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From the Executive Director

The past year, from July 2000 to June 2001, was a period of economic growth for our association. There were increases in membership dues, trade show, and sponsorship income. As of October 2001, AHP membership is 300 with more members expected to join by the end of the year. These figures are consistent with membership figures at the same time last year. In 2001, two International Members were added to the roster. Endurance World is a bimonthly publication published in the United Arab Emirates and Arndt Bronkhorst is a freelance photographer from the Netherlands who attended the seminar in San Mateo in June. The combined circulation of all AHP member publications has increased to 3,181,639 million.

The 2001 Annual Awards Contest dropped to 746 entries from 811, however only three less members participated this year compared to 2000. The Paint Horse Journal earned the coveted General Excellence Overall Publication award. Affiliate members who are freelance writers will be allowed to submit their own entries in the editorial content classes for 2002. Entries must be sent as a tear sheet only and be accompanied by a letter of written support from the publisher. The Awards Committee is seeking a name for our annual award, like the Emmy or Oscar, and any suggestions from members may be forwarded to ahorsepubs@aol.com.

Maggie Jo Martin, a senior at Kansas State University was named the 2001 Student Award Winner. Maggie became the tenth college student to earn the award since its inception in 1993. This year, two other applicants received special recognition. Amanda Luchsinger, a senior at Rocky Mountain College, was named First Runner-Up and received a $100 cash award. Kate Winther, a senior at Ohio University, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism/Honors Tutorial College, was named Second Runner-Up and received a $50 cash award. All 2001 Student Award applicants received a complimentary student membership and seminar registration. In addition to Maggie, three other Student Members — Amanda Luchsinger, Joni Gleason, and Janna Krajci — attended the Golden Opportunity 2001 Seminar. The ninth annual silent auction and raffle raised over $3,600 with proceeds benefitting the Student Award Fund.

The AHP Golden Opportunity 2001 Seminar held at the San Mateo Marriott, in San Mateo, California, was a success with an attendance of 144 and an overall seminar rating of 4.7 with a score of 5 being excellent. Camaraderie among members was at an all-time high as attendees mixed and mingled with new and old friends throughout the three-day conference. The 2002 Seminar is scheduled for June 20-22, 2002, at the Park City Marriott in Park City, Utah. The Board of Directors is currently reviewing four hotel properties in mid-Atlantic states for the 2003 Seminar, which will be held June 19-21, 2003. A final decision will be made after the Board Meeting in February 2002.

Corporate sponsorships in 2001 included several new sponsors and brought in over $31,000, which was an increase of $10,000 over last year. In addition, sponsors were very generous with their time and gift items.

Pfizer Animal Health introduced the Equine Industry Vision Award at the AHP seminar in San Mateo at an inaugural breakfast. Pfizer Animal Health has partnered with American Horse Publications to develop the Equine Industry Vision Award. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding leadership, creativity and meritorious contributions in the equine industry. In order to showcase these achievements across the country, this distinguished award will be given at the AHP annual seminar. Anyone is eligible to be nominated, or to nominate a candidate for the award and nominees may include individuals and organizations. Candidates may be considered for a single outstanding visionary achievement or for sustained outstanding contributions that have made a profound impact on the equine industry. Nomination ballots are available by contacting the AHP office.

In addition to a review of all current programs, the Board of Directors is working on several projects for the coming year including a membership survey, the development of a scholarship program for AHP member families, and a student-mentoring program.

At its June meeting, the Board members discussed the impact of the current economy on our association and its members. All directors recognized the need to continue to grow our services and improve benefits as well as to keep member costs affordable. This directive is even more important since the events of September 11. In the months ahead, we will be faced with many new challenges, both personally and professionally. There is nothing more powerful than unity of purpose and numbers to preserve our freedoms and meet our objectives. The AHP Board will continue to work toward providing all members with services they can use and afford while remaining true to AHP's mission to improve communication and cooperation through education and networking within the equine publishing industry.

Members are welcome to contact me or any of the 2001-2002 Committee Chairmen listed below with their suggestions or ideas.

Membership Review

Dean Hoffman

dhoffman@ustrotting.com

 

 

Promotions

Barrie Reightler

breightler@mdhorsebreeders.com

 

 

Student Award

Doug Hayes

dhayes@aqha.org

 

Sponsorship

Equine Industry Vision Award

Carl Mullins

carlcowboypublishing@hotmail.com

 

Awards Contest

Nominating Committee

Warren Wilson

wilson@horsetrader.com

 

Seminar 2002

Frank Lessiter

lessitef@lesspub.com

 

Growth Study

(Membership Survey)

Deb Taylor

dtaylor@ca.uky.edu

 

Student Mentoring

Connie Lechleitner

ohionews@oqha.com

 

Student Award Fundraiser

Sue Copeland

smcopeland@aol.com

 

Revenue Growth

New Media

Stacy Bearse

sbearse@bloodhorse.com

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 2002 Seminar Slated For Park City, UT

Olympic hopefuls will not be the only visitors headed to Park City, Utah, in 2002. American Horse Publications members will be arriving in June to network and learn from each other during the AHP annual seminar scheduled for June 20-22, at the Park City Marriott.

Park City is conveniently located just a 45 minute drive from Salt Lake International Airport, a hub for Delta and Southwest, with over 350 flights arriving daily from every major airline. All Resort Express offers shared van shuttle service from the Salt Lake City airport to the Park City Marriott for $27 each way. Once you’re there, restaurants, shopping and recreation are easily accessible by rental car or via the free in-town transit bus system, which stops in front of the hotel.

In February, the historic mountain resort town will be host to 26 medal events in 78 competitions during the 2002 Olympics. The Utah Olympic Park is host to the bobsled, luge, skeleton, ski jumping, and the Nordic combined (jumping portion) competitions. For the past few summers, tours have been offered daily and wheeled bobsled rides have been offered to the public for a fee. These self-steering bobsleds hold four passengers and reach speeds of 60 mph.

AHP seminar headquarters is the newly remodeled Park City Marriott located in the heart of Park City. The Marriott offers all the services and amenities you expect in a full-service conference hotel including: in-room service, atrium pool and jetted hot tub, cable TV, lounge, non-smoking rooms, valet laundry service, underground parking, executive business center, in-room phone modem ports, in-room coffee makers and hair dryers, exercise facilities, concierge/bellman services, and high-speed Internet access. AHP group rates for Wednesday, June 19, through Sunday, June 23, are $79 single or double. Additional person charge is $15. An executive suite rate is available for $129 and a corner suite for $159.

The Park City Seminar Committee is planning the activities and sessions. If you have any suggestions for activities and/or speakers and topics, please contact Committee Chairman, Frank Lessiter at 262-782-4480 or by email: lessitef@lesspub.com or Chris Brune at 386-760-7743 or by email: ahorsepubs@aol.com.

To start planning your trip to Park City, visit these websites:

q       Park City Visitors Bureau (www.parkcityinfo.com)

q       Park City Marriott (www.parkcityutah.com)

q       All Resort Express (www.allresort.com)

q       Or, call the Utah Olympic Park at 435-658-4200 

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2002 Awards Contest

The Annual Awards Contest for 2002 is just around the corner and it's time to start selecting your best entries published in 2001.

The Awards Committee is reviewing the current contest rules and procedures for improvement, clarity, fairness, and variety. Rules for the 2002 Annual Awards Contest for material published in 2001 will be sent to members in early December. The deadline date for entries will be Wednesday, January 16, 2002.

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AHP Who’s Who

Brock Schmaltz has been named advertising director for Hoof Beats and the USTA website. Brock has a lifelong interest in harness racing and has worked at Rosecroft Raceway, at the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association and American Horse Council.

The Eastern Equerry Magazine is pleased to welcome Helen Peppe of South Portland, Maine as their new Managing Editor. Helen is also a freelance writer and photographer.  Her short stories, essays, and articles have appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines, including the Chronicle of the Horse, Dressage Today, Equine Journal, Horse Journal Quarterly, Lynx Eye, and Cats Magazine.  Her photographs are featured in calendars, books, magazines, on book and magazine covers, as well as products for national businesses and corporations such as Blue Seal Feed grain bags, treat boxes, Tiz Wiz advertisements, and Best Friends Equine Supply product information. Author of the Maine Stable Guide, her writing and photographs have both won awards and recognition throughout the United States and Canada.

Horsemen's Roundup, a monthly nine-year-old statewide equine newspaper, has been purchased by Arkansas Times from Publisher John Hammes and Editor Nancy A. Shefflette. Arkansas Times begins publishing Horsemen's Roundup beginning with the December 1, 2001, issue. The issue will be redesigned, additional distribution outlets will be added, and the circulation will be increased to more than 7500. New contact information: Katherine Allen, 201 East Markham, Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201; Phone: 501-375-2985; Fax: 501-375-3623; E-mail: Katherine@arktimes.com.

Global Ranch, Inc., has expanded its staff with the introduction of an editorial assistant and client services representative, Stacey Robertson, who brings an extensive hunter/jumper background to the company. Stacey will graduate from the University of Kansas next May with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. She has ridden horses for 14 years, and has been a hunter/jumper competitor for the last six years.  Combining both her journalism and equestrian interests, along with a love for the mountains, brought Stacey to Denver and her new position at Global Ranch, Inc.  As the only hunter/jumper competitive staff member, she will help to expand the scope of the English section of the web site.

Also joining Global Ranch, Inc., is Darlene Dale, as Director of Sales. Darlene will manage several national sales accounts for Global Ranch, Inc. as well as oversee the sales staff. Darlene has 15 years corporate and marketing communications experience. She owned and operated the marketing communications group, Sterling Communications, in northern California, which specialized in new company product development, corporate identity, and public relations.  With over 30 years experience riding and showing western performance horses, Darlene brought her passion and career together within the equine industry five years ago.  She launched a start-up equine business management group called Boss Management Systems.  She then took the sales executive position for the West Coast with Cowboy Tack, Inc., where she was responsible for establishing new accounts and growing the territory as well as consulting on corporate marketing issues. She was then offered their number one territory in the southwest and moved to Weatherford, Texas.  Darlene is also the past Executive Director for the Western and English Retailers Association.

Do you have news you wish to share with AHP members? Send news releases and updates to AHP For the record, Chris Brune, Editor, 49 Spinnaker Circle, South Daytona, FL 32119; or fax (386) 760-7728 or email AHorsePubs@aol.com. 

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Industry News

Majestic White Horses premiere scheduled for November 15

Fernbank Museum will host the National Premiere of Majestic White Horses on November 15, 2001 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  It is open to members of the press who wish to attend—they simply ask that you contact them with your media credentials so that they can issue you an invitation.  Members of the general public who wish to attend may purchase tickets at $15 per person. Contact: Marissa Vivona, Director of Marketing & Communications, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 767 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30307; ph. 404.929.6364; fax 404.378.8140; marissa.vivona@fernbank.edu

 

Nominations for USA Equestrian 2001 Media Awards

USA Equestrian (formerly AHSA) is accepting nominations for the 2001 Annual Media Awards. The deadline for nominations to be received in the Lexington office is Friday, November 23, 2001.  A new category has been introduced this year for Internet Media in response to the increase in nominations over the past few years. The six categories are: Equestrian Print Media Publication, Equestrian Print Media Single Article, Non-Equestrian Print Media, Internet Media, Broadcast Media and Photography. A panel of media experts will judge the awards on November 30, 2001 and the winners will be notified by December 7, 2001. The 2001 USA Equestrian Awards for Media Excellence will be presented formally on the evening of Friday, January 12, 2002 at the 2002 USA Equestrian Annual Convention, Charlotte Hilton & Towers, Charlotte, NC.  The 2001 USA Equestrian Media Awards brochure and application form can be downloaded on the USA Equestrian web site at www.equestrian.org/marketing/mediaawards/mediaawards.asp and a hard copy is also available from the Communications Department.

 

Don Bell creates new artwork for NRHA

Artist Don Bell of Gainesville, Texas, has created a new graphite drawing called "All Angles" that depicts the different reining maneuvers. The framed original, which will hang in the National Reining Horse Association headquarters office, was donated by Bell to the association's newly formed National Reining Horse Sports Foundation. The NRHA will market prints and products from the piece. Prints will be available beginning at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in mid-October and at the National Reining Horse Association Futurity in November. Don Bell's work has been spotlighted in a number of national publications, including the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show program cover and has been featured in galleries that specialize in western art.

 

Equestrian community responds to tragedies

The equestrian community offers its deepest sympathy to those who are in mourning, offers gratitude to those who are bravely helping, and shares the feelings of shock and sadness with all the families and friends whose way of life was shaken by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. To honor the memory of those lost and to help those who are still suffering, USA Equestrian is proud to partner with its affiliates nationwide and establish the United Equestrian Relief Fund.  Managed by USA Equestrian, Inc., all contributions received will be directed to the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts in New York City and Washington, D.C. Contributions to the United Equestrian Relief Fund can be sent to:  United Equestrian Relief Fund, c/o USA Equestrian, 4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.

 

AAEP Convention will be held in November

Equine veterinarians from across the globe will gather in San Diego, California, for the 47th American Association of Equine Practitioners' Annual Convention on November 24-28, 2001. More than 2.500 practitioners attend the convention each year, making it the largest equine veterinary meeting in the world. Nearly 100 scientific sessions highlight this year's convention. Featured speakers include James N. Moore, DVM, PhD, one of the world's foremost authorities on equine gastrointestinal disease. Keynote speaker , Morgan MacArthur, DVM, will open the convention with his talk on managing the professional and personal demands of veterinary practice. Horseman's Day, the AAEP's daylong equine health seminar for horse owners, will be held Sunday, November 25. Convention attendees will also enjoy a sold-out trade show featuring the newest developments in veterinary medical technology, supplies and services. For more information about the AAEP Convention, call 859-233-0147 or visit their website at www.aaep.org. 

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AHP Welcomes New Members

To access New Member Profiles, visit the online membership directory.

 Publication Members  

q       Michigan Thoroughbred

q       The Morgan Horse

 Corporate Members

q       Integrated Marketing Group

 Student Member

q       Crystal Hendrickx

 For more information on AHP or any of its programs, contact:

AMERICAN HORSE PUBLICATIONS
49 Spinnaker Circle
South Daytona, FL 32119
Phone: 386-760-7743
Fax: 386-760-7728
E-mail: ahorsepubs@cfl.rr.com

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Revised: 05-07-01