VIA TELECONFERENCE MONDAY, AUGUST 29, :00 P.M. EDT MINUTES

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1 UNITED STATES EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE MONDAY, AUGUST 29, :00 P.M. EDT MINUTES Board Members Present: Chrystine Tauber, Elisabeth Goth, Derek di Grazia, Georgie Green, Catherine Haddad Staller, Tucker Johnson, Chris Kappler, Murray Kessler, Anne Kursinski, Pete Kyle, Vicki Lowell, Beezie Madden, Bill Moroney, Cynthia Richardson, Philip Richter, and Judy Werner Board Members Absent: Chester Weber, Misdee Miller, and Michael Pollard Staff Present: Colby Connell, Will Connell, Matt Fine, David Harris, Sonja Keating, Lori Nelson, Justin Provost, Stephen Schumacher, and Karen Adams 1. Roll Call and Determination of a Quorum. Mrs. Tauber called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. EDT. Following a call of the roll, it was noted that a quorum was present. 2. Adoption of Agenda. Mrs. Tauber stated that two items have been added to the agenda for the board s consideration. The first is Approval of Post Time Productions for Learning Center, for discussion under the subtopic of the General Counsel report. The second addition is item 12.4, Approval of the Reining Sport Committee. Mrs. Green moved and Mrs. Werner seconded the motion to adopt the revised agenda. There was no further discussion or revisions and the motion carried unanimously. 3. President s Opening Remarks. Mrs. Tauber congratulated our Olympic riders, coaches, USET Foundation, staff and fans for a very successful Games bringing home medals in each discipline: Eventing Individual Bronze, Dressage Team Bronze, and Jumping Team Silver. She wished the Para-Equestrian riders good luck for successful Paralympic Games. She reported that committee reseating work has begun with transition to a newly seated President in January. Last, Mrs. Tauber wished all breeds and disciplines the best of luck at the many Championships to come over the next couple of months. 4. Conflict of Interest Declaration. Ms. Keating requested that Directors declare conflicts concerning any item on the agenda at this time. Keating noted that Mrs. Miller has a conflict with agenda item 10, but does not plan to be on the call today. Ms. 1

2 5. Approval of Board meeting minutes June 20 and 21, Mrs. Richardson noted some typographical errors for correction. Mrs. Haddad Staller moved and Mrs. Richardson seconded approval of the Board meeting minutes of June 20 and 21, 2016 as corrected. There was no further discussion and the motion passed, with Mrs. Green and Mr. di Grazia abstaining. 6. Consideration of Rule Change Proposals. Extraordinary Rule Change proposals Mrs. Green moved and Mrs. Haddad Staller seconded the motion to put all the extraordinary rules changes on the floor for discussion. There was no comment and the motion carried unanimously. Tracking ID No The board felt this rule change was unclear in its calculation language of age. Following discussion, the motion to refer this rule change to DR119.1 related to age in championship classes back to the Dressage Committee for clarification passed unanimously. Tracking ID No Mrs. Haddad Staller stated that this is the first year seven-year-olds in FEI Dressage match four to six-year-olds. Following discussion and the motion to approve this extraordinary rule change to DR119.10, age of horse, passed unanimously. Tracking ID No Mr. Connell clarified that this change aligns with the FEI loss of establishment rules stating that if a rider is disqualified, that rider must drop down a level and must re-establish to return to a higher level. There was no further discussion and the motion to approve this extraordinary rule change to EV105.1 passed unanimously. Tracking ID No There was no discussion and the motion to approve this extraordinary rule change to PF144, Amateur classes, passed unanimously. FEI Rule Change Tracking ID No Mrs. Green moved and Mrs. Werner seconded approval of this FEI rule change to JP Appendix A for Jumper schooling rules. There was no further discussion and the motion passed unanimously. 7. Consideration of Bylaw Amendment. Ms. Goth moved and Mrs. Green seconded approval of the amendment to Bylaw 303 which proposes a staggered term for Independent Director seats beginning in Following discussion, the motion carried unanimously. 8. Presidential Modification Summary Report. A report of Presidential Modifications granted since the last meeting was presented to the Board for informational purposes. Mr. Connell confirmed that the sport department has drafted rule changes to permit the use of nose nets, when a current year veterinarian letter is supplied to the show steward, in Dressage and Eventing to reduce the number of modifications. 2

3 9. CEO Report. Mr. Moroney expanded on his written report, noting that the budget process is beginning. We will take a new approach in 2017 looking at comparable years past spending and draft a full-year projection. The Budget & Finance committee will provide preliminary budgets to each Council in which they will allocate programs. Wish list items will be noted and may be granted if additional funding is available. The plan for allocation of revenues across the three Councils will be revamped. Mr. Moroney said he had a very productive meeting earlier today with the Licensed Officials Co-Chairs and staff on creating a better licensing process for our officials. In 2018, we will separate the Horse of the Year Awards Gala from the USEF Annual meeting. The two events are not linked and the timing and location is not ideal for award recipients to attend. We will instead focus the gala in popular locations at a more convenient time of the year for participants. Last, Mr. Moroney stated that additional time has been given to the deadline for enrollment into the Performance Horse Registry and Silver Stirrups Awards to December 1, Our horse services staff spent much of their time on these programs with little growth and at the expense of other services. 10. General Counsel Report. Ms. Keating reported that there is no pending litigation at this time. All lawsuits have been resolved favorable to the Federation. She reported that the litigation in FL between Bellissimo and the Jacobs/Morrisseys is still pending. The defendants, in their Answer, identified USEF as an indispensable and only proper party but they filed an Amended Answer and removed this assertion. USEF is not a named party at this time. Ms. Keating stated that as reported as a possibility at the last board meeting, legal expenses have now exceeded budget. The US Center for Safe Sport entity that will handle all claims of sexualized misconduct for the USOC National Governing Bodies will launch in January This will require changes to our policies and Bylaws which Ms. Keating will present in January. Ms. Keating also reminded the Board that we will be assessed a fee in the amount of $45, for each year for three years. This fee is due in January. Ms. Keating stated that the Nominating Committee will be accepting nominations for the two Independent Director seats on the board. One Director will have a two-year term and the second a four-year term. Approval of the 2016 Athlete Election Timeline. Mr. Kessler moved and Mrs. Green seconded approval of the 2016 Athlete Election Timeline. There was no discussion and the motion carried unanimously. Approval of Post Time Productions - Learning Center. Ms. Keating stated that because Mrs. Miller is a principal of the business, this is considered a related-party transaction under USEF s Bylaws. Mr. Moroney explained that the marketing team solicited and received several proposals for production services. We decided to use companies based on their experience with the breed or discipline and other production services. We are initially contracting with four companies and Post Time has been identified as one of these companies. Mr. Moroney sought approval from the Board to enter into this agreement. Mrs. Werner moved and Mrs. Green seconded approval to engage Post Time Productions to produce videos for the Learning Center. Following discussion, the motion passed with Mr. Moroney abstaining. 3

4 11. Marketing Update. Ms. Connell stated that equestrian is on a positive trend and a huge boost in visibility from the Olympic Games and the FEI Two Hearts media push. Our social engagement in 2016 shows increases in Facebook likes, Instagram and Twitter followers and Snapchat views. The USEF Network has increased page views and plays per event. We are working on attracting new sponsors and several proposals are currently out. Ms. Connell noted that as part of the strategic plan, the AFG firm has been hired to work on the Joy campaign. A new logo is being developed as well as a branding strategy. A target of 50 videos will be produced as an initial placement in the Learning Center along with affiliate and partner content. Ms. Lowell has been very involved with these projects. The new website will be unveiled at the Annual meeting. The new website will enhance the external user experience, adding a new benefit of membership, the Learning Center, which will house a content library of educational topics, and full access to the USEF Network through member portal. Mr. Kessler noted that there will be grant and sponsorship opportunities available for the 100 th anniversary of the Federation and the Learning Center. He will follow up with Mr. Johnson and the Foundation. 12. International Disciplines Council Report. Mr. Mattingley congratulated staff for their hard work and the riders and coaches for their tremendous accomplishments in Rio and wished the Paralympians luck for their upcoming Games. Many sport rule changes are slated to be reviewed and decided upon at the FEI General Assembly in November. The proposed changes will affect the format of the Olympic disciplines. Mr. Mattingley stated that discussion with the Driving affiliate, American Driving Society, to complete an affiliate agreement continues. He remains hopeful that a successful negotiation will result Approval of the Driving Sport Committee. Mrs. Green moved and Mrs. Werner seconded approval of the Driving Sport Committee. There was no discussion and the motion passed, with Mr. Johnson abstaining Approval of the Endurance Sport Committee. Mr. Kessler moved and Mrs. Haddad Staller seconded approval of the Endurance Sport Committee. There was no discussion and the motion passed unanimously Approval of the 2017 Eventing Gold Cup Signature Series. Mr. Kessler moved and Mrs. Madden seconded approval of the 2017 Eventing Gold Cup Signature Series. Mr. Moroney commended Ms. Keating on her work with the USEA that led to the memorandum of understanding he intended to execute today. The hope is to reinvigorate the Series, with the USEF name leading the Series title, and no monetary obligations to the Federation. We have agreed to provide marketing staff support for promotion and coordination of sponsorships. Mr. Johnson noted that the Foundation may be able to provide support for a special series as this many be of interest to certain donors. There was no further discussion and the motion passed, with Mr. Moroney abstaining Approval of the Reining Sport Committee. Mrs. Richardson moved and Mr. Richter seconded approval of the Reining Sport Committee. There was no discussion and the motion passed, with Mr. Kyle abstaining. 4

5 13. National Breeds & Disciplines Council Report. Ms. Babick stated her written report is complete and she had no additional topics to report on at this time. 14. Old Business. There was no old business. 15. New Business. There was no new business. 16. Executive Session. At 4:43 p.m. EDT, the Board moved into Executive Session, with only Ms. Keating remaining on the call with the Board members. Minutes from the Executive Session are separate from these. 17. Adjourn. The Board adjourned following the completion of Executive session. Signed and submitted: Karen Adams Recording Secretary 5

UNITED STATES EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING GLADSTONE, NEW JERSEY MONDAY, JUNE 20, :00 P.M.

UNITED STATES EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING GLADSTONE, NEW JERSEY MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016 1:00 P.M. EDT MINUTES Board Members Present: Chrystine Tauber, Elisabeth Goth, Chester Weber,