Third Quarter 2024 Board Meeting Highlights

Beautiful Broadmoor Farm (photo by Carrie Mortensen)

Below are highlights from the AMHA Board of Directors Third Quarter Meeting which took place on Saturday, September 7, 2024, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. A special thanks to Mike Goebig and Dwayne Knowles for hosting the board at their beautiful Broadmoor Farm Friday evening.

Administrative

The AMHA Office is busy with preparations for Grand National, the Youth of the Year Contest, the upcoming election, annual awards, stand-alone convention, and several major IT projects (SAGE accounting software, Protech payments, API with USEF, and GuideBook Mobile App design).

Registry

Chair Harlan Grunden reported that as of August 31, 2024, registrations were up 3.33 percent, transfers were down a little under 4.5 percent. With the concurrence of legal counsel, AMHA will begin offering voluntary PSSM1 testing immediately; Rule 10 (Genetic Testing) and Rule 5-D (Joint Ownership) were added to the Registry Rules & Regulations; and the Notice of Frozen Semen Application was revised to allow the seller to indicate whether or not the new semen owner can do genetic testing. The Registry agreed to procure and begin placing a Full Circle sticker on the reverse side of the Registration Application of those horses enrolled in the program. Our Registrar attended the White Deer Morgan Horse Auction and is making plans to attend the Topeka Morgan Classic Sale, the Grand National, and the Superior Morgan Sale by year’s end.

Registry Statistics (Through August 31, 2024)

Bylaws

Chair Terri Sturm reported on the committee’s meeting on September 6, 2024. The new Morgan Horse Foundation [501(c)(3)] and the dissolution of AMHECT are progressing well.

Finance

Chair Ashleigh Wood reported that as of August 31, 2024, AMHA’s membership is at 6,059 members which now exceeds our 2023 membership. The committee reviewed the current financials including expenses for the AMHECT reorganization, and the bank fees associated with credit card payments. It was reported that AMHA incurred $42,194.96 in credit card fees in 2023 and is projected to spend over $45,000 by year end 2024. With all expenses rising, a 3% fee on any payments made by credit card will be implemented effective January 1, 2025. No fee will be required for payments via cash, check or ACH. The 2025 AMHA Operating Budget was approved. 

Convention and Meeting Committee

Site visits for the 2026 Convention are underway. Events for the 2025 Convention are being planned and seminar topics researched. Dates and locations for the 2025 board meetings are also being investigated. AMHA Convention information will be posted online as it becomes available HERE. Save the dates and mark your calendars for March 6-8, 2025, for Newark, Ohio.

App Development Committee

Executive Director Mortensen provided updates on the GuideBook mobile apps project (AMHA, GN, Annual Meeting), including the revised quote which included our customization. Development was approved to begin with implementation to occur as soon as possible.

Strategic Plan

In accordance with the strategic plan, the board performed a full review of the AMHA programs offered by AMHA. All programs, except the Mentor Network, will remain in place with fee increases to help cover the rising costs of the programs. The Mentor Network will be eliminated until such time it is deemed feasible to reinstate it. A sponsor will be sought to cover the awards for the sponsored events (Eventing, Endurance, Trail, etc). The application for High-Score Morgan ribbons will be modified to provide one ribbon per competition. Star Awards will be awarded at the annual convention; those not picked up will be shipped at the recipient’s expense. Star Award pins will be issued on a pick-up basis only (not shipped).

Welfare & Rescue Committee

Chair Kelly Kraegel reported that five AMHA Recognized Clubs signed up to participate in the Full Circle Network Program. All rescues listed on our website were verified as valid 501(c)(3)s via GuideStar, with two new rescues being added to the site. The flyer inserted with Registration Certificates now includes updated Full Circle information. Committee Members Kate Kirsch and Stephen Kinney prepared an article and sample documents regarding inclusion of our horses in our final plans (Wills, Trusts) which will be published in the October 2024 issue of The Morgan Horse and posted on the website when available.

USEF Affiliates & Affiliate Athletes

Appointment recommendations were made for the 2025-2027 USEF Morgan Committee. All appointees will be contacted to confirm their willingness to participate before submission to USEF.

Next Board of Directors Meeting

The AMHA Board of Directors will meet on Monday, December 2, 2024, via Zoom teleconference at 7 p.m. (Eastern). 

For more information about the meeting or any item in these highlights, please contact Executive Director Carrie J. Mortensen at (859) 405-0746 or execdir@morganhorse.com.