Presidents Report 2023

As the year comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the achievements and progress we have made as a club. It has been an eventful year filled with growth, success, and a strong sense of community.

First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge the exceptional performances and hard work put forth by our riders throughout the year. Our members have participated in various competitions and consistently demonstrated their skills and commitment to the sport.

Thankyou to our amazing judges we have had throughout the year, we had a number of visiting judges to our club and each one of them enjoyed their time and have expressed their interest in returning next year. Special thanks goes out to Margot and Netta our local judge superstars, I cannot thank them enough for everything they have done for the club and our riders.

Thankyou to all of our volunteers, and a special thanks to Jo Harten for all the penciling you have done this year, and always being such a bright face at our events.

All the husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, mums and dads, thankyou for supporting our club and our riders.

And lastly thankyou to the 2023 Committee, Karen Flanagan our Vice President, Linda Dashti our Treasurer, Corinna Burrows our secretary and Ashleigh Wilkinson our Website/Social Media Guru. Its been a long year and I am sure you are all ready to relax and let your hair down today, without you there would not have been an FNEG this year, so thankyou for all the work you have done and the endless hours of your time you have put into the club this year, just so you know you are incredibly appreciated.

This year our club has focused on fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for all members. We have organized events such as Matchy Matchy, and our Come and Try Day, allowing us to connect with one another on and off the arena. These events have not only enhanced our camaraderie but have also provided valuable learning opportunities for riders of all levels.

Financially, we have managed our resources effectively, thanks to the support and generosity of our sponsors, members, grants and fundraising efforts. These funds have allowed us to provide quality instruction, maintain our facilities, run events, and celebrate today. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has contributed to our financial stability, ensuring the longevity of our club.

From January 2024, it will be an EA mandated requirement for any official event to have an EA qualified steward. Over the last year Corinna Burrows, Karen Flanaghan, Selina Lloyd and I have studied, completed online training and also 2 days training at the ATTDEA championships so we can start our roles as qualified EA Stewards for next year. We have all officially passed the course and I would encourage anyone else interested to speak to the 2024 committee for next year.

Looking ahead, we have laid down exciting plans for the upcoming year. Our focus will be on expanding our membership base, attracting new riders, and further developing our riders' skills. I am more than confident that our 2024 committee will take FNEG to the next level.

To conclude, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to all members of the FNEG Dressage Club. Your enthusiasm, dedication, and support have been instrumental in making this year a resounding success. I am confident that with our collective efforts, we will continue to grow as a club, it has been an absolute pleasure being your president for 2023.

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Sarah (Burke) Menniti