Title Page 4/16/09 8:35 AM Page 1 Club Activity Guide Club Activi ub Activity GuidClub Activity Club Activity Guide Club Activity Guide THE AMERICAN MORGAN HORSE ASSOCIATION Club Activity Guide Club Activity Guide CLUB ACTIVITY GUIDE Club Activity Guide 2013-2014 Club Activity Guide Club Activity Guide Club Activity Guide Activity Club Club Activity Guide Guide Activity Club Club A Club Club Activity Guide Activity Club Title Page 4/16/09 8:35 AM Page 2 Dear Morgan Enth 2 Dear Morgan Enthusiast, Since it was first written in 1992, the Club Activity Guide (originally the Club Dear Morgan Enthusiast Resource Guide) has served as the place with the answers for anyone who is try- ing to organize Morgan events. Under the direction of the AMHA Board of Directors, the Activity Guide has been updated for the fourth time, and now has more and better information than ever before. With the fast-paced, multi-tasking lives most people live today, Morgan activities can become a lower priority. Everyone wants to do more to help their clubs and the breed’s visibility, but who has time? The effort involved in planning and organizing are the two areas that cause many people to say, “maybe next year...” With the Club Activity Guide, we have done much of the planning for you. Each section contains the steps needed to carry out an event. Using these guidelines, you can more easily step in and do the preparations. Once your event is under way, everyone will wonder how on earth you found time to prepare so effectively! The Club Activity Guide is an ongoing publication. We depend upon the input of our Morgan clubs and active members to provide new ideas and insights on orig- inal ways to promote Morgans and hold activities. If we are missing something that has worked well for you, please let us know! Dear Morgan Enthusiast Enjoy this valuable resource and the time it will give you to spend more time with your Morgans! The American Morgan Horse Association Dear Morgan Enthusiast Title Page 4/16/09 8:35 AM Page 3 3 CHAPTER 1 . .AMHA & RECOGNIZED CLUBS CHAPTER V . .MORGAN PROMOTION Starting a Club . .5 Promotional Goals . .47 Recognized Clubs & National Morgan Promotion . .47 Organization Requirements . .6 Open Barns . .51 Table of Contents Table AMHA Club Benefits . .7 Club Fund-Raisers . .53 AMHA Recognized Club Application . .8 Promotional Booths . .54 Club Meeting Procedures & Officer Duties . .9 Horse Cookies . .56 Suggested Bylaws for Morgan Clubs . .10 Musical Morgans . .56 How to Start a Morgan Youth Group . .12 Traveling Demonstration Ring . .57 Youth Group Application . .15 Morgans at School . .58 Promotional Brochures . .16 Morgans in a Mall . .65 Ordering AMHA Promotional Materials . .17 Demonstration Script 1 . .66 AMHA Mailing Lists . .18 Demonstration Script 2 . .68 Demonstration Script 3 . .71 Table of Contents Table CHAPTER II . .CLUB MEMBERSHIP Sample Hand Out—The American Morgan Horse . .77 Membership Management . .20 Sample Hand Out—Out of the Past, Into the Future 78 A Winning Look, The Club Brochure . .21 Sample Hand Out—One Horse, Many Talents . .79 Marketing Techniques: Selling Your Club . .23 Sample Hand Out—Ways to Use Morgans . .80 Gaining Members: The Welcome Letter . .24 Sample Hand Out—The Perfect Family Horse . .82 Who Are Your Members? The Club Directory . .26 Sample Hand Out —America’s Oldest Breed . .83 Club Membership Application . .28 AMHA Programs . .84 Club Brochure . .29 History of the Morgan Horse . .85 The American Morgan Horse Association . .87 CHAPTER III .NON-COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES Volunteers . .31 CHAPTER VI . .SHOWS & COMPETITIVE EVENTS Hosting a Clinic . .32 Introduction . .89 Non-Competitive Trail Rides & Drives . .34 Show Organization . .90 Organizing a Morgan Sale . .36 Flow Chart of Responsibilities . .94 Organizing Your Show From Start to Finish . .95 CHAPTER IV . .NEWSLETTERS Event Checklist . .97 Purpose, Content, Production, Writing Tips . .39 All Breed Fun Show Series . .98 Proofreading, Labor, Design, Putting It Together, Fun Show Series Prize List . .99 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE Justified Paragraphs, Type Styles . .40 Fun Show Series Entry Form . .100 Format . .41 Judge’s Cards . .101 Photos, Good Visual Effects, Class List . .103 Table of Contents Table Photo Captions, Photo Caption Guidelines . .42 USEF & Morgan Shows . .105 Advertising, Printing, Publication, AMHA Regional Show Status . .106 Distribution, Resources . .43 Show Budget . .108 Annual AMHA Club Newsletter Contest . .44 Show Facilities . .110 Newsletter Contest Guidelines . .45 Facility Contracts . .111 Ribbons, Trophies & Prizes . .112 Judges . .112 Table of Contents Table Title Page 4/16/09 8:35 AM Page 4 Table of Contents Table Contracts for Judges . .115 4 Show Manager . .117 Contract for Show Manager . .118 Show Secretary . .120 Show Staff . .121 Contract for Show Staff . .125 Volunteer Contract . .126 Prize List . .127 of Contents Table Producing a Show Program . .128 Gaining Sponsorships . .130 Sponsorship Letter . .133 OF CONTENTS TABLE Sponsor Application . .134 Horse Show Promotion . .135 Sample Press Release . .138 Sample Public Service Announcement . .139 Classes to Offer . .140 Horse Show Variations . .140 Fun Classes . .141 Sample Futurity Guidelines . .142 Carriage Competitions . .145 Carriage Cones & Obstacle Patterns . .151 Hunter Over Fences . .158 Building Jumps . .159 Hunter Fence Patterns . .160 Reining . .164 Eventing . .168 Team Penning . .172 Competitive Trail Rides . .172 Table of Contents Table APPENDIX AMHA Club of the Year Award . .176 AMHA Promoter Award . .177 AMHA Master’s Certificate . .178 AMHA Nomination Form . .179 AMHA Newletter Contest . .180 Table of Contents Table Title Page 11/2/10 4:01 PM Page 5 Chapter One Chapter Chapter One Chapter One Chapter One Chapter One Chapter One CHAPTER I Chapter One Chapter One AMHA & RECOGNIZED CLUBS Chapter One Chapter One Chapter One Chapter One Chapter Chapter One One Chapter Chapter One Chapter Chapter One Chapter CH1 11/2/10 4:00 PM Page 5 STARTING A CLUB 5 Wherever a group of Morgan enthusiasts is found, be used for the club’s “Statement of Purpose.” Starting a club there is potential for a new Morgan club. Examples of a good Statement of Purpose Having several Morgan clubs in one state or • To operate for pleasure and recreation for the area is encouraged by AMHA. While a single club benefit of our members. may work in small states, many smaller clubs with- in a larger state make it easier for members to meet. • To promote breeding and use of Morgan hors- es as versatile pleasure, sport, and show horses. Small clubs also may work together to sponsor Starting a club large, state, or region-wide events. • To exchange and promote knowledge of the Morgan breed. CLUB FORMATION • To preserve and honor the history, image, and progeny of the Morgan horse. Forming a new club is not a monumental task. A CLUB STARTING Breaking it down into a series of steps will allow • To work with other clubs and organizations steady development with minimal effort. for the advancement of the breed. Spread the word that you would like to start a How can a club serve all parts of the Morgan club. Contact AMHA for a complete list of community? What can it do to help breeders, Morgan owners in your area. Place notices in tack exhibitors, and family owners who ride for fun? shops, feed stores, vet clinics, and at local shows. Depending upon the group’s composition, this will The sign should include your name, phone number, be important in deciding what path to take. The address, e-mail address, and a quick description of following chapters will provide ideas for activities the new club. and the preparations needed. When your local efforts have been noticed, If certain activities have a strong show of sup- build on them. If funds permit, place classified ads port, a committee can be formed at the introducto- ry meeting. (If group trail rides are requested, they in area newspapers and equine publications. Bear can look into the locations of state park facilities. If in mind that many publications welcome free edito- driving is popular, select a driving clinic commit- rial. Radio and television often offer reasonable tee.) Action speaks. Committees will demonstrate advertising rates or free community bulletin initiative. boards. Lists of newspapers and radio and televi- To maintain enthusiasm after the introductory sion stations for your region can be found in the meeting, organizers should prepare a one-page Yellow Pages or on the Internet. A mailing list of review that includes both the Statement of other Morgan owners in your area also is available Purpose and names of those in attendance. This let- from AMHA. These initial efforts should garner ter should be sent to all who were present and to responses. Do not discourage any valuable any other interested parties. inquiries! The job of a.