In the area of finance:

- The WPRA started the year 2008 with an approximate deficit of $800,000.00 carried over from 2007. (The deficit was the result of lost income and expenses, i.e. operating, lawsuit, etc)

- As of March, 2008, the WPRA received settlement checks totaling $2,540,000.00, $2,200,000.00 in settlement funds and the remainder in dues transfer.

- Funds were utilized in the following ways:

1. $900,000 was used to purchase a parcel of real estate in downtown Colorado Springs. The purchase consists of 2 buildings. One building is used entirely as our headquarters office, while the other is leased out. This purchase saves us money (we would be paying anywhere from $40,000-60,000.00 annually for a lease), generates rental income (the second building generates $30,000.00 of annual rental income) and the second building could be used to accommodate WPRA future expansion if needed.

2. $540,000 was invested between bank Money Market accounts and an investment account.

3. $800,000 was used to wipe out the 2007 deficit.

4. $300,000 was used to open the office, i.e. pay past due bills, purchase office furniture, acquire computers/printers/fax machines/phones, set up local/long distance/800 phone service, set up servers for data base/web and e-mail support, honor commitments to circuits from 2007, pay board meeting/perdiems, obtain insurance and other operating expenses.

- The WPRA retained a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to build financial compilations for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. Compilations are not tax returns. Compilations are cumulative financial statements outlining where you start the year, how your cash flows in/out during the year and how the year ended. Compilations were not created for 2006 and 2007 in order to conserve funds for the legal matters which needed to be addressed. Completion of the compilations are currently being addressed and expedited

Tax returns were filed in 2006 and 2007 with the IRS. A CPA has been engaged to prepare the 2008 return.

- The WPRA also retained a CPA specializing in Not-For-Profit organizations, to assist us with the 2008 tax return and to direct us on proper office and filing procedures to best comply with regulatory requirements.

In the area of member and event support:

- The WPRA re-opened its doors in March with half the 2008 PRCA rodeo year underway and the peak season breathing on our backs.

- The WPRA moved from the temporary 2007/2008 Arizona headquarters and integrated it with Colorado Springs operation.

- The WPRA oversaw the handling of over 2,500 members and their various needs (from signing up and obtaining cards to paying fines/entry fees and answering questions.)

- The WPRA processed results for over 1,500 events covering PRCA/Co-approval/All Women's activities.

Obtaining event results from secretaries is entirely a paper-based operation, requiring manual data entry and handling many adjustments after the fact.

- The WPRA published the first 2008 Women's Pro Rodeo News in May.

- The WPRA re-established relations with sponsors who are a vital part of the association's health.

In the area of Board decisions:

The Board voted that:

- Funding the HEARTLAND Series in 2008 would not be in the best interest of our members. The decision was assisted by member feedback obtained by a survey sourced through the mail and online. The results were 81% of members said no and 19% said yes to fund the 2008 series.

The WPRA Board maintained then, as it does now, the WPRA wants to be part of the 2009 Heartland series and will pay what is equitable and fair, while maintaining equal money for our competitors. We are currently scheduled to meet with the PRCA around January 18th and will consider a proposal from the Heartland Committee.

- Allowing 2008 WPRA World Finals (Tulsa) barrel racing results to count toward the 2009 NFR World Finals would be in the best interest of our members. The WPRA World Finals is our association's premier event and its role will be increasingly important as we try to expand our member base over the next few years. The WPRA has always had the authority to determine the criteria used to deliver the top 15 competitors in the world to fill NFR slots. Our settlement agreement with the PRCA clearly acknowledges that is our right.

- Creating a Business Committee -- subject to supervision of the WPRA Board -- to oversee the business portions of the association would be in the best interest of members. Our association is a business, a real business, with serious obligations to members, sponsors, event committees and others.

To run a healthy and thriving business, the association needs dedicated Directors with the right background/experience who can commit the time needed to make sure the business of the WPRA is sound and healthy. Refinement to the authority and scope of oversight which the Business Committee has, will be monitored by the Board on an on-going basis.

That same concept lends itself to the staffing of our office. Our office needs to be staffed properly with seasoned professionals who understand our business and have track records demonstrating real competency in administration, marketing, finance and member service backgrounds……..which our members deserve.

- Committing to rebuild the WPRA technology infrastructure would be in the best interest of our members. The first phase of that commitment was rolled out with the New Year. Our web site was re-directed to a safe and secure server environment, and a new look/feel and navigation approach was unveiled to members and sponsors. A critical "Contact Us" link was introduced asking for input and suggestions. Thus far the feedback received has been very favorable, the suggestions very helpful, and members are finding an easy and convenient way to get answers to questions.

The next phase is migrating from our old data base to a new one. That effort is currently underway, as various pieces of the migration and new data base functions are being tested by the office.

Improving our technology has also caused us to re-examine our office processes and procedures, all of which are currently being re-written and documented.

These efforts have been more than a financial commitment. It has taken substantial human resource attention and dedication both from the office and board members to dissect what we do, why we do it and determine if there is a better way to do it. The work is serious, takes time and great progress is being made. We will keep evolving and getting better and stronger as the year goes on.

In closing, the WPRA exists to service its members. In 2008, while members and our partners were ready for the WPRA to pick up where it left off, we had to start from scratch. We look back at this list (which is short compared to all the "nitty-gritty" really involved) and realize much has been accomplished, while more still needs to be done.

With 2009 underway, we are busy developing budgets, outlining business plans/goals and identifying areas of our current model which need to be re-examined. As we have more to share with you, we certainly will.

In the meanwhile, please feel free to reach out to your Circuit Director with any questions, concerns and suggestions.

Thank you for your help in making the WPRA the great association it is…. and contributing to making it even stronger, better and exciting for tomorrow!