A Letter From Your WDAA President
Dear Members,
Spring cleaning, purging, and organizing helps us keep our lives in order. The same is true for WDAA. We have been working internally to upgrade and streamline our processes so WDAA can achieve the goal of providing members with the best service possible.
First - under upgrading, I am excited to announce that Diana “Dini” Swanson has been named as the new Executive Director for WDAA. Dini has served in a contract role as our Executive Secretary for three years. WDAA and Dini have grown together over that time and both are ready for the next step. So, on May 1, Dini will become WDAA’s first non-contract, full-time employee. She will continue to perform most of her previous duties, but will also be overseeing many of the projects our volunteer board members headed up in the past.
One of Dini’s first new projects involves working to upload an all-in-one membership management software application. WDAA is working with a software company to onboard all components of a new system. We hope this will streamline some of our internal processes so WDAA customer service can be even more efficient. The new system includes a web portal for members where we will post videos and educational material. Onboarding takes several months so I don’t have a good time estimate yet for when the portal will open. You can be sure we will notify you with great fanfare when it is opened.
By now you have had the chance to look over the newly released Intro Level Freestyle requirements. Developing Intro Freestyle was a member request, and the WDAA team worked hard to bring it to fruition quickly so riders could have time to plan and practice performances well before the WDAA World Championship Show. I hope this makes competing in freestyle attainable for everyone. Freestyle is a fun way to celebrate your achievements with your horse in an individual, creative way.
Chris Rushton is updating our corporate sponsorship plan. He will post it on the WDAA website soon.
Kathy Newcomb is working with show managers across the country, and they have almost doubled the number of WDAA recognized shows scheduled from 2018 to 2019. Please, head out and support the shows in your area if you want them to continue. Show managers will give Western Dressage a chance, but you have to support it to keep it as your favorite shows. There has never been a better time to sign up for the WDAA Horse Lifetime Points and Awards Program!
We have great momentum and our future looks very bright! Thanks to you, WDAA members, who honor the horse and the journey. By bringing your horses and yourselves out to shows, you give us more power to get more support for programs we want to provide to you. You make our jobs at WDAA easier, even the Spring cleaning.
Cindy Butler, Your President
Western Dressage Association Of America |
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