Ridecamp: [RC] IntNewsGroup: USA EQUESTRIAN BOARD MEETS, CONSIDERS GOVERNANCE ISSUES

USA Equestrian, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511-8483 Tel: (859) 258-2472 Fax
(859) 231-6662 Web site: www.equestrian.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2002

USA EQUESTRIAN BOARD MEETS, CONSIDERS GOVERNANCE ISSUES

The Board of Directors of USA Equestrian, Inc., national equestrian
federation of the United States, held its regularly scheduled mid-year
meeting in Lexington, Kentucky on July 9.  The turnout for the 5-hour
session was among the largest in history for the summer meeting, with 43
directors in attendance, an overflow audience of general members, and
hundreds more listening by Internet web cast.

Among the most noteworthy items considered was the status of the sport's
governance, in the wake of a recommendation of a United States Olympic
Committee hearing panel to the USOC board.  Nearly 3 hours was devoted to
discussion of the matter.  On a vote of 39 in favor, 2 opposed, and 2
abstaining, the board directed that negotiations be continued with United
States Equestrian Team to resolve the outstanding governance issues.
Neither of the current presidents of either organization will participate in
these negotiations, provided the USET is willing to participate.  If the
matter is not resolved prior to any deadline for filing a demand for
arbitration, USA Equestrian, as the incumbent National Governing Body, is
authorized to make such a demand in accordance with federal law.

In other business, directors received a financial report, indicating a
mid-year performance on target for meeting the goal of finishing the year
with a surplus, absent any extraordinary expenses that may be incurred in
resolving the governance issues.  Proposed changes to the Federation's
constitution and pending extraordinary rule changes were deferred to future
meetings.

All meeting materials are available at
http://www.equestrian.org/webcasts/7-9-2002/index.asp.   Please address
comments and questions to gov@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx .

ENDS
For more information, please contact Sarah Holt, Public Relations on (859)
225 6974 or via email at sholt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx .
  USA Equestrian press releases are available on our web site -
www.equestrian.org



USA Equestrian Inc., as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is
the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of
dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting,
as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition.  As
the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over
80,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each
year.  It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and
licensing all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate at
these shows.
VISION STATEMENT
The vision of USA Equestrian is to provide leadership for equestrian sport
in the United States of America, promoting the pursuit of excellence from
the grass roots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe
competition and the welfare of its horses, and embracing this vision, to be
the best national equestrian federation in the world.


Board of Directors
July 9, 2002
Excerpt from Minutes


A motion was made and amended by Ray Cerniga, seconded by Jim Brown, that
the Board direct its negotiating team to use the USA Equestrian July 2002
Model and attempt to mediate and negotiate this model or some variation of
this model with the USET; that the negotiating team not have Mr. Balch or
Mr. Leone as members and that if the matter is not resolved by the time any
deadline for arbitration arrives, steps will be taken to place the matter
into arbitration.

Vote on the Motion:  Yes:  39;  No:  2;  Abstain:  2

USA Equestrian July 2002 Model

	*	Current Constitution in complete compliance with federal
law, USOC requirements

	*	Incorporates "Cowboy" Model

	*	Current board of 64 divisible into 3 electorates:
International, National, Admin

	*	Current Executive Committee:

			*	Membership of 18 (vs. 19 member board in
"Cincinnati" Model)
			*	Addition of USOC athlete rep possible
			*	Elected annually
			*	Athletes (4) directly elected annually
			*	Convert Nominating Committee recommendation
to direct board election?
			*	Convert current board into 3 electorates?

	*	Combine best of "Cowboy" and "Cincinnati" models?

	*	Planning process:

			*	Expand current Negotiating Team to include
Planning/NGB Advisory committees
			*	Major affiliate representation
			*	Add regional affiliate representation
			*	Add NHJC president and added NHJC appointee
			*	USET participation encouraged
			*	Conduct planning in open, observed meetings

	*	Conclude process by Fall 2002

	*	New elections in January 2003





--------------

Email and Attachments automatically scanned for viruses by Trend Micro's
Scanmail for Exchange.





=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=