NARHA News Masthead
In This Issue
NARHA on eBay
Discounted Store Items
Get a Member Contest
Region Rep Nominations Needed
Board Nominations Needed
Special Offer on Conference Registration
Region Conferences
Disaster Relief Fund
Equine Welfare Tip
Rally Promoting PTSD Awareness
Revocation of Tax-Exempt Status
Workshops and Certifications
Quick Links


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Support NARHA on eBay
You can now support NARHA on eBay! Donate 10 to 100 percent of any item up for sale and choose NARHA as your cause.  Click here for more information.

   

NARHA Store Items Discounted at Equestrian Collections

Many NARHA items are being offered at closeout prices at Equestrian Collections.com, including polo shirts, sweatshirts, window decals, and padfolios. Discounts of at least 30% are offered. Visit the store to see all the items!   

    

Member-Get-A-Member Drive
NARHA knows its current members are the best possible source for new members who could benefit from all NARHA has to offer. With our special Member-Get-A-Member drive, we've made referring colleagues to NARHA easier than ever! Click here to learn program details!

   

May 3, 2011

Seeking Region Representative Nominations

NARHA's annual nomination process for region representatives is under way. This year nominations are being accepted for odd-numbered regions: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11.  NARHA Region Representatives serve as ambassadors for the association and NARHA membership including recruiting, retaining and recognizing members; collaborating with groups in and outside of NARHA that can positively impact the success of NARHA members; leading NARHA recognition of center and individual members and participants; and helping to coordinate states, regions and NARHA communities into effective networking systems.

The requirements for NARHA Region Representatives include:
�    Be a current NARHA voting member (individual or life)
�    Be a NARHA member for at least two years prior to nomination with the exception that if the member expresses a strong interest in assisting and supporting NARHA and has already taken steps to do so, and that individual receives a recommendation from the current region representative and support from the region membership.
�    Have a strong interest in assisting and supporting NARHA's development and growth.
�    Is a resident within the region represented.
�    Is encouraged to represent and serve as a voice for one or more of the diverse communities in NARHA.
�    Is willing to be an advocate for members' success.
�    Is committed to active participation in volunteer activities.
�    Has access to email and other electronic support for communication ease.

Click here for a nomination form. Please have all nominations to your current region representative no later than June 1. The ballot for voting will be available in July.    

Attention NARHA Membership! Board Nominations Needed

In an effort to provide diversity and to maximize the effectiveness of the NARHA Board of Trustees, the Governance Committee is requesting NARHA members' help. The committee reviewed the current board matrix and came up with the areas we need to strengthen or in which we are lacking expertise on our board. The Governance Committee is charged with providing nominations of candidates who have skill sets in the following areas:

 

1. Financial experience, ideally CPA's with nonprofit experience,

2. Strong connections and networking in the corporate sector,

3. Business owners or corporate executives who have an interest in the NARHA mission,

4. Strong experience in national and/or international fundraising or development work,

5. Professionals in the medical, pharmaceutical or rehabilitation industries.


Please help by submitting names of prospective board members who you believe would be an asset to NARHA. Click here for the board job description and an application. Candidates should also include their resume. Names should be submitted to the Governance Committee by May 15, 2011.

    

Limited-Time Special Offer for Conference Registration
2011 conference logoWe are very excited to be able to offer our members a limited-time special registration fee for the 2011 NARHA National Conference and Annual Meeting. The limited-time online registration fee is $475 for NARHA members.

You won't be able to pick sessions yet, but we know that this conference will be an extraordinary experience that will include enhanced educational content, the annual awards banquet and the horse expo, which will be held at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park. You will have the opportunity to select specific sessions once they become available.

 

This offer is only available via online registration. No phone or fax orders will be accepted. Official online conference registration will begin in the summer of 2011. The 2011 summer issue of NARHA's Strides magazine will also include the hard-copy registration booklet for those preferring to register via fax or mail. 

        

This limited-time offer cannot be combined with any other discount offers (including the discount for Premier Accredited Centers). The offer expires July 5, 2011.

 

Click here to take advantage of the best savings for conference registration!

 

Book a room at the Hyatt Regency Lexington: (859) 253-1234 or click here to reserve a room online. Use code g-NARH.     

Region Conferences

NARHA Region 9 Conference, Hailey ID 

May 20-22, 2011

Hosted by Sagebrush Equine Training Center for the Handicapped

This is the last week to register for the NARHA Region 9 conference. The region 9 conference will go on as planned. You will not want to miss this event as you spend time with friends and colleagues while you also acquire your continuing education hours.

 

Registration will be open through May 6th so register now. Click here to download a registration form and email or fax it back to Jaime Covington at (303) 252-4610. Or you can register online

 

NARHA Region 7 Conference, Springfield, MO

July 29-31, 2011 

Save the date, July 29-31, for the upcoming NARHA Region 7 conference. Don't miss this event! Spend time with friends and colleagues while you also acquire continuing education. Registration will be open soon so look for information to be coming to you via email.  You can also check the regional conference section of our website.  

 

NARHA Disaster Relief Fund

We know that many areas of the United States have recently been hit with severe storms and tornadoes. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected.

 

This is a reminder that NARHA has a Disaster Relief Fund. Any NARHA center in good standing that is in immediate need of financial assistance due to a catastrophic disaster may apply through the NARHA Disaster Relief Fund Committee, attn: Director of Membership at info@narha.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The grant can fund any kind of expense relevant to NARHA Center programs. Click here for more information and to download the form.   

    

Equine Welfare Tip From the Equine Welfare Committee

The Right Horse for the Job   

By Heidi J. Potter, Equine Welfare Committee Member

It can be difficult to determine how much weight a horse can comfortably carry. We know to consider age, breed and physical condition. There is also the well-known statistic of horses being able to carry 20 percent of their body weight for tack and rider. However, another big consideration is the rider's physical ability. The feel of the weight the horse receives can differ greatly when you compare a rider with good balance and correct posture who supports herself, with a rider who does not. A large, well-balanced rider can be easier to carry than a smaller, ill-balanced rider.

A couple of analogies may help with this. For example, consider the 40 pound dog that turns into 80 pounds when you carry him toward a tub full of water. It's a pretty amazing transformation. Not only does he feel heavier, but the difficulty increases when he begins to squirm and struggle. You may feel like you need four arms and a lot more muscle to get the job done.

Another analogy is the act of lifting and carrying a child. The willing and/or awake child reaches up to you. Effortlessly, you swing them up and onto your hip. Compare lifting and carrying that same child while asleep or in full-blown temper tantrum mode. One supports his own weight and maintains his own balance. The other does not support his own weight and may also be creating additional movement. Even though the actual weight has not changed, the feeling of the weight you carry is very different.

In therapeutic riding situations, instructors often deal with students who are unable to support themselves and who struggle with balance. This puts an extra burden on the horse. It is important to consider this when determining the right horse for the job.

       

Rally to Commemorate Veterans and Promote Awareness of PTSD 

Honor for ALL will be hosting "Visible Honor for Invisible Wounds," a rally to commemorate the first anniversary of National Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day as well as promote awareness of PTSD and its effects on our veterans and society in general. The event will be Saturday, June 25, 10 a.m., at Upper Senate Park, US Capitol Grounds in Washington, DC.

Any combat veteran or representative of a combat veteran having received a wound, visible or invisible, as a result of participation in armed conflict in defense of our nation may receive VIP passes by contacting Karen Ann Grey: k.a.grey@iup.edu, at Honor for ALL. Click here for information about Honor for ALL.       

What You Need to Know About the Revocation of Tax-Exempt Status  

The IRS will soon release the first Nonfiler Revocation List, identifying nonprofits whose tax-exempt status has been revoked for failure to file an annual return. Even if your organization is not on the list, the revocations could affect you.

 

As many as 321,000 nonprofits may appear on the Nonfiler list. Anything affecting that many organizations has the potential to have broad impact throughout the nonprofit sector. Download "What Automatic Revocation of Nonprofit Tax Exemptions Means for You: A Review for Nonprofits, Grantmakers, and Donors" to learn more.

 

Written by GuideStar staff, this short but thorough report:

  • outlines the reasons behind the revocations;
  • analyzes by organization type the nonprofits the IRS has identified as being at risk;
  • defines how the revocations will affect different audiences; and
  • lists resources where readers can get more information. 
Workshops and Certifications
Unless otherwise noted, contact Tara McChesney at (800) 369-7433, ext. 114 for further information. All dates are subject to change. To register for an event, please contact the host site directly.

NARHA Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning Workshop and Practical Skills Testing
May 12-15
North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center in Mebane, NC

If you are interested in attending, please call the center immediately as they need more people to sign up in order to hold this event.


May 26-29
Ride On Center for Kids in Georgetown, TX

June 18-21
Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation, Inc., in Boxford, MA

October 19-22
Hearts and Horses in Loveland, CO

NARHA Advanced Level Certifications
April 29-May 1
Brave Hearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center in Harvard, IL

May 20-22
Three Gaits, INC in Oregon, WI 

June 1-3
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center Inc in Old Lyme, CT

July 15-16
Ride On Center for Kids in Georgetown, TX
 
NARHA Driving Workshop and Certification combination event
Workshop is held the first 3 days; certification is held the last 2 days
November 5-9
Gayla Driving Center/U.S. Driving for the Disabled, Inc., in Lexington, KY

If you wish to attend, please call the center and get your spot paid for!


NARHA Driving Workshop only  June 2-4      
Horse Power in Temple, NH

This event has been canceled. 


June 20-22
Brave Hearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center in Harvard, IL

If you are interested in attending, please call the center immediately as they need more people to sign up in order to hold this event.

 
NARHA Vaulting Workshop and Certification
Workshop is held first 3 days, and certification is held on the last day
August 25-28
Riding to the Top in Windham, ME

Mentor Training Workshop
May 19-20
Sagebrush Equine Training Center for the Handicapped in Hailey, ID

Please visit the NARHA calendar for a list of 2011 Registered On-Site Workshops and Certifications.

Please direct correspondence about this newsletter to NARHA News coordinator. NARHA News is a benefit of NARHA membership. No portion of this publication may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, scanned or electronic process without written permission from NARHA. NARHA reserves the right to reject, accept and edit submitted material. NARHA News is intended as an information exchange and an opportunity for communication for members in the field of equine assisted activities. The opinions, practices or products presented in NARHA News do not necessarily reflect NARHA policy, imply NARHA endorsementor comply with NARHA standards.

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