AMHA Committees

COMMITTEES

AMHA's governance is highly dependent on our committee structure. The committees serve several important functions:

• Assist in the on-going review/management of AMHA's operations, as assigned;
• Provide a grass-roots network to AMHA members, assuring a broad and continuous input from members for decision making purposes; and,
• Assistance in program content designs to assure that AMHA's programs and services meet the needs of the bulk of our members.

Of the above, the role of a network conduit between our members and the AMHA Board is most critical. It is imperative that member input be the basis of AMHA's Strategic Plan, stating where we want to be in 1-3 years; and what the content and/or philosophy of AMHA’s programs should be.

General Objectives for all Committees:

• Identify constituent needs/wants that AMHA might address to further increase the "value-added" to members;
• How can AMHA improve/increase compliance with published rules, regulations, standards, and guidelines while increasing ethical, sportsmanship behavior;
• Identify data elements that should be collected and maintained in AMHA databases, and how best to collect these data elements;
• To promote the Morgan horse, AMHA membership, and usage of AMHA's programs and services on a continuous basis;
• Explore ways that we can better showcase the Morgan horse; 
• Document why various constituents belong to AMHA;
• Explore ways that attendance and participation at Morgan events can be increased; and
• Identify educational needs of the public, and our various constituents, concerning the Morgan horse and AMHA.

Standing Committees

AMHA has standing committees as listed below. These committees are composed of members of the Board of Directors who are appointed by the President at the annual reorganization meeting of the Board following the annual members meeting and election. All standing committee meetings are open to all Board members.

Officers
President: Steven Handy
Recording Secretary: Carrie Mortensen
Vice President: Sharon Boyce Bender
Vice President of Finance: Ashleigh Wood

Executive Committee
Chair: Steven Handy
Staff Liaison: Executive Director, Carrie Mortensen
Members: Sharon Boyce Bender, Vice President; Ashleigh Wood, Vice President of Finance; Terri Sturm, Bylaws Chair; Harlan Grunden, Registry Chair; Carrie Mortensen, Recording Secretary
Charter: To function on behalf of the Board of Directors between regularly scheduled Board meetings, and as the Personnel Committee of the Board.

Finance Committee
Chair: Ashleigh Wood
Staff Liaison: Executive Director, Carrie Mortensen
Members: Carol Fletcher,  Michael Foy, James Gruenberg, Steven Handy, Kate Kirsch, C.A. Lee III, Marshall Mougine, Terri Sturm
Charter: To oversee the financial operations of AMHA, including reserve funds and trust funds to achieve long-term strategic economic objectives, to oversee the development of an annual budget with input from the board and the committees, monitor performance in accordance with that budget and make recommendations to the board on matters impacting the short-term and long-term integrity of the Association.

Registry Committee
Chair: Harlan Grunden
Staff Liaison: Registrar, Erica Eulau
Members: Kris Breyer, Shanna Gish, James Gruenberg, Steven Handy, Angela Jenkins, C. A. Lee, III, Iann Fu Longenecker, Glenn T. Werry
Charter: To maintain and ensure the integrity of the AMHA Registry and to make recommendations to the board concerning changes to policy/rules and existing and proposed registrations/applications.

Bylaws Committee
Chair: Terri Sturm
Staff Liaison: Executive Director, Carrie Mortensen
Members: Sharon Boyce Bender, Dallas Bolen, Kris Breyer, Carol Fletcher, Steven Handy, Kelly Kraegel
Charter: Responsible for the periodic review of the Bylaws of the Corporation and recommend to the Board of Directors proposed changes as necessary.

Special Working Committees

As described in bylaw 4.18, the Board may elect or appoint one or more committees to assist them with the on-going business of the Association. Special Working Committees are chaired or co-chaired by the members of the Board of Directors or Directors Emeriti. Remaining committee members are non-board members approved by the Board.

• Increasing the overall awareness, breeding and sales of the Morgan horse; 
• Assisting in the continous development and promotion of the website;
• Facilitating and promoting partner participation to increase membership value, benefits, and satisfaction;
• Providing content ideas for partnership wide communications as needed;
• Promoting activities and accomplishments of AMHA through various media modes; and
• Identifying opportunities to partner with existing or new public events related to AMHA's mission.

Ad Hoc Committees

Ad hoc committees and task groups are formed to accomplish specific tasks, and may be formed or disbanded as deemed appropriate by the AMHA President or board. Members of ad hoc committees may include non-Board members, and are appointed by the President. Current ad hoc committees and the present members of each include:

Promotional & Show Grant Review Committee
Chair: Kris Breyer
Members: Carol Fletcher, Harlan Grunden, Steven Handy, C. A. Lee, III, Terri Sturm
Charter: To review all grants requests and to make recommendations to the BOD for disbursement of funds in response. 

Mobile App Development Subcommittee

Chair: C. A. Lee, III

Members:  Sharon Boyce-Bender, Kelly McFaul, Steven Handy, and Savannah Sturm.  

Staff Liaison:  TBD

Non-Voting Staff Advisors:  Erica Eulau and Carrie Mortensen