Oklahoma City, OK – February 15, 2008 – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is in the middle of a blitz! It’s a blitz of Show Secretary Seminars. But what makes this so unusual is that all of these seminars are being held over the Internet. The NRHA reached its latest historical milestone when the Show Department webcast its very first show secretary seminar online. By using this new technology, NRHA officials webcast the seminar to participants in France and Germany at the same time.
In 2005, the NRHA instituted a three-year plan to require all show secretaries to become NRHA certified. With all show secretaries around the world certified, the association felt exhibitors could expect to find the same high standards and consistency in the show offices at all 700+ NRHA approved shows anywhere in the world.
Show Department Supervisor Melanie Rinehart said this new move will improve the efficiency in which show approvals and results are processed at the NRHA office. “The show department was forced to deal with numerous errors in show approvals, processing of entries and show results coming into the office. We knew that this was not a good situation for our exhibitors and members and we had to do something to improve the quality of our exhibitors’ experiences.”
In order to assist NRHA show secretaries around the world with certification, evolved the Show Department’s cutting-edge idea to webcast the seminars. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved. Previously, the NRHA paid to send a staff member to various places around the world to certify show secretaries. Not only will this save thousands of dollars in travel expenses for the NRHA, it will also save seminar participants the expense of travel, hotel and food while they are away from home to attend these seminars.
Rinehart conducted the very first webcast seminar with participants in Germany and France. She said, “We are very excited to offer the opportunity to participate in the webcast seminars. It makes it easier for many more people around the world to gain the knowledge they need to become an NRHA certified show secretary.” The only drawback for Rinehart was the time difference. In order to webcast the seminar to Germany and France, she had to begin at 3:00 AM CST!
Derk Wilbrenninck, NRHA show secretary participant from France, said, “The seminar was well organized and people could ask questions anytime. Even if a web seminar isn’t the best way to get to know things. It is an easy and practical way to become an official NRHA Show Secretary.”
The first webcast NRHA Show Secretary Seminar went off without a hitch and during the month of February, the Show Department has scheduled a webcast a blitz of seminars in order to help all show secretaries become certified in time for the beginning of their 2008 show season. If you are interested in participating, contact Melanie Rinehart at 405-946-7400 ext. 115 or mrinehart@nrha.com.
