2007 Region 12 Delegates

What a great year 2007 has been for Region XII! The Website is up and functioning; the Region XII Show was a great
success; the Spotlight Futurity has been embraced by stallion owners, breeders, and trainers; a number of other
programs and initiatives are off and running.

The year continued on a high note at the Tulsa AHA Convention. Region XII was again recognized as having the highest number of delegates attending the meeting of any region in the country. We have had that honor for the last three years, and I could not be prouder of our members/delegates.

2007 Region 12 Executive Board (Eric Wolfe,Frank Galovic, Denni Mack and CA Butler)

I am also proud to report that at the AHA National Convention which just ended, Region XII representatives were accorded a number of honors.

The Region XII Director's Awards were given to Eric Reuter and Dr. Marijo Kent-First. Eric has patiently and
persistently pushed to gain regional and national attention for endurance and trail riders. He has worked with me to
encourage riders to join regional clubs and to join AHA in order to have a voice. As a result, Region XII now
sponsors a series of competitive rides; in addition, a National Distance Rider Commission, long overdue, was approved
to support and promote the Arabian Endurance and Trail horse. Marijo received her award for outstanding contributions in her work with youth. She took Region XII's two Youth Judging Teams to the national competition, representing our area with honor. Marijo is unfailingly cheerful and always willing to give her time to support the endeavors of our young people. She was also awarded the Region X Director's Award as Volunteer of the Year. It has to be an exceptionally rare occurrence for the same person to receive recognition from two different regions.

Three members from the region, Frank Galovic, Susan Meyer, and Grace Greenlee, were the recipients of the prestigious President's Award which is AHA's Highest Award. This award is a national one, given this year by Myron Kraus, the President of AHA; the award recognizes individuals who have performed in an outstanding manner in their fields. Frank, Susan, and Grace work with the AHA Sweepstakes Committee.

Dr. Mike Stewart(right) being congratulated by Frank Galovic to AHA's U.S. National Show Commission.

Frank Galovic went on to be named the outstanding AHA Volunteer of the year. As most of you know, Frank is a CPA who is not only the treasurer of Region XII, but is also currently serving as the treasurer of The Arabian Horse Association; he has worked miracles in assisting the Denver office update its accounting methods. The significance of his efforts was recognized at the convention. This award was voted on by his peers on the Exective Committee.

The good news continues. Region XII now has a representative on the AHA Show Commission. Mike Stewart, who has successfully managed the Region XII Show for the last few years, was elected to a three year term on the national board. Since our region hosts one of the largest and most respected shows in the nation, it seems only fitting that we have an experienced voice on the national level.

It just gets better and better. Cheryl Van Duesen's Horse DA Al Capone +// (525349 Ebonys Masterpiece X Rabaska aka Alvin) was named AHA 2007 Distance Horse of the Year during the 2007 National Convention. "Alvin" started out with a short career in the show ring, earning a Region 12 Top Five in AAOTR Hunter Pleasure and Region 12 Reserve Championships in Working Hunter and Jumper; ridden and owned by Ms. Cheryl Van Deusen (Companion Arabians, New Smyrna Beach, Florida), this amazing horse has amassed over 4000 career miles in distance riding. In the distance area, Alvin has earned a National Top Ten, a Region 12 Reserve Championship,and multiple Top Fives in Region 12 and Region 15 in Endurance Riding. His most recent achievements include nine (9) completions and three Best Condition awards in 2007. He accomplished all of this while earning the honor of being selected as one of four horses representing the United States USEF Team in the European Endurance Championships in Portugal. Aside from being a fabulous rider, Cheryl has been a tireless voice for the endurance community and a leader in bringing these long ignored Arabian horse enthusiasts into the AHA fold.

Another Region 12 Club honor was the selection of the Arabian Distance Riders Association Club (#12277) as one of
three finalists in the membership category by the Arabian Horse Association. This award is given to the club with the
highest percentage of retention and new members. ADRA is a club established by C. Thomas Hamilton in Ocala, Florida. This club more than doubled its membership last year to almost eighty (80) members primarily due to the outreach of Region 12 to the distance riders within our seven states. We even attracted some out of region members to our club because of the Region 12 Endurance Challenge. While we are proud to be a finalist, next year we want to go for the gold.

Frank Galovic receiving the National Volunteer Service Award from AHA President Myron Krause.

To continue, Frank Galovic and I were appointed to the newly formed, non-profit Arabian Horse Foundation, a committee charged with raising and distributing funds for worthy causes which relate in vital ways to Arabian horses. These causes can be as varied as scholarships for our youth, disaster relief (horses caught up in California fires or the
Katrina hurricane, for example), personal assistance in extreme cases, or health studies such as a Rhodococcus vaccine. The fundraising for the foundation got off to a sensational start: over one hundred thousand dollars was pledged in approximately ten minutes on the floor of the convention. Individuals, clubs, and regions-all pitched in to get the program started.

Finally, for those of you who might be unaware of the news, Region XII is proud to announce that one of our own has been inducted into the Arabian Horse Association Judges Hall of Fame. Jim Fisher, long an icon in the Arabian horse world, has been recognized for his achievements. As a trainer, Jim achieved national prominence in halter and performance. He was partner and manager of Dixieland Arabian Stud, one of the most influential Arabian farms in the United Stated during the seventies and eighties.

Jim won a number of national championships, working with and training national competitors like Angelo Storm, High Hopes, Golden Fix, Ibn Silver Ghost, and Dixie Burlington. Over the years, he has been active not just as a trainer, but as an advocate of the Arabian horse, serving in a number of capacities, including as President of the SC Horse Show Association. At the same, Jim was a knowledgeable and sought-after judge all over the United States.

Today, Jim continues to be active at the local and regional level: he still trains horses; he assists with the
Spotlight Futurity (and still looks fine in a tuxedo) and works to promote the Region XII Margaret Shuey Fund, our non- profit educational fund.

Congratulations and Thank You, Jim, from all of us in Region XII.