May 2020 ~ Dressage Letters ~ Page 3 California Dressage Society www.california-dressage.org CDS Central Office Paula Langan • manager/editor
[email protected] P. O. Box 417 Carmel Valley, CA 93924 (831) 659-5696 • fax (831) 659-2383 Tue, Wed, 2-7pm • Thur, Fri, 1-5pm Dressage Letters: May 2020,Vol 26, Issue 5 Publishedmonthly by the California Dressage Society, . Periodicals #5940 at CarmelValley, CA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to POBox 417, CarmelValley, CA93924-0417 Printed byAPi-Marketing President Joan Williams (408) 512-2890 Vice President Pat Hart (714) 299-6507 Scholarship Committee Chair Nancy Szakacs (408) 476-4743 Treasurer Diana Muravez • (760) 728-6325
[email protected] Insurance Equine Insurance Donna Parker 800/321-5723
[email protected] Junior Rider Sara Mosqueda • (909) 203-9290 Mari Naten • (916) 798-5844 CONTENTS Articles CDS Adult Amateur Clinics............... pages 18-19 CDS Chapter Reports......................... pages 1, 4-6 CDS JRYR Clinic............................... pages 7, 17 CDS JRYR Championships................ page 20 CDS Quadrille..................................... page 11 Chapter Spotlight - Ventura................ page 8 Missing the World Cup Dressage.........page 9 Monthly Departments Activities Calendar ............................ page 16 Bulletin................................................ page 12 Classifieds........................................... pages 22-23 Membership Renewal Form .............. page 24 Monthly Clinics ................................. page 13 President’s Column............................. page 3 Show Calendar ................................... pages 14-15 USEF, USDF, FEI .............................. page 10 President’s Column By Joan Williams This time right now is an unprecedented time in the world. Flights, travel and borders have all been shut down. Shelter at home for many of us is in place. I am receiving questions daily about showing and when the shows will begin again. I am reading, watching videos and studying the spread of the virus as well as watching daily readouts...My best answer is I don’t know. None of us really does yet. We just need to be calm, patient and watch the spread of the virus. We need to follow the guidelines put forth by the experts. Governmental restrictions, USEF and USDF restrictions will begin to lift at some point. They are giving us projected dates with the caveat that it is a fluid situation and dates might get pushed out further. We will all know at the same time when the restrictions are going to be lifted. When I began reading and watching surface reports, it was very scary indeed. Once I began delving further I began to see some things we do have control of, which gave me hope. This video link was produced by PBS: if you watch the video in the upper left hand corner, it is hands down the best description of how the virus spreads exponentially. It is a short 7 minute video, the lilly on the pond and S curve examples are very helpful in understanding the spread. https://www.pbs.org/video/what-this-chart-actually-means-for-covid-19-ybsbtd/?fbclid=IwAR 11LqjXIc5yNrO633PL0NrzUhAYg08BQlxtWg8kQNmaE4Bgkmr69kHNGP0 This video by one of the main doctors in NY city talks of how we can protect ourselves. It is almost an hour long but well worth the watch. It shows that we could live in a house with a person with corona virus and use safe practices and not catch the disease. https://vimeo.com/399733860?ref=em-share I am reading this daily to see how fast or slow the virus is spreading in different areas. There is even a daily checker by county. Click on the “show more” right after you see counties starting with Alabama. The list covers all the counties. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html What the experts say: Our best ways of surviving the virus: Spread out the S curve. The same number of people will get the virus, only if it is spread out over time, rather than all at once, the medical professionals will have enough equipment and beds to deal with the demand. Wash your hands, do not touch your face. The main way the virus is spread is through touching someone or something with the virus on it, then touching your face, nose, eyes, mouth with your hands. Use impermeable gloves, use hand sanitizer on your gloves often. Eventually a vaccine will become available. Those who have gotten the virus and have recovered are immune; those that have not will be able to have an inoculation and also be safe. What CDS is doing to help. We have started a new Facebook Members page. Join us for daily inspiration, laughs, sharing pictures, viewing “watch parties” together. Please participate! We can demonstrate social distancing without experiencing social isolation. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1505995302890306/ We are all still hopeful that the virus will eventually die off over the start of summer and that shows will continue. We plan to move shows and clinics out to further dates this year. We have discussed lowering the number of qualifying scores and or fewer judges. We cannot make a final decision until all the National, State, USEF and USDF restrictions have been lifted. Once we know the dates we have to work with we can and will adjust. CDS is honoring the timelines and restrictions put forth by the government, USEF and USEF which looks like at this time it will be May 3. CDS is recommending everyone move their shows and clinics til after this date. CDS is “tightening the belt” We have had numerous emails, phone calls and committee conference calls about how we can cut back. We “met” last night and have come up with many ways to help cut expenses while we are all temporarily sheltering at home. One way is that we will temporarily put CDS Dressage Letters online rather than a mailing. One nice thing about it is you can click the live links in the flip pages. We also feel it is a good idea to limit how much mail is going out and coming in right now. The less mail coming into everyone’s homes is a good precaution. We are looking into using Zoom video conferencing for our upcoming previously scheduled face to face board meeting. This would show savings from no travel down south, flights renting a meeting room etc. It is not a good time for flying either so it makes perfect sense on many fronts. Internet costs, postage and travel are just a few of the places we can see some savings without disrupting services and programs to members. The awards, plaques, plates and ribbons etc had already been purchased. We are going forward once the date of restrictions will be lifted is announced. What you can do at home: Take a moment to laugh, pray, and talk to a friend on the phone. Look over photo albums. Put on music and dance. Remind yourself that we are all in this together. You are not alone. If anyone wants to talk, please email me at
[email protected] or join me on our new California Dressage Society Members page.