corporate sponsorship
Laney Humphrey (laneyh@mbay.net)
Thu, 5 Dec 1996 19:40:21 -0800
Life got in the way of sitting in front of my computer recently. The
result being that I got to read the recent posts about cash prizes and
corporate sponsorship kind of like a novel - wonderful fiction: premise that
grabs you right away, lots of fascinating characters, fast moving action all
leading to what, I believe, can be a very satisfying ending for everyone.
(What has been going on can also be looked at as being just what
this list is: a forum for discussion of various points of view. Jumping to
conclusions and acting prematurely are ever present dangers.)
Looking for the good in what has been said, from my somewhat (time)
distanced vantage point, here's what I see as possibilities.
1. Make sure that the AERC BOD is aware of the strong feelings
against large cash prizes among some of its membership.
2. Acknowledge the positive aspects of corporate involvement in
sport but learn the lessons of other sports; don't relive known disasters
but look for a new path.
(I've been an AERC member for 5 years and enter rides purely for the
pleasure I get from doing something with my horse.) In my view, there are
already 2 sports within AERC: the one for people like me and the one for
people who ride to "top 10." At this point, I have teeny, tiny concerns
about favoritism I have seen given riders whom the P&R people/vets expect to
do well but since I not competing with them anyway, these concerns are
mostly offenses to my sense of fair play.
Having said that, I can see ways in which corporate sponsorship can
help all rides and all riders (and, of course, all horses!!!):
1. AERC should somehow set up 2 divisions: one based on
international, FEI rules that already are in place to handle corporate
sponsorship; the second, purely amateur with a $ limit on prizes (note
Valery's comment on the cost to the winner of prizes!)
2. Corporate sponsors of events in the first division be required to
pay AERC amounts tied to the amount spent on sponsorship. These fees to be
allocated to managers of rides in the amateur division for use covering
expenses of those rides (lower ride entry fees for all! maybe at the cost of
being given a t-shirt decorated with a corporate logo)
3. Encourage corporate sponsors to understand the marketing
advantage of contributing to the preservation, acquisisition, etc. of parks
and wildlands for horse use.
4. Encourage corporate sponsors to sponsor scientific research
projects that benefit the sport of endurance.
This is long so I'll close with a suggestion that we remember that
"corporate" sponsorship as brought us almost all the world's best art, music
and technology. It is our responsibility as endurance riders and AERC
members to encourage the entry of corporate money into our sport in good
ways but to remember that there will always be a few whose eyes are on the
wrong prize.
Laney