Letter from the President

Every year I have attended the Annual Meeting/Equine Symposium/USPC Convention I have come home to family, friends, club, region and volunteer roles with a renewed sense of enthusiasm! There is nothing like seeing old friends and making new ones, connecting with committee members, National Examiners, Regional Instruction Coordinators, Horse Management Organizers, National Youth Congress delegates, National Youth Board, meeting members of all ages, and leaders from across the United States. Having the opportunity to meet staff and put a real person to that voice on the phone or that person you have been exchanging emails with over the past months helps our Pony Club endeavors. Thank you, Old Dominion Region, for hosting a great meeting in Norfolk!

For me, this year saw only a few differences. First, we were in person!! Next was having my oldest daughter, the one that started my Pony Club journey, attend the meeting with me. And finally, being elected to the office of President for this organization that has taught me so much! It still hasn’t quite sunk in all the way yet! You see I did not grow up with any connection to Pony Club. We found the organization in 1997 when my daughter's riding instructor suggested that it might be something we would be interested in. We attended one meeting as guests and were hooked! At that time the club we joined required that you attend three meetings without your horse before actually being allowed to ride and they met monthly! While attending horseless for those three months was hard it was worth the wait.

Pony Club has turned out to be so much more than I ever expected for my daughters as well as myself. They learned to ride but more importantly USPC taught them life skills. For me, I learned to volunteer and support an organization! At the first club Sponsors meeting I attended I became Secretary and since then I have served in all officer roles at the club and regional levels. I learned to organize certifications, clinics, fundraisers, and rallies, and I have served on the Board of Governors as a member, Vice President of Regional Administration, First Vice President and now am serving as your President.

Over the years many changes have been made to the Pony Club we joined all those years ago. They have been good changes for our members and the organization. I am looking forward to beginning my presidency exploring and working towards changes to simplify the administrative tasks at the local and regional levels. I want to keep the momentum of making this organization better than ever for its leaders, members, parents and volunteers.

Respectfully,

Jennifer