President's Report
The new website gives me the opportunity to give members an update of the first Council meeting of the year which was held on Friday 2nd February 2012 and in spite of freezing temperatures we had excellent attendance with only two unavoidable absentees.
The 2012 Breed Show was discussed and the final schedule was agreed on. It was voted unanimously that the HOYS qualifier will remain with the Breed Show from now on (as it does with all other breeds) and the Olympia Qualifier remains with the Performance Show. Special rosettes donated by a sponsor marking the occasion of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be presented to each exhibitor. The show committee would be most grateful to anyone who would like to sponsor a class at the show and sponsorship forms will be included in the next Newsletter. Donations will be much appreciated and can be sent or given to the Show Secretary Mrs Leonie Sellars or the Treasurer Michael Barugh .
All correspondence received before the required 14 days of the Council meeting was discussed. The reason for this time stipulation is that a copy of each letter goes out to every Council Member a fortnight before the Meeting thus giving them the opportunity of looking into the background, reasons etc. and enabling them to give a positive contribution to the discussion at the Council Meeting. So please would members bear in mind that letters need to be received by the office in good time. Along with thanks to the office staff, appreciation of the new website, costs of sales at Auction Marts there was a letter concerned about the welfare of Shetland Ponies in particular in Orkney but elsewhere generally. Whilst we appreciate the problem we cannot impose quotas but we do already advise our members to breed their ponies with thought and consideration.
A major discussion was that for many years the take-up of stud books has been falling and although we have reduced the number printed there still has been a tremendous shortfall to meet the costs. Council has made sure that the printers are competitive within the field of expertise for this type of production but we are now in a difficult position where we cannot reduce any further at an acceptable price. There are members who greatly treasure their annual stud book and the computer could never replace it but your Council have to deal with the economics of not losing money. We only sell around 150 volumes a year and in the past large numbers of volumes have accumulated around the office and we have to pay to have them disposed of. We are looking for the best solution to the problem and in the next Newsletter we shall include a slip for members to complete to give everyone a chance to be consulted regarding various options and this will be discussed again at the April meeting when the forms have been received by the office.
The 2013 Breed Show was discussed and council decided it was long overdue to have a centralised venue and it was decided that the venue for the next 3 years will be the Yorkshire Event Centre home of the Great Yorkshire Show.There are fantastic permanent facilities on site, stables, parking etc - many exhibitors will already be familiar with this venue having been in the Shetland Classes at the Great Yorkshire Shows.
The International meeting was discussed and all daughter stud-books will be invited to attend a meeting in Perth in November.
The International Show is being held in Holland this year and any individuals wishing to show there should contact the Dutch Society personally for information.
I am very pleased to say that the magazine has gone early to print this year and copies will be available from the office shortly and at the Spring sale at Reading where Shetland Pony Trading will have a table. This will also be at the York sale.
An update on the current situation with the Dutch Stud Book can be viewed separately from the Homepage.
Joan Lambert
