I am opposed to sponsorship from the International Emirates Endurance
Village, not because the people are of different race or religion, but
because I am concerned they are trying to change the rules of the sport as
we know it. They have vast amounts of money and I have been of the opinion
that it is being used for political advantage, such as influencing the FEI.
If I'm wrong, I would be happy to accept enlightenment, but I definitely am
concerned. It's a pity that large sums of money are often useful, but
frequently offensive, especially when connected with a "show-off" attitude.
I did not attend Tevis, but I have read that the T-shirts all had ads
relating to the "Village". I would have found that offensive and would
likely have refused to buy one.

JMO,
Barbara McCrary

----- Original Message -----
From: "Randy H Eiland" <renegade12@...>
To: <AERCMembersForum@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 8:40 AM
Subject: [AERCMembersForum] Fw: [AERC_BoD] Sponsorship thin ice


> TO AERC MEMBERS - COMMENTS WANTED:
> (I sent a similar message to the AERC BOD for comments)
>
> The following post from Kim Fuess (found below) was one of several that
> are making the rounds after TEVIS.. Kim Fuess is very articulate and
> represents what may be the general opinion surrounding the TEVIS
> Sponsorship by the International Emirates Endurance Village. |These
> comments bring up the question(s) asked below.
>
> In some ways the current controversy mirrors some opinions voiced when
> the AERC Sponsorship Committee first came into existence in 1998/99 - at
> that time some AERC members were concerned about the attachment of
> corporate names to AERC national categories because "it would be a sell
> out to the corporate world"...the 1998/99 AERC BOD took their concerns
> into consideration but decided to allow our Sponsors to be associated
> with the specific national category they selected to sponsor - it has
> proved to be a successful action with no negative repercussions. The
> success of the AERC Sponsorship Program may be related to the fact AERC
> Sponsors are businesses or entities that support AERC Members and in turn
> are supported by AERC Members. I think our Sponsors are perceived by
> AERC Members as "part of the family" - perhaps a side question to be
> considered is whether the TEVIS Sponsorship controversy is related to
> corporate or political perception.
>
> QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION:
>
> I suspect the AERC Sponsorship Committee might be able to strike a very
> financially rewarding Sponsorship relation with the International
> Emirates Endurance Village or another similar organization. Purely from a
> business perspective, I think this could be very beneficial to both
> organizations - but, "how would it be accepted by the AERC Membership?"
> So, "Do you think the AERC should explore the possibility of this or a
> similar Sponsorship? If so, what guidelines would you like to see
> followed?
>
>
> Randy Eiland
> SW Region Director
> AERC Sponsorship Chair
>
>
> - in asking Kim's permission to reprint her letter on AERC-Members, she
> asked the following be added: . "I am not against the sponsorship
> itself. This is not about the Emirates endurance village, the UAE or
> International riding. I would have written the exact same letter if Fort
> Dodge, Purina, or any other corporate sponsor had been given the same
> treatment by the WSTF board because of a large monetary donation."
>
> From: KimFue@...
> Subject: [RC] Tevis Sponsorship
>
> I am glad to see that others were bothered by sponsorship displays at the
>
> Tevis this year. I thought about it for a couple days and finally
> decided to
> write a letter to the board of governors. It probably won't change any
> minds or
> do any good but it certainly made me feel better. Here is a copy of the
> letter I sent if anyone is interested.
>
> Dear Western States Board of Governors,
> I have taken a few days to decide if I should write this letter and
>
> give my opinion on the International Emirates Endurance Village
> sponsorship. The
> way this sponsorship was displayed at the 50th anniversary running of the
>
> Tevis Cup bothered me so much that I decided to be honest with myself and
> that I
> should write this letter.
> I have not been involved in the Tevis ride as long as many of you
> and do
> not have as many buckles as most on the board. The first Tevis I
> attended
> was as a spectator was in 1989 and since that time my goal every year is
> to have
> a horse ready to take to this ride. I don't think I would still be
> involved
> with endurance riding if the Western States Trail Ride ceased to exist.
> I had the ride of a lifetime this year but the dark cloud over my
> Tevis
> experience was the gaudy display of International Endurance Village
> banners, T
> shirts, hats, pins, bags, dried fruit, etc., at the staging area at Robie
>
> Park and at the awards ceremony. It was not the class act that I would
> expect
> from an organization like yours. It really looked like your "crown
> jewel"
> sponsor had taken over the entire ride. There were some friends that
> were
> attending the Tevis for the first time and they thought the International
> Emirates
> Endurance Village was actually managing the ride! I was disgusted that a
> belt
> buckle was presented at the awards ceremony to a "sponsor". A belt
> buckle (even
> similar to the Tevis buckle) should be reserved for those who actually
> complete the ride not those that help underwrite the ride! Wouldn't a
> plaque or
> other memorabilia be much more appropriate? Did the runners who
> completed the
> course along side our horses receive buckles? If not, they should
> certainly be
> getting a buckle before any sponsor!
> I am sure that this crown jewel sponsor gave thousands of dollars
> ($35,000 was the figure floating around)....whatever the amount of the
> "donation"
> it was certainly not enough to have their name plastered next to "Tevis"
> on
> every official banner, volunteer T shirt, official program, etc. Hasn't
> your
> organization worked hard to earn the reputation of putting on the
> ultimate
> endurance event in the world? Are you willing to sell or even share that
> reputation
> with ANYONE who comes up with a lump sum of cash? There must be other
> ways
> to honor a high dollar sponsor other then having their name plastered on
> everything. I really equate this to allowing sponsorships of national
> treasures
> and then adding the name of the sponsor to that monument or park. Can
> you
> imagine "Citibank's Yosemite National Park" or " Coca Cola's Grand Teton
> National
> Park". It may seem outrageous but that is how this year's Tevis Cup ride
>
> looked to many of us that attended. Perhaps next year the Crown Jewel
> Sponsor can
> give "bobble heads" of the 2004 Tevis and Haggin Cup winners to all that
> enter. I know I would appreciate that more then the name of some
> organization
> never affilitated with the ride embroidered on EVERY ride item given to
> me.
> There have been many changes in endurance riding over the last 10
> years.
> Endurance horses selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars, 100 mile
> races with support vehicles on the trail following the horses through out
> the
> entire ride, 25 mile rides receiving national awards. I guess change is
> inevitable in all things BUT I never would have dreamed the Tevis Cup
> ride would be the
> first big ride to "sell out" to the highest bidder. The PR director for
> the
> International Emirates Endurance Village should get a big bonus for
> landing
> the marketing contract they received from your board. Really
> unbelievable!
> Well, thank you for allowing me to express my opinion. I will
> continue
> to support the ride regardless of the cheesy marketing and PR tactics
> allowed
> to any crown jewel sponsor. The challenge of the trail is too important
> for
> me to deter me from entering.
>
> Sincerely,
> Kim Fuess
> Rider #89
>
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