The U.S. Dressage Federation board of governors members met Dec. 2 and 3 in St. Louis, during the Adequan USDF Annual Convention, knowing they had a difficult decision on the docket: to approve or disapprove a proposed participating membership fee increase.

It’d be the organization’s first such increase since the BOG voted to raise fees during the 2009 annual meeting, with this year’s proposal amounting to a $15 difference for regular participating members; $12 for youth members; $60 for five-year participating memberships; $300 for lifetime participating memberships; and $40 for business memberships.

“The reason for the increase is really to keep up with inflationary costs, and then there are some new programs we’d like to launch, and also we feel strongly we make sure the organization stays on strong financial footing,” said USDF President George Williams. “In a lot of ways, we really want to be ahead of the curve. We’re trying to be very proactive—and to make sure we can maintain the programs we have and introduce some new programs.”

USDF Treasurer Steve Schubert presented the proposed budget for fiscal year 2017-2018 on Friday, and discussion and questions followed.

But when the time came to vote on the budget Saturday morning, the decision was unanimous and occurred without further discussion. USDF’s membership rates will increase as of Dec. 1, 2017, and the cost of a participating membership will be $90.

“I think there was a lot of discussion [last night],” said Williams. “I had sent a letter to the governance representatives early on—letting them know what was coming and what our thoughts were. From that, many of us on the [USDF] Executive Board had received fairly positive responses. We were aware of the issues that were brought forth yesterday. I think a lot of those issues were people exploring those ideas and wanting to float those ideas. This is certainly their opportunity to be able to do that. We’re happy to have the discussion and for them to express their opinions, and I think ultimately, it really is in the best interests of the future of the organization.  

“An important aspect of this organization is that we are as transparent as we can be with our budget and how the members’ money is spent,” he added.

Some of the issues BOG members brought up on Friday included concern that when a person must pay an additional $15 a year to the USDF, she might be more likely to drop membership of her local Group Member Organization.

USDF receives $20 from each GMO membership to cover costs, including receiving the USDF Connection magazine. A few members offered a suggestion of bringing back a former program that offered a discount to PM members who were also GMO members, citing that they essentially pay double for services like the magazine. But USDF staff members explained the former program was a logistical nightmare with its own administrative costs. And out of roughly 29,000 USDF members, only 8,859 are also members of a GMO.

“What services do the GMOs provide?” said Janine Malone. “How do they meet the needs of their members? I believe if there’s value, then the members will join the GMO. To blame it on $20 to USDF, that’s not really fair to this discussion, and I would ask that everybody really consider that question.”

As part of its new budget, USDF is anticipating taking over increased responsibility for judge education from the U.S. Equestrian Federation, a proposal that’ll be voted on during the USEF Annual Meeting (Ky.) in January. If it passes, USDF would add two additional staff members. The organization is also hoping to add a new adult education grant program, and it faces more general inflation costs, such as employee insurance increasing from about $450 a month per employee in 2009 to nearly $900 a month now.

“This dues increase comes down to $2.14 a year since we last raised dues in 2010, and that was implemented in 2011,” said Schubert. “People say, ‘Maybe you shouldn’t do that. Just have automatic dues increases going forward.’ Personally, I am against that. I do not like to take peoples’ money ahead of time. I like to do things based on what we know and have, and what we can see in the future. This may be seen as a $15 increase over 7 years. It’s really not 20 percent. It is in the numbers, but I look at it as $2 a year.

“There is no room to cut [in the budget],” he added. “There is room to cut, but there is nothing else we can cut right now without hurting the organization going forward. I would not be asking for this dues increase if it weren’t important, and I’m not looking to ask for another one next year or the year after that; this is projected out for the next three to five years.”

Other Convention Happenings:

—As always, the USDF Convention wasn’t just about budgets and meetings as members, past and current, were honored during Saturday night’s Salute Gala & Annual Awards Banquet.

Dr. Samuel Barish (center) accepted the USDF Lifetime Achievement Award from Bettina Longaker and George Williams.

Dr. Samuel Barish received a USDF Lifetime Achievement Award, and Grand Prix mare Rocher and early U.S. dressage enthusiast Lilian Wittmack Roye were inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame. Janne Rumbough was also named the inaugural recipient of the USDF Member of Distinction Award.

—Current USDF Vice President Lisa Goretta ran unopposed for her position, and she was elected for another three-year term by acclamation, as was Secretary Margaret Freeman. Region 1 elected Bettina Longaker as its director over Donna Kelly, and Sue Bender (Region 3), Heather Petersen (Region 5), Carol Tice (Region 7) and Sherry Guess (Region 9) all ran unopposed for their positions.

Make sure to check out the Dec. 19 issue of the Chronicle of the Horse for a full report from the Adequan USDF Annual Convention.