A great week for Australian Equestrian Sport
What a week it was! First, Australian riders take first, second, fifth and ninth places at the 2005 FEI World Cup Eventing Final in Malmö, Sweden. Then, Edwina Alexander wins the Grand Prix at the 5-Star Valkenswaard CSI in the Netherlands a fortnight after joining the National Elite Squad, and then, a team of Junior Show Horse riders wins Silver at the inaugural International Showman of the Year competition in Great Britain. Congratulations to all. But now back to earth ... We have a number of deadlines approaching and as usual the work required to meet them takes over everything else. Let me firstly mention the 2005 FEI Regional Dressage Forum. Don't miss out! Registrations close at the end of next week. Club and Coach Insurance Then there is public liability and associated insurance. Our policy expires on 30 September 2005. Currently we are working on finalising the documentation for next year and will publish details on our web as well as sending out renewals to clubs and coaches. I am pleased to report that due to the excellent uptake last year, we are again able to offer renewing coaches and clubs a rebate of 10 percent on what they paid last year. In the case of coaches, the new applications are also at a rate lower than last year's. National and State Associations (other than EFA Branches) that have been taking our insurance may, however, experience a rise in basic charges, in some cases substantial rises.. As far as clubs are concerned, the 'matrix' of charges will stay the same but clubs that qualify as 'EFA Premium Clubs' for insurance purposes, are eligible for a discount of 25 percent on their respective charge. Why? Because they carry out activities that make a greater contribution to EFA Equestrian sport. That brings me to the subject of 'Intellectual Property' or 'IP'. Intellectual Property The EFA has significant IP in the rules and regulations and other publications developed and produced by committees and other groups of people for and on behalf of the sport. The EFA also has the right to use some FEI IP as an affiliated organisation. EFA-affiliated clubs have the right to use certain EFA IP. In other words, they can get permission to conduct competitions under EFA rules, use EFA and FEI Dressage tests, etc. On occasions, the EFA also licenses organisations to stage events or to use EFA IP. As is well known, there are other associations and societies 'out there' that use or otherwise rely upon EFA’s rules, Dressage tests and other EFA knowledge without contributing to the cost of their development. Some think because such rules have been modified, they become their own. Wrong! Rules don't just fall into place and documents do not write themselves. The EFA has been a member of the FEI for over 50 years and pays considerable affiliation fees to it. Our Boards and Committees participate in the review of FEI rules and regulations. We send representatives to meeting overseas and we meet regularly by telephone, e-mail and fax communication. The EFA’s own rules and regulations have been developed and its sport policy planned and implemented in meetings around the country, mostly face-to-face but also via conference calls. The resulting documentation is prepared and finalised in EFA's offices. The EFA and its affiliated bodies organise seminars and clinics for the training and education of judges and other officials. EFA sends delegates to industry meetings, makes submissions to State and Federal governments seeking to affect the legislative process and also obtains professional advice to evaluate how 'things' might impact the sport. On the other hand, there appear to be organisations, which are not affiliated to or with the EFA, that consider they can use EFA and/or FEI IP and resources such as EFA Officials and EFA Dressage tests as if they were their own, without even thinking of making a contribution. They are in breach of EFA’s copyright and are thus breaking the law. How is it that they don't see that what the FEI and EFA have created has cost of lot of time and money and an incredible amount of volunteer effort to get together? Our members pay membership fees and our clubs pay affiliation fees, to make the EFA system work and develop, yet there are organisations apparently living off the product of this effort. Should these organisations not be making a direct contribution? Think about it! Franz Venhaus | ||
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| International Showman - Second for Australia Australia performed extremely well at the inaugural International Showman of the Year competition in the UK, gaining second place. | ||
