LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT It is hard to believe that this is my last column as President for the Pony Club magazine. Four years have flown by, and they are four years that I never will forget. When I took the reins as the Pony Club President in January of 2018, I was humbled by the trust placed in me to help guide this amazing organization, but I realized very quickly that I was in no way taking on responsibilities alone. Pony Club has the most amazing volunteers and staff that every day of every year work diligently and robustly to provide an incredible educational experience for all our members. Believe it or not, I am going to miss the weekly calls with other board members, with the USPC staff, with donors, with members, and various volunteers. Even though there seemed to be weeks when there were calls all day and every evening, it became easy to recognize and to celebrate the dedication that virtually everyone has for our organization. Every minute has been rewarding, even when there were challenges that seemed daunting or even surreal (think COVID-19).
hard working and resilient staff, and the enthusiasm of Pony Club’s many members and supporters.
Over the past six months or so, a great deal has been happening at Pony Club. In addition to a very successful Festival and Championships in July, other initiatives and When I became President, there were several things on which I hoped the organization would focus: over the programs have continued to advance. long history of Pony Club, many things had become very The Strategic Planning Committee, under Deb Kirsch’s complex and almost burdensome. I wanted Pony Club leadership, has created a solid plan, based on the Task to put emphasis on keeping things simple and efficient. Force recommendations and the still-amazing work of I also was concerned that over time, Pony Club had Dr. Garkovich. It will help guide the organization over begun to put too much emphasis on rules, expectations, a number of years. The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and and unnecessary “polish,” sometimes referred to as “the Accessibility Committee, under the capable leadership Pony Club way.” It occurred to me that we had, at times, of Devyn Hinkle, has begun to identify key areas overlooked the fact that our clubs, centers, and members where Pony Club can both expand and augment its come from virtually every corner of the United States, program. Sue Smith continues to work with the Pony and that customs, efficiencies, and procedures sometimes Club International Alliance, and it is refreshing and differ greatly as a result. Many have heard me state, rewarding to see the great coordination and sharing of perhaps all too often, that we must remember that in ideas between our sister organizations in Canada, the Pony Club, excellence is attainable, but perfection is not. United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, South Africa, It was apparent that as a national organization that is part of an international movement, we must be flexible, New Zealand, and Australia. reasonable, and willing to embrace multiple points of However, as I personally reflect back on the past four view. Our Pony Club tests and competitions did not years, I am pleased by what we have been able to always embrace that thinking. accomplish, thanks to our cadre of volunteers, our always
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Fall/Winter 2021
