Lexington, KY (November 11, 2009) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to congratulate all of the winners of the 2009 GMO Awards, which will be presented during the Board of Governor's General Assembly at the 2009 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium in Austin, TX, December 2-6.  These awards are given annually to recognize outstanding GMO newsletter and Web site layout and design, first person experience articles, general interest articles, and outstanding volunteers at the regional level.  Also included is the recognition of one grant recipient from the Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund that provides financial assistance for deserving individuals to attend the Adequan/USDF Annual Convention.  This year's winners were:

GMO Newsletter Awards:
Layout/Design:
GMOs with less than 75 members:   

First Place: Eastern Iowa Dressage and Eventing Association, EIDEA Contact, August/September 2009
Honorable Mention: Eastern Iowa Dressage and Eventing Association, EIDEA Contact, September/October 2008

GMOs with 75 to 174 members: 

First Place: Southern Eventing and Dressage Association, Off Course, May/June 2009
Honorable Mention: Southern Eventing and Dressage Association, Off Course, July/August 2009

GMOs with 175 to 499 members:  

First Place: Dressage Association of Southern California, Collected Comments, March/April 2009
Honorable Mention: Dressage Association of Southern California, Collected Comments, May/June 2009

GMOs with 500 or more members: 

First Place: New England Dressage Association, A Tip of the Hat, May 2009
Honorable Mention: Central states Dressage and Eventing Association, Cross Country, Spring 2009

First Person Experience Article: 

First Place: Central Texas Dressage Society, Contact, March/April 2009: Saving Q's Life by Megan Georges
Honorable Mention: Central Texas Dressage Society, Contact, May/June 2009: The Joy of Dressage: Natural Horsemanship 101 by Megan Georges

General Interest/Informational Article: 

First Place: Houston Dressage Society, Collective Remarks, December 2008: Are Dressage Riders Unfair to Their Horses? by Paul Kathen
Honorable Mention: Central States Dressage and Eventing Association, Cross Country, Spring 2009: What You Should Know about Arthritis by Ken Larson


GMO Web Site Awards:
Layout/Design:
GMOs with less than 75 members: 

First Place: Eastern Iowa Dressage and Eventing Association (www.mwnet.com/EIDEA)
Honorable Mention: Little Egypt Dressage Association (www.ledressage.org)

GMOs with 75 to 174 members: 

First Place: Central Texas Dressage Society (www.centexdressage.org)
Honorable Mention: Southern Eventing and Dressage Association (www.sedariders.org)

GMOs with 175 to 499 members: 

First Place: Dressage Association of Southern California (www.socaldressage.com)
Honorable Mention: Houston Dressage Society (www.houstondressagesociety.org)

GMOs with 500 or more members: 

First Place: Potomac Valley Dressage Association (www.pvda.org)
Honorable Mention: California Dressage Society (www.california-dressage.org)


Regional GMO Volunteers of the Year:
Region 1: Carolyn Del Grosso (Olney, MD - Potomac Valley Dressage Association)
Region 2:  Nancy Spear (Murphysboro, IL – Little Egypt Dressage Association)
Region 4: Steve Gerdes (Lincoln, NE - Nebraska Dressage Association)
Region 5: Susan Rudman (Parker, CO - Rocky Mountain Dressage Society)
Region 6: Barbara Tuohino Funk (Battle Ground, WA - Oregon Dressage Society)
Region 7: Cindy Moragrega (Kula, HI - Hawaii State Dressage Society)
Region 8: Judith Noone (Abington, MA - New England Dressage Association)
Region 9:  Syrisse Longbottom (Magnolia, TX - Houston Dressage Society)

Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund Grant
Sara Miller (Baldwin, WI - Central States Dressage and Eventing Association)


For more information on GMOs in your area or GMO award programs, please visit the USDF Web site at www.usdf.org, or contact the USDF GMO Council liaison at gmoliaison@usdf.org. 

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.