In the spring of the year, we see many changes in our surroundings. It is the time when we look forward to enjoying our Arabians, Half-Arabians and Anglo-Arabians. At the Arabian Horse Association, we continue to improve our Association with optimism and anticipation that we will become the best breed organization in the equine world. I want to bring you up to date on our search for an EVP, re-structuring activities at AHA, the impressive numbers and support for the International Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes program, the very successful launching of our Arabian Community Shows, and an update on where I will be in the coming months.
There is good news to report on the search for a new administrative leader for AHA. We've had approximately 120 applicants for the position. To me, this says a lot for our organization. People are taking notice that we are a "new and improved" horse breed Association with a promising future. The Executive Committee will interview three candidates for the EVP position prior to the May 12-13 Board meeting, and I will update your regional directors at that meeting. I am still optimistic that we will have someone in that position in June. Things are on an even keel at AHA, with Janet Holloway remaining as the manager of day-to-day operations. This is not an easy task with changes in staffing and carrying out the directions of the Executive Committee. Staff members are performing at a high level as they work hard to provide ongoing services to our members. I appreciate the great job that Janet is doing and the fine work by the staff.


In April, I announced to the Board and the staff a restructuring at our AHA offices. I told you previously that the Executive Committee was taking a hard look at our structure with the objective in mind of making our Association more efficient and better able to serve you. As a result of the re-structuring, the following changes have been made: Membership Services, Registration Services and Records have been combined into one service area called "Customer Service." The Senior Director for this new department is Debbie Fuentes who has been Senior Director of Registry Services. With the merging of these two departments into one, and the need for only one senior director, we eliminated the senior director position held by Lorie Liddicoat. Lorie has been a long-time employee of AHA, giving the Association many years of dedicated service; we all will truly miss her and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

A second, major part of the restructuring is the elimination of our Human Resources Department which means the senior director position held by Candy Vande Ven has been eliminated. Through research, we found that many companies the size of our Association (approximately 60 employees) do not have a separate Human Resources Department. Candy is another long-time staff member who has been a dedicated and committed employee. Candy has been with us for over 20 years her loyalty and dedication will be missed. In addition, the position of Senior Director of Marketing, held by Steve Josephs, has been vacated and we have already begun the search for a new Marketing Director. Inquiries to the Sr. Director of Marketing position can be directed to Jim Harlan at jim@mjmglobalsearch.com. I am sure you join me in wishing all three of these individuals the best of luck in their future endeavors. While we will fill the marketing position by June, the other two positions will not be filled. This action represents a considerable cost savings in salaries and benefits. It is important to emphasize to you that the restructuring was not a reflection on anyone's performance. Instead, it was a matter of consolidation and restructuring to become a more efficient organization.

This is an important time to remind you that in 2004, we had a loss of $578,000; in 2005, a profit of $207,000, and we project a profit of $400,000 this year. We estimate next year's profit to be about the same as this year. I think these numbers reflect a more business-like approach to how we operate with more accountability in our business practices. When we were losing money in the past, we had no corrective actions. Losses of nickels and dimes soon amount to losses of dollars. I have told you regularly of the changes that are occurring within our organization. I want to remind you that when three new members joined your Executive Committee, Lance Walters, Frank Galovic and I, we each promised change and a better Arabian Horse Association. All of us on the Executive Committee are living up to that promise by implementing changes we believe are necessary to take us to the next level. I know you are wondering how this impacts you. The answer is a simple one: an improved organization with better service and programs for you, the members we represent. When we gather in Louisville for our Annual Convention, I am confident we will have a successful year-end report to share with you.


We have two areas where there is considerable activity and a positive momentum to report to you. The Breeders Sweepstakes program is meeting with great support and a showing of confidence in the new program, and the first Arabian Community Shows are off and running with tremendous support and enthusiasm.

The Breeders Sweepstakes numbers are impressive. Dean Meier, chairman of the Sweepstakes Commission, tells me we are on target to meet or exceed our goals. He anticipates nearly 4,500 entries for this year. Breeding entries came very close to last year's. That number will be approximately 40 percent or better of all horses registered. The total number of original entries received for 2006 exceed the past three years combined. Each number of the Non-Arabian Nominated Sire and Nominated Sires Entry Categories are more than the last two years combined. The number of Nominated Dams received is the largest number since 1996. I believe these high numbers truly indicate an optimism and high level of confidence in the new program. Dean tells me that we have people putting horses into the program that had limited enrollments in the past, or had not enrolled at all. It is important to remind you when talking about Sweepstakes, that over the last decade, prior to the implementation of the new program there was a constant steady upward curve in payouts, and a strong downward curve in funds coming in. At one point, we paid out $1 million more than the amount that came into the program that year. The new program will never see such an occurrence again as it is tied closely to percentages and will not pay out more than the program can afford or sustain. Perhaps the best news about Sweepstakes is that we now have over $3 million in the fund and good prospects of taking in another $200,000 yet this year. This is good news not only for the Association, but for those enrolled in the Points Payback program as this should help us meet our projected target of $9 to $10 or better, per point. It has been a long time since we have had anything this positive for our members. This new program also now creates a value to all horses and benefits the majority of breeders and exhibitors not just those competing or breeding horses at National and Regional levels. In addition to thanking Dean and all of the members of the Swee stakes Commission: Dan Stevenson, Susan Meyer, Grace Greenlee, Frank Galovic, Jan Decker and new member Dick Reed for their ongoing hard work, I want to thank AHA staff members Cheryl Holloway, Leslie Lockard, and Summer VanValkenburgh for their hard work on this new program.

There are some important items to emphasize about Sweepstakes and the Points Payback program. First of all, you need to be enrolled before attending your first show in which you wish to earn points. The annual enrollment fee of $100 allows you to earn points all year in Sweepstakes designated classes at the local, regional and national levels as well as AHA recognized rides. It is easy to enroll in the Points program. Go to the home page on the AHA website: www.arabianhorses.org and click on the "Sign Up for Sweepstakes Points." For those of you involved as show managers or show secretaries, it is not too late to include Sweepstakes classes at your local show. Please note that there are prepared announcements to be shared at our shows, informing people about Sweepstakes. Please help us communicate about Sweepstakes so people will understand the new program. Your cooperation in making these announcements throughout your show will go a long way in helping people understand the new program. Please note that all yearlings can participate in the IABS Yearling Sweepstakes class at the local level regardless of Sweepstakes eligibility. However, only those horses enrolled as Breeding Entries or Original Entries will receive Sweepstakes Point prize money. Only Breeding Entries are eligible to participate in the IABS Yearling Sweepstakes class at the regional and national level. For questions regarding the Sweepstakes program, please contact AHA at 303-696-4500.

I think we have another impressive program for our exhibitors and that is the Arabian Community Shows. Keri Stewart, a member of our marketing team who is in charge of community shows, tells me that we have had two shows as of this writing and both, she said, "were a tremendous hit." One show in Temecula Valley, California, had over 40 horses, and another in Puyallup, Washington, had over 80. Both shows have had results processed and successfully posted on the ACS website. Keri said she has received so many positive comments that "it has been hard to keep track of them." Remember, these shows are intended for "fun, family and friends." We're optimistic that we will hit the 50 shows projected by the Marketing/Development and Promotion Committee. We now have 44 scheduled. If you or your friends, or club, would like more information and some guidance on putting on a Community Show, get in touch with Keri.


There is considerable activity at AHA as we continue to reach new audiences and bring the message about our wonderful Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses to them. In April, AHA had a booth and presence at Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio, where over 115,000 people visited. In addition, we were at the Midwest Horse Fair in Madison, Wisconsin, where nearly 54,000 people attended. We're still hard at work preparing for the unveiling of the Arabian Horse Pavilion at the Kentucky Horse Park in the Fall, have launched a Public Relations Network for regions, and have plans to develop some specific online surveys for breeders to give us important marketing data. Our AHA staff remains focused on our major events in the coming months: Canadian Nationals, Youth Nationals, Sport Horse Nationals, U.S. Nationals, National Rides, Racing and Annual Convention.


It certainly has been a very busy year thus far: meetings after meetings, conventions, events, judge's seminars, site visits and my visits to the AHA office. Next on my agenda in May is the AHA Board of Directors meeting, the Executive committee meeting and interviewing candidates for the EVP position. In June I will travel to the annual "Think Tank" at the Hat Ranch near Flagstaff, Arizona, hosted by Bazy Tankersly. This is a gathering of many of our industry leaders who discuss issues confronting our Association and breed. I am looking forward to attending this again. Also in June I will visit the AHA office then on to Tulsa adjudicating the World Championship Pinto Horse Show. This will give me hands on experience working on the inside of the new Tulsa facility that will be our New Home for the 2008 U.S. National Championships. In July one of my daughters, Aubree is getting married (can't miss that) then on to the USEF meeting and Youth Nationals. I will continue through the year with meetings, AHA office trips, Canadian Nationals, Sport Horse Nationals, U.S. Nationals, Convention and anything I can squeeze in between. As always when I travel to these events I enjoy meeting with so many of you.


I am saddened to report to you the death of Tom McNair this week. Tom was admired not only for his involvement in the Arabian horse world, but also for his outstanding qualities as a person. I think we will all carry with us the image of the victory passes he made on *Sakr+++ at the U.S. Nationals. I am sure you all join me in offering condolences to the McNair family.


My message to you has been one emphasizing change and of continued success in new outreach efforts. We have been going through these changes, as promised, and the results are showing. I hope you realize that so much of what we have accomplished and will continue to do, is always the result of a team effort. For every name I have mentioned in this bulletin, there are many, many more that stand with them in doing the best job possible for you, our membership. We have hard working staff, hard working directors, and folks who give unselfishly in their committee assignments and tasks for clubs and regions. Together, we make up a team. I sense that we are on the same track now and together we will make a difference in our Association. I appreciate your continuing support. It means a lot to me personally, and also means a great deal to the Executive Committee and your Board of Directors.

Again, if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via email. If you send your emails to AHA or press reply to this email I may not get them. Please send them directly to my new personal e-mail address myronk@sprintpcs.com. Please update your files with this is new email address.



Sincerely,

And, God Bless!