Dear ODS Members,
Welcome to November – this will be our 46th year operating as the membership organization serving dressage enthusiasts in Oregon (and areas reaching beyond). How exciting is that?
I wanted to take a moment to write you a brief message and to offer some gratitude and news:
- I’m processing memberships as quickly as I can. Anything received through last week should be appearing as an updated membership on the ODS website’s “Current Member” tab. I shared a photo of a giant stack of membership forms on the ODS Facebook page tonight – this is the best “problem” for me to have right now. Thank you for getting your paperwork turned in to our office on time.
- Recently, a 2-person committee from the ODS Board of Directors sent out a request for your feedback via a membership survey. We left the survey open for approximately a month, and it gathered over 300 individual responses. Of those 300+ responses, more than 200 members left contact information along with offers to help or provide further feedback. This response is encouraging! I would ask you for some patience and understanding while the 2-person committee compiles the results of the survey from raw data into useful information which the Board of Directors can use to create an action plan for the upcoming year. The committee and ODS Board will be in contact with anyone who offered to help or give further advice.
- Also recently, members eligible to vote for ODS Director at Large and Regional Representatives were asked to do so online. Not only were there were more members than we have had in several years willing to run for an ODS Board Position, but we had a decent return on ballots! Results from the election will be announced after the ODS Nominations Committee chair contacts each individual to let them know whether or not they were elected. From this pool of newly elected directors, we will be able to nominate and elect our next year’s Executive Board/Committee (President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer). Please note that not all of these positions have to come from the pool of directors/representatives. If you have the skills and are interested in being the ODS Treasurer or Secretary, each of these positions can be appointed to any ODS member in good standing if there is no elected person capable or willing to handle duties. Please notify Dolores Morgan, as she will be working on the officer nominations.
On behalf of the ODS Board of Directors and myself, we recognize that your membership, volunteerism and support are critical to the longevity of this organization. While my hours are only part-time and my office hours don’t fit everyone’s schedule, I do try to make myself available outside of office hours for our members and all of our board members have contact information listed on the ODS website as well as within the ODS news published in Flying Changes monthly. Please don’t hesitate to contact any of us if you have questions, ideas or needs.
Hope to see you on November 12th at the ODS General Membership Meeting in Sherwood – information here.
Warmest Regards,
Corinne Tindal Stonier
Executive Director
Oregon Dressage Society, a registered non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization
www.oregondressage.com
PH: (503) 681-2337 — CELL: (503)730-8036 — FAX: (503) 681-3873
PO Box 959
Hillsboro, OR 97123-0959