The Ohio Morgan Horse

Minutes of Board Meeting February 19, 2005

Meeting was called to order at 11:10 a.m. at Sharon Party
Center in Sharon Center, Ohio by President, Jennifer Carr.

Present: Linda Ashar, Carolyn Karasarides, Claudia
Grimes, Joy Scala, Erin O’Neill, Amy Snyder, Elizabeth Burick, Jennifer Carr,
Lois Magisano.   Absent: Terry King     Arrived late: Dayan
Birchler

A motion was made by Claudia Grimes and seconded by Joy Scala
to forgo the reading of the minutes since the board had received the minutes in
the mail. The motion was passed. Erin moved to approved the minutes with one
correction noted by Jennifer Carr (minutes should read “ Elizabeth Burick” not
“Elizabeth Brodbeck”). Motion was seconded by Joy and was passed by unanimous
vote.

Lois suggested posting the minutes on the web page so that the
general membership could be informed about the actions of the board. No motion
was made, but the board generally approved this proposal.

Treasurer’s Report: Elizabeth reported that our current
balance is $7016.96. Expenses for the past month included $225.00 paid to COSCA
to reserve our show dates and for the show kits, $78.00 paid to UPS, $175.00
paid to USEF, $40.00 paid to AMHA, and $100.00 paid to Blue Lakes ( deposit for
show facility in July).

Memberships: Elizabeth reported that we currently have
45 up to date paid memberships ( many of these are family memberships and
represent two or more persons). This number compares favorably with the number
at this time last year.

Elizabeth reported that the contract is due for the Fairgrounds
for the Spring Show. Lois moved to approve the payment for this contract. The
motion was seconded by Joy and was passed by unanimous vote. Elizabeth also
presented a bill for $642.00 for insurance for the club’s events. Payment of
this bill was postponed until Jenny has an opportunity to talk with the insurer.
Elizabeth also reported that she had been in contact with Mr. Meeker in regard
to the Roberts Arena contract. Mr. Meeker has offered a $300.00 reduction in the
contract fee because we will not be using the party room. He will also provide
the kitchen and the ice for our party. Mr. Meeker has offered to provide as many
keys as we need for the facilities during the show. Jenny suggested that we have
four keys. Elizabeth will also talk with him about the second apartment to see
if promised improvements have been completed before we assign this apartment to
any of our officials. Roberts Arena lights will be on Wednesday evening for
exhibitors to work their horses. All lights will be on for the remainder of the
show. She will also ask about the sound system improvements that were to be done
before this year’s show.

The down payment for the facilities ($1500.00) is due. Claudia
moved we approve this payment. Motion was seconded by Erin and was passed by
unanimous vote. Linda moved we approve the treasurer’s report with a correction
noted by Jenny. The motin was seconded by Erin and passed by unanimous vote.

Board meeting attendance: Jenny reported that she had
not received any notification from Terry King regarding her absence and reviewed
the bylaws with regard to absenteism. In the absence of any notification by
Terry or any reason given for her absence, the board agreed that this absence be
considered unexcused. A motion was made by Lois to this effect. The motion was
seconded by Joy and was approved by unanimous vote. Jenny will send a letter to
Terry informing her of the board’s decision. This will be her second unexcused
absence. Her place will be filled by appointment by the board.

Old Business:
Jenny reported that she had to return
five boxes of unused ribbons, mostly fifth and sixth place ribbons from the
Buckeye Show, at considerable cost to the club. Erin made a motion that we
eliminate the sixth place award at the Buckeye and to remove the date from the
ribbons so that they could be used in a subsequent year if classes are not
filled and ribbons are not used. The motion was seconded by Claudia and was
passed by unanimous vote.

Jenny mentioned that ordering, sorting, organizing and
transporting ribbons for three shows is a big job. She is doing all this for the
Spring show; and Amy is doing it for the Summer show. Claudia volunteered to
help with the ribbons for the Buckeye.

Contracts for the Buckeye: Lois reported that contracts
have been received from the farrier, the two judges, the ringmaster, the
organist, the photographer, and the steward. She will follow up on those not yet
returned. Jenny suggested the apartments be used by the farrier and the
veterinarian. Lois will call to reserve rooms for officials and board members
who have requested her to do so. Elizabeth will call car rental agencies to try
to secure cars for our officials.

Linda suggested placing posters advertising our shows and
events in Tack Shops and volunteered to design these posters for the club. It
was also suggested that we advertise these events in the Corral. A quarter-page
ad costs $230.00. If run three times, the monthly cost is $200.00 per month.
Carolyn volunteered to sponsor one ad. Elizabeth volunteered to sponsor one
month. The board will try to find sponsors for the third ad or will pay for the
third one. It was felt that this would increase participation at our shows.
Linda will design these ads.

Jenny reported that the COSCA show schedule should be approved
in March. Once the schedule is approved we can also post these events and class
schedules on our web site.

New business:
Jenny read a letter from POMHA, asking
OMHA for a fee to make the Buckeye Show a double point show. The board felt the
cost was too great considering the few POMHA members who attend our show.

Directory: To date only 28 forms have been received for
the new directory.

Spring Show: Jenny reported that the contracts for the
grounds and the officials are in. She will contact the judge with regard to
judging the academy classes.

Summer Show: Amy reports the grounds have been reserved,
but the judge’s contract has not been returned yet. We still need a ringmaster,
but if noone else volunteers, Nate or Amy’s dad will act in that capacity for
us. Jenny volunteered to provide gifts for the exhibitors at the OMHA shows.

Clinic: Jenny reported that Dayan had contacted Clinton
Anderson’s PR personnel with regard to a clinic. Jenny had been approached by a
member of POMHA in regard to OMHA and POMHA planning an event as a joint
venture. It was suggested that this clinic could be such an event especially
since Clinton is looking for a venue in western Pennsylvania. Joy will contact
Linda Stewart from POMHA to get some additional information and Amy will look
into a venue she knows of in the suggested area. Further discussion of the
clinic was talbed until this information is available.

Jenny read a letter from POMHA asking if OMHA would like to
participate in planning and running a clinic by Clinton Anderson to be held in
western Pennsylvania.

Our next open meeting, an open barn at the Stewards’ Lookaway
Farm, will be Saturday, April 22. Notice will be in the Corral to inform
membership. Joy will contact Brian to see if the board can meet there before the
open meeting.

Gold Cup: Elizabeth reported that the Gold Cup
Membership is due. Lois moved that we pay authorize payment of the Gold Cup
Membership Fee. Claudia seconded the motion which was then passed. Claudia
reported that the Gold Cup will not offer championship classes in the walk trot
divisions.

The Thanksgiving Parade (Saturday after Thanksgiving) in
downtown Cleveland will be added to the list of OMHA activities.

Elizabeth read a letter regarding the possible move of the
Morgan Horse Museum to the Kentucky Horse Park and asked for the board’s opinion
in regard to this matter. The general consensus was that the move would be a
good one.

Elizabeth reports that she is in contact with Ohio legislators
with regard to the Ohio State Fair management’s attitude toward horse
activities.

Jenny reported that POMHA has an event called Meet the Morgan
sponsored by TSC in Meadville, which was done to promote the Morgan to the
public. Some discussion followed; and it was felt that this type of activity
would be very good for the Morgan Breed. Some alternative venues were suggested.
Jenny will try to contact Crocker Park (an upscale outdoor shopping center in
Westlake to see if something can be arranged).

Jenny suggested that since several OMHA members are going to
Oklahoma this year, they might try to arrange stabling together and promotion
OMHA by having one set of curtains.

Linda made a motion the board meeting be adjourned. The motion
was seconded by Erin and was passed.

A light luncheon of sandwiches and salads was enjoyed and was
followed by an open meeting. Elizabeth Burick then gave a very nice talk on the
legal issues faced by horse owners today. She made suggestions on how to protect
ourselves legally and answered questions regarding sales and boarding of horses.

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