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USA
Equestrian and USET Agree To Joint Resolution of NGB Dispute
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Gladstone,
New Jersey and Lexington, Kentucky—February 1, 2003—A
new era for equestrian sports began on Saturday, February 1, 2003
when the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Membership and
Credentials Committee received a plan jointly proposed by USA
Equestrian (USAE) and the United States Equestrian Team (USET)
to create a new NGB for the sport incorporating the strengths
of each organization.
The
joint agreement resolves the question of governance of the sport
and ends an agonizing period of dispute with a solution that all
parties heartily endorse.
The
new plan became a reality when signed by USAE President Alan Balch,
Vice President David O’Connor and Treasurer Kathy Meyer and
by USET Chairman Frank Lloyd, President Armand Leone and Secretary
Eric Straus. It calls for the formation of a new corporate entity
to assume all the current functions of USAE and USET with the
main fundraising efforts handled by two new supporting organizations.
As
part of the agreement, Balch agreed to resign as a Trustee of
the USET, to instruct his attorneys to take immediate steps with
the USET to resolve the litigation Balch v. USET in a manner acceptable
to both parties, and that he will not seek to serve as an officer
or director of the new NGB until after the election cycle for
2005.
The
USET agreed to nominate David O’Connor as a Trustee to its
Board and all parties agreed that O’Connor will be responsible
to communicate and coordinate all international matters between
USAE, USET and the USOC during the interim period prior to the
establishment of the new NGB.
The
new NGB will carry on activities currently performed by the USET
and USAE and will be responsible for providing all services required
by Equestrian Sport, both national and international, and for
meeting obligations as a USOC-designated NGB. For the role of
fundraising, the plan calls for the creation of the USET Foundation
and the USAE Trust. The USET Foundation will seek to raise funds
for international high performance programs while USAE Trust will
raise funds for purposes relating to equestrian industry research,
education, scholarship and financial support needs, excluding
activities relating to international high performance programs
and activities.
The
new NGB will be governed by a Board of Directors not to exceed
54 members. Officers will include a President; Vice President–International
High Performance; Vice President–International–National
FEI Affiliates; Vice President–National Affiliates; Vice
President—Finance & Administration; Secretary and Treasurer.
The new NGB will be led by a paid Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
A six member CEO Search Committee, with three individuals appointed
by USAE and three by the USET, will begin immediately to seek
a suitable individual for the CEO position. The CEO is to be in
place prior to commencing operations of the new NGB.
USET
Chairman of the Board, Frank V. Lloyd and David J. O’Connor,
USAE Vice President stated, “We are particularly delighted
for the athletes, coaches, staffs and the entire sport of equestrian;
and look forward to the renewed enthusiasm and support to make
this country the top equestrian nation in the world.”
The
full content of the new NGB plan outline will be available on
the USAE website at www.equestrian.org
and on the USET website at www.uset.org.
The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization
that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest
possible standard to represent our country in major international
competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development
of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides
the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest
potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908)
234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org
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