The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is now accepting applications and nominations for its year-end membership recognitions: the Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund and the Group Membership Organization (GMO) Volunteer of the Year. Recipients will receive awards during USDF's annual convention in Kansas City, MO.

Deadline for applications and nominations is no later than August 31, 2006, according to Ross Creech, GMO Coordinator.

 "USDF awards individuals who have made a notable contribution to the efforts of his or her GMO, and who champion the purpose of USDF to the sport of dressage," said Creech.

 The Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund is designed to allow up to three GMO members to attend the annual convention at a greatly reduced cost so they can share their experience with others in their Groups.

The late Ruth Arvanette was a long-time USDF employee and was instrumental in developing many of the programs still active today, such as the All-Breeds Awards Program. She especially enjoyed attending the annual conventions and wanted to make attendance a possibility for others, especially GMO members.
 After her death in 2000, USDF created the grant to honor Ruth by offering money to help cover the costs of convention attendance as well as assistance with travel and lodging.

In this way, Ruth's desire for heightening the participation of GMO members and sharing knowledge of the sport can be multiplied at a grassroots level.

Each year USDF also recognizes nine volunteers, one from each of the nine regions across the country. Selection is based on their outstanding volunteer efforts at the local level as described through a brief essay application. Award recipients are announced during the Salute Gala at Convention, and each receives an award and a USDF Director's Chair.

 Specific criteria and applications for both awards are available online at www.usdf.org/pdf/RuthArvanetteMemorialFundApplication.pdf and www.usdf.org/pdf/GMOVolunteerOfTheYearApplication.pdf. Questions should be directed to Ross Creech at rcreech@usdf.org or 859-971-7048.

Completed applications and nominations must be mailed by U.S. mail and postmarked no later than August 31, 2006.

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.