Re: RC: AERC Nomination for Director - Connie Caudill

[Roger Rittenhouse <roger@vmaxept.com>]

AERC Members.
Since I started my recommendations and comments with John Parke, I
will again offer my support to Connie.
I have known Connie for many years over 6 or more. She IS as she said -
a 'regular rider' She does well at the RIDES and sometimes RACES. She
places her horse first - as we all do .
She has managed many rides and also the AERC Convention a few years
back.
She is currently the AERC National Championship RM.

Connie is very knowledgeable about our sport.  Competing  at ALL
levels of our sport.   In case you did not know - 10th at the PANAM

 She would be a great
asset to the BOD. A NEW BOD member.

MW riders should vote for Connie Caudill

Wednesday, September 19, 2001, 9:53:44 AM, you wrote:

Eac> I am sending this to ride camp as suggested by Bob Morris.
Eac> I would like to put in my nomination for AERC board director for the Midwest 
Eac> region.  
Eac> I have been riding endurance since 1987 and have over 10,000 miles in 
Eac> competition. (Which means I just have some experience but still learn on 
Eac> every ride and hope I always will.) I have been very supportive of our 
Eac> regional organizations being a member of UMECRA for a few years and a Daniel 
Eac> Boone Distance Rider member. I have ridden in first place as well as last and 
Eac> firmly believe in "To Finish is to Win." I have never served on the board but 
Eac> have attended most of the meetings over the last 8 years and have served on 
Eac> various committees including ride manager, championship ride, education and 
Eac> protest. I think I could work well with the other board members, compromising 
Eac> on certain subjects in order serve the members wishes.
Eac> I think there are several new issues that are facing AERC in the next few 
Eac> years that I would like to try and work on a solution with the rest of the 
Eac> board and AERC members. 
Eac> One that I would like to address, is the welfare of the horse. At this point 
Eac> in the history of AERC when someone has a complaint about how a person is 
Eac> treating a horse that could be considered cruel, what avenue is available? I 
Eac> have been on the protest committee for the last 2 years and we have received 
Eac> one complaint on cruelty. But we can only address the rules and if we do not 
Eac> get proof of actions we can not do anything about it. I found out later there 
Eac> were reports of cruelty made to the vets and ride managers at different rides 
Eac> but where could these complaints go? I think it would be a great advantage to 
Eac> have a committee set up maybe call it the "ethics committee." We need to be 
Eac> able to go somewhere to have on record if there is continuous abuse from any 
Eac> one person so actions can be taken before it is too late. Also this committee 
Eac> would handle rider abuse towards other riders, other trail users or ride 
Eac> management. We do not want to have a bad reputation with the rest of the 
Eac> trail users because of one persons actions that is noted to be continuous. 
Eac> This is just something I think we need to think about.
Eac> Another issue is the international riders verses the regular AERC riders. I 
Eac> rode for the first time an international ride this year. I am a regular 
Eac> endurance rider. I looked around at this ride and almost everyone I saw there 
Eac> were regular endurance riders who have supported everyday rides all year 
Eac> long. I think we need to know that all endurance riders are just regular 
Eac> endurance riders. We do not know from year to year whose horse will show a 
Eac> spark and who will decide to put their horse in an international ride. I know 
Eac> you have to have the desire to want to ride in that type of ride but at least 
Eac> it is available to anyone who is willing to try. We do not want to separate 
Eac> the international riders from us. We are one in the same and I would like to 
Eac> see it remain this way.
Eac> As for racing or riding, I think we need to look at our sport like we look at 
Eac> marathons. For a few riders it is a race, for a few riders it is a ride, but 
Eac> for all of us it should be we ride for fun and to do get our horses through 
Eac> in excellent condition. I think this should always be our goal no matter 
Eac> which speed we perfer to ride.
Eac> I have only one agenda and that is to help make AERC a better organization 
Eac> that serves its member well, without making more rules in order to achieve 
Eac> this goal.
Eac> I hope you will give your vote a lot of consider and I know I will be able to 
Eac> serve you well as your director. I am always available to talk with at any 
Eac> time, feel free to give me a call. Thank you, Connie Caudill




-- 
 Roger                            mailto:roger@vmaxept.com