FROM THE DESK OF
Amy Spinelli-Olson
WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER
ISSUE OF THE NATIONAL NEWS
It is hard to believe the year is nearly over. 2018 has proven to be another very successful year for NWHA across
all aspects of our programs – and our unprecedented success – is due to each of you.
The end of the year is always a time of reflection for me personally. Reflecting on the year’s triumphs and
struggles as well as what went well and what could be improved upon is a continuous ritual I follow. And it
should be no surprise that I take the same approach for our NWHA business. At our upcoming Annual Meeting
in January, we will dive a little deeper into our business and discuss new areas to cultivate and nurture into
great successes. For now, let’s review a few relevant and positive highlights and upcoming initiatives.
Financial Stability & Growth Mark Your Calendars
Our sustained, strong financial
performance backed by
steady growth throughout the
year continues to advance
NWHA forward. We operated
throughout the year with zero debt, with a
planned year end of over $40,000. NWHA
has continued to deliver strong financial
performance for several years and we will
continue to manage and invest in new
opportunities smartly for our organization.
Throughout the year, NWHA gained nearly 70
new-to NWHA members across 7 states, with
more than 25 memberships designated as
youth. New membership growth is up 40% year
over year – which is a true marker of tangible
success. We began an awareness campaign
in Sport & Trail Magazine and have invested
in re-designed website and web portal. Look
to more organization details in my President’s
report at the annual meeting in January. With 2018 nearly complete, our focus now
turns to ringing in a new year. Preparations
have been underway for the Annual
Meeting for a few months now - and I’m
excited to once again bring together our
membership from across the country. We will host the
annual judge’s clinic, annual membership meeting and of
course our exciting awards banquet on January 25 - 26,
2019. Please look for more information in this newsletter
and start planning the trip to Nashville – it is sure to be a
great time!
We also have a great deal to share on our
programs and events; the National Show, TRIP,
CHIP and sanctioned trail rides growth for
example, but I’ll save the excitement for our
committees to reveal at the Annual Meeting.
2018 has truly been another great year – one
we should all be proud of.
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The meeting is also the time to get involved and share your
thoughts with your leadership team. Each committee lead
will present the activities from 2018 as well as thoughts as
we look to 2019. In addition, the meeting will feature an
open membership forum for members to share thoughts
and interact with the leadership team on key issues and
opportunities for our organization.
We will also host our annual BOD retreat prior to the annual
meeting. As a board, we take the time to meet in person
as a team and strategize and plan the upcoming year. It
is a crucial time for us to update our goals, set key priorities
and review and discuss areas for improvement, opportunity
and expansion. Please make sure you reach out to
your Regional Directors with comments, thoughts and
suggestions so they may represent each of you even better
throughout our discussions.
NWHA National News / November 2018