PRCA VOTE INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE

PRCA Members for Leadership Accountability

P.O. Box 544

Mead, CO  80542 

(800) 316-6332

For Additional Information Contact:  Brian Wallace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 13, 2008

Concerned PRCA members and rodeo supporters have been carefully watching developments leading to a court-approved membership vote in September, 2008.

At this time, members will have the opportunity to cast their vote to approve new amendments that would affect member rights, voting and the power to hold their leaders accountable.

These are big decisions facing the PRCA membership.  The group recommending these changes has taken extensive steps to educate rodeo supporters.  Concerned rodeo supporters can visit their website at www.cowboysinc.org where they can read the entire history of the legal actions, a detailed explanation of the changes being proposed and why they think it’s crucial to be able to hold their leadership accountable to insure a healthy, member-driven PRCA.

This group of PRCA Members is also accommodating those without internet access, as well as concerned members who would like to hear direct discussions regarding these issues.  They have dedicated an “800” number where members can join live, no-cost conference calls on Monday, Wednesday and Friday Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, beginning at 6p.m. Pacific Time.  Interested members should dial (800) 316-6332 and follow the prompts to join the call.  The 800 number also gives members the ability hear recorded information, request additional documents or information, pose questions for future conference calls, or have a proxy sent directly to a fax machine.

Protecting the member’s rights to vote is just one of the core issues of these proposed resolutions.  “Really, it’s about accountability,” states Jimmie Cooper, one of the forces behind the movement, “We feel the PRCA Board of Directors must be held accountable for:

· Not developing long range goals and a business plan to support those goals.  

· Addressing our Association’s minimal economic growth

· Addressing the decline in our membership and rodeo entries.

· Addressing the loss of numerous national sponsors

· Engaging in, and losing numerous legal battles which have cost the members millions of dollars 

· Making reactionary, long-term decisions to solve short term problems

· Not developing an aggressive, pro-active plan to address animal welfare issues.  

· Negotiating short sighted, long term agreements in order to quickly address the huge financial liabilities created through fiscal irresponsibility.  

· Creating a more expedient process to address rules of competition

· Securing and retaining NEW national sponsors, particularly “non traditional” sponsors

· Helping the majority of our rodeos sell more tickets 

Currently the members don’t have the right or a process in which they can directly hold their leaders accountable for addressing and resolving these issues.  The Board has 100% control over every penny and every decision.  They don’t have to seek any approval from the membership for anything.  If the members don’t like a decision the Board’s made, there’s nothing we can do about it.  These proposed amendments createa system of accountability for our leaders.  They ensure we have a structure that has checks and balances where the Board of Directors can no longer make changes or industry-effecting decisions without the approval or audit by the members.”

The proposed resolutions include a new voting procedure that’s utilized by large corporations and labor unions, many of which have hundreds of thousands of members.  It’s modern, efficient, non-biased and completely anonymous.  Eligible members can use a standard mail-in ballot or vote immediately online.  The system facilitates gathering member feedback and approval throughout the year as opposed to just one annual vote.  In addition, members have an avenue to make timely changes if they feel new programs or structures need adjustment.  

PRCA voting members that have previously signed or submitted proxies still have the ability to change their mind prior to the September vote.  Jim Warren, spearhead of the group stated “The Colorado courts ruled that the proxy submitted with the latest date is the one that will be counted.  If someone signed something before they knew the whole story, they can easily change their position.” 

Warren acknowledges that the proposed resolutions are not meant to be a final solution for all of the association’s needs.  “We’ve spent thousands of hours researching and thinking about the challenges facing our association, and we came to the conclusion that the first and most important thing that needed to be done was to guarantee that the members have the right to make changes to their association and a process for doing it.  Currently they have neither.  This includes establishing a Members’ Advocacy Council of five individuals elected by the members.  Their primary responsibility is to make sure that the leaders of the PRCA establish, maintain, and implement a business plan.  The proposed Council would also be responsible for obtaining and reporting unbiased, factual information, and disseminating it to the Members and the Board of Directors.  They act as a steering committee to advance the members’ objectives in addressing the much needed changes of the association.

These proposed bylaws may not be perfect and they may not suit everyone, but they will do one thing for every member of the PRCA: forever guarantee that the members have the rights and the methods to make the changes they feel are necessary to grow and manage their association.”

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