september 2004 - Dallas Dressage Club

TRANSITIONS Volume 5, Issue 9DDC MEMBER’S CORNERNewest Members: Katherine Arce, Fort Worth TX , Christine Hutmacher, Denton TX , Susie Woods Plano, TXWe currently have 277 Active DDC members. Of those 228 have a voting membership with a USDF GMO membership.There are 724 horsesthat have been registered with the DDC award program.To date, we have already received four memberships which will apply for 2005 benefits as well as the rest of 2004 (excluding GMO benefits).It is exciting to see the enthusiasm of members who have been inactive renewing again. Lets keep moving forward.Susan Sturdivan-BrownleeBOARD MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES:(JENNIE BOHART – Vice President)I was born a long time ago and sat on a pony for the first time when I was about 4. It was one of those cute, black and white ponies like you see in thephotos at Carrabba’s. I was hooked on horses from then on. I’ve ridden ranch horses, American Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walking horses, done thehunter-jumper thing, and finally settled on dressage about 20 years ago. My mom convinced me that I would never earn a living in the horse businessand insisted I go to college and get a degree, so I did. I have fallen into one really cool job after another over the years and for the last 15 I’ve workedfor IBM here in the Dallas area.When I first started attending DDC board meetings, almost 3 years ago now, it was simply to see what was happening and to make some newcontacts. It didn’t take long before I was drafted to run for the Vice President position! My mission is to help the club run in as professional andbusiness-like a way as possible, to seek ways to involvethe general membership to as great an extent as they are willing in dressage education events and other activities of the club, and to generallyimprove the reputation of the DDC within the dressage community.I would like to encourage all DDC members to be more involved in their club. Many hands DO make light work – your opinions ARE listened to anddiscussed even though we can’t always act on them immediately – and if you really want to make a difference, get involved!(KATIE CABALLERO – Volunteer Committee Chair – aka “Coordinator”)Over a decade after falling off of a horse when I was thirteen, I was shocked to find myself developing a keen interest in learning how to ride.But not Paso Finos like the rest of my family. Six months after my first lesson, I decided to try dressage and my life and weekends haven’t been thesame.I am a graduate of Louisiana State University and matriculated in Mass Communications. As an undergrad, I was actively involved in ZetaTau Alpha sorority where I chaired several committees. After graduation, I began working at advertising agencies and the communicationsdepartments of Fortune 500 companies. Horses allow me to take a mental and physical break from the corporate environment, and teach me skillsthat can’t can’t be learned in an office.After riding several borrowed horses, I was ready for the next step…ownership. Two years ago, I entered into an exclusive relationship witha red-headed former jumper named Speedfire. What was I thinking? No one wants a dressage horse that is either speedy or fiery! Given my daytimejob of having to think out of the box, I still managed to stick my horse with the original barn name “Red”; yet, it matches his looks and personality! Aperpetual student, I enjoy clinicing, auditing, watching other great riders while furthering my dressage skills through education and club involvement.In 2003, I coordinated volunteers for the Spring Show, and several months later I took on the challenge of being the DDC VolunteerCoordinator in order to recruit and organize volunteer activities at shows and clinics. One of the perks of the position has been meeting club membersand new friends. I’ve also gained insight into the challenges and intricacies of show management. My involvement in the DDC has allowed me to seehow committed the Board is to strengthening the club, giving back to its members and making the DDC one of the best GMOs in the country.At every show and every clinic I’ve attended, I’ve seen a horse or a rider that inspire me to continue my own dressage goal…to ride inharmony and joy with my horse! I dream of one day riding with Coby van Baalen, Lisa Wilcox and Sue Blinks; as well as owning Bergamon and LordSinclair babies. In the meantime, there are always new items of horse clothing, tack and horsey gadgets to take along the journey to greater harmony.I may not make it to the Olympics, but my horse will be well appointed!(ELIZABETH JETER – Adult Education Liaison to Region 9)1) Similar positions on other boards and organizations; other background that apply: My career prepared me for the position of GMOEducation Liaison. My corporate life, which unfortunately has spanned more than 20 years, consisted of project and program management of verylarge, integrated clinical information systems, with multi-year project timelines, and multi-million dollar budgets. No stress there. I apply principles ofproject management to a lot of things that go on in my life – and it helps! Working with other people at all levels within large and small organizations,as well as management and budget experience, have helped me develop people skills that are necessary for getting things done.[continued on page 9]-3-