The Maryland Dressage Association was chartered in 1982 by a handful of people at a time when dressage was a relatively new discipline in this area of the country. Dottie Ignozzi was the first president. Of the 70 members on the first member roster, several are still members of MDA: Paula and Michael Kierkegaard, Susan O'Connor, Mary DiBastiani, Margaret (Avery) Scarff, Rita Taggart, Bev Barnes, Ken Brady, Phoebe DeVoe, Donna (Arnold) Toole, Bill Obrigkeit, Judy Potter, Claire Warren, Linda Elliott, Lita (Miller) Hughes, Ruth Frey, Nancy DiPaula, Linda Seybold and Sue Springer. (Joyce Broccolino was also one of the first members, but sadly we lost her to a car accident in 1985.) The first executive committee consisted of:
| Dottie Tipton | Susan O'Connor |
| Pilar Robinson | Mary DiBastiani |
| Cami Ignozzi | Bill Obrigkeit |
| Julie Radigan | Paula Kierkegaard |
| Betty Stachowiak | Cindy Smith |
| Rita Taggart |
Since forming a group of dressage riders with the purpose of
promoting dressage in the area and providing a means of association
for those interested in dressage, the MDA has grown to a membership
of close to 300 (as of 1998).
MDA's
Mission
The
objectives of the Maryland Dressage Association as a non-profit
educational organization, shall be to:
Meetingsa. Encourage, promote, educate and
participate in the art of classical dressage on a local, state
and national level,
b. Promote good
sportsmanship among MDA members, friends and other associations,
c. Provide a means of association for
those interested in the art of dressage;
d. Engage in any lawful activity which may be necessary,
useful or advantageous to the association and its members.
Board meetings
are held every month at William Watters United Methodist Church in
Jarrettsville, Maryland at Route 23 and 1452 Jarrettsville Road. The meetings are
held in the at 7:30 pm EST. Four times a year, the monthly
meeting is designated as a General Membership meeting, at which all
MDA members may vote. All members are welcome and encouraged to
attend all the meetings, even when the meeting is a Board meeting;
this is where committees make their proposals on your behalf. We
frequently have a guest speaker and a program of interest to most
members, accompanied by a plethora of delicious food and
drinks.
See Upcoming Events for news about meetings in
the near future.