AMHA Committees
COMMITTEES
AMHA's governance is highly dependent on our committee structure. The committees serve several important functions:
- Assist in the on-going review/management of AMHA's operations, as assigned;
- Provide a grass-roots network to AMHA members, assuring a broad and continuous input from members for decision making purposes; and,
- Assistance in program content designs to assure that AMHA's programs and services meet the needs of the bulk of our members.
Of the above, the role of a network conduit between our members and the AMHA Board is most critical. It is imperative that member input be the basis of AMHA's Strategic Plan, stating where we want to be in 1-3 years; and what the content and/or philosophy of AMHA’s programs should be.
General Objectives for all Committees:
- Identify constituent needs/wants that AMHA might address to further increase the "value-added" to members;
- How can AMHA improve/increase compliance with published rules, regulations, standards, and guidelines while increasing ethical, sportsmanship behavior;
- Identify data elements that should be collected and maintained in AMHA databases, and how best to collect these data elements;
- To promote the Morgan horse, AMHA membership, and usage of AMHA's programs and services on a continuous basis;
- Explore ways that we can better showcase the Morgan horse;
- Document why various constituents belong to AMHA;
- Explore ways that attendance and participation at Morgan events can be increased; and
- Identify educational needs of the public, and our various constituents, concerning the Morgan horse and AMHA.
Standing Committees
AMHA has standing committees as listed below. These committees are composed of members of the Board of Directors who are appointed by the President at the annual reorganization meeting of the Board following the annual members meeting and election. All standing committee meetings are open to all Board members.
Officers
President: Harlan Grunden
Recording Secretary: Carrie Mortensen
Vice President: Ashleigh Wood
Vice President of Finance: James Gruenberg
Executive Committee
Chair: Harlan Grunden
Staff Liaison: Executive Director, Carrie Mortensen
Members: Ashleigh Wood, Vice President; James Gruenberg, Vice President of Finance; Terri Sturm, Bylaws Chair; Glenn T. Werry, Registry Chair; Carrie Mortensen, Recording Secretary
Charter: To function on behalf of the Board of Directors between regularly scheduled Board meetings, and as the Personnel Committee of the Board.
Finance Committee
Chair: James Gruenberg
Staff Liaison: Executive Director, Carrie Mortensen
Members: Dallas Bolen, Carol Fletcher, Michael Foy, Harlan Grunden, Kate Kirsch, Marshall Mougine, Terri Sturm, Ashleigh Wood
Charter: To oversee the financial operations of AMHA, including reserve funds and trust funds to achieve long-term strategic economic objectives, to oversee the development of an annual budget with input from the board and the committees, monitor performance in accordance with that budget and make recommendations to the board on matters impacting the short-term and long-term integrity of the Association.
Registry Committee
Chair: Glenn T. Werry
Staff Liaison: Registrar, Erica Eulau
Members: Andrew Beiler, Kris Breyer, James Gruenberg, Harlan Grunden, Jennifer Hazen, Kelly Kraegel, Eldon Lambright, C. A. Lee III, Iann Fu Longenecker, Elizabeth Murphy, David "Tuffy" Owens, Terri Sturm
Charter: To maintain and ensure the integrity of the AMHA Registry and to make recommendations to the board concerning changes to policy/rules and existing and proposed registrations/applications.
Bylaws Committee
Chair: Terri Sturm
Staff Liaison: Executive Director, Carrie Mortensen
Members: Sharon Boyce Bender, Cathy Blackburn, Kris Breyer, Harlan Grunden, Steven Handy, Kelly Kraegel
Charter: Responsible for the periodic review of the Bylaws of the Corporation and recommend to the Board of Directors proposed changes as necessary.
Special Working Committees
As described in bylaw 4.18, the Board may elect or appoint one or more committees to assist them with the on-going business of the Association. Special Working Committees are chaired or co-chaired by the members of the Board of Directors or Directors Emeriti. Remaining committee members are non-board members approved by the Board.
Chair: Carol Fletcher
Members: Cathy Blackburn, Dallas Bolen, Richard Boule, Sara Foy, Harlan Grunden, Steven Handy, Peggy Hatfield, Stacy Hennessy, C. A. Lee III, Kelly McFaul, Kayla Powlesland, Ling Fu Wylie (Erica Eulau, Nikki Dumas, and Carrie Mortensen, Non-voting staff representatives)
Charter: To facilitate the nominations from the membership to honor and recognize those that do their all for the Morgan horse.
Co-Chairs: C. A. Lee III & Elizabeth Murphy
Chair: Steven Handy
Members: Chelsey Abate, Melissa Beckett, Sharon Boyce Bender, Dallas Bolen, Harlan Grunden, Tami Johnson, David "Tuffy" Owens, Erlene Seybold-Smythe, Savannah Sturm, Glenn T. Werry
Charter: The Customer Relations, Marketing & Corporate Sponsorship Committee is a committee of the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) that oversees the strategic communications and marketing plan to promote the Morgan breed through AMHA's mission and vision. The committee provides guidance on the implementation of the marketing and communications plan, which includes:
- Increasing the overall awareness, breeding and sales of the Morgan horse;
- Assisting in the continous development and promotion of the website;
- Facilitating and promoting partner participation to increase membership value, benefits, and satisfaction;
- Providing content ideas for partnership wide communications as needed;
- Promoting activities and accomplishments of AMHA through various media modes; and
- Identifying opportunities to partner with existing or new public events related to AMHA's mission.
Chair: Dallas Bolen
Members: Sharon Boyce Bender, Sierra Breckenridge, Kris Breyer, Harlan Grunden, Steven Handy, Kathy Newcomb, Lucy Ray, Christina Stewart, Amie Taber, Angela Thayer, Aaron Woodland, Jennifer Valentine
Charter: To facilitate awards, communication, education, promotion and support of members who participate with their Morgans in competition events and to develop initiatives that will further the growth and development of all disciplines for Morgans in the open competition arena. The committee will also work to support all disciplines in Morgan shows, with recommendations and support for AMHA committees involved with Morgan shows.
Members: Dallas Bolen, Linda Braddon, James Gruenberg, Harlan Grunden, Rick Lane, James McClay, Lin Nelson-Mayson, Mari Sanderson, Heather Smith
Charter: To educate the public about the Morgan Horse, and to further that purpose by collecting, preserving, and making available for display and study original works of art and historical materials, to encourage historical research relating to the Morgan Breed.
Ad Hoc Committees
Ad hoc committees and task groups are formed to accomplish specific tasks, and may be formed or disbanded as deemed appropriate by the AMHA President or board. Members of ad hoc committees may include non-Board members, and are appointed by the President. Current ad hoc committees and the present members of each include:
Promotional & Show Grant Review Committee
Chair: Kris Breyer
Members: Carol Fletcher, James Gruenberg, Harlan Grunden, Kate Kirsch, Ashleigh Wood
Charter: To review all promo and show grants requests and to make recommendations to the BOD for the disbursement of funds in response.