USDF Congratulates 2015 GMO Award Winners
Lexington, KY (October 22, 2015) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to congratulate all of the winners of the 2015 GMO Awards, which will be presented during the Board of Governor’s General Assembly at the 2015 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention, in Las Vegas. These awards are given annually to recognize outstanding achievement within USDF’s GMO community. Recognition is given in the following categories: GMO amateur photograph, website user experience, and newsletter first person experience and general interest articles. USDF also recognizes outstanding volunteers at the regional level along with the recipient of the Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund grant.
This year’s winners are:
GMO Photography Awards:
Best Amateur Photograph:
| GMOs with less than 75 members: | First Place: French Creek Equestrian Association, In Balance, March/April 2015, Photographer: Fay Seltzer |
| GMOs with 75 to 174 members: |
First Place: Central Tennessee Dressage Association, The Half Halt, June 15, 2015, Photographer: Sharon Blandford
Honorable Mention: Dressage Association of Southern California, DASC Collected Comments, Spring 2015, Photographer: Cheryl Pelly |
| GMOs with 175 to 499 members: | First Place: Kentucky Dressage Association, Impulsion, July/August 2015, Photographer: Lisa Michelle Dean |
| GMOs with 500 or more members: | No nominations |
GMO Newsletter Awards:
First Person Experience Article:
| GMOs with less than 75 members: |
First Place: First Coast Classical Dressage Society, Dressage Deciphered, 3rd Quarter 2015: But, Still He Waits by Lisa Spallone Honorable Mention: French Creek Equestrian Association, In Balance, November/December 2014: Feedback from the George Williams Clinic: Check this off my bucket list by Linda Otto |
| GMOs with 75 to 174 members: |
First Place: Central Tennessee Dressage Association, The Half Halt, November 2014: Grace Gregory's Silver Lining by Elizabeth TeSelle
Honorable Mention: Dressage Association of Southern California, DASC Collected Comments, Spring 2015: Attire: What to Wear When by Susan Hoffman-Peacock |
| GMOs with 175 to 499 members: |
First Place: Northern Ohio Dressage Association, NODA News, December 2014: Experiencing the 2014 United States Dressage Finals Live on USEF Network by Mosie Welch
Honorable Mention: Central States Dressage and Eventing Association, Cross Country Magazine, July 1, 2015: A Dressage Geek; in Defense of Dressage Judges by Robert Dunn |
| GMOs with 500 or more members: |
First Place: Potomac Valley Dressage Association, PVDA Newsletter, May 2015: How I (and Some Dashingly Dressed Donkeys) Met the Duchess by Jo Ellen Hayden
Honorable Mention: Georgia Dressage and Combined Training Association, Collected Remarks, June 2015: Ten Years, Two Months, and a Few Days with a Character by Bran Plunkett |
General Interest/Informational Article:
| GMOs with less than 75 members: |
First Place: First Coast Classical Dressage Society, Dressage Deciphered, First Quarter 2015: Horse Stable Fire Prevention and Preparation by Lisa Beardsley
Honorable Mention: Columbia Dressage and Combined Training Association, Direct Rein, July 2015: The Wheelbarrow Load by Elizabeth Hussey |
| GMOs with 75 to 174 members: |
First Place: Dressage Association of Southern California, DASC Collected Comments, Summer 2015: Care and Maintenance of the Senior Equine by Pamela J. Wangenheim-Hawkins
Honorable Mention: Central Tennessee Dressage Association, The Half Halt, August 2015: Take it from a Pro: 4 Things you Don't Know About Trailer Safety by Victoria Bellino |
| GMOs with 175 to 499 members: |
First Place: Central States Dressage & Eventing Association, Cross Country Magazine, May 2015: Put Down the Paste! by Jennifer Selvig, DVM
Honorable Mention: STRIDE Dressage Association, Inc., STRIDE Newsletter, May 2015: Report From the Large Animal Rescue Class by Polly Butterworth |
| GMOs with 500 or more members: |
First Place (tie): Potomac Valley Dressage Association, PVDA Newsletter, July 2015: No Band-Aids Allowed: A Clinic with Shannon Dueck by Diane Skvarla
First Place (tie): California Dressage Society, Dressage Letters, August 2015: Get Press On Your Wins! by Lori Savit |
GMO Website Awards:
Best User Experience:
| GMOs with less than 75 members: |
First Place: Austin Dressage Unlimited (www.austindressageunlimited.org)
Honorable Mention: Central Washington Dressage Society (www.centralwashingtondressage.org) |
| GMOs with 75 to 174 members: |
First Place: Nebraska Dressage Association (www.nebraskadressage.org)
Honorable Mention: Southern Eventing and Dressage Association (www.sedariders.org) |
| GMOs with 175 to 499 members: | First Place: Kentucky Dressage Association (www.kentuckydressageassociation.org) |
| GMOs with 500 or more members: |
First Place: Potomac Valley Dressage Association (www.pvda.org)
Honorable Mention: Georgia Dressage and Combined Training Association (www.gdcta.org) |
Regional GMO Volunteers of the Year:
Region 1: Debbie DelGiorno (Camden, NJ - Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association)
Region 2: Kathryn Rizzoni (Columbus, OH – Ohio Dressage Society)
Region 3: Heather Stalker (Alachua, FL – Arredondo Dressage Society)
Region 4: Kelly Vallandingham (Mahtomedi, MN – Central States Dressage and Eventing Association)
Region 5: Kathleen Gale (Tucson, AZ – Tucson Dressage Club)
Region 6: Lise Jumper (Emmett, ID - Idaho Dressage and Eventing Association)
Region 7: Melissa Creswick (Clovis, CA – California Dressage Society)
Region 8: Karin Swanfeldt (Ayer, MA – New England Dressage Association)
Region 9: No Nominations
Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund Grant
Lisa Beardsley (Jacksonville, FL – First Coast Classical Dressage Society)
For more information on GMOs in your area or GMO award programs, please visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org, or contact the USDF Group Member Organization Committee liaison at gmoliaison@usdf.org.
Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information on USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, e-mail usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.
Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.
