AMERICAN PAINT HORSE ASSOCIATION BOARD OF ... - Press

American Paint Horse Association
Board of Directors Minutes
Workshop Meeting
Hilton Lakes DFW
Grapevine, Texas
May 30-June 1, 2013
Call to Order – Gregg Reisinger, APHA President.
The Board of Directors meeting was called to order at 8:45 a.m. at the Hilton Lakes DFW in Grapevine, Texas
on Saturday, June 1, 2013. Past President Carl Thurow was asked to give the invocation.
Introductions and Speakers.
APHA Past Presidents were introduced, as well as members of the current APHA Executive Committee.
Special guest Pat Mullins with corporate sponsor Markel Insurance was recognized as an honored guest as was
California director Steve Nash, representing corporate sponsor Farnam.
Roll Call and Oath of Office – Anderson.
The president asked Executive Assistant Jan Anderson to call the roll. See Appendix A.
Anderson also gave the Oath of Office to those directors not installed at the October, 2012, convention meeting.
Association Progress Report.
The Board of Directors met in a preliminary meeting on Friday, May 31, 2013, during which time Executive
Director, Billy L. Smith, gave a Progress Report with updates and highlights of the past year. He emphasized
that APHA’s plan for the next few years is to focus on revenue, productivity and loyalty. He reported that the
membership campaign has helped stabilize membership, which had been experiencing losses of 10,000-15,000
per year, while only 3,000 members were lost in 2012.
Other positive statistics cited were 38,000 new show entries from 2011 to 2012; six months of increased
registrations, an increase in number of horses sold at the Farnam WYO sale from 5 to 21; a 2% increase in
youth membership; and, finally, $50,000 will be offered in the Farnam WYO class at this year’s World Show.
Smith noted the launch of APHA Xtras, a generous package of benefits for members that will save members
more than the cost of membership. Also launched recently was the first issue of Chrome, the new APHA
member magazine.
The Board was reminded by Smith of the eight top priorities for 2013. Those priorities are to reduce the payroll
burden; reengineer business processes; increase corporate partnership appearance; upgrade technology for
improved efficiency; continue becoming revenue centric; improve the communication process; improve
Breeders’ Trust program payouts and participation; and balance the operations budget for 2014.
Smith touched on other areas, citing the number of Facebook fans reaching over 100,000; the awarding of
almost $50,000 in youth scholarships through the Foundation; the formation of the Paint Horse Journal Elite
Team and increased loyalty to that publication, up almost $85,000, and a growing satisfaction with overall
judging at the World Show.
Smith closed his presentation by challenging the committees to talk about making an impact on the horse
industry and not just an impression, to think big and far down the road.
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