Apr 7, 2026 | NCDCTA BOD Meeting - Virtual

Attendees: Helen Ingersoll Amy Brumbach Anita Quinn Jordan McKenzie-Solis Ellie Balakrishnan Heather Boyer Charlotte Meli Katherine Thornton Mandi Martyn Sarah Bookner Will Barrus Amanda Clodfelter Haven Salzwedel Lisa Conklin. Absent: Shannon Stone

President, Helen Ingersoll, called the meeting to order at 7:06pm

Helen read the NCDCTA Charter.

NCDCTA BOARD TEAM CHARTER:

• We the board of the NCDCTA hold the following values as guiding principles to carry out the mission of our organization.
• To educate, promote camaraderie and recognize achievement in dressage and eventing.
• Respect, Humility, Patience, Self Awareness, Supportiveness, Accountability, Listening, Generosity, and Helpfulness
• Communication that is: Clear, Flexible, Ongoing, Supportive, Constructive and Safe while celebrating brave efforts to question and disagree.
• Decision making that is shared. Roles that can be flexible and board members that are engaged, present, and share appreciation for and with one another, freely.

Reports:

President Report: Helen Ingersoll

Spent the past month getting organized with new members

Plan to have individual meetings with board members

Jennifer Swanson asking for testimonials via link that Helen will send

Vice President Report: Amy Brumbach

April 7, 26 / April 8, 25

Jr/YR: 78 / 96

AA: 322 / 306

Open: 100 / 108

Total: 500 / 510

Horses

Paid: 217 / 282

Volunteer Card: 53 / 68

Total: 270 / 350

Horse numbers may be decreased due to difficulty finding horse registration. Will to work with Sarah on social media promotion

Noticed that some members went straight to USDF instead of via NCDCTA

Nationwide, GMOs are experiencing decreased memberships

Also noticed decreased participation in national dressage competitions

Treasurer Report: Anita Quinn

Checking account: $44,102.30

Savings: $1,595.98

Horse Show: $1,000 (consider closing this account)

Paypal:$ 2,598.21

Total balance: $49,296.49

Owe USDF $2000 for membership (Helen will mail checks)

All balances will be available in Google Drive

Access to accounts with Helen (I.e. Edward Jones)

Volunteer Report: Charlotte Meli

Compensation for volunteers: jackets, socks

The USEA is requiring 4 hours of volunteering in order to qualify for year end awards

Plan to announce volunteer opportunities further in advance

Will to meet with Sarah, Haven, and Charlotte to discuss volunteer program

Sponsorship Report: Heather Boyer

Shoutout to Haven for her help organizing sponsorship formatting

Asks for any additional events coming that require sponsorship

Please send sponsor ideas as events are being planned

Gala Report: Ellie Balakrishnan

Gala survey results: 52 responses

Food cold/improvement

Location recommendations: Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Asheville

Consider all things required for non-hotel options (i.e catering, liquor license)

Request sunday AM buffet

Difficult hearing in back of the room

Plan to be transparent about survey results and reassure that the plan is to address them

Plans to complete a “heat map” for active member locations

New website has ability to do polls (for future locations, etc)

2027 Gala planned for January 23, 2027 at Grandover resort

Contract due back by 4/20/26 to secure block rooms and date

We have a few left over awards that we can use for other things

Communication Report: Sarah Bookner, Haven Salzwedel

Met with Will to discuss website and improvements

Meeting with Arianne Rogers for newsletter role

Plan for Q1 newsletter by end of April

Social media report

No posts in February, few metrics to report

Membership enjoys seeing successes

Plan to increase posts and have posts planned weeks out

Plan to post HOY rules with focus on transparency (i.e. why certain venues aren’t recognized by NCDCTA)

Competition Report: Amy Brumbach

Prizelist pending from FlightLine

There has been a lot of interest in the level 1 show

Hold on judge at B/E, however no funding and don’t want to intimidate participants

Plan for 60 rides with 1 day and 1 ring

Website is updated

Hired event planner for this years NCDCTA shows

Eventing Report: Katherine Thornton

Plan to enhance page on new website

Plan to get communications out around HOY, championships, articles about CTs, out of state forms

Recommend affiliate membership with USEA at $125

Good feedback on HOY, awards, and gala

Rules changes:

Qualifications for HOY

Schooling and recognized, 3 results over 2 venues

Lost venues this year

Voted on below

Recognized horse show organizers and other organizers must be NCDCTA members

Education Report: Shannon Stone

Plan to connect with Dr. Peters wife in the next week or so to further plan clinic in August

Jr/Yr Report: Mandi Martyn

Plan to discuss mobile dog grooming promotion (Tommy partner) via vendor opportunities

Proposal to sponsor youth team to go to FUNdation Show (schooling show)

Total cost is $1160 for up to 4 riders

Include stall, registration fees, pizza party

Voted on below

Membership Secretary Report: Will Barrus

Discuss 50 mile rule: cannot be another competition of same discipline within 50 miles on the same day

Voted on below

Western Dressage: Amanda Clodfelter, Lisa Conklin

Plan to discuss Western dressage championships at the same time as dressage championships

New Business:

Motion to suspend 2 venue rule for eventing HOY for schooling and recognized shows for 2026. Moved by Katherine Thornton. Sarah Bookner seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favour and none opposed.

Motion to sponsor up to 4 junior riders at the FUNdation show for up to $1160 total including pizza party for 2026. Moved by Mandi Martyn. Heather Boyer seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favour and none opposed.

Motion: the 50 mile rule will be maintained between two or more venues within either National or Schooling show tracts. However, if two shows are of different tracts (National and schooling) and within a 50 mile radius, the NCDCTA will recognize scores from both shows. Moved by Mandi Martyn. Sarah Bookner seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favour and none opposed.

Next meeting: May 5, 2026 @ 7pm - Virtual

Helen adjourned the meeting at 9:26pm

Minutes respectfully submitted by Jordan McKenzie-Solis, Recording Secretary.

Minutes passed by majority Board vote.