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WCHA Executive Committee and Board Elected
Dick Donnelly of Iowa to serve as chairman
(Fort Worth, Texas) - November 26, 2007 - The first Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the World Conformation Horse
Association (WCHA) has been elected by a vote of more than 175 founding members. Voting took place by paper and on-line
balloting earlier this month.
Elected to serve on the Executive Committee were Peter Cofrancesco, III, of Sparta, New Jersey; Dick Donnelly of LaPorte City, Iowa;
Tim Finkenbinder of Collinsville, Texas, Wayne Halvorson of Edmond, Okla., and Jodi Sullivan of Maumee, Ohio. In its first official
act, the Executive Committee, which will operate as a team the first two years of operation, named Donnelly to serve as chairman and
Halvorson to serve as vice chairman.
"Due to the amount of work and responsibility required to successfully launch the WCHA, the Executive Committee will work as a
team without officer titles, " said Donnelly. "The roles and responsibilities, consistent with those outlined in the WCHA bylaws,
will be split among the Executive Committee members, in order not to overburden any one role or individual. Another election will
take place in two years that will name a president and other officers. Our goal now is to get WCHA on its feet and operating as a
viable and contributing member of the horse industry and I believe we're well on our way."
Named by the Executive Committee to serve as treasurer was Terry Fuhrman of Carthage, Missouri.
Board of Directors named
A Board of Directors consisting of 16 members representing the eight WCHA regions was also elected. Each region includes one director
representing the professional segment and one representing the owner/breeder segment of the industry. Board members include:
- Owner/breeder John Ogden of Moab, Utah, and professional Jack Brizendine of Lincoln, Calif., representing Region I,
consisting of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, California, Alaska, Hawaii, Utah, Alberta and British Columbia;
- Owner/breeder Dorn Parkinson of Prescott, Ariz., and professional Bob Kail of Scottsdale, Ariz., representing Region II,
consisting of Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arizona, Alberta, and Saskatchewan;
- Owner breeder Gary Gordon of Argyle, Texas, and professional Jason Smith of Whitesboro, Texas, representing Region III,
consisting of New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Louisiana and Mexico.
- Owner/breeder Glen Cantrell of Lone Grove, Okla., and professional Luke Castle of Wayne, Okla., representing Region IV,
consisting of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas;
- Owner/breeder Jerry Bauerly of Sauk Rapids, Minn., and professional Doug Landon of Clark, Missouri, representing Region V,
consisting of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Manitoba;
- Owner/breeder Wallace Heck, Jr., of Terry, Miss., and professional Ronnie Casper of Ocala, Fla., representing Region VI,
consisting of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee;
- Owner/breeder Steve Jensen of Saginaw, Mich., and professional Greg Holden of Hamilton, Ohio, representing Region VII,
consisting of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Ontario and;
- Owner/breeder Kenny Mills of Fruitland, Md., and professional Jeffrey Pait of Sparta, N.J., representing Region VIII,
consisting of Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland,
Connecticut, Virginia and Quebec.
"There are a number of 'housekeeping' items that the Executive Committee will address prior to the first of the year,"
said Donnelly, "including securing needed management and event software, addressing day-to-day management needs and filing the
appropriate paperwork necessary to operate. We will also be moving aggressively forward in our goal to hold a futurity event in 2008
as well as in developing more member services and information via the WCHA web site."
For more information, go to www.conformationhorse.com or contact Julie
Bryant at 817-443-0686 or jbryant@conformationhorse.com.
About The World Conformation Horse Association
The World Conformation Horse Association was formed in May 2007 when more than 40 concerned halter horse owners, breeders and trainers
from nine states gathered in Tioga, Tex., May 29-30 for a think tank strategy meeting to discuss issues facing the halter horse industry
and methods for response, including the forming of an organization to address industry matters. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the WCHA
represents nearly 300 members in 34 states, British Columbia and Ontario.
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