An update from Danny Scheraga
We’re experiencing a heat wave in upstate New York as I write this on Ground Hog Day. The temperature has soared above thirty degrees. Shirtsleeve weather in the midst of the eighth coldest winter on record. Tomorrow, I assume since the groundhog didn’t see his shadow predicting six more weeks of winter, we will be back to reality with the thermometer dipping back near 0 and below. This relative warmth for two days has turned thoughts to spring and summer, or for those of us not lucky enough to sojurn in the sunny south for the winter, to dreams of POLO. For those of you starting to plan your summer seasons, now is a good time to think about taking advantage of the many programs The Polo Training Foundation has to offer to enhance the training of players and umpires and thereby help to assure a safer and hopefully more pleasing polo experience.
How the PTF Works
Founded in 1967 the PTF is a charitable organization charged with training polo players and umpires. Through the many programs below the PTF annually touches the lives of over 1100 polo and umpire students. Donations to the PTF are tax deductible. These funds to support training programs are raised through mail solicitations, personal contacts, and fund raisers held at clubs across the country. Income is also generated from fees collected for some programs run exclusively by the PTF such as the camp at Brushy Creek in Burleson, Texas and the Florida club umpire school at the Vero Beach Polo Club. The last source of PTF income is from endowment income, although 2008 was just as unkind to our investment accounts as most other income accounts across the nation.
What is Endowment
and why can’t that money be spent?
One of the biggest misunderstandings in the polo community is how an endowment works. The PTF has nearly three million dollars that is permanently restricted by the donors of those funds. This means only income generated by those funds is available to be spent on programs. The goal of these donors is to assure that the PTF will be sufficiently funded to accomplish its goals for the foreseeable future. Donors also expect the organization they support to be fiscally responsible with their endowments. Therefore the money is invested in a moderately conservative manner with the goal of achieving enough of an annual return so that five percent can be spent on programs and a percentage approximately equal to the inflation rate can be re-invested in the principal so as not to erode the buying power of the endowment. Financial markets go up and down, and some years this can be an easily obtainable goal, but other years, as in 2008, it can be a quite a challenge to achieve these results. Traditionally the PTF has been able to draw approximately $200,000 of its annual budget from these investments. Because of the 2008 Market performance the PTF will be lucky to generate $150,000. This coupled with possible reduced donations due to the economy has required a detailed review of the annual budget and considerable belt tightening. Fortunately we have found ways to continue our core programs will substantially reducing an already strict budget. The PTF is constantly reviewing programs to assure they fit the mission to help grow polo through education of players and umpires. To begin new programs, either old programs need to be reduced or new money has to be raised. If programs do grow, the best way would be through a combination of increased endowment to assure stability and increased annual giving. A balance between endowment and annual giving is the ideal method of development. Some donors prefer to have their gifts earmarked specifically for endowment while others would prefer to see their money put to work immediately. The PTF strives to accommodate both while delivering quality instruction to the polo community.
Programs Currently funded by the PTF
Brushy Creek Camp
Instructed by Robin (du Toit) Sanchez
Robin Sanchez is no stranger to managing and teaching. The daughter of the late renowned polo instructor Buzz Welker, Robin was practically born with a mallet in her hand. Her first lesson was with the late great 9-goaler Dr. Billy Linfoot and she has continued to contribute to every aspect of the sport from training horses to officiating games, and has played tournament polo up to the 16 goal level. Brushy Creek camps are 5 days of total immersion in the polo including horse care as well as all aspects of polo horsemanship, hitting, rules and playing. Robin has also added adult and family weekend camps to the Brushy Creek experience and runs several specialty clinics throughout the year. For more information in these acclaimed camps and clinics contact Robin at 717-645-8778 or email polodutoit@yahoo.com. The $995 Early Bird special deadline for prepaid enrollment has been extended until April 1, 2009. The regular camp fee is $1200.
Youth Clinics with Wilbur O’Ferrall
Wilbur O’Ferrall also has played polo since he was ten. While at UC Davis he won four Western Regional championships, captained the 1989 National Championship team, and won the PTF Player of the year award after leading his team to the National finals in 1990. He has been a Field Director for the PTF since the fall of 1996 emphasizing youth training. Wilbur’s clinics can be for a group new to polo such as a Pony Club or a 4-H group and he can also accommodate a full fledged junior program at a USPA member club. There is no charge for these clinics other than his travel expenses, and housing and feeding him while he is at your location. To reach Wilbur call: 717-645-8715 or email: wofpolo@aol.com.
Club Player and Umpire Clinics
In conjunction with USPA member clubs, the PTF will co-sponsor one pre-approved player or umpire clinic at any club by paying half the cost up to a maximum reimbursement of $1000. For player clinics, clubs can hire their own instructor or have the PTF locate an instructor. For umpire clinics, the instructor must be pre-approved through Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane. Steve has been in polo since he was big enough to wield a mallet and has been professionally involved with umpiring and umpire training since 1992. In addition to teaching many clinics himself Steve is often assisted by a corps of umpire instructors including Bob Stuerzebecher, Rick Sears, Dan Healy and Billy Sheldon. For more information on this program contact the PTF office: 888-PTF-POLO (783-7656) or email: dscheraga@polotraining.org. For scheduling an umpire clinic, contact Steve Lane: 717-645-8793 or email: slpolo9@aol.com.
There is still time in 2009! Winter Club Umpire School
There are still places available for the Florida Club Umpire weekly schools at the Vero Beach Polo Club. The fee for the clinic is $350. For more information, contact the PTF office at (888) PTF-POLO (783-7656) or dscheraga@polotraining.org. Bob Stuerzebecher can be contacted directly at 561-386-3991 or bobspolo@yahoo.com
