Your Handy Guide to Pre-Convention Committee Meetings  – Open to All USDF Members

By Chelsey Burris

Attention USDF Members – You are invited to get a FREE inside look into the work of USDF’s committees, and a jump start on the 2024 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention, by attending open pre-convention committee meetings via Zoom. Every USDF committee will be hosting a pre-convention meeting, open to all USDF members to share ideas, allow for questions, and provide insight into the inner workings of both the committee and the USDF governance structure.

These meetings are scheduled throughout the month of October, and none of them overlap in time, so you are able to join the discussion in as many of them as you’d like.

With these meetings being hosted on Zoom, it gives ALL USDF members a chance to interact, no matter what region they are in, and whether or not they will be joining us in Houston this year for the convention.

We encourage you to attend and get involved as we work to steer dressage and USDF into the future!  Here, meet the committees, learn about their missions and goals, see their committee members who could field your questions, and decide which meetings you would like to attend.

Meet the 15 Committees

National Youth Programs

Part of the: Activities Council  

Mission: To promote dressage to young equestrians while providing for the future of the sport.

Goals:

1. Providing educational opportunities. 

2. Provide recognition programs.
3. Increase number of junior/young rider participants.
4. Promote sportsmanship at the junior/young rider level.

Committee Members: Rosalind Sue Kinstler (chair), Sarah Delahanty (staff liaison), Jennifer Koch, Kathy M Rowse, Laurie Moore, Jane K Pride, Elizabeth H Molloy, Roberta C Williams, Sophia Elizabeth Schults, Julie A Barringer-Richers, Rebecca Marie Harris, and Lendon F Gray

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/youthcomm.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Monday, 10/7 at 8:45 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Nominating

Part of the: Administrative Council 

Mission: To procure quality candidates to govern the United States Dressage Federation.

Goals:

1. Secure nominations for regional Participating Member (PM) delegates and the USDF Executive Board.
2. Ensure that all GMO members are represented on the Board of Governors by GMO delegates.
3. Educate the membership about the candidates and oversee the election process.

Committee Members: Linda Marie Mendenhall (chair), Sarah Garn (liaison), Lori M Kaminski, Molly Fine, Barbara A Cadwell, Lin R Nelson-Mayson, Virginia Sorenson, Tabitha Ann Hopp, Paula K Langan, Kathleen J O’Connor, and Alecia Daniel

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/nominating.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Monday, 10/14 at 3:30 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Adult Programs

Part of the: Activities Council

Mission: To encourage, increase and enrich adult participation in dressage by providing educational opportunities and recognition of achievement.

Goals:

1. Provide concepts for new adult education programs.
2. Increase the number of and participation in USDF supported adult programs.
3. Improve communication and networking within and between regions, GMOs and the Adult
4. Programs Committee to increase support of and participation in adult education.

Committee Members: Holly Hilliard (chair), Gwen Piilani Ka’awaloa (vice chair), Evelyn Rose Lancione (liaison), Jill Ekis, Kenneth Dale Levy, Tashina Heiser, Carrie Lynn Cross, Kelly Vallandingham, Frances M Haupt, and Sarah Denham

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/adultprogram.asp 

Meeting Date and Time: Monday, 10/14 at 8:00 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

L Program

Part of the: Technical Council  

Mission: To provide a comprehensive educational program for the entire dressage community to learn about the equestrian discipline of dressage from the judge’s point of view.

Goals:

1. Provide trainers, instructors, competitors and spectators’ insight into the evaluative techniques of judging dressage. 
2. Prepare and evaluate candidates who wish to pursue entry into the USEF ‘r’ Judge Training Program. 
3. Provide continuing education for licensed judges and L graduates.
4. Select and provide teaching materials to L faculty members.

Committee Members: Joan K Darnell (chair), Kathy M Rowse (vice chair), Sharon A Vander Ziel (liaison), Debbie Rodriguez, Lisa K Schmidt, Jayne E Ayers, Jodi Jones Lees, Marilyn Ogden Heath, Judy Downer, Dorie Vlatten-Schmitz, Debbie Riehl Rodriguez, Janet L. Hannon, Michael D Osinski, and Lois J. Yukins

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/lprogram.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, 10/15 at 1:00 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Group Member Organization (GMO)

Part of the: Administrative Council 

Mission: To accelerate the growth and development of Group Member Organizations (GMOs) to broaden and strengthen the dressage community and increase access to education.

Goals:

1. To promote the education of GMO leadership.
2. To offer support and materials. 
3. To provide a network of others with experience.
4. To administer the GMO awards.

Committee Members: Loretta Lucas (chair), Jill Chamblin (liaison), Lisa Margaret Toaldo, Jeri C Fuller-Matheny, Megan E. A. Ward, Bobbi Lehman, Kathryn E. Lewis, Michele Ng, Regina Antonioli, Dawn Mackenzie, and Jennifer Ann Jarvis

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/gmo.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, 10/15 at 6:15 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Judges 

Part of the: Technical Council 

Mission: To promote the pursuit of excellence in dressage judging.

Goals:

1. Provide education opportunities for all levels of judges.
2. Continue to improve the training of individuals currently licensed or aspiring to be licensed judges.
3. Recognize progressive development of judges. 

Committee Members: Gary Rockwell (chair), Michael D Osinski (vice chair), Sharon A Vander Ziel (liaison), Jeanne McDonald, Marilyn Ogden Heath, Amy Marie Bradley, Janet L Foy, Janet L. Hannon, Kristi Wysocki, Joan K Darnell, Teresa Stewart, and Lois J. Yukins

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/judges.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, 10/16 at 12:30 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Bylaws

Part of the: Administrative Council 

Mission: To provide for the fair and equitable governance of the United States Dressage Federation.

Goals

1. Recommend Bylaws amendments as needed.
2. Present amendments to the USDF Board of Governors (BOG) General Assembly for ratification.

Committee Members: John Chris Trentelman (chair), Sarah Garn (liaison), Janine W Malone, Sue E. Hughes, Barbara A Cadwell, Robert Higgins, Carrie Lynn Cross, Heather Elizabeth Petersen, Peter Rothschild, Gaye M McCabe, Diane P Nell, and Bess I Bruton

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/bylaws.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Thursday, 10/17 at 6:30 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Historical Recognition

Part of the: Administrative Council 

Mission: To recognize and celebrate the rich heritage of dressage in America through education and promotion.

Goals:

1. Oversee and coordinate Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award and Member of Distinction selection. 
2. Work with USDF and assist in the development and selection of materials and criteria for the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame. 
3. Gather and archive information on the heritage of USDF. 

Committee Members: Jennifer O Bryant (chair), Chelsey Burris (liaison), Margaret C Freeman, Anne Snipes Moss, Lauren Gowers Annett, Bettina G Longaker, Rosalind Sue Kinstler, Charlotte L Trentelman, Roberta C Williams, Annalucy Keller, Terry Coultas Wilson, and Sally Brackett Davenport

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/historicalrecognition.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Monday, 10/21 at 7:30 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

FEI Youth 

Part of the: Activities Council 

Mission: To develop educational opportunities and international competition experiences for riders, ages 12-21, who ride at the FEI sanctioned Pony, Children, Junior and Young Rider levels.

Goals:

1. Select and provide teams for the North American Youth Championships (NAYC)
2. Promote team spirit and competition among riders.
3. Provide clinics and educational opportunities.

Committee Members: Roberta C Williams (chair), Sarah Audrey Hollander (advisor), Laura Roberts (advisor), Sarah Delahanty (liaison), Debbie DelGiorno, Rosalind Sue Kinstler, Elizabeth H Molloy, Nancy L Gorton, Joan Naden Clay, Nicki N Grandia, Ann Boehning, Roberta Carleton, and Marsha Jane Lewis 

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/feijryr.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, 10/23 at 8:00 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Instructor/Trainer Development Program

Part of the: Technical Council  

Mission: To promote the pursuit of excellence in dressage instruction and training.

Goals:

1. To provide education from the grassroots to the professional level.
2. To provide access to online resources and learning modules.
3. To set instructor certification standards of proficiency.
4. To provide instructor certification opportunities.
5. To align the education of dressage participants at every level to the standards and levels of proficiency from Training Level through Grand Prix.

Committee Members: Liselotte Fore (co-chair), Sarah Geikie (co-chair), Katherine L. Robertson (liaison), Deborah Ann Bowman, Bailey E Cook, Kathryn Fleming-Kuhn, Cathy Helen Zappe, Christopher Hickey, Sarah M Martin, William S Mcmullin, Janet L. Hannon, Katherine Simard, Vicki Hammers-O’neil, Fern Z Feldman, Lendon F Gray, and Ann L Guptill

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/instructortrainer.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, 10/23 at 9:00 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Competition Management

Part of the: Technical Council  

Mission: To provide a network of competition managers and secretaries to promote quality and compliant dressage competitions.

Goals:

1. Provide competition management education.
2. Increase the number and quality of recognized competitions.
3. Review and communicate US Equestrian rule change proposals.
4. Provide the appropriate tools and processes for successful competitions.
5. Strengthen the communication between Competition Management Council and other councils, as well as the USDF office staff.

Committee Members: Marinea C. St. Amand (chair), Kevin Bradbury (vice chair), Elena Sandidge (liaison), Kathryn Grisolia, Debra J Reinhardt, Carlie Evans, Andrea Danielle Davenport, Heather Elizabeth Petersen, Michael Lee Taylor, Regina Antonioli, Anita Jaffe, and Marilyn Kulifay

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/compmanagement.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Thursday, 10/24 at 6:45 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Awards

Part of the: Activities Council  

Mission: To encourage participation in dressage by recognizing excellence and rewarding progressive achievement.

Goals:

1. Organize and provide awards for Horse of the Year, Freestyle, Junior/Young Rider, Adult Amateur, Vintage Cup, All-Breeds, performance certificates, individual rider awards, DSHB Horse of the Year and Materiale Horse of the Year.
2. Review existing awards requirements and programs.

Committee Members: Amy Marie Bradley (chair), Cristen Joy Brown (liaison), Jessie A Ginsburg, Deborah Ann Garris, Jan A Brons, Marie E Maloney, Mickayla Lyn Frederick, Cecilia Cox, Jo Renn, Doris Ute North, Diane Marie Holston, and Elizabeth G Clifton.

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/awards.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Monday, 10/28 at 7:45 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Sport Horse 

Part of the: Activities Council  

Mission: To foster and advance the breeding and development of the highest quality dressage sport horses and to promote a strong foundation for the dressage sport horse development pipeline in the United States.

Goals:

1. To educate breeders, owners, buyers, handlers, trainers, and judges about the ideals of both dressage sport horse prospects and breeding stock.
2. Encourage and acknowledge the efforts of USDF member breeders in producing the highest quality dressage sport horse.
3. Provide dressage sport horse competition management, owners, and breeders with competition guidelines and opportunities.
4. Promote USDF horse recordings and tracking of competition results.
5. Nurture and develop future generations for the dressage sport horse breeding industry.
6. Review and update all proposed USDF sport horse scoresheets and instruction documents.

Committee Members: Kristi Wysocki (chair), Regina Milliken (vice chair), Cristen Joy Brown (liaison), Bonnie Barr-Briggs(liaison), Natalie DiBerardinis, Caitlin Gallagher, Janine W Malone, Christine Louise Smith, Melanie A. Sloyer, Susan Mandas, Megan R Dischler, Deborah J Davenport, Anne Sparks, Kevin Reinig, and Jennifer Vanover

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/sporthorse.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, 10/29 at 6:00 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Regional Championships

Part of the: Activities Council  

Mission: To promote and recognize the pursuit of excellence by providing a showcase competition that meets established quality standards for riders within each USDF region.

Goals:

1. Establish and update guidelines for qualifying as needed.
2. Educate championship management.
3. Provide recognition and rewards.
4. Promote the championships.
5. Increase the number of participants.

Committee Members: Angela Goodwin-Volpert (chair), Janine W Malone (vice chair), Lacy Jinks (liaison), Ellen Sarah Marie Brindle-Clark, Anne Kuhns, Anneliese Vogt-Harber, Roberta C Williams, Jean Kraus, Jessica Marie Greer, Kelly Elizabeth Burris, Kevin Reinig, Camille Kopcik, and Carolyn VandenBerg.

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/regionalchampionships.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, 10/29 at 8:00 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Technical Delegates 

Part of the: Technical Council  

Mission: To provide education and an organized voice for Technical Delegates.

Goals:

1. Provide educational programs for technical delegates and aspiring technical delegates. 
2. Review United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) rules and rule change proposals.
3. Establish regular contact with all technical delegates through regional coordinators.
4. Establish a dialog between the Competition Management Committee and the Technical Delegates Committee in order to encourage show managers to use technical delegates as a resource.

Committee Members: Jean Kraus (chair), Bonnie Barr-Briggs (liaison), Michelle D King, Angela Goodwin-Volpert, Dianne Havens Stanley, Cheryl L Tobey, Susan M Lang, Kaye L Phaneuf, Doris Ute North, Paul Donald Cormier, Marilyn Kulifay, and Carolyn VandenBerg

Learn more about this committee: https://www.usdf.org/about/about-usdf/councilscommittees/td.asp

Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday, 10/30 at 8:00 PM ET

How to Attend: USDF Members can log in to the USDF website, then access this page for the meeting link: https://usdf.org/convention/meeting-schedule.asp  

Schedule

DATE	TIME	COMMITTEE
Monday, 10/7	8:45 PM	National Youth Programs
Monday, 10/14	3:30 PM	Nominating
	8:00 PM	Adult Programs
Tuesday, 10/15	1:00 PM	L Program
	6:15 PM	GMO
Wednesday, 10/16	12:30 PM	Judges
Thursday, 10/17	6:30 PM	Bylaws
Monday, 10/21	7:30 PM	Historical Recognition
Wednesday, 10/23	8:00 PM	FEI Youth
	9:00 PM	Instructor/Trainer Development Program
Thursday, 10/24	6:45 PM	Competition Management
Monday, 10/28	7:45 PM	Awards
Tuesday, 10/29	6:00 PM	Sport Horse
	8:00 PM	Regional Championships
Wednesday, 10/30	8:00 PM	Technical Delegates

Join Us!

Ready to get involved?  Learn more here: https://usdf.org/login/process-login.asp?SourceURL=/convention/view-meeting-schedule.asp*

*USDF member login is required. If you don’t have a login, you can easily create one on the USDF website at https://usdf.org/login/createuser.asp.  Also, if you aren’t a current USDF member, join today at: https://usdf.org/join/

The 2024 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention will be held in Houston, Texas on December 4-7.  We hope to see you there – but if you’re unable to travel to the convention, these pre-convention meetings are a great way for you to be involved.

We hope that many of our members will take advantage of this great opportunity to immerse yourself in the many facets of our sport, join in engaging discussions, and help us steer dressage and USDF into the future.