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AHSI Wins Club of the Year Award

Last November, the Arabian Horse Society of Iowa (AHSI) won both Club of the Year and the Communications Award in the Club Excellence Awards Program and received a $500 check for each award from the event sponsor, Pfizer Animal Health. Other check recipients include the Aurora Arabian Horse Association (Membership Recruitment/ Retention), the Maryland Arabian Horse Association (Club Projects) and the Georgia Arabian Horse Association (Breed Promotion/ Community Involvement).

Not only does the AHSI produce a beautiful four-color brochure that volunteers fund, but the club has increased its membership by distributing the pamphlet at the Iowa Horse Fair and State Fair and all Iowa Class A and AHSI Fun Shows. "We picked up 10 to 15 new members this year," says AHSI President Ann Henriksen-Brinkman of her 60-member club.

Last year, the AHSI also initiated a Horizon program at its fun shows, offering halter and walk-trot pleasure classes for adults and youth who had never shown or had not shown for many years. No show apparel was required--just a nice shirt, boots with a heel, and jeans.

"We publicized it at Iowa equine events and worked with our members to encourage the newcomers they were coaching to attend," says Henriksen-Brinkman. "Not only did we have 4 -10 people in each class, but the program brought in new members who were thrilled to get high-point awards." The club also offers a clinic specifically for people in the Horizon program to learn about showing in the various disciplines.

However, this club is about more than showing. All you have to do is open their inviting brochure to see a broad array of activities ranging from a potluck to open barns and trail rides. One member who drives antique sleighs hosts an annual sleigh ride party.

Henricksen-Brinkman credits their success to the selfless dedication of the club's volunteers. "It takes persistence and great volunteers dedicated to the breed to put the breed and its promotion ahead of their own personal farm and interest."

"Three years ago our delegate at San Antonio saw clubs being given these prizes and thought, 'We do that and we do that better.' The following year we put in our submissions and were a finalist in three divisions, and the next year we won."

--from Arabian Horse Magazine, Feb/Mar 2003 issue, page 97

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