Questions to the Directors

[Michael Maul <mmaul@flash.net>]

Hope,

In response to your questions - I will add my comments to Marybens with a ***
in front of them in your email.

Mike Maul
Director at Large

HI Mike: Thanks for posting the agenda for the Board meeting. First time in 
a decade or more. Just what is the AERA?
*** It's the Australian equivalent of our AERC. They may include New Zealand

 Never heard of them? Where are they 
located? 
*** Australia

Another outfit to terrorize us like the FEI?
*** Actually they want to join forces with the AERC to present a larger 
group of endurance riders in negotiations with the FEI.  They feel a common
cause with us. They have a number of common goals with the AERC.

 Most of the Directors 
do not want to be questioned about anything they do or don't do. Some will 
say just phone me, but when you do you can't reach them because they have a 
cleaver paging system to weed you out.
**** email works best for me 

Well Jan I have a question for you. Have you read the Articles of 
Incorporation of the AERC. That is the American Endurance Ride Conference. 
The lawful purpose is to promoted Endurance Riding in the UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA. It does not say anything about Canada or any Foreign Countries.

*** Hope I'm not sure about the articles but our Canadian neighbors participate 
in many of our rides along the northern border and have done so for many years.
If you look at the regions map on page 24 of the Oct. Endurance News - you will see
the NW region, the MT region, the MW region, and NE regions including all
of the Canadian Provences(sp?) except for the Yukon(sp?) Territories.  They have
been good supporters of the AERC for many years.

 I have heard from another Director that the 
FEI will be at our 2002 Convention Big Time! More money wasted.

*** Actually we don't pay for the FEI there and we make money on the fees
they pay for a booth at the convention.

 Who paid for 
the Meeting rooms last year for USET, AHSA, and FEI?
**** I don't know the answer to this one. I did attend a meeting for the 
International committee of the AERC where the FEI representative spoke.
That one was a legitimate cost for the AERC as it was for one of our committees.

 Was it the rank and 
file Members who do not get any Benefit from these foreign activities? Why 
do we have a foreigner on our Board of Directors?

**** Maryben commented earlier that Earle is one of the two regional directors
from the NE region which includes the eastern part of Canada.  He is indeed Canadian.
Since our regions do include almost all of Canada - this isn't unreasonable to me.

 Isn't that also illegal 
since we are only to conduct our business within the UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA. Since the Board of Directors have been operating illegally for some 
time they are now seeking to move the AERC to another state.

**** Actually we looked at moving to another state primarily to see if any
of them allowed voting on issues by email.  We only have two meetings a year
face to face and some of the BOD had hoped to find a state that allowed
e-balloting.  We didn't find one and my assumption is that John Parke will
close out this issue in the coming meeting.

 To avoid 
prosecution????? They want us Members to follow the Rules they make for us 
but they just can't follow Corporation mandated procedures.

When voting on any item why are we no longer informed as to how each 
Director votes???? 
*** I may be wrong on this but I thought the minutes reported in the Endurance News
for the convention does list the way each director votes on the motions.  I will
confirm this with Louise Reidel - the AERC BOD secretary.

This used to be done on a regular basis and should be 
done always. 
*** I certainly agree

We have a right to know how each of you VOTES!
The National Championship was a big success this year. Proud of those 
Juniors! Bye for now Hope Lundquist

*** And while I'm not running for the BOD this year(my Director at large seat is up for
election next year) - I really urge you and all other members of the AERC membership
to express your opinions to the Directors - and especially - VOTE.

Mike Maul
AERC Director at Large