AQHA-UK REGIONAL CO-ORDINATORS

Terms of Reference

Regional Co-ordinators are appointed by Council and not elected by the membership. They are not an alternative to nor acting in competition with Council. The role of Regional Co-ordinator is one of supporting and acting as an agent for Council.

1. Regional Co-ordinators shall:

• Act as local communication conduits between the Council and members and non members in their designated area by:
  
  
• being the local voice of the Association providing information to both members and non members
• being the ears of the Association hearing the views and comments of members and non members and passing those views and comments back to Council
• where appropriate, passing enquiries on to the relevant Council member
  
  
• Generally facilitate the promotion of AQHA-UK, AQHA and the Quarter Horse in their area.
  
  
• Build a dossier of show ground and clinic facilities in their area and of contacts for promotional activity such as local radio stations, newspapers, tack and feed shops etc.
  
  
• Be prepared to carry out market research/membership surveys on behalf of Council when requested.
  
  
• Encourage local activity (e.g. Leisure Rides) in their area and co-ordinating it where necessary with the appropriate Council member or Committee.
  
  
• NOTE: Regional Co-ordinators may take on responsibility for organising some activities if they so wish but they are not expected and there is no obligation to do so.

• Publish the names, addresses, contact numbers and areas of responsibility of all Regional Co-ordinators in the AQHA-UK Journal and on the AQHA-UK Web Site.
  
  
• Provide Regional Co-ordinators with a full list of all the roles and responsibilities of all Council members and Committee members
  
  
• Provide Regional Co-ordinators with latest copies of all lists
  
  
• Provide Regional Co-ordinators with a supply of promotional literature and membership forms
  
  
• Hold a meeting of Regional Co-ordinators with Council at least once a year

• Three of the most common requests for information received by Regional Co-ordinators are likely to be regarding Stallions at Stud, Horses for Sale and Trainers/Instructors.
  
  
• Stallions at Stud - these enquiries can be easily handled by reference to the Association “Stallion” list. Information provided to members or non members should be limited to Stallion information and contact numbers etc provided on the list. Advice and recommendations should be avoided. Stallions not on the list should not be mentioned as this undermines the value of being on the list and Association membership.
  
  
• Horses for Sale - again these enquiries can be easily handled by reference to the Association “For Sale” list. The difference here, however, is that it is not as important to restrict information solely to horses on the list. Selling a horse will spread awareness of the Breed and may well result in a new member. The AQHA Breeder Referral Programme should also be mentioned even though few UK Breeders yet belong.
  
  
• Trainers/Instructors - these enquiries have the biggest potential to give problems. Any indication of Association endorsement or approval must be avoided. There is no qualification or licensing process for Trainers and Instructors and this year’s expert could well have been last year’s novice amateur. We do have our own Association list of Trainers and Instructors but that is all it is – a list. Information provided in response to enquiries must be limited to names and addresses only. Recommendation and giving any idea of Association approval MUST be avoided at all costs.
  
  
• The most important responsibility for Regional Co-ordinators is to answer all questions and to provide information without any prejudice so that no member, breeder or trainer can be said to have received any preferential treatment.

October 2005