-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [AERC-Members-Digest]
Date: Sat, 22 May 2004 04:42:25 -0700
From: AERCMembersForum-owner@... (List Server)

===================================================

Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 14:20:24 -0600
From: John Teeter <johnt@...>
Subject: [AERC-Members] Fwd: Conflict of interest?
It was pointed out to me that there is a conflict of
interest within the southwest region directors concerning
the recent vote to allocate additional AERC funds to the
improvements of the Fort Stanton ride site.

At the very least, the ride manager of the Fort Stanton
event should have abstained from this vote to avoid the
conflict. Possibly the ride vet(s) should also have
abstained? Is it a conflict of interest for the Ride Manager
to have voted to allocate these funds?

More broadly, the total allocated funds from AERC for this
one ride site seems very high as compared to the number of
riders (@60 last year) who attend the ride.

This is phase 4 of the project(s), what funds did AERC
provide for phases 1-3??), are future phases anticipated?

Is AERC really building the future permanent home of the
AERC (US+CA) National Championship Event?

MikeJ, do you know the total $s AERC has provided for Fort
Stanton improvement? Do you feel these to be in line with
the level of AERC usage of the venue? (just to contrast,
Biltmore just hosted 200+ AERC members w/o any support from
AERC for trails maintenance). Tevis will host 200+ w/o any
AERC grants support. etc.

johnt

============

From the board minutes -

Mike Jaffe, Trails Grants Committee Chair, presented a
motion from committee to approve funding of $5000, a funding
share agreement with the BLM to complete Phase IV of the
Fort Stanton project. If approved, electricity will be
added to the trailhead facility. Connie Caudill requested a
roll call vote with results as follows: 17 yes votes/1 no
vote, with 2 members not voting as they joined the call
after voting took place. Jan Jeffers-Yes; Mike Jaffe-Yes;
Roberta Harms-Yes; Connie Caudill-No; Howard Kent-Yes; Gail
Williams-Yes; Bob Morris-Yes; John Parke-Yes; Duane
Barnett-Yes; Randy Eiland-Yes; Roger Taylor-Yes; Nick
Warhol-Yes; Jim Baldwin-Yes; Barney Fleming-Yes; Dane
Frazier-Yes; Mike Maul-Yes; Stagg Newman-Yes; Robert
Ribley-Yes; Patti Pizzo and Terry Woolley Howe did not vote
as they joined the call after voting took place.

======

===================================================

Subject: RE: [AERC-Members] Fwd: Conflict of interest? (long)
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 16:12:06 -0500
From: "Mike Jaffe" <mjaffe@...>
John,

All good questions and I'll try and answer the ones I have
knowledge of.


The Fort Stanton Horse Trails Project has been a joint pilot
project
between the AERC and the BLM to develop a permanent
recreational area to
be used by endurance riders as well as other outdoor
enthusiasts. Phase
I of the project was to build permanent trail head restrooms
and trails.
Phase II was the creation of significantly more trails (~200
miles).
Phase III was the installation of a permanent potable water
system at
the trail head (The AERC contributed $3500 towards this $80K
project).=20

I believe the value of the Fort Stanton project is in
furthering a good
working relationship with the BLM, not just in New Mexico
but across the
country. I am not aware of any other plans to invest further
in Fort
Stanton.

I hear your concern on the question of equity in investing
in locations
based on the number of riders that use it during
competitions. It's a
valid question. Generally I think we should go for the
biggest bang for
our buck. That would include leveraging our modest
contributions to
significantly larger matching funds, largest human volunteer
contributions, donations, number of rides/riders benefited
and finally
any publicity opportunities.

I encourage you and others who have an interest in Trails
Projects to
bring them to the attention of the Trails Committee who can
help work
them up and then present them to the Trails Grants Committee for
consideration.

:-)

Mike J.



=20

-----Original Message-----
From: AERCMembersForum-owner@...
[mailto:AERCMembersForum-owner@...] On Behalf Of
John Teeter
Sent: Friday, May 21, 2004 3:20 PM
To: Aerc List
Subject: [AERC-Members] Fwd: Conflict of interest?

It was pointed out to me that there is a conflict of
interest within the
southwest region directors concerning the recent vote to
allocate
additional AERC funds to the improvements of the Fort
Stanton ride site.


At the very least, the ride manager of the Fort Stanton
event should
have abstained from this vote to avoid the conflict.
Possibly the ride
vet(s) should also have abstained? Is it a conflict of
interest for the
Ride Manager to have voted to allocate these funds?

More broadly, the total allocated funds from AERC for this
one ride site
seems very high as compared to the number of riders (@60
last year) who
attend the ride.=20

This is phase 4 of the project(s), what funds did AERC
provide for
phases 1-3??), are future phases anticipated?=20

Is AERC really building the future permanent home of the
AERC (US+CA)
National Championship Event?=20

MikeJ, do you know the total $s AERC has provided for Fort
Stanton
improvement? Do you feel these to be in line with the level
of AERC
usage of the venue? (just to contrast, Biltmore just hosted
200+ AERC
members w/o any support from AERC for trails maintenance).
Tevis will
host 200+ w/o any AERC grants support. etc.=20

johnt

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=20

From the board minutes -=20

Mike Jaffe, Trails Grants Committee Chair, presented a
motion from
committee to approve funding of $5000, a funding share
agreement with
the BLM to complete Phase IV of the Fort Stanton project.
If approved,
electricity will be added to the trailhead facility. Connie
Caudill
requested a roll call vote with results as follows: 17 yes
votes/1 no
vote, with 2 members not voting as they joined the call
after voting
took place. Jan Jeffers-Yes; Mike Jaffe-Yes; Roberta
Harms-Yes; Connie
Caudill-No; Howard Kent-Yes; Gail Williams-Yes; Bob
Morris-Yes; John
Parke-Yes; Duane Barnett-Yes; Randy Eiland-Yes; Roger
Taylor-Yes; Nick
Warhol-Yes; Jim Baldwin-Yes; Barney Fleming-Yes; Dane
Frazier-Yes; Mike
Maul-Yes; Stagg Newman-Yes; Robert Ribley-Yes; Patti Pizzo
and Terry
Woolley Howe did not vote as they joined the call after
voting took
place.=20

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=20

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===================================================

From: Magnumsmom@...
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 17:24:31 EDT
Subject: Re: [AERC-Members] Fwd: Conflict of interest? (long)

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In a message dated 5/21/2004 3:13:39 PM Mountain Daylight Time,
mjaffe@... writes:
I hear your concern on the question of equity in investing
in locations
based on the number of riders that use it during
competitions. It's a
valid question. Generally I think we should go for the
biggest bang for
our buck. That would include leveraging our modest
contributions to
significantly larger matching funds, largest human volunteer
contributions, donations, number of rides/riders benefited
and finally
any publicity opportunities.

However, one of the draw backs of lots of people is much
less unspoiled and unpopulated land. A place like NM is
still full of open spaces just waiting for someone to come
along and "love" them. It's a good place to "prove concept",
"get the ball rolling", or just find a place where we can do
something like this.

Protect what we have now and not wait until it's too late.

The number of people and members we have here is lower
than any other AERC region, but then don't forget we have
a lot of riders who come from out of region... and some from
quite a long way.

I don't understand why everyone seems to be so concerned
about "numbers" lately.

Once again, a democracy is not only about the largest numbers
of votes, but it's also about doing the right thing for the
lessor
numbers as well. I.E., protecting the little guy too, not just
running him over.

Kathy Myers
in Santa Fe, NM
ps... a new boss just moved here from Boston with his family
and 4 kids last year. During a conversation with him last week
I found out he had never even heard of the BLM or BLM land!