Lexington, KY (December 18, 2008) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to congratulate all of the winners of the 2008 GMO Awards, which were presented during the Board of Governor's General Assembly at the 2008 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention at the beginning of December.  These awards are given annually to recognize outstanding GMO newsletter and Web site layout and design, first person experience articles, general interest articles, and volunteers.  Also included was the recognition of three grant recipients 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:   Brazos Association of Classical Horsemanship, Bach Notes, May 2008 
GMOs with 75 to 174 members: All Dressage Association, The Rapport, July/August 2008
GMOs with 175 to 499 members:  Southern Eventing and Dressage Association, Off Course, July/August 2008
GMOs with 500 or more members: New England Dressage Association, A Tip of the Hat, October 2007

First Person Experience Article: Gold Coast Dressage Association, Flying Changes, January 2008: The Power of One by Tracey Winter

General Interest/Informatory Article: Houston Dressage Society, Collective Remarks, April 2008: Anticipation - Both Natural and Needed by Paul Kathen

GMO Web Site Awards:

Layout/Design:
GMOs with less than 75 members: Dakota Dressage and Eventing
GMOs with 75 to 174 members: Southern New Hampshire Dressage and Combined Training Association
GMOs with 175 to 499 members: Southern Eventing and Dressage Association
GMOs with 500 or more members: Potomac Valley Dressage Association

Regional GMO Volunteers of the Year:

Region 2: Linda Cooley (Newbury, OH - Northern Ohio Dressage Association)
Region 3:  Norma Vollmar (Summerfield, FL - STRIDE)
Region 4: Marylu Weber (Bismarck, ND - Dakota Dressage and Eventing)
Region 5: Tammy Fitch (Paradise Valley, AZ - Arizona Dressage Association)
Region 6: Carolyn Schultz (Anchorage, AK - Alaska Dressage Association)
Region 7: Peggy Klump (Rancho Cucamonga, CA - California Dressage Society)
Region 8: Debra Carr-Kirk (Forestdale, MA - New England Dressage Association)
Region 9:  Tim Martin (Waller, TX - Houston Dressage Society)

Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund Grants

1. Patricia Morine (Makawao, HI)
2. Susan Helton (Ringgold, GA)
3. Laurie Virkstis (Austin, TX)

          For more information on GMOs in your area or GMO award programs, please visit the USDF Web site, or contact the USDF GMO Council liaison. 

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.