NDA Year-End Awards Banquet
Changes for 2020
2020 has been a strange and challenging year for all of us. Like so many other groups across the country, NDA has been forced to make some difficult changes to our regular plans and put some of our goals on hold.
It is with a heavy heart that the NDA Board of Directors made the difficult decision to cancel our yearly Year-End Awards Banquet, with the safety of our members in mind. There was no reliable way to safely conduct an in-person event in November, so we have opted for virtual solutions for all aspects of the event—details below!
It is with a heavy heart that the NDA Board of Directors made the difficult decision to cancel our yearly Year-End Awards Banquet, with the safety of our members in mind. There was no reliable way to safely conduct an in-person event in November, so we have opted for virtual solutions for all aspects of the event—details below!
NDA Annual Meeting
While we cannot gather together in person for this year's year-end banquet, we will still conduct our annual meeting, open to all NDA members, on November 15, 2020, at 1:00 pm via Zoom videoconference.
Members are invited to join the meeting to hear reports from all our officers, the results of the 2021 Board of Directors election, the discussion of any old business and any new business, and the results of the 2020 NDA Virtual Show Awards Series.
A link to the Zoom videoconference will be posted on the NDA website well in advance of the meeting, and it will be also communicated to our members via email. If you have any questions about this videoconference, please contact Melissa Ward.
Year-End Awards
After a lengthy discussion of the best course of action for NDA Year-End Awards under the unique and limited circumstances of showing in the 2020 show season, the Awards Committee has concluded that it is best that we defer our awards season to 2021. The committee came to this conclusion because:
For those who have been competing at in-person horse shows at any level this year, the Awards Committee (with the full support of the NDA Board of Directors) will apply scores earned in 2020 to the 2021 Year-End Awards season. Scores earned between 10/01/2019–9/30/2021 will all count for awards in November of 2021.
This does not affect the 2020 Virtual Show Awards Series. This program is separate from the NDA Year-End Awards Program. Results from this series will be announced at the NDA Annual Meeting videoconference on November 15, 2020.
If you have any questions about year-end awards, please email the NDA Awards Committee.
Board of Directors Election
Since we don't have the opportunity to cast in-person written ballots at this year's Annual Meeting, NDA will be conducting this year's election online.
Prior to the election, as we do every year, NDA will send out an email containing the biographies of all candidates running for the 2021 NDA Board of Directors. Then, on November 1, the election will open for voting, and all NDA members will receive an invitation to participate with a link to online election software. You'll vote for your favorite candidates, or—like always—you may write-in a candidate. Votes may be cast up to the date of the NDA Annual Meeting, November 15, at which point the election will close and results will be announced at the meeting.
If you would like to run for the 2021 Board of Directors, please send us your biography (2-3 paragraphs and a photo) by October 20.
Silent Auction
In lieu of an in-person silent auction, NDA will be going virtual this year! We are currently putting together an online auction that will be open to all NDA members for 2-3 weeks of bidding. It will be a great way to get some holiday shopping done, all while supporting NDA and your dressage community!
We are currently gathering donations for this auction! If you would like to donate an item or service to the auction, please contact Margo Hamilton!
More information will be coming in October, along with a link to the auction so you can start your bidding.
Renewing your NDA membership
We know that many of you rely on the NDA Year-End Awards Banquet to renew your NDA membership for the following year. This year, we encourage you to renew your membership online at our website. There, you can either fill out your renewal and make your payment online, OR you can download the membership and mail it in, along with a check.
Reminder: your 2020 NDA membership will expire on November 30, 2020, and your 2021 NDA membership will begin on December 1, 2020.
While we cannot gather together in person for this year's year-end banquet, we will still conduct our annual meeting, open to all NDA members, on November 15, 2020, at 1:00 pm via Zoom videoconference.
Members are invited to join the meeting to hear reports from all our officers, the results of the 2021 Board of Directors election, the discussion of any old business and any new business, and the results of the 2020 NDA Virtual Show Awards Series.
A link to the Zoom videoconference will be posted on the NDA website well in advance of the meeting, and it will be also communicated to our members via email. If you have any questions about this videoconference, please contact Melissa Ward.
Year-End Awards
After a lengthy discussion of the best course of action for NDA Year-End Awards under the unique and limited circumstances of showing in the 2020 show season, the Awards Committee has concluded that it is best that we defer our awards season to 2021. The committee came to this conclusion because:
- There have not been many horse shows at any level at which members can earn scores.
- A desire to keep the standards for earning Year-End Awards consistent across the years (not making confusing one-time changes to the awards program).
- Many members made a conscious decision NOT to show because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
For those who have been competing at in-person horse shows at any level this year, the Awards Committee (with the full support of the NDA Board of Directors) will apply scores earned in 2020 to the 2021 Year-End Awards season. Scores earned between 10/01/2019–9/30/2021 will all count for awards in November of 2021.
This does not affect the 2020 Virtual Show Awards Series. This program is separate from the NDA Year-End Awards Program. Results from this series will be announced at the NDA Annual Meeting videoconference on November 15, 2020.
If you have any questions about year-end awards, please email the NDA Awards Committee.
Board of Directors Election
Since we don't have the opportunity to cast in-person written ballots at this year's Annual Meeting, NDA will be conducting this year's election online.
Prior to the election, as we do every year, NDA will send out an email containing the biographies of all candidates running for the 2021 NDA Board of Directors. Then, on November 1, the election will open for voting, and all NDA members will receive an invitation to participate with a link to online election software. You'll vote for your favorite candidates, or—like always—you may write-in a candidate. Votes may be cast up to the date of the NDA Annual Meeting, November 15, at which point the election will close and results will be announced at the meeting.
If you would like to run for the 2021 Board of Directors, please send us your biography (2-3 paragraphs and a photo) by October 20.
Silent Auction
In lieu of an in-person silent auction, NDA will be going virtual this year! We are currently putting together an online auction that will be open to all NDA members for 2-3 weeks of bidding. It will be a great way to get some holiday shopping done, all while supporting NDA and your dressage community!
We are currently gathering donations for this auction! If you would like to donate an item or service to the auction, please contact Margo Hamilton!
More information will be coming in October, along with a link to the auction so you can start your bidding.
Renewing your NDA membership
We know that many of you rely on the NDA Year-End Awards Banquet to renew your NDA membership for the following year. This year, we encourage you to renew your membership online at our website. There, you can either fill out your renewal and make your payment online, OR you can download the membership and mail it in, along with a check.
Reminder: your 2020 NDA membership will expire on November 30, 2020, and your 2021 NDA membership will begin on December 1, 2020.
Thank you for bearing with us as we navigate this unprecedented situation. We value your membership and are so hopeful that 2021 will bring a much more "normal" year, when we can return to our favorite activities and celebrating in person with you.
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