My rant and rave about ROBIN.....

[Rusel]

Well here it is again.... closing in on time for a new vote for another 2 years of leadership.... January 2007 is the time to vote for a president of PFHA....

What has Robin done for us in the past 2 years...??? What has Robin prevented from being DONE to us in the last 2 years...

Is anyone even AWARE that CJ was "finally" brought before the BOD last Friday in Tampa in regards to NOT renewing his 3 yr contract in 2007.....

How many of you knew that there was such an agenda on the BOD...

Do you know that all the regions had a vote in the decision?...

Did your region notify you in any way that this renewal was up for a vote....

If so did you bother to vote......

Does your region split your votes so that every vote counts....

Does your region count all the votes that do vote and then follow the majority and cast all the votes from your region as the total vote....

Let me explain... FOR SOME REGIONS who do not split votes.....If your region has 1200 members. And 400 members of that region vote. If 199 members for for A, and 201 members vote for B, then that region will take the vote of 201 members as the majority and cast a vote of 1200 members for B....

If your region SAYS that they will / or do split their vote, do they actually do it..... Is there any report that shows what and how they have reported other than one they are suppose to generate themselves for the benefit of their members. (PS that report is suppose to be on the PFHA website).?? IS THERE NO PAPER TRAIL....????

I have gone to several of the PFHA BOD meetings. Usually there are 2 or 3 regions that always split their votes over various different issues, voting the numbers as their members indicate.

Currently what is happening with the BOD votes is, VERY few members vote. Those who do vote have a financial interest in doing so. Those who are active in the voting are controlling the direction of the PFHA... If all of the Florida regions have a few members who vote because they have an interest in the subject (such as tail cutting, CJ renewal, etc) those FEW VOTES control the voting number of ALL THE FLORIDA VOTERS as I do not recall any Florida region splitting their vote in the past.... And the number of all the Florida regions together outnumber the other regions.

As I recall there was a lot of whopping and hollering of congratulations when Robin won the election for president, by a landslide.....(BECAUSE MEMBERS HAD A VESTED INTEREST AND CARED ENOUGH TO VOTE..... AS I SEE IT.... Robin has put a LOT ON THE LINE to listen to ALL the members... She has done more for the trail riders and the pleasure type owners than any former president. She has been instrumental enough to voice our displeasure with the way CJ handles things by bringing the renewal matter to the BOD. Yet she cannot dictate the votes of the BOD... Only you the members can do that...

IF YOU, AS A MEMBER DO NOT CHANGE THE WAY YOUR OWN REGIONAL BOARD HANDLES YOUR VOTE, THEN THIS ASSOCIATION WILL "ALWAYS" BE RUN BY THE MINORITY.

There is no way one person can make the changes you want, and expect, without your voice. If I were ROBIN, I would question whether the lack of membership participation IN VOTING is worth the effort to make changes. If it were me, I would truly question whether I would take the time away from my business to take on a job with few hurrahs, lots of problems and LOTS OF COMMITMENT...!!

The only way for the members to take CONTROL of their VOICE and CHOICES is to change the bylaws of your REGION... Those bylaws have to insist that EACH MEMBER'S VOTE COUNTS. That members CAN vote by proxy thru whoever they chose that is AT THE MEETING. That your region demands split voting so that your VOTE COUNTS. That your members who do not express their vote, get their unexpressed vote added to how the majority of members voted in that region. Put together a forwarding email requesting these changes. Sign your name and forward it to a member, who signs it and forwards it to the next member. Then send the finished email to your Board representative requesting these changes to the bylaws.

PS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE RESULTS OF THE RENEWAL OF CJ'S CONTRACT,,,, CHECK WITH YOUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR...!!!!

Or go to the other post with the poll about CJ..... I'll post the results on that post... eventually....

Without your Choice.... You have no Voice...

[cowboy ed]

hmmmm. interesting.

[Rusel]

CJ won the contract renewal by the minority of votes..... actually since the 2 Florida regions did NOT split their votes then the vote to retain CJ became the majority.... that's how voting goes when the votes not split...

[Pasogirlz]

CJ won the contract renewal by the minority of votes..... actually since the 2 Florida regions did NOT split their votes then the vote to retain CJ became the majority.... that's how voting goes when the votes not split...

Just curious...but do you know how the members of those two regions voted internally?

I know at the Fla Region meeting, we were asked about our feelings on many subjects including CJ. Not sure how each person voted, but lets say the majority wanted him (for aguments sake)....would they still be expected to split the vote?

[CarolU]

You'll have to excuse me Rusel, but what has this to do with Robin? The Executive Council voted a month ago to NOT give CJ a raise and NOT renew his contract. That is what Robin, and others, wanted. But the Executive Council cannot go against the BOD.

We were told by our delegate before the PFHA BOD meeting that CJ's contract would come to a vote. We voted on it...and voted against it. If your (or anyone else's) delegate did not tell them ahead of time or ask for your position, blame THEM!!!

People really need to get involved in their region and make SURE their delegate is voting the way the members want. I've been to the BOD meetings...and MOST delegates vote however they want, and their members could care less.

Apathy is THE NO.1 PROBLEM in PFHA.

[Rusel]

To know how some of the regions voted all you had to do was sit outside in the hallway and listen to the ranting of the individuals when they came out of the meeting...

Then ask someone who the individuals represented..... Your delegates were not quiet when talking amoung themselves... actually a couple were quite vocal...

Most were quiet and were just glad not to be there til midnight ......

For the BOD meeting the next day anyone could come and listen.... You just could not voice anything... listen only....

[Rusel]

CarolU..... please re-read my post.... I am blaming the regions for not informing the members.... then I'm asking the members to become informed and demand changes to the bylaws that allow their votes to count.....

If you'll re-read you will see that I totally support Robin and her efforts..

[Pasogirlz]

Rusel I think Carol is referring to the name of your topic. It appears negative about Robin. Like you are ranting about her.


I asked if you knew how the regions voted internally, as in what did the members vote for at their meeting, not the meeting of the BOD.

[CarolU]

Thank you Lori...and that is exactly why I posted. I think Robin has really tried hard to make PFHA more ALL-member-oriented. The Strategic Plan is a good reflection of her work and focus. I just didn't understand why Rusel was blaming Robin (that is how the title sounds) for CJ's contract, because she can't control what the regions do, anymore then we can here. Actually, we have more power then she does there...since many of us are members of those regions.

[britzlove]

OK..maybe this is a good spot to say this...and maybe not....I haven't even ever joined the PFHA because I cannot get any information from my region, and even my offers of volunteering to help with the regional club have been ignored.

I'm totally confused as how this works. I really want to be involved with this breed and would love to participate in a regional club. And I am interested in the future of the PFHA and where it goes.

I don't know who or what CJ is....though I'm very curious. I have watched Robin for the past almost two years and think you'd be hard pressed to find a more responsible, even noble leader. In just the last year or so I have seen shifts towards many things that will be good for the breed..and I believe she has alot to do with that.

So, my question is...do I have to join another region much further from me? Should I do that instead of wondering if mine will ever get it together? Should I give up on PFHA all together? If I have no power other than my delegates...how do I even find out who they are?

I'm reasonably certain I am not the only new comer to the breed and the association to be very puzzled by the processes. AQHA...you join the regional club...they have newsletters...news published to magazine for every club...every month. I know its a bigger breed...but still...it shouldn't be this complicated. The other BB which I no longer read and this list are my single sources of information.

Anyway...hard to say one way or the other how I feel about CJ but I love to see Robin's dedication and hardwork.

Britz

[Terry Wallace]

Britz..the only hope you will have of getting any changes in order...IS to become a member of course. A member of your region.

Our region of Great Western, which CarolU and I both belong to, is a worthwhile club. if for no other reason than to ride together and meet other Paso owners. The comradrie is worth the cost. Joining your region might be a good place for you to get started. Our region is far from perfect...all regions have their problems, but nothing would ever change if people did not join and voice their concerns.

Here is my problem with the PFHA... too many times things just don't go the way one would like to see them no matter what you do. This new thing of charging people a fee to show..the $35.00 amature fee, the $100 pro-fee...these are things I'd like to contest.
The fact that the etchics committee has "no teeth" another sore spot with me...I mean, what is the point of an ethics committee..if it has no teeth.
It seems to me the PFHA lacks backbone in key areas.
Then...you finally get a president who wants to make positive changes and she gets shot down on many things....like it is back to "business as usual"....

For me, I will stay a mamber of PFHA out of need...need to register, transfer, file breeding reports etc.... BUT, the days of me supporting PFHA shows, buying sponsorhips, donating artwork for such...that kind of thing..IS OVER. I will not support the direction things have taken. I don't agree with it...so I will not support it. To me, the PFHA spends a lot of time shooting itself in the foot! They are so far behind other horse associations it is pitiful....

JMO... but I would not want to give up meeting with like-minded people of my region, so I will continue to be a regional member...just to see if we can keep heading toward psoitive change...even if...there are holes in my wall from where I "bang my head"...if you know what I mean!

[LynnG]

All PFHA members have access to read the committee reports for the upcoming BOD meeting which are posted on the PFHA website about 1 month prior to the meeting. You can see what the different committees are working on, have done and are proposing by way of a BOD vote.

CJ's contract voting was in those reports.The committee reports always make for an interesting read. A region is only as good as its members make it, and by members participating. Regions people involved in chairing activities are volunteers, same as PFHA committee members.

If you want change, take the bull by the horn and get involved. Complacency never gets anything happening.

For example, Piedmont is a very active region with varied activities for all its members....orchestrated by volunteers. Too often its the same people all the time donating their time, resources and energy, and they can get burned out, and someone(s) new needs to step up to the plate to keep things moving..in a forward direction.

you get the drift.......

[britzlove]

Our region of Great Western, which CarolU and I both belong to, is a worthwhile club. if for no other reason than to ride together and meet other Paso owners. The comradrie is worth the cost. Joining your region might be a good place for you to get started. Our region is far from perfect...all regions have their problems, but nothing would ever change if people did not join and voice their concerns.


See...I have only the Kentucky Club or the TN club. I have thought lately about joining the TN club which is active to an extent. The KY club? Take a look at their website...you'll see it hasn't been updated in well over a year..maybe two come to think of it. There is no "comradrie", I did join them and have never even been added to the member list. Oh...and that was the second time I had to join..they lost the first application. It only exists for the show every year. Thats all I have been able to really gather. Sure..I could email everyone on the member list and try to get it active...but I tell you I'm not sure it's worth the effort. I volunteered to make up newsletters for them. I offered to help in anyway I possibly could, what ever they needed. They have never even responded to me. My suggestion is that it shouldn't be that hard. I have over heard some of them talking at the show the last two years about trying to boost the club...but offers of help fall on deaf ears.

I just don't know. I will join the PFHA soon I guess...Pistol was so old when I bought him and his previous owner never registered him that it will be $500 to register him. I've just kind of put in on the back burner because it won't go any higher...and if when I start riding him this spring I feel he may be able to show...then I'll go ahead with the $500. If he doesn't show...I don't need a $500 set of papers on a gelding. I would like to buy a mare through my current arrangements..eventually maybe two. Then I'll need to join.

But see in your post where you mentioned the problems with the PFHA...and only participating in the regional club etc? Where I am I don't have that participation. So, why join? I do want to see some of the things that are starting to happen maybe if things start changing a little..so I do kind of want to support the PFHA. I'm just kind of conflicted. Then I read some of your posts and other long time member posts that sort of hint at the fact that it may be futile...but I don't know. I love the breed...I love the people on this list. Just not sure what to do with my self. I miss being a part of a club. This list is as close as I get and I love it.

Britz

[Fuego]

Britz, try attending a few different Paso Fino shows in the coming year. If you like the venue and type of Pasos you see and decide the PFHA show ring is where you want to go, by all means join the PFHA and become and active member.

If the PFHA show ring isn't the route you chose, the PFHA will have little to offer other then breeding/registration purposes.

If the Ky region doesn't want you, we can start our own club, lol. We can scour the local shows with our Pasos looking for other like minded Paso riders ....

[britzlove]

Your right Fuego! Good idea!

I have attended many shows though..not all of them though as I can't go to the south all that often. No time really, and the big ones are down there.

I like the non-fino show horses and I had wished I could show with the association and may still...like versatility. But I do wish there was a better reception in our area for new paso people.

I'm having a strange day today anyhow....