RE: [RC] AERC members should come first...ALWAYS - Nancy Mitts
I really don't have a dog in this fight, but , hey, it's cold & rainy today. Here's a few things to chew on. First, I'd be surprised if any "FEI" riders that show up are not also AERC members. So, which AERC members are okay to "come first" and who are NOT? When the ROC was AERC sanctioned it also had a higher than "normal" entry fee, and stiff qualification requirements. I guess that was a bad thing. Tevis also has it's own rules and culture, AERC be darned. Throw it out the AERC window. The AHA distance championship rides in Oklahoma a couple weeks ago were organized solely for the AHA members. Yes, there were open AERC rides along with them, but the rides would not have existed except for the AHA Championships. Higher than "normal" fees for this region. Again, I'd be surprised if anyone in the endurance championships wasn't also an AERC member. They may have been some of those FEI people, too! And, imagine, there was a CTR Championship right in the middle of it. The audacity! It was a really big deal that the Arabian show community recognized their distance champions in conjuction with their National Show. It added another 100 mile ride to our region. Improvement to the trails and camp will be there for other rides to use . But gosh, not every AERC member rides a registered Arabian so maybe that shouldn't have been allowed either. The majority of the membership can't make it to all those 5 day rides out west, eliminate those, too! My only concern with "special" rides is when they knock a "regular" ride off the schedule. It sounds like the FEI ride in question is trying really hard not to do that and is getting slammed for it. I know FEI is an easy target, it's not MY thing either. Be careful what you choose to throw rocks at because only a "few" AERC members want it. That applies to a lot of segments of this sport. Alienate a few members here and a few members there, next thing you know membership is on a downward slide and then........
Nancy Mitts
"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail
a leg? Four. Calling a tail a
leg doesn't make it a leg."
-- Abraham
Lincoln
> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:50:30 -0500 > Subject: [RC] AERC members should come first...ALWAYS > From: oddfarm@xxxxxxxxx > > Since when is it ok for AERC to sanction a "special" ride for FEI > riders? Oh I know, they are AERC members as well but something isn't > right about this situation. Sugar coat it all you want, it is NOT a > sweet deal. It's not even reasonable. > > So these FEW riders needed a ride to qualify for "stars" and a ride > manager decided to go out on a limb and put on a ride for them. Which > is her choice. Oh I know it is open to AERC members as well...for the > same outrageous price. The RM is charging the high prices to cover > sanctioning and fees for FEI and we all know that is expensive. But > how in the world is that justified for plain 'ol AERC riders? It is a > "bare bones" ride with no goodies so why would regular members need to > pay that amount? The RM isn't going out on a limb for them. $500 for a > fifty milers? Where is the sense in that?? > > If AERC and RM's want to cater to FEI, (and they do) AERC members > should come FIRST! If AERC and RM's are going out on any limb, it > should be for the AERC members FIRST! ! > > So the idea was to discourage other riders so as not to interfere with > other local and established rides. However, if AERC sanctioning is all > the Dr. Q. said it is, bruceweary wrote: > While a mere $25 sanctioning fee won't get you concierge service at > your ride, or arrange for porta-potties, it will assure all parties > involved, especially prospective riders that are considering > attending, that appropriate procedures are being followed in putting > on a ride, and that all results will be recorded in the AERC > database.", then how come the powers that be allowed this ride to > happen knowing full well it was cost prohibitive to it's own members > and that it could potentiality impact other established rides? > > How does a $25 sanctioning fee for AERC riders turn into a $600 entry > fee?? How can an AERC member even consider attending that? AERC > members have a right to attend any and all rides and AERC should not > encourage or allow RM to put on "exclusive" rides. Who can afford $600 > to have a ride recorded? How is it appropriate procedure for AERC to > allow a ride for another organization and also make it cost > prohibitive to it's own members??? That doesn't even make sense. Even > non-members only pay $15 extra. If AERC is sanctioning the ride and RM > is going out on a limb for FEI riders, then darn it, the ride should > be MORE accessible to AERC members. AERC members should have the > option to attend this and all rides, FIRST and FOREMOST!!!!! > > Oh I know, it is a one time thing. > > Sure. I would bet it's not. I would bet this is more of the same to > come type of deal. Do any of you really think this is none of your > business? AERC is for YOU!!! Not FEI, and not for any stars. Come on > people, it can't just be me!!! I can't support AERC anymore but if I > can't stand by and not say anything, how come the rest of you can?? If > I think the members are not being respected by the very organization > that they pay membership to, how come those of you who are members do? > If AERC/FEI riders need rides for what ever reasons, fine. BUT, not at > the EXPENSE of the AERC membership. If USEF and FEI need those riders, > let them pay for the ride. After all, they hand out those huge checks > to winners all the time. Which,by the way, AERC DOES support when it > makes special accommodations for FEI rides. > > Let's see, AERC won't record miles for members in which a RM hasn't > sent in appropriate fees, which really should have nothing to do with > the members because THEY paid all of the appropriate fees, BUT AERC > will sanction a ride just for FEI riders. REALLY?? That is no body's > business??? Okie-dokey. > > By the way, I too, once went out on a limb to sanction a few AERC > rides. ALL ride managers go out on a limb every time they put on a > ride. I can't say I "lost" money because I never went into it hoping > to make money. But it was VERY, VERY expensive. Which was my choice as > it is with all ride managers. > I also was asked by a select few to put on a ride. I declined. I also > quit putting on rides. Not because of the cost, but because of the > crap that went with it. Things haven't changed much and that is sad. > > Lisa Salas, the odd fArm
