The Southlands Foundation

Annual Meeting 2024

Greetings Southlands friends and family! It is my joy to welcome everyone to our Annual Membership Meeting this afternoon. We are delighted to see many faces who regularly are here, and also alums who we have not seen in a long while - welcome home! Southlands is the oldest riding school in the Hudson Valley. Thank you, Mrs. Dows, for having the vision to establish this wonderful foundation so that everyone can enjoy Southlands today and for generations to come.

A special and warm welcome to our new Executive Director, Matthew Moneypenny, who has juststarted less than 3 weeks ago, and has already started many important and valuable initiatives. It is an exciting time to be sure, and we look forward to his continued leadership in this organization. The Annual Meeting is our yearly gathering of our members, stakeholders, and the Board of Directors to discuss the past year's activities and elect new officers. And of course, this is all in service of our mission.

The mission of The Southlands Foundation is to provide a historical and agrarian connection to the community, and cultivate a respect and love for the land and its animals through education, conservation and outdoor recreation. This past year has been one for the books. Many of you know that we had much turnover in staff. We served without an Executive Directors for 6 months (since January); we were without a Bookkeeper for a couple of months; and our long-time Grounds Manager moved to another opportunity. Normally, this would take a toll on any organization. For Southlands, this gave us an opportunity to work together as a community to support our mission - even in challenging times.

In my professional life, I study the psychology of resilience. And if there is one word to characterize this moment in time for Southlands … it is “Resilience”. Southlands stands the test of time. It has always been and should always continue to be the sanctuary, where everyone can come and escape the stresses imposed by the outside world.

I would like to thank the Board of Directors for working closely with me for the past year and especially the last 6 months. The Current Board Members include: Nicola Atherstone, Suzanne Battenfeld, Florien Bouwmeester, Amanda Miller, Tatiana Serafin, Elise Queasebarth, Hendrik Uyttendale. A special thank you to our Outgoing Board Members. Sara Thompson was instrumental in providing legal advice on various matters during her tenure on the Board. Mel Dean served as Vice President this year, and always the voice of compassion and reason during important board discussions. Eve D’Ambra has served over a decade on the Board, as Secretary and also former President. She is also our Southlands historian, archiving important documents, photos, and letters for Southlands at the Rhinebeck Historical Society. Robert Niewenhausen served on the Board for 15 years! During this time, his daughters rode and grew up at Southlands (now college graduates), and he has been instrumental in the Finance and Buildings and Grounds committees. And a warm thank you from me! I served on the Board of Directors for the past 10 years. It has been gratifying to see how Southlands continues to grow and shift with various decades and various leaders. And through all of these changes, we always must maintain our focus on our mission.

Thank you to our Office Staff. Sue Haug, Office Manager, took on many new responsibilities to help assist in this important transition. Jessie Boyle is our new Bookkeeper. She comes to us with years of experience in the non-for-profit sector, and has been an asset to our team.

We are so grateful to our Barn workers for countless hours to help support our horse herd and also maintain our land and property. We thank Manuel Bautista for his 15 years of service to Southlands. We also thank; Miguel Lopez Cruz for his positive demeanor and good cheer every day when he works at the farm. Many thanks also to our working students for their assistance on various barn tasks.

Southlands is first and foremost a School of Horsemanship and these efforts are led by important members of our Senior Leadership Team. Michele and Jonathan Edel oversee the barn and horse management, as well as the riding program. They bring students along to develop greater skills in the riding ring and beyond. This year, they brought our team to A-level shows, while continuing to host the Schooling Jumper Series, which brings the broader community to appreciate and enjoy our beautiful facility.

Susie Williams steadfastly keeps the legacy of Southlands alive through her vibrant teaching of adults in group riding lessons, and she facilitates the weekly Samaritan Daytop Program, which supports individuals in recovery through equine-assisted activities. She was on the original charter for Southlands, and keeps our past and present connections strong through stewardship, outreach programs, and fundraising.

We have a new Assistant Barn Manager, Emma Mearkle. Emma has already been a part of the Southlands family in many capacities (Assistant Trainer, Daytop and Anderson Program Volunteer, Nature Camp Director for two years). We are excited for this new role for Emma and thank her for her service.

And finally, a special thank you to our Members, Donors, and Supporters for your generosity and foresight in helping to maintain what is so special about Southlands.

Best wishes always,

Michele M. Tugade

Board President

~ ANNUAL REPORT ~

Below, we share some highlights and updates on activities of our year.

In September, we hosted our 40th Anniversary Gala with the theme LEGACY - where we celebrated in recognition of Mrs. Dows and the countless horses and riders who have passed through Southlands through decades. Some have been asking about our Gala. We have moved our Gala to Spring 2024 (April or May), and will plan a special event in the Fall to be announced.

Buildings and Grounds

Hay crop: We are happy to report that our hay fields are back in production. We have a new hay contractor, Noah White, who successfully brought in 850 bales from the west side of Big Field before one big rain a couple of weeks ago. Manuel, Miguel, and the men from Daytop worked in awful heat and humidity to get the hay stacked in the barn. Kudos to Michele Edel for organizing the effort. She will continue to coordinate as weather permits.

Tree maintenance is an on-going effort particularly as climate change brings more brutal rain and wind storms, most recently to our locust grove just days before camp started. Matthew Moneypenny, on his third day on the job, energized the effort to get Mike’s Trees here to take down damaged limbs and clear out the debris in time for a safe opening for our summer camps. He has more plans to ensure the longevity of this beloved space at Southlands.

The trails also are subject to the impact of heavy rains and wind and maintenance is an annual, and often, monthly labor of love. Jacob Leach has mown paths through the big hayfield and a few other accessible spots and he has cleared some down trees. He surveyed the trails and has noted where the paths are impassable/dangerous due to trees down, groundhog holes and culvert washouts.

There are DO NOT ENTER signs in numerous places. Jacob and Matthew are considering plans to provide a safe environment on the trails and enhance their use. Fencing and Paddocks got a big boost two years ago when we repaired significant lines of fencing in the paddocks near the barns and our staff installed mud mats at most gate areas. The paddocks were dragged and seeded last year, and they looked great. But mowing and maintenance requires adequate staffing to do the work. This year, fencing will be installed around the new water tank and the adjacent paddock will be re-opened and rails and posts restored where needed.

Arenas: Jonathan Edel oversees the condition of the footing and jumps in the three riding rings and they require professional maintenance annually. Jonathan and Michele consult with Lawton Adams on the appropriate use of the footing and its maintenance every year. This spring Lawton leveled the indoor and the dressage arenas. The jumping arena footing did not require work this year, but it was greatly improved by the generosity and thoughtful involvement of Philip and Stephanie Steinkraus. Their contributions last year made the ring hydration system a reality, providing a safer landing for our horses and for the participants in our horse shows. This year Philip and Stephanie contributed new jumps for the ring, which they acquired from HITS on the Hudson. We are so grateful to the Steinkrauses for their continuing support and their attention to the Southlands program.

Future: A few of our future priorities include roof replacements on several buildings, drainage and water supply systems, a new booth for the dressage arena and some improvements to the indoor arena.

Volunteers: We appreciate the individuals who step up quietly to help around the barn and property: weeding, gardening, mowing, watering and feeding the horse, and tidying up. Unsung heroes! Thank you, thank you. Up-coming volunteer opportunities will include some clean-up days around the property to make a more welcoming and safe environment.

Horse Program

This year’s horse program provided many opportunities for horsemanship education and riding. competitively in the show ring.

Horse Herd: Our School Horse herd currently consists of 14 school horses and 2 retired horses. And we have 19 Boarder horses in our herd. As you can imagine, this is a sizeable amount of horses to manage, feed, and provide high quality care.

Lessons: This year, our trainers gave a number of lessons to new and returning riders, with some riders electing to take lessons multiple times a week. Michele and Jonathan Edel generally give private and semi-private lessons. And Susie Williams gives adult group lessons regularly to her students who have ridden with her for years.

Horse Shows: We had one successful Mother’s Day horse show that brought members of the broader community to Southlands.

Riding Clinic: Southlands sponsored a clinic for our riding team, with Grand Prix Showjumping Rider and Coach, Heather Caristo-Williams. We aim to have this as an annual clinic, and we hope to invite young riders from other barns to participate in this yearly opportunity.

Community Riding Events: We hosted events (Friday Night Lights and Jumper Series Shows) that are intended to bring community members to enjoy the grounds by riding at Southlands. Auditors can also come and watch during these events.

Pony and Nature Camps: We all look forward to the summer because of our summer camps! It is so delightful to see the “littles” around the farm, who will be the next generation of riders and enthusiasts at Southlands.

Community Partnerships: As a non-profit, we have a social responsibility to our community. Southlands is open to the public,offering a space to appreciate our beautiful landscape with various nature enthusiasts (birders, hikers, photographers).

Samaritan Daytop: Our long-standing partnership with Samaritan Daytop Village provides equine- assisted activities to help clients with their recovery from substance use. We also work with Bulkeley Middle School Special Education Program, and Anderson School (autistic individuals).

Ralph Waterman Bird Club: Southlands is one of the sites for the Dutchess County National Breeding Survey. Mona Payton and her team conducted the survey this year on May 11, 2024. They were pleased to see and hear many bird species including an American woodcock and nearly thirty bobolinks.

Scenic Hudson: We have an easement with Scenic Hudson, which protects 178 acres of our property. They completed their Conservation Easement Monitoring Report on December 7, 2023. They appreciated our stewardship of the property.

Winnakee Land Trust: New partnerships are being developed with the Winnakee Land Trust, as we also have historical ties with our founders.

We pride ourselves in these partnerships and strive to maintain our service to the broader community, which is what sets Southlands apart from other equestrian and nature facilities in the Hudson Valley.

Finance Report

Please see 990s on our website.

Board Elections

The Nominating Committee recommends the following for election:

For renewals to a two-year term:

Nicola Atherstone, Amanda Miller, Elise Quasebarth, Hendrik Uyttendaele

For election to an initial one-year term (followed by a two-year term):

Leah Conklin:

Leah Conklin brings a deep love of animals and commitment to environmental preservation to Southlands. She has worked in the not-for-profit sector for more than a decade, most recently at the International Legal Foundation. Leah has deep experience in not-for-profit strategic planning and best practices. In her role as Advocacy and Communications Director, Leah has brought governments, donors and communities together to build community impact projects. She has led dozens of successful marketing and fundraising campaigns, and brings a keen eye to how Southlands can engage our local community. One place you can find Leah in and around Rhinebeck: the Center for Performing Arts as part of the Rhinebeck Theater Society.

Elizabeth Golden Hilton:

Liz is a long-time supporter of The Southlands Foundation. In fact, she rode with Mrs. Dows (Thomas) as her instructor when she was a very young girl (her first lesson was in 1966)! She can attest to the important values that were instilled from those early years - about having compassion for animals and being stewards of our natural landscape. Her service to Southlands has been ongoing for many years. Liz is part of the volunteer team that provides weekly equine-assisted therapy to clients from the Samaritan Daytop Program, our long-standing community partnership. In addition, she has been a dedicated member of the Gala Committee for several years. Outside of Southlands, Liz has extensive not-for-profit experience. She serves on several local committees including: the Board for St. Francis Hospital, which helped form what is now Mid-Hudson Regional. She also has been a Board Member and volunteer for the Hyde Park Visual Environment Committee, which focuses its efforts on beautifying the Historic Town of Hyde Park, for a combined 13 years. Finally, she has volunteered on the Dutchess County SPCA (Resource Development Committee) for roughly 18 years. You will find that Liz is deeply involved with the local community, and is dedicated to persevering our history and bringing new community opportunities to Southlands.

Jacob Leach:

Jacob grew up at Southlands, a place he has always called home. He has been a part of the Southlands family for 25 years. As a child, he rode in pony camps, and then graduated to be one of the counselors, and he competed in horse shows at the Dutchess County Fair and beyond. Today, you will find him riding his mare, Salem around the farm. He continues to volunteer in many ways, always assisting our barn staff with maintaining our grounds, and also offering his technological services and expertise to the office staff. His support of the Southlands school of horsemanship; his deep connection to our history; and his work with our buildings and grounds reflect his deep dedication to Southlands. Most notably, he created the Nicole Marie Wiley Scholarship Fund to honor his late wife who he met at Southlands. This fund continues to support working students in their horsemanship education at Southlands and their ability to participate in shows and clinics in the local community. His involvement through the years is testament of his love for Southlands.

New Board Leadership/ Executive Committee

We congratulate our newest Board Members and Executive Committee!

Tatiana Serafin, President

Amanda Miller, Vice President

Nicola Atherston, Secretary

Florien Bouwmeester, Treasurer

Welcome to our new Executive Director

The Southlands Foundation proudly welcomes Matthew Moneypenny as the 8th Executive Director of the historic Southlands Foundation in Rhinebeck, N.Y. Mr. Moneypenny will help drive Southlands’ mission and grow the organization in its fifth decade.

Thank you to our Donors and Supporters

We hope that today will inspire you to support The Southlands Foundation, and take us to the next chapter of our foundation. Thank you, Mrs. Dows, for creating The Southlands Foundation. And thank you and best wishes to our new leadership.

Please join us for the community potluck and share your Southlands stories with one another and reconnect with friends. Your support makes a lasting difference for the place we all hold deep in our hearts, the place we call home -- The Southlands Foundation.