| Gulf Coast Paint Horse Club earns top
APHA honors for community service
FORT WORTH, TEXAS—The Gulf Coast Paint Horse Club was
recently honored with the American Paint Horse Association’s
(APHA’s) President’s Club of Distinction Award for the sixth
time for its outstanding contributions to the worldwide breed
organization. The award was presented to the club, one of more
than 100 affiliated with the association, during APHA’s recent
annual convention in Colorado Springs, Colo. Only four other
clubs received APHA’s highest club honor in 2009.
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Gulf Coast Paint Horse
club members (from left) Jackie Mellon, Sally Griffin and
Denise Armstrong (far right) accept an awards package for
the club that featured a Gist Silversmiths gift
certificate and APHA General Store gift certificates.
Presenting the award is APHA president-elect Linda Vance
(second from right).
 Hirez
JPEG (1.64 mb) |
APHA annually recognizes outstanding clubs for their
contributions to the Paint Horse industry and their
respective communities by honoring them with Gold Star
Club status. From among these clubs, the President’s
Club of Distinction award winners are chosen. The
selected clubs exemplify the qualities of a premier
regional club through services to their members, their
community and APHA.
To earn the honor, the Gulf
Coast Paint Horse Club submitted materials that detailed
community service and other worthwhile activities taken
on by the APHA local affiliate during the previous year
to a panel of three judges. For example, they held
fundraisers to support their youth scholarship awards
including a Texas Hold ‘Em “Cards For Kids” tournament,
riding and farrier clinics to further educate their
members, raised money for their local American Red Cross
and held a stallion service auction. They also set up a
memorial fund to benefit a club member who lost her
husband and named special awards to honor the
contributions others have made to the club and its
members. All in addition to their very busy club show
schedule with fun activities at each of them. Their
youth judging teams each placed in the top 4 and had
several individual awards. Many of their youth also
attended the Youth Leadership Conference.
More About APHA
Currently, American
Paint Horses are being registered at APHA’s Fort Worth,
Texas, headquarters at a rate of more than 35,000 horses
each year. APHA has registered more than 958,000 horses
in 59 nations and territories since it was founded 47
years ago, and now serves approximately 85,000 active
members around the world. APHA, a non-profit
organization, prides itself on community involvement and
educating the public about the beauty and talent of the
breed. Among its many activities, APHA works to preserve
bloodlines and maintain the outstanding characteristics
of Paint Horses. For more information, visit the
Association’s Web site at
apha.com or call (817) 834-2742.
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