AERC is making great strides forward toward the organizationŐs goals of welfare of the horse, trails preservation and creation, promotion of the sport of endurance, and similar issues. A lot of people are working very hard to move all of this forward. The Questionnaire Committee will soon be asking you all about what you want AERC to do, but first I have a simple question: "How can AERC best keep you informed as to what is going on?"

The faster changes occur, the more important it is that every single member is kept informed not only of what has been changed, but more importantly, what is being considered for change. I want proactive feedback about issues that the board is considering before the board acts, not reactive backlash about what the board has done. The only way to achieve this is for the board to have an efficient and effective method of getting information out to all of the members in an authoritative and rapid manner.

There is no one way to do this for every member. Some read Endurance News from cover to cover the day it arrives. Some members never read anything from cover to cover. Some prefer e-mail; others do not even have a computer. But the board must let the membership know what they are considering doing to the sport long before they act.

At this time, the only official publication of the AERC is Endurance News. There is no e-mail list server which has the official word of AERC. The AERC office does have the ability to send out e-mails to every member who has given AERC their e-mail address, though this has been used very sparingly so far.

Starting this month, there will be a highlighted box in every issue of Endurance News which breaks out the main topics that are currently in front of the board. (See next page.) It is my intent that the board not pass any rule change until the proposed change has been published and given time for member comment. In fact, one of the proposed rule changes published this month for comment is a set of rules defining specific publication requirements for rule changes.

What I ask from you is that you let your directors (for a list see pages 2-3) know how AERC can best keep you informed. Also, until your suggestions get implemented, please at least skim through every issue of Endurance News. Then, once you know which issues are before the AERC board, let your directors know your thoughts on those issues which impact you. I want AERC to reflect the wishes of the majority of the members. Thank you for taking an active role in making this possible.