PasoVoice.Com :: Committee / Chair: Youth -- MEYER, CHRISTY

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1. Committee / Chair: Youth -- MEYER, CHRISTY -- Chair

Committee Members: Courtney Bedell, Clarissa (Schwartz) Nieves, Alejandra Escudero, Dianne Meyer, Debbie Wolkowicz, Robbyn Young, Helen Frost

2. Meeting : Annual Membership Convention - 1/24/2009 - 1/24/2009 - Four Points by Sheraton Orlando Studio City

3. Goal Statement and Strategies:

* In May of 2008, Ms. Christy Meyer took over as Chair of the Youth Committee when fellow co-chair Mr. Carlos Tobon resigned.

* We raised money to help off-set costs for Team USA at the Youth Mundial in Medellin, Colombia so that the US could be well represented at the only International competition offered to PFHA youth.

* We "Highlighted" the Youth at the Grand National Championship show by having 2 days with only Youth classes and adding for the first time ever-5 Youth championship classes that were very well recieved.

4. Revision of Goals:

* We have established a "task force" for fudraisers regionally and Nationally to provide for future Youth activities.

* Still "Highlighting" the Youth at the Grand National Championship show but mixing them with Amatuer Owner classes and Pro classes to provide more rest for the Youth horses and allows the youth and parents of the youth to be able to enjoy and learn from the professional classes.

5. Accomplishments:

*Team USA was very well represented at the Youth Mundial taking 13 great quality riders to Medellin, Colombia. We had 3 riders ribbon/medal including, Debbie Wolkowicz (Silver Medal on a troche/galope gelding), Michelle Gomez (Bronze Medal on a Paso Fino mare), Daniel Lodono (4th on Paso Fino Mare), and Christine L. Meyer and Isis Beltran made the first cut in classes with 40 plus kids. Congratulations to Meredith Cole, Katherine Echevarria, Emily Vasquez, Kellier Rucker, Katherine Martin, Lysandra Venegas, Robert Trindad, and Joseph Rivera. Coaches were Christy Meyer, Carlos Tobon, and Diego Bravo. Thanks to Ms. Mary Emmons and Dr. Jose Laracuente for thier great support.

Thanks to Ms. Zarella Olson, Team USA had the opportunity of a life-time, and attended a private showing the Jiro Chica farm (One of the first and largest Paso Fino farms in Colombia). It was an amazing experience for the kids, coaches, and the parents to be able to share in all of the Paso Fino heritage. The team also recieved a signed keepsake Capuchino book from Zarella.

*At the 2008 Grand National Championship show, the number of exhibitors in the Youth division was the highest it has ever been. The youth overall enjoyed the different schedule with all of the youth classes held in 2 days, however, according to our "youth survey," the championship classes for them were unamimously the biggest hit!

6. Critique of ActivitIes:

* We needed more time to raise money for Youth activities (starting in May did not allow us much time) so we are starting very early this year with a sponsor letter going out to major corporations outside of the PFHA breed. This allows us to promote Paso Fino's and focus much more on our Youth. As we all know, this whole thing starts with them. If we do not protect our Youth or keep them interested in the Paso Fino breed, it will be detramental to our future as a whole!

* We need to stop looking at the youth as only a "money maker" and realize that great things come from kids being involved with horses. Horses teach them discipline, responbility, and caring among many other traits.

7. Recommendation For Goals For Following Year:

* The committee is working on new ideas/activities to attract more youth on a region and national levels.

* We appreciate the Board for allowing the committee to try something new at Nationals. If we can keep up this motto, then we can learn a lot about what works and what doesn't. The main thing is that we are working with the Youth and parents and making adjustments to better PFHA programs where needed!

8. Policy Changes:

* N/A

9. What would have helped you do a better job?:

* Open-mindedness is a great thing when dealing with the Youth. We have to do what it takes to keep them interested and excited about this breed to protect the Paso Fino's future.

* Money is unfortuntaley a necessity that we can not do without. Hopefully, we will be able to get some really good corporate sponsors outside of our breed interested in helping the kids of PFHA.