May 12, 2026 | NCDCTA BOD Meeting - Virtual

Attendees: Helen Ingersoll, Amy Brumbach, Anita Quinn, Jordan McKenzie-Solis, Heather Boyer, Ellie Balakrishnan, Katherine Thornton, Mandi Martyn, Sarah Bookner, Will Barrus, Haven Salzwedel, Charlotte Meli 

Absent: Shannon Stone, Amanda Clodfelter, Ariana Rogers

President, Helen Ingersoll, called the meeting to order at 7:08pm.

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

• • Working on Brain and Body symposium 

  • • Hoping to get USDF and RACE credits (for veterinarians) 

    • Has syllabus 

    • How can Jillian and Dr. Peters support NCDCTA?

  • Lisa Conklin resigned from Western dressage chair 

• Vice President Report: Amy Brumbach

• • Membership Numbers for 5/5/2026 are:

  • • MEMBERS

    • Jr/YR: 84

    • AA: 350

    • Open: 103

    • Total: 537 (5/5/2025: 545)

    • HORSES

    • Paid: 357

    • Volunteer Card: 59

    • Total: 316 (5/5/2025: 381)

  • Festival for 2027: 

  • • Plan to go big with large sponsor with goal of free spectator tickets 

    • Dressage: Becky Moody, Ingrid Klimke, Justina Vandagaite

    • Eventing: Tik Maynard, Lainey Ashker, Tamie Smith

• Treasurer Report: Anita Quinn 

• • Total balance: $188,106.78

  • April revenue: $9,522

  • April expenses: $5,051.50 

  • Grandover deposit being made for 2026 Gala 

  • Blue Bridle insurance has sent certificate of insurance of Harvest Moon and Autumn Leaves 

• Volunteer Report: Charlotte Meli

• • Plan to revamp volunteer program

  • • Created Volunteer Incentive Program

    • • Based around volunteering at recognized show -> self report hours

      • Annual volunteer awards given at gala 

      • • Plan for 1st - 3rd place awards 

      • Do we open to nonmembers? Yes 

      • Voted on below in new business 

• Sponsorship Report: Heather Boyer 

• • Lisa with Drinking Post Waterer wants vendor information and has lots of interest in the brain and body symposium. 

  • Meeting with Amy for upcoming show sponsorships

  • Spoke with Amber from Seminole and is interested in sponsoring shows, she just needs information, offering treats/prizes

  • • Can bring horse scale with education 

  • Shelly with sunscreen products through Inspired Horse 

  • Need vendor pricing (Amy to send)

• Gala Report: Ellie Balakrishnan

• • After evaluating heat map of members home locations, Grandover remains central location

  • Booked the Grandover for the 2027 date - January 23rd

  • Plan to send survey results and heat map to communication chairs

• Communication Report: Sarah Bookner, Haven Salzwedel

• • Plan to promote Brain and Body symposium 

  • Social media:

  • • Top post of the month: First Portofino horse trial of the season (591 views · 384 reached · 19 interactions)

    • • This is the first time a show post has resulted in this must traction on Instagram and could highlight an opportunity to showcase more venues and upcoming shows

    • Worked well: instagram engagement

    • Needs improvement: Content pipeline remains week-to-week. Board members can help by sharing community highlights, HOY standings, scholarship/grant announcements, training tips, etc. directly to social@ncdcta.org.

• Competition Report: Amy Brumbach

• • First in Flight level 1 show in July

  • • Have prize list 

    • Planning for sponsored breakfast table 

    • Plan for tack consignment, people can pay for table 

    • Considering sponsored lunch table 

  • cBLMS

  • • Prize list in first half of June 

    • Planning for sponsored wine and cheese on Friday and Saturday night

    • • Include educational talk including highlighting sponsors 

    • Awards like best turnout, considering halloween costumes 

    • NCDCTA responsible for providing prizes 

    • • Considering jackets, chairs, human food/drink coolers, portable battery banks   

      • Will talk with Stitch Doctor about sponsorship 

  • Budget for shows will be available for June Meeting 

• Eventing Report: Katherine Thornton

• • Updating the NCDCTA eventing website 

  • Sending emails to eventers re: HOY participation

  • Eventing grant: communication chairs to promote

  • Planning to have NCDCTA eventing championships at November War Horse again this year

  • Noted that the USEA is now recognizing CTs

  • CHP is going to trial reserved trailer parking for June and July War Horse for stabled horses 

• Education Report: Shannon Stone 

• Jr/Yr Report: Mandi Martyn

• • 1 application for junior/young rider team rider challenge show

  • Updated Jr/YR NCDCTA website

• Membership Secretary Report: Will Barrus

• • Moved Wild Apricot to annual payment

• Western Dressage: Amanda Clodfelter

• • Looked into the rules about WD with rated dressage shows. Unfortunately a no go unless it’s either breed specific USDF dressage, or an entirely separate horse show for western. 

  • • Looking into what a low key championship type show would look like for western only

    • Reaching out to people in our area and surrounding states to see what might draw them in to make this financially feasible

  • Working with a Kentucky vendor to source donations for WD specifically with headstalls/reins for year end awards

  • Flushing out the get western Wednesday idea for social media and should have concrete content in the next few weeks ready to go

  • Consider weekly member spotlights potentially across all disciplines to foster community 

• Newsletter: Ariana Rogers

• • First newsletter distributed

  • People interested in submitting articles for next quarter 

Old Business: None

New Business: None

• Motion to adopt new Volunteer Incentive Program. Moved by Charlotte Meli. Sarah Bookner seconded the motion. The motion carried with all in favour and none opposed. 

Next meeting: June 2 @ 7pm - Virtual 

Helen adjourned the meeting at 8:54pm

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

Minutes passed by majority Board vote.