2020 Member Survey
(Survey is at the bottom of the page)
GENERAL INFORMATION:
We are in need of adjusting the Schooling Show aspect of our organization. The social affair and Recognized Division aspects of the organization will not need to be changed.
Due to a low rate of participation during the 2019 schooling show season, subsequent financial difficulties exist and offering schooling shows in the way we have been doing for the last 5 years is not possible for the immediate future. Essentially, the expense of having shows with so few entries in a venue like the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, with judges that qualify to officiate at the highest levels of Dressage, is just cost prohibitive at this time. The 2020 Executive Board has voted to suspend the schooling show offerings for the 2020 season with plans to potentially resume schooling shows in 2021.
Over the past few years, our schooling show Showposiums have been financially subsidized by a few very generous individuals who agreed to a 5-year financing plan along with portions of support from our Society Patron Memberships each year. These donations made it possible to host the shows the past 5 years when our numbers were small and still offer the high-quality judges, at the best venue in our area, for two days of great test riding – WITH amazing feedback from judges following test rides; all for only the price of a normal schooling show test fee at Membership rates. Show weekends also offered a formal Judge lecture on Saturdays and the opportunity to formally lesson the Friday before the show, at cost, in order for our Membership to take full advantage of having these talented individuals share their knowledge base with Society Members and riders at no financial benefit to our GMO. This format provided our Membership with a very special opportunity to learn and ride competitively and then learn some more - all at a remarkably low price point. However, the financial cost to the Society itself is high, especially for this past year. In 2019, with the number of riders that participated per show the average costs amounted to $300. - $500 per person to show in these events! We did not break even on any of the shows in 2019 and this deficit has decreased our financial reserves to the bare minimum. Due to this occurrence, this is not a sustainable situation no matter how popular and well-loved the Showposium format is among our schooling show Membership. Efforts to bring in more Members included suggestions such as appealing to Eventers, reaching out to friends and colleagues of Members asking them to join, and lowering some fees while raising others. None of these suggestions has met the enthusiastic support of all of our Membership and though promises and good intentions have been displayed, the time is now for booking judges, venues and dates. We cannot wait any longer for a wave of Membership to improve our financial standing to the levels required to book and host the 2020 schooling show season. Of course large patronages could change that situation foe 2021. A number of gifts at the Society Patron Membership of $500 or more might help us back on our feet enough to proceed normally for organizing next Season with the Showposium format at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. However, we would be facing the same situation if schooling show rider participation numbers do not increase significantly by mid-year. For the 2020 Membership year we will focus on ridden clinics, some with the ride-a-test format and other educational offerings and gatherings. We will offer the Schooling Division to function the same as the Recognized Division and will accept scores from any schooling show for our 2020 Year-end Awards program. Currently we have clinics scheduled for February 29th with Beth Barrett, March 28th with Eugene Abello and April 18th with Simone Vanbelligen. We anticipate offering more clinics in September and November.
So… with all of this in mind, we have formulated some questions for you to consider for the upcoming Membership year. This is an attempt to get our past Members and Current Members input on what we CAN do to keep the Society in the ”schooling show business” with awards for all Members and to continue our most important goal – Education of the ways of Classical Dressage. We thank you for your participation and hope you will understand and will try a potential new direction for the Society. We hope that you will see value in the 2020 format and retain or renew your Membership with the First Coast Classical Dressage Society for 2020 and beyond.
Sincerely,
The 2020 Society Executive Board
President: Lisa Beardsley
Vice President: Linda Dennis
Secretary: Mary Glissman-Paul
Treasurer: Brenda Harley
General Board: Barbara Cadwell
Advisory Board: Mary O’Brien
There are 3 options for Schooling Shows for 2021.
Option 1:
Continue the she Showposiums as they were previously offered at JEC if Society Patron Memberships for 2020 allow. We will need $3000 - $6000 to begin to schedule these events.
We can have 1 or 2 days showing. 1 day of showing will create some issues with year-end awards rules and will possibly prevent hosting the Judge Lecture Series after the show concludes.
Option 2:
We have the option of utilizing Member's private farms to allow Membership numbers time to grow. This will most likely mean a trailer-in situation in most cases.
Option 3:
The final option for Schooling show Education is to continue to accept scores from other GMO's schooling shows or private organization's schooling shows with our "Classical Coach" in attendance at select shows who will provide feedback following rides and will give a lecture during lunch on the Showgrounds. Show dates will be determined.
In any situation: the Society will continue to provide educational opportunities based in Classical Dressage Theory and will continue to support riders embracing this approach to training and competition.
We are in need of adjusting the Schooling Show aspect of our organization. The social affair and Recognized Division aspects of the organization will not need to be changed.
Due to a low rate of participation during the 2019 schooling show season, subsequent financial difficulties exist and offering schooling shows in the way we have been doing for the last 5 years is not possible for the immediate future. Essentially, the expense of having shows with so few entries in a venue like the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, with judges that qualify to officiate at the highest levels of Dressage, is just cost prohibitive at this time. The 2020 Executive Board has voted to suspend the schooling show offerings for the 2020 season with plans to potentially resume schooling shows in 2021.
Over the past few years, our schooling show Showposiums have been financially subsidized by a few very generous individuals who agreed to a 5-year financing plan along with portions of support from our Society Patron Memberships each year. These donations made it possible to host the shows the past 5 years when our numbers were small and still offer the high-quality judges, at the best venue in our area, for two days of great test riding – WITH amazing feedback from judges following test rides; all for only the price of a normal schooling show test fee at Membership rates. Show weekends also offered a formal Judge lecture on Saturdays and the opportunity to formally lesson the Friday before the show, at cost, in order for our Membership to take full advantage of having these talented individuals share their knowledge base with Society Members and riders at no financial benefit to our GMO. This format provided our Membership with a very special opportunity to learn and ride competitively and then learn some more - all at a remarkably low price point. However, the financial cost to the Society itself is high, especially for this past year. In 2019, with the number of riders that participated per show the average costs amounted to $300. - $500 per person to show in these events! We did not break even on any of the shows in 2019 and this deficit has decreased our financial reserves to the bare minimum. Due to this occurrence, this is not a sustainable situation no matter how popular and well-loved the Showposium format is among our schooling show Membership. Efforts to bring in more Members included suggestions such as appealing to Eventers, reaching out to friends and colleagues of Members asking them to join, and lowering some fees while raising others. None of these suggestions has met the enthusiastic support of all of our Membership and though promises and good intentions have been displayed, the time is now for booking judges, venues and dates. We cannot wait any longer for a wave of Membership to improve our financial standing to the levels required to book and host the 2020 schooling show season. Of course large patronages could change that situation foe 2021. A number of gifts at the Society Patron Membership of $500 or more might help us back on our feet enough to proceed normally for organizing next Season with the Showposium format at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. However, we would be facing the same situation if schooling show rider participation numbers do not increase significantly by mid-year. For the 2020 Membership year we will focus on ridden clinics, some with the ride-a-test format and other educational offerings and gatherings. We will offer the Schooling Division to function the same as the Recognized Division and will accept scores from any schooling show for our 2020 Year-end Awards program. Currently we have clinics scheduled for February 29th with Beth Barrett, March 28th with Eugene Abello and April 18th with Simone Vanbelligen. We anticipate offering more clinics in September and November.
So… with all of this in mind, we have formulated some questions for you to consider for the upcoming Membership year. This is an attempt to get our past Members and Current Members input on what we CAN do to keep the Society in the ”schooling show business” with awards for all Members and to continue our most important goal – Education of the ways of Classical Dressage. We thank you for your participation and hope you will understand and will try a potential new direction for the Society. We hope that you will see value in the 2020 format and retain or renew your Membership with the First Coast Classical Dressage Society for 2020 and beyond.
Sincerely,
The 2020 Society Executive Board
President: Lisa Beardsley
Vice President: Linda Dennis
Secretary: Mary Glissman-Paul
Treasurer: Brenda Harley
General Board: Barbara Cadwell
Advisory Board: Mary O’Brien
There are 3 options for Schooling Shows for 2021.
Option 1:
Continue the she Showposiums as they were previously offered at JEC if Society Patron Memberships for 2020 allow. We will need $3000 - $6000 to begin to schedule these events.
We can have 1 or 2 days showing. 1 day of showing will create some issues with year-end awards rules and will possibly prevent hosting the Judge Lecture Series after the show concludes.
Option 2:
We have the option of utilizing Member's private farms to allow Membership numbers time to grow. This will most likely mean a trailer-in situation in most cases.
Option 3:
The final option for Schooling show Education is to continue to accept scores from other GMO's schooling shows or private organization's schooling shows with our "Classical Coach" in attendance at select shows who will provide feedback following rides and will give a lecture during lunch on the Showgrounds. Show dates will be determined.
In any situation: the Society will continue to provide educational opportunities based in Classical Dressage Theory and will continue to support riders embracing this approach to training and competition.
