On Sunday, January 26th, members of our chapter got together at The Santa Barbara Inn to celebrate the 2024 SBC CDS accomplishments, members and award winners and to fundraise for a successful 2025.
Convivo Restaurant, which has been providing space and catering for the last several annual banquets, welcomed us back in the room adjacent to the pool. It is appreciated that Ed Galsterer, the general manager of the Santa Barbara Inn and husband to your fellow SBC CDS member Susan Galsterer worked with our chapter again to accommodate our group. It's certainly nice to arrive at the banquet situated so close to the ocean and indulge in a delicious 3-course menu.
Members trickled in and chatted with each other, enjoying wine, lemonade and ice tea while reviewing the 16 beautifully put together auction baskets. Thanks to Lynne Sherman who's creativity and diligence in getting donations as well as constructing the baskets has been cherished year after year. For a list of sponsors just scroll down to the end of the article.
The tables were each set with a charming set of flowers, and besides the plates and utensils, had a photogenic photo cube with donation slips, the printed menu, itinerary, list of awards banquet sponsors, meeting minutes from last years annual banquet and balance sheet.
Soon Mary Couch and Christi Sulzbach called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone followed by Lynne reminding members to bid on the auction items with proceeds going right back into serving the SBC CDS members.
Convivo staff started serving lunch, which included a delicious salad, a choice of Airline Chicken or Mushroom Risotto and a Chocolate Caramel Bar & salted caramel gelato. The food at Convivo is always a highlight and this lunch was no different.
After lunch concluded Mary Couch introduced the 2025 Elected Board of Directors, which included Mary Couch as chair, Lisa White as Secretary, Pam Allman as Treasurer as well as members-at-large Christi Sulzbach, Margaret Fleming, Kelly Thoits, Carolyn Adams, and emeritus board member Karen Christensen.
Lisa White drew the winners of the Adult Amateur Clinic, which will be held May 23-25 at Twin Rivers Horse Park in Paso Robles. Sara Cutter was pulled as a participant representing SBC CDS first, followed by Karen Christensen, Hannah Finder, and Jessica Brown. Congratulations! We can't wait to see who will be riding in the clinic with Lilo Fore and hope many of you will be visiting to support your fellow members!
To keep the program rolling Lynne requested final bids for the silent auction and soon after, announced the lucky winners of the many fantastic auction offerings. With names such as the "Olea Farms Indulgence Collection," the "Itchy- Ouchy Makes Horse Grouchy basket," the "Yes to Elegance! basket", "That Inner Glow basket," and the "Seaside Gardens Treasure basket" we can only imagine how thrilled the winners must have been with the contents. Be sure you scroll down to see photos of all 16 auction items!
Next was a nice surprise as Susan Akins was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year. She joined the ranks of Kathy O'Connor, Michele Bandinu, Karen Christensen, Mary Couch, Lynne Sherman and Gina von der Burg. Another surprise was the recognition of Lynne Sherman, who has tirelessly worked on donors, tack sales, auction baskets, SBC CDS communication and so much more for so many years! Lynne was presented with a tote bag as a send off and thank you for her many years of serving on the board. Gina von der Burg and Allyson Aldrich (not pictured here), who also retired from the board, received one of the beautiful tote bags as a token of appreciation for their service on the board.
To round up the excitement Christi Sulzbach and Kelly Thoits moved on to the 'awards' portion of the 'Awards Banquet." Winners walked up to grab their ribbons and awards trophy's, which were set up at a long table and included beautiful ribbons in purple, black and... well, see the photos below for more color combinations! To see the list of all the winners click here.
Concluding the event was Mary Couch with final announcements just before adjourning the meeting and finishing it all off with a photo session of our amazing winners. The beautiful flower table arrangements put together by Lisa White and including quite a few colorful flowers from her own yard were happily gifted to a attendees with the lucky sticker under their chair!
All in all this years banquet was a great culmination of a proud community of horse lovers, devoted riders and volunteers and we look forward to continue with a successful and enjoyable 2025.
Awards Banquet Sponsors:
Allyson Aldrich/ Fox Canyon Farm, Susan & Derek Ashbrook/ El Rey Vineyard, Michele & Jeannette Bandinu/ Custom Hardscapes, Karen Christensen, Mary Couch, Julie Corlett Dressage, Masha Felderhof & Alyssa Sharkey/ Twenty Four Carrots Equine Supplements, Ed Galsterer/ Santa Barbara Inn, Gail Hoff/ Los Alamos Dressage Center, Laura Kranzler, Alexandra Kummer-Klein, Laura Logan & Tim Forster, Tory Names, Amelia Newcomb/ Dressage for All, Lynne Sherman, Susan Soderman, Lisa White, Linda Wudl/ Seaside Gardens Nursery.
Thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers and to you for making this event as lively and fun as it was.
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