website. Guffey will be forwarding this website to Boor to have it distributed to the BOD and for e-new distribution.
*Publications – Cordray reported that the Promotions committee is developing a new IHC brochure (per the outcome of the Annual Meeting) to be used to bring in new members. Cordray has received quotes for 1000 flyers on glossy paper; it was suggested that Cordray check on additional number and costs and then report back to the BOD as 1000 flyers will not last very long at the various IHC events.
*Directory – Cordray reported that there is the March 1st deadline for Ads. Forms were passed out for ads; you can also see the website for the ad forms. Carol Eilers received price quotes for printing and needs to know how many directories IHC would like to have printed. It was suggested that 2500 directories be printed with 2000 used for Iowa Horse Fair distribution. Cordray also reported that Eilers has received at least 700 listings for this year’s directory. Cordray advised Eilers requested that the directory be wrapped up by December 2008 if she does the 2009 Iowa Equine Industry Directory.
*Newsletter - Cordray reported that the April newsletter will be sent out in March and this one will be the newsletter handed out at the horse fair. Spotlight articles and any other newsletter items are due March 1, 2008. If you have something to submit, send to Dorrine or Rebecca. Reminder: If you have something for the newsletter’s calendar of events, please send dates to Rebecca or Dorrine as far in advance as possible as the newsletter is only sent out quarterly.
Educational Issues:
Nothing to report.
Horse Fair:
Warther is looking for free advertising within Iowa with both Equine & Non-equine related businesses, such as: calendar of events and PSAs (public service announcements) on radio stations. Warther also mentioned that since IL cancelled their horse fair, it would be beneficial if IHC promoted the IA horse fair in western IL; Warther will work on finding free advertising opportunities in western IL. Paynter requested that his phone number also be provided for horse fair general information as well as Ault’s. Ault mentioned that there are now IL vendors contacting him in regards to being at the IHF since the IL horse fair was cancelled.
Trails:
Paynter reported that he is working with Crowley to head up the Trails Committee. Paynter will report back to the BOD when it is finalized. Paynter attended a Thursday evening meeting and also meant with the DNR director Rich Leopold in regards to the Rathbun trails. Leopold expressed interest in development of the Rathbun trails.
Foster reported that he is working with groups (such as: Friends of Elk Rock) to create a program for trail development working with private landowners, as well as state and federal organizations.
New Business:
Hasbrook presented some concerns in regards to the NAIS. As of right now, Iowa is continuing to have NAIS be voluntary; however IL has made this mandatory. The federal government has left this decision to make it mandatory up to each state. Concerns associated with the NAIS are: costs and the different readers available (currently there are three). Hasbrook would like different groups to talk to their legislative representatives. Cordray made the suggestion that Hasbrook work on getting a group together to move towards discussions with House Representatives and Senators. Discussion was held. There were no final decisions made by the IHC on these concerns of the NAIS.
The next meeting will be held Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at the Prairie Meadows Backside Kitchen, Altoona, Iowa.
Motion by Vriezelaar to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Goretska. All ayes, the meeting adjourned at 3:42 p.m.
Submitted by:
Jessica Boor
IHC Secretary
