The official site of the North Carolina Horse Council

Strategic Plan 2009

MISSION STATEMENT

To serve as the collective voice of the North Carolina equine
community through education, communication and representation

GOALS
1. Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and promotion program for the equine community.
2. Expand and strengthen the equine industry as legislative presence.
3. Promote the North Carolina Horse Council through communication with and involvement of all equestrian enthusiasts.
4. Enhance and increase educational programs.
5. Improve the business and regulatory environment for the equine industry.
6. Manage and maintain a statewide program to promote trail riding and trail access.
7. Operate the organization by having a strong fiscal plan.

GOAL 1: Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and promotion program for the horse community.

Recommendation 1: Develop a marketing campaign to increase awareness of the N.C. Equine Industry.

Action 1: Conduct NCHC sponsored equine activities in each region

Action 2: Develop and improve distribution of NCHC promotional items

Action 3: Expand website

Action 4: Work with the NC Department of Agriculture to develop an equine directory.

Action 5: Develop visual materials promoting the N.C. horse industry and activities.

Recommendation 2: Work at strengthening the partnership of the NCDA&CS with NCHC.

Action 1: Improve understanding of each others needs by holding regular meetings with the equine specialists and NCHC representatives

Action 2: Meet and develop action plan with NCDA&CS Horse Specialist

Action 3: Develop methods to improve the state's horse facilities

Action 4: Facilitate closer communication with the horse owners and NCDA&CS concerning horse health regulations via printed materials, announcements and articles published for general distribution.

Recommendation 3: Raise the profile of the N.C. Equine Community through coordination with other state agencies and departments.

Action 1: Issue formal press releases on a regular basis

Action 2: Develop and fund print advertising including paid ads in magazines, equine publications, etc.

Action 3: Assign a Board member to develop a relationship with N.C. Department of Travel and Tourism.

Action 4: Encourage NCHC members to actively represent NCHC on appropriate local/regional/state boards.

Action 5: Continue relationship with the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DNER) via regular meetings between agents of both agencies.

Recommendation 4: Establish a membership development plan

Action 1: Develop a NCHC Logo/sticker to post on doors and windows of vendors, sponsors, industry suppliers, etc.

Action 2: Increase General Membership by offering First Year membership incentives.

Action 3: Offer incentive to organizations or individuals for referrals to membership or sponsorship.

GOAL 2: Expand and strengthen our legislative presence.

Recommendation 1: Identify pertinent legislative issues facing the horse industry

Action 1: The Legislative Committee will hold quarterly meetings.
- Regional Directors will report issues utilizing information from District Representatives and local cooperative extension offices.
- The Committee will compile the list of issues and prioritize.
- The list will be shared with the NCHC Lobbyist.
- The committee will receive input from the Executive Director as needed

Action 2: The Legislative Committee will provide a quarterly summary to the Executive Director and at the same time submit the report to the Regional Directors to request updates

Action 3: Notify Horse Council members and organizations to contact legislators regarding legislative issues when appropriate
- Email emergency issues to members
- Provide form response letters,
- Make paper forms available through Regional Directors and on-line
- Research the possibilities of on-line submission of letters to legislators

Action 4: To review the 2009 Economic Impact Study and make appropriate recommendations for action

Recommendation 2: Continue to build relationship between NCHC and legislators.

Action 1: Involve legislators in NCHC events and activities

Action 2: Develop and distribute a legislative fact sheet

Action 3: Consistently monitor legislative activities

Action 4: Continue development of politically connected Horse Council members

Action 5: Identify similar commodity groups and contact them at least semi-annually with offers of support, lists of similar issues, etc.

Action 6: Identify Legislative members favorable to Equine Industry
- Develop list of equine friendly legislators (Equine Caucus)
- Have Lobbyist develop contacts with favorable legislators
- Contact Legislators on semi-annual basis with fact sheet on industry and state and regional issues

Recommendation 3: Promote relevant legislation and work at the federal level

Action 1: Work with Education Committee to schedule workshop/education program or flyer to educate NCHC board members on legislative issues and concerns.

Action 2: Monitor the recommendations of the American Horse Council regarding federal legislation by posting a legislative update column in the newsletter and on the NCHC web site.

Action 3: Incorporate Federal issues in quarterly Legislative Committee Report

GOAL 3: Promote the North Carolina Horse Council through communication with and involvement of all equine enthusiasts

Recommendation 1: Effectively communicate with all equine enthusiasts by promoting a consistent message which describes the work of the NCHC.

Action 1: Recruit Regional Managers and District Representatives in seven regions.

Action 2: Regional Mangers and District Representatives will meet with organizations within their regions on a regular basis.

Action 3: Regional Managers and District Representatives will identify all horse organizations, and their contacts and priorities annually within their respective regions.

Action 4: Regional Managers and District Representatives will encourage membership and volunteers to become active in their local communities and NCHC activities.

GOAL 4: Enhance and increase educational and research programs.

Recommendation 1 Create Educational Programs

Action 1: Review existing programs: Include student evaluations, enrollment numbers and curriculum reviews.

Action 2: Develop new programs by surveying members to identify new topics and research programs in other states for ideas.

Action 3: Expand educational opportunities at equine expos and trade shows in NC

Action 4: Develop educational materials for distribution including basic equine management, safety, etc.

Action 5: Develop a road safety brochure for horse and riders and drivers, etc.

Action 6: Explore the development of a NCHC youth scholarship program via the creation of an Educational Endowment Fund or Affiliated 501C 3.

Recommendation 2: Fund Youth and Adult educational programs (including 4-H, Pony clubs, school clubs, Ag. Extension, etc.)

Action 1: Target grant information to above groups

Action 2: Develop an NCHC Youth Scholarship Program

Recommendation 3: Address Equine Welfare Needs

Action 1: Enhance relationships with Equine Welfare organizations such as the NC Animal Control Association via participation in their meetings and conferences

Action 2: Assist in recovery of stolen horses and tack via web notices

Action 3: Ensure representation of the horse community on CART/SART (County Animal Response Team / State Animal Response Team)

Action 4: Monitor, evaluate and educate on horse identification program via articles in the newsletter, flyer and web postings.

Action 5: Develop partnerships with NC Vet School and Equine Practitioner's Association to promote Equine Health education programs such as Horse Health Awareness month, coggins and shot clinics, etc.

Recommendation 4: Support and continue to expand the REINS program.

Action 1: Support REINS certification of new volunteers by providing supportive materials to all volunteers.

Action 2: Promote district agent positions to the legislature for funding

Action 3: Increase awareness in local communities of CART/SART available through REINS volunteers.

Recommendation 5: Support equine-related research.

Action 1: Foster the development of allies in equine research via joint publications linking research finding to the field.

Action 2: Develop and distribute brochures, articles and press releases related to research issues

Recommendation 6: Support the NCSU Equine Unit

Action 1: Encourage open house at unit for equine industry

GOAL 5: Improve the business and regulatory environment for the Equine Industry.

Recommendation 1: Increase Business Membership

Action 1: Promote the number of web visits to the NCHC Site

Action 2: Advertise low cost and broad exposure

Action 3: Promote the Equine Directory

Recommendation 2: Evaluate the Equine Study

Action 1: Review the study results and develop advertising and lobbying efforts

Action 2: Share study results with equine community via publication, news articles, etc.

Recommendation 3: Identify common Regulatory Issues with other Commodity Groups

Action 1: Communicate with other Agricultural Commodity Groups. Cross post news articles, etc.

Action 2: Keep lobbyist informed of Council's stand on issues and on shared issues with other commodity groups.

Recommendation 4: Proactively lobby for Humane Slaughter and a useful end to equine lives.

Action 1: Educate the public and legislators on Humane Equine Slaughter methods

Action 2: Develop educational tools to educate public on humane end of life issues for equine

Recommendation 5: Research Para-mutual racing

Action 1: Review bills to establish racing

Action 2: Research other state's legislation

Recommendation 6: Explore possible Born and Breed Incentives

Action 1: Form sub-committee to propose potential program benefits

Action 2: Submit to NCHC Executive Committee potential outline of Incentive Program

Recommendation 7: Develop a closer working relationship with state and local agricultural businesses and organizations.

Action 1: Increase NCHC representation on Boards and Councils (for example: DENR Environmental, Parks & Recreation, NCDA&CS)

Action 3: Address and educate equine enthusiasts on Regulatory and Tax Issues

Action 4: Encourage member participation on County Advisory Boards

Action 5: Identify and contact individual county water managers responsible for water quality regulation and discuss important equine related water management issues

Action 6: Coordinate with other agri-business organizations about common regulatory issues and partner with them on issues of concern.

Recommendation 8: Evaluate and prioritize regulatory issues affecting the equine industry.

Action 1: Proactively monitor the development of regulations and identify the priority issues for the NCHC membership via publication in the newsletter and on the web.

GOAL 6: Protect and Promote Equine Trail riding & Trail Access in NC

Recommendation 1: Raise Awareness & Establish Credibility of NCHC as Trail Development and Management Resource

Action 1: Establish list/links to trail resources on website

Action 2: Recommend use of Federal Highway Association Guide (FHWA) and other trail management resources to State Trail Associations

Action 3: Hold Trail School & other education events

Recommendation 2: Establish relationships with Public and Private Land Management Agencies

Action 1: Participate in Regional and Local Trail Planning Processes

Recommendation 3 Develop Educational Programs for Trail Horsemanship and Stewardship

Action 1: Develop programs for junior (4-H, Pony Clubs, etc.) and Adult Riding clubs/organizations

Action 2: Hold educational conferences and events

Recommendation 4 Promote Equine Trail Recreation in NC

Action 1: Develop Trail location brochure with stewardship and horsemanship tips

Action 2: Work with NCH Travel/Tourism to promote sport

Action 3: Develop support of program from trail industry

GOAL 7: Operate the organization by practicing strong fiscal planning and accountability.

Recommendation 1: Monitor and track referendum funds

Action 1: Update the list of dealers annually.

Action 2: Communicate annually with all dealers via letter or email to enlist their compliance

Action 3: Communicate quarterly with the NCDA regarding dealer compliance and collection issues.

Recommendation 2: Establish written financial office procedures

Action 1: Provide reports and financial statements monthly to the Executive Committee

Action 2: Develop annual budget and complete an annual audit or financial review.

Recommendation 3: Develop an annual grants program.

Action 1: Activate grants committee with monthly report to the Executive Committee and Board.

Action 2: Develop and publish a granting cycle calendar and specific guidelines for application