Sierra Dawn Arabian Horses, Arabian Horses to Ride, Stallion at Stud

On April 9, 1997, there was a meeting between Bart Brown, Ralph Clark, Jim Garrison, Carol Alm and Barbara Burck. Topics discussed included data links and the concept of IAHA downloading the Sweepstakes in-utero breeding entries received at the end of each calendar year to the Registry as information for them to be used for future registrations. Once the foals are registered with the Registry, they would send a file back to IAHA with the assigned registration number. The swapping of data would eliminate the need for IAHA to manually update its files when the foal is registered. Also discussed was IAHA providing performance data for the Registry’s CD-ROM which IAHA provided for the 2000 and 2001 Data Source CD-ROM’s.

On July 23, 1997, Ralph Clark, AHRA Resident Officer writes to Mary Anne Grimmell, IAHA President:

“When we last talked, I agreed to talk with Bart Brown about the possibility of the Registry providing pedigree review and advice to IAHA.

It is Bart’s feeling that this kind of outsourcing is just what he was referring to when he mentioned the idea of “out sourcing”. Some time ago we met with the IAHA staff leadership and Bart recalled discussions with past leadership that went nowhere. He is of the opinion that we should discuss or consider any possibility were one of us could provide a service to the other….

…Currently, both entities are making a commitment to a different communication arrangement between our computer systems via the Internet. Once established, we can the proceed to identify the opportunities where we can provide each other updates of information…”

“In August I proposed to your Board a comprehensive program of “out-sourcing” administrative functions in an attempt to lessen duplication of effort amongst IAHA and AHRA and to affect financial savings while better serving the membership of both organizations. I wanted to update you on where we stand with this project.

The Registry has just completed the installation of hardware, software and phone lines which allows direct communication between our computer systems using the Internet. Implementation has been accomplished so that any IAHA user can make inquiry of the AHRA database, whereas IAHA was limited to two users at a time under the old arrangement.

We suggest that we begin immediately to research the necessary steps to have the two databases start “talking” with each other – protocols to have the two systems, speaking different languages, communicating. Once this is accomplished, we can then move forward with a comprehensive review of things like the Futurities, Sweepstakes and alike to achieve the goals listed in the first paragraph….”

On January 20, 1998, members of IAHA and AHRA staff met to discuss various topics. One topic of discussion was about developing an interface with the Registry to provide owner validation for national event entries, Sweepstakes and futurity entries. IAHA was to include the development of this interface in its next Business Plan and budget.

On April 3, 1998, Ralph Clark writes to Carol Alm, IAHA EVP, to summarize the January 20^th meeting:

We concluded our discussion with speculative assumptions that is we could link our data systems together there would be no need to have repetitive or duplicate files. That is to say that if the Registry’s “Horse Master” file was open to access all IAHA transactions that needed data or to verify information, there would be no need for IAHA to maintain a “duplicate” purebred horse file on its system. Alternatively, if the Registry had access to the “To Be Born Foals” (Futurities, Sweepstakes, etc.) on the IAHA system, then our database could likely support those activities of IAHA during the period when the animals became registered and sold.

It also seemed apparent that perhaps one of the first places to start such an effort would be to conceptualize an arrangement where the Registry database supported the IAHA horse show entry system for the three major shows managed directly by IAHA. Assuming we could show the respective Boards that this would produce benefits for both the owners and the organizations, it might be easier to expand to the Regionals and all other shows. This would eliminate unnecessary or redundant data entry by show secretaries.”

In 1998, IAHA was starting to prepare for the upcoming Y2K conversion. IS resources on Oracle programmers were at a premium and IAHA’s IS department was severely understaffed. At this time, there were very little resources IAHA could devote to this project at this time.

At the urging of newly elected President Tom Connelly and Carol Alm, members of the IAHA Executive Committee, AHRA Executive Board and staff decided to start cooperative discussions again. Meetings were held on the following dates:

Zane Akin, a facilitator used by the Registry in the past, facilitated all of the meetings except for the last one. At the request of IAHA, Steve Lynn, a facilitator used by AHOF at their Think Tanks, facilitated the last meeting. The summaries of these meetings are attached as well as An Assessment of the Arabian Horse Industry Organizations prepared by Consultant Earl B. Peterson and Evalation of Data Systems and Recommendations for Consolidation prepared by Rob Schrull and Murray Scholz. Mr. Schrull was a business associate of Mr Akin, the facilitator. Of special note is Appendix I in Mr. Earl’s report which details the unique functions at IAHA that are not duplicated by AHRA and vice versa as well as the services or functions duplicated in whole or in part by both organizations. Of special note in Mr. Schrull and Sholtz’s report are the list of major transactions processed by IAHA per year on page 8 which gives inaccurate numbers and leaves off a significant amount of IAHA functions such as Sweepstakes, Futurities, Achievement Awards, national event entries, etc.; and the cost estimate for conversion to the Registry system on page 13.

After the meeting, Alan Sankpill, IAHA Treasurer discussed the computer consultant’s report with a former IAHA director who had extensive computer background. He concurred with the Executive Committee’s analysis of the situation that the consultants were off in their estimate on the amount of effort it would take to re-program all of IAHA’s programs and convert to the Registry’s system. On December 21, 1999, Alan notified the Registry that IAHA needed a second opinion as well as fix the problems that IAHA was currently experiencing with the Y2K upgrade. At that time, consultants were booked well into 2000 because of Y2K which pushed back the timetable for a second opinion. IAHA hired consultants to evaluate its system problems in April, 2000 and completed its upgrade to fix the problems in November, 2000.

In August, 2000, the Registry proceeded with facilitated strategic planning meetings with members of its Executive Board and staff.

In February, 2001, IAHA learned that Ron Ballantine, AHRA IS Director had left the Registry. Soon after, Alan Sankpill, IAHA Treasurer, spoke with Willis Foley, AHRA Treasurer, to recommend that before the Registry hires a replacement, the groups should talk again about combining computer operations. No further discussion was held and the Registry hired a replacement in that spring.

“We have been talking about the future of our Arabian community for almost three years. The input of IAHA, the Arabian Horse Trust, ABA, the Pyramid Society, AHOF, other sincere groups and individuals has resulted in the development of a function structure plan intended to move our community forward. This structure allows us all to contribute as well as benefit based on our interest and needs. It does not rely on governance structure, current political or legal considerations in order to make progress, just an interest in doing so. This plan or parts of it have been discussed by Howard, Bart, Jim, Willis, Ralph and me with you and other IAHA executives recently. We intend to introduce it soon to our community but until then have requested confidentiality.

If you will consider what objectives you would like to accomplish, we can work together with the appropriate functional unit to develop an acceptable program. The Registry is outsourcing needs to these functional units to improve our efficiencies and value to our customers…”

Mr. Fauls was invited to the May IAHA Board of Directors meeting to discuss their new plan.

“AHRA STRATEGIC PLAN

Bill Pennington, IAHA President, introduced Bart Brown, AHRA President; Bob Fauls, AHRA Vice President; Jim Garrison, AHRA Deputy Resident Officer; and Marian Meely-Carlson, AHRA Communications Consultant. Mr. Fauls presented the AHRA Strategic Plan to the IAHA Board of Directors. It was noted that IAHA and AHRA have been meeting on and off since 1993 to make a joint effort in increasing memberships and decreasing costs. The vision statement of the AHRA is: “To incite a passion to own and enjoy the Arabian horse”. The mission statement of the AHRA is: “To aid, foster and promote the preservation and improvement of the Arabian horse”. The aspiration of the AHRA is: “To be a globally respected organization that values and accepts responsibility for keeping accurate and reliable records, is responsive to customer needs, and actively supports promotional activities and programs including grass root competitions and recreational activities on behalf of the Arabian horse.” The AHRA goals are: “Market development, customer satisfaction, recordation through registration database, global relations, a structure that would serve these needs, and to provide for a funding vehicle other than just raising rates.” Mr. Fauls stated that despite all efforts that have been made with the joint AHRA/IAHA meetings, there has been no agreed upon solutions to increase membership and decrease costs. Mr. Fauls proposed the following: IAHA contribute $150,000 per year for five years to Arabian Horse America for market development; and consolidation of registration process under one umbrella by IAHA assigning the Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian registrations to the AHRA on a fee basis in which IAHA would pay the AHRA an amount to be determined per each registration that is processed. It was agreed that the AHRA would prepare a written overview of their Market Development and Strategic Plans for distribution to the IAHA Board of Directors with a request for review by August 1, 2001….

A discussion was held on the AHRA proposal. It was generally agreed that the Board members favored having the AHRA come under the IAHA umbrella.

MOTION by Linda O’Neil, That the IAHA Board of Directors give the Executive Committee authority to continue the discussion with the AHRA and offer the AHRA to come under the umbrella of IAHA as a registry board much like the Half-Arabian & Anglo-Arabian Horse Registries Board.

On August 1, 2001, the Registry held a media briefing for invited guests to talk about their future plans and where they would like the Arabian horse community to go. Invited guests from IAHA were Barbara Burck, EVP, and Susan Bavaria, Manager of Communications.

In August, 2001, Alan Sankpill, IAHA Treasurer, and Willis Foley, AHRA Treasurer, agreed to meet to discuss merging of data functions. The meeting was later scheduled for September 28, 2001. It was IAHA’s understanding that Mr. Foley would have the authority to make a decision regarding a merger of the data processing function. Around this time, Bill Pennington, IAHA President talked with Bob Fauls, AHRA Vice President, and told him that it was time to make a decision regarding the merger of IAHA and AHRA operations. Mr. Pennington told Mr. Fauls that something had to be agreed upon at the September 28 meeting or IAHA was moving on. Gary Dearth, IAHA 2^nd VP, met with Bart Brown, AHRA President, on September 7, 2001 at his home. At that meeting Gary Dearth expressed the frustrations of IAHA after three years of negotiating. The IAHA Executive Committee felt that not anything of substance had been accomplished. Gary Dearth told Bart Brown at that meeting that IAHA and AHRA would either join forces or go their separate ways. Bart Brown agreed with Mr. Dearth and expressed that he felt after the September 28 meeting at the IAHA office something would occur.

On September 28, 2001, Willis Foley and Jim Garrison, AHRA Resident Officer, met with Alan Sankpill and Barbara Burck for a tour of IAHA’s operations. At the conclusion of the IAHA tour, the parties were to go the Registry’s office for a tour of their facility. However, because Mr. Foley had to leave to catch his flight, the meeting concluded at IAHA’s office. Mr. Sankpill proposed that IAHA take over the Registry’s data processing functions. Mr. Foley and Mr. Garrison requested a detailed proposal for them to review and then asked if IAHA would accept a proposal from them. Mr. Sankpill agreed but said that because of the scope of the two organization’s functions, it made more sense for the Registry to convert its one function then for IAHA to convert its many functions. Mr. Foley and Mr. Garrison said that the parties should schedule a meeting at some point in the future when the Registry could give the IAHA representatives a tour of their facility and then the meeting was over.

On October 2, 2001, the IAHA Executive Committee decided that it was time to move on in a direction that would be beneficial for its members and the Arabian horse community by forming its own purebred registry. They decided to poll the board for their support of this idea. On October 3, 2001, IAHA learned of the Alliance of the Americas agreement that was signed on September 28, 2001. On October 4, 2001, Bill Pennington sent out his first letter regarding the formation of the IAHA purebred registry.

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