Columbus, OH – The third and final day of the 2024 U.S. Trotting Association Board of Directors Annual Meeting began at 9 a.m. on Sunday (March 10).
USTA Financial Officer Dennis Fisher asked if there were any questions concerning the 2023 audited statements that were included in the packets and presented at Saturday’s (March 9) general session; there were none.
The 2024 budget was reviewed page by page, noting the significant changes that were made since the approved budget from the November 2023 meeting.
Through a request from the Racing Committee, $10,000 was added to the “Fairs – Matching Grants” budget.
The main discussion was based around the Broadcast/TV funding and the allocations that were made from the $125,000 approved budget from the November meetings. After a great deal of discussion, a motion was made to add $75,000 to this line item broken down into two amounts, $50,000 for additional consideration for those that had already submitted a request, and $25,000 available for any new organizations that did not submit a request by the original March 1 deadline. This motion passed.
The Rules Committee was the final committee meeting of the weekend.
The 32 rule and bylaw change proposals for 2024 were presented to the respective committees. The committees considered and acted upon the proposals as follows:
1. Racing – Accepted, effective 1/1/25
Rules – Accepted, effective 1/1/25
2. Racing – Rejected
Registration – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
3. Racing – Accepted as amended
Rules – Accepted as amended
4. Racing – Accepted as amended
Rules – Accepted as amended
5. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
6. Racing – Accepted as amended
Rules – Accepted as amended
7. Racing – Accepted
Rules – Accepted
8. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
9. Racing – Accepted as amended
Rules – Accepted as amended
10. Racing – Rejected
Registration – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
11. Racing – Tabled
Registration – Tabled
Rules – Tabled
12. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
13. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
14. Racing – Accepted
Rules – Accepted
15. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
16. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
17. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
18. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
19. Racing – Accepted
Rules – Accepted
20. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
21. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
22. Racing – Accepted
Rules – Accepted
23. Racing – Accepted as amended
Rules – Accepted as amended
24. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
25. Registration – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
26. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected
27. Approved in opening general session
28. Racing – Accepted
Rules – Accepted
29. Registration – Accepted
Rules – Accepted
30. Racing – Accepted
Registration – Accepted
Rules – Accepted
31. Registration – Accepted
Rules – Accepted
32. Registration – Accepted
Rules – Accepted
The 2024 annual meeting concluded with the general closing session where the the Racing, Registration, Finance, and Rules Committee reports as well as the 2024 budget were approved.
In what has become an annual tradition, USTA President Russell Williams told the directors in his closing remarks, “that this was the best annual meeting ever.”
Before adjourning the meeting, Chairperson Joe Faraldo announced that next year’s annual meeting will be in the same location, the Hilton Columbus at Easton, on March 7-9, 2025.