USPA  VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES
By Dennis Geiler, USPA Pacific Coast Circuit Governor

If we don’t get additional training in a particular task we are bound to repeat the mistakes of the past.  But how do you get “additional training” when it comes to managing a polo club.  There are no online polo training schools.  Polo club management isn’t a class that is offered at any local junior college or school.

On the other hand, we have to get better.  The economics of our sport require that our clubs get better at marketing, accounting and bookkeeping, personnel management, website development, advertising and a whole long list of skills.  Whether you are a professional manager or a club member volunteering your time, we all have to improve.

The best way to get better at managing a polo club is to talk to successful managers.  We don’t have time to go visit the successful clubs and interview their managers so where can you go to “rub elbows” with the experts?

The USPA has 11 committees that are populated by volunteers.  These are people who are willing to donate a little time in order to improve the sport of polo so that there is something worthwhile to pass on to future generations.  It’s easy to be on a committee.  The meetings are primarily conference calls so it doesn’t take much time.

Through participation in committee work you will meet the real experts of the polo world.  You will be surprised how willing they are to give advice and help you solve the various problems that arise in managing your polo club.  The experts have “seen it all” and are very willing to help you improve your skills and your club.  Being on a committee is a great introduction to the experts.

We on the West Coast have complained that the USPA has an East Coast bias.  If there is such a bias, it is because a large percentage of the committee members come from the East Coast.  We can correct that by populating the committees with more West Coasters.

Another benefit of committee membership is attending the twice a year Board of Governor’s meeting.  In the spring the meeting is in Florida to coincide with the U.S. Open Finals.  The fall meeting is at various clubs to coincide with the finals of other major tournaments, such as the Pacific Open or the Silver Cup.  While you are attending the meeting you can visit any of the committees even if you are not a member of the particular committee.  It’s a great way to meet more polo people and learn what is going on in the polo world.  Plus you get to watch some terrific polo.

Pick out a committee that is interesting to you and I will help you get appointed to that committee.  The committees are as follows:

Marketing Committee

High Goal Committee

Umpire Training and Certification Committee

Tournament Committee

Arena Committee

Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Committee

Club and Membership Development Committee

Equine Welcome Committee

Women’s Tournament Committee

Rules Committee

Safety Committee

Presently the following Pacific Circuit people are involved in USPA and related Committees:

Pat Nesbit – Executive Committee; International Committee

Jef Graham – Club and Member Development Committee and PDI Committee

Danny Walker – Handicap Committee chairman; Tournament Committee

Bud Dardi – Chairman Pacific Circuit Handicap Committee

Rodney Fragodt – Arena Polo Committee

Graham Bray – Pacific Circuit Handicap Committee

Jeep Holden – Finance Committee; Tournament Committee

Sunny Hale – Women’s Tournament Committee; Tournament Committee

Russ Sheldon – Interscholastic/Intercollegiate Committee; Arena Polo Committee; Executive Committee

Joel Baker – High Goal Committee; Umpire Training Committee

Wilbur O’Farrell – Interscholastic/ Intercollegiate Committee

Gaston von Wernich – Pacific Circuit Handicap Committee

Lynn Thompson – Interscholastic/Intercollegiate Committee

Dr. Richard Caleel – International Committee

Lynn Bremner – Marketing Committee

Andy Smith – Pacific Circuit Handicap Committee

Billy Sheldon – Rules Committee; Arena Committee

Stormy Hale – Tournament Committee; Women’s Tournament Committee

Janet Ludwig – PTF; Eldorado Junior Polo Committee

Glenn Hart – Club and Member Development Committee; PDI Committee

Denny Geiler – Club and Member Development Committee; PDI Committee, Arena Polo Committee, Tournament Committee; Pacific Circuit Handicap Committee

Mike Kerley – Pacific Circuit Handicap Committee

Meagan Judge – Arena Polo Committee