PaintHorseJournal-2009-Dec:Layout 1 - Paint Horse Association of ...

Office News
Season’s greetings … it is hard to believe that the end of the year is in sight!
One dictionary defines the word
“administrator” as – 1. manages
(business affairs), 2. organizes and
puts into practice. Administrators
are in essence what I believe the
office team to be. We do not make
Association rules and we do not
set Association policy although as
you will read later we can have
input. Just as you can too!
Unfortunately a small minority of
PHAA members seem to think we
DO make up the rules and we DO
set the policies for the Association.
The girls and I are regularly berated
by this minority who at times do
not like some of the rules and policies
that we are paid to administer.
The office team tries to be as supportive
as we can and we are able
to empathize on many occasions
with a particular member’s
frustration.
There is however
a procedure and
process to follow if
a member believes a
rule needs to be changed.
Any PHAA Member, Regional
Club, Board of Directors or
Staff Member can submit a
“Recommendation for
Rule Change” form.
The fully completed
form must be post
marked at least 21 days
prior to a Board meeting.
Some rule changes
may be approved by
the Director’s at a
Board meeting other
suggested changes may have to be
voted on at an AGM. The “Recommendation
For Rule Change” form
is available for download from our
website.
The point I am trying to make is
this. If you really feel strongly that
one or more of the PHAA rules
need to be amended or even removed,
then you have the right to
recommend the change. Don’t scold
the office team for trying to do our
jobs. Do something that just may
make a difference. The PHAA is
after all YOUR Association.
One more thing. Not all suggested
rule changes get approved by the
Board of Director’s or members
voting at an AGM. There are many
reasons why a rule doesn’t get
changed which could
include the rule
change doesn’t
benefit the
majority of
members
or doesn’t reflect
what the Association stands for.
The old adage “majority rules”
certainly applies when it comes
to setting rules and policies in any
organization.
I would like to close this edition
of the Office News on a personal
note. I have worked for the PHAA
for nearly 18 months now and I
would like to thank the people who
encouraged me to come on board
or who supported my application
and took a chance on me. For
those of you that don’t know I
suffered a stroke in mid 2006 and
I did not work for more than 2
years. The job of PHAA Office
Manager is the first position I have
held since the stroke and while I
am still not 100% well, work has
been good for me. So thank you
Jeffrey Hall & Angela Newton who
conducted my initial interview,
Alison Lord & Sally McPhee who
did a follow up interview and a
special mention to Graham Thornton
who recommended me for the
job in the first place. And I would
also like to thank my fulltime office
girls Amber and Tammy who both
work tirelessly for the Association
and make me look good.
And thank you to all the wonderful
members and Directors
that I have met or
interacted with in
some way over the
past year or so.
Your encouragement
and support
is greatly appreciated.
The passion that you
guys have for your
Paint horses is extraordinary.
Enjoy the holidays, Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year from
all of us here in the Office.
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PAINT HORSE JOURNAL | December 2009/January 2010