Membership
Membership Types & Criteria
All membership status listed are entitled to vote at all General Membership meetings and participate in all MDA activities for which they are eligible. They may hold office in the association but must be a member for one year prior to holding office.
Senior
Individuals who have reached their twenty-first birthday as of December 1st of the previous calendar year. Senior members.
Junior/Young Rider
Individuals who have not reached their twenty-first birthday as of December 1st of the previous calendar year.
Life
Individuals of any age that have submitted the payment for a life membership.
Honorary Life
Such persons as the general membership of the MDA shall from time to time elect on the basis of outstanding services to the MDA over an extended period of time. Honorary Life members will not be obligated to pay dues. The following individuals have been granted Honorary Life membership due to their contributions to the MDA : Bill Obrigkeit, Dottie Ignozzi, Linda Elliott, Mary DiBastiani, Tracey Hurline, Donna Toole, Jill Blackburn, Elizabeth Ensor-Simmeth and Bev Barnes.
All membership status listed are entitled to vote at all General Membership meetings and participate in all MDA activities for which they are eligible. They may hold office in the association but must be a member for one year prior to holding office.
Senior
Individuals who have reached their twenty-first birthday as of December 1st of the previous calendar year. Senior members.
Junior/Young Rider
Individuals who have not reached their twenty-first birthday as of December 1st of the previous calendar year.
Life
Individuals of any age that have submitted the payment for a life membership.
Honorary Life
Such persons as the general membership of the MDA shall from time to time elect on the basis of outstanding services to the MDA over an extended period of time. Honorary Life members will not be obligated to pay dues. The following individuals have been granted Honorary Life membership due to their contributions to the MDA : Bill Obrigkeit, Dottie Ignozzi, Linda Elliott, Mary DiBastiani, Tracey Hurline, Donna Toole, Jill Blackburn, Elizabeth Ensor-Simmeth and Bev Barnes.
Membership Dues
- Junior: $40.00
- Senior: $45.00
- Lifetime: $400.00
- Family: $45.00 for adult, $25.00 for each additional person
Membership Year
The membership year runs from December 1st through November 30th.
Exceptions:
The membership year runs from December 1st through November 30th.
Exceptions:
- When dues are submitted to renew an existing membership
- When dues from a new member are received after November 1, in which case membership will automatically begin on December 1 and ends on November 30th.
- Refunds of dues will not be made to members resigning during the fiscal year nor to members who have been suspended or expelled by the Executive Board during the fiscal year.
Member Benefits
Opportunity to receive discounts at MDA Schooling Shows and Clinics.
Members can place Classified Ads on the MDA website for lessons, boarding, and training businesses, or to sell anything equestrian related, such as horses, tack, trailers and clothing.
Members can vote in elections as well as hold an elected or appointed position as long as they have been a member for one year.
MDA offers many Awards, Grants, and Scholarships to recognize the accomplishments (ridden, volunteer, and creative) of its members. Detailed information can be found on our Awards page.
Becoming a MDA member receives a Group Membership with USDF. The following information is from the USDF site and details the benefits offer to Group Members:
Opportunity to receive discounts at MDA Schooling Shows and Clinics.
- MDA holds an average of 8 -10 Schooling Shows per year.
- MDA Schooling shows provide the opportunity to ride before USEF/USDF licensed judges and Learner Candidates to have your skills evaluated. Shows are run according to USEF, USDF, WDAA and MDA rules.
- MDA holds at least one clinic per year with top trainers in our area. MDA has offered discounts or free rides to those members who have made a significant volunteer effort.
Members can place Classified Ads on the MDA website for lessons, boarding, and training businesses, or to sell anything equestrian related, such as horses, tack, trailers and clothing.
Members can vote in elections as well as hold an elected or appointed position as long as they have been a member for one year.
MDA offers many Awards, Grants, and Scholarships to recognize the accomplishments (ridden, volunteer, and creative) of its members. Detailed information can be found on our Awards page.
Becoming a MDA member receives a Group Membership with USDF. The following information is from the USDF site and details the benefits offer to Group Members:
- e-TRAK, providing unlimited online access to articles and videos on equine health care, training, and much more for the duration of your membership!
- USDF Connection – USDF’s members-only magazine,
- 15 percent discount at www.dressageclinic.com
- 15 percent discount at www.dressagetrainingonline.com
- 20 percent discount on FEI TV subscription
- FREE one-year basic subscription to Barnby Notes
- Eligibility to participate in rider award programs
- Eligibility to earn USDF University Program credit
- Member-discount rates at USDF events
A tiered prize system for volunteers - based on credits earned. This is in addition to any discounts offered at clinics. Volunteers are not "spending" credits on these prizes, so they are still free to use credits to discount rides. These prized are based on credits as recorded on the Work Credit log not physical credits in hand.
- Bronze level- 6 work credits - get an item approx. $10.00
- Silver level- 10 work credits - get an item approx. $15.00
- Gold level-15 work credits - get an item approx. $20.00
- This system would not be cumulative, but for each season. Only person not eligible would be President.
- These awards are given out at the year end awards banquet