Orange Beach, Alabama
--- At the North American Pari-Mutuel
Regulators Association (NAPRA) Spring Business Meeting held in Orange Beach,
Alabama Sherry Strebel of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission was elected
President.
Mrs. Sherry Strebel
has a distinguished history of community service and leadership.
On the local level, she has served as President of a number of
organizations, including the Oklahoma State Medical Association Alliance,
Visiting Nurse Association, Advisory Council of the Mercy Health Center, and
Heritage Hall School Board. She has
also served on the Habit for Humanity Board for 15 years, currently serving an
extended term as their Treasurer. On
the national level, Mrs. Strebel was President of the American Medical
Association Alliance. Mrs. Strebel
is also an Elder and Covenant of the Presbyterian Church.
Governor Keating
appointed Mrs. Strebel to the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission for a six-year
term, July 1, 1997 through June 30, 2003. This
is her second year as the Commission’s Chair.
Last year, Mrs. Strebel served as NAPRA’s First Vice President.
In becoming President of NAPRA, Mrs. Strebel said, “NAPRA has made
great strides in its short existence and I look forward to working with the many
active and interested industry volunteers who have pushed this organization to
excel.”
The other elected Board
Members are: 1st Vice President - Lorna Romilly, British Columbia
Racing Commission; 2nd Vice President - Ron McLeod, Alberta Racing
Corporation; Secretary - Wade Turner, Arizona Racing Commission; and Treasurer -
Gene Olander, Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission.
During the
conference, NAPRA member jurisdictions committed themselves to assisting the
pari-mutuel industry by continuing to maintain and create regulatory tools that
ensure the highest standards of integrity and regulations are effectively
maintained. To fulfill the responsibility of protecting the public interest and
maintaining the integrity of the pari-mutuel industry, NAPRA has established the
industry's most comprehensive License and Ruling Database, Equine Database,
Public Ruling Page and the recent addition of Jurisdiction Simulcast Approval
List. During the Business meeting,
the member jurisdictions focused on reviewing the strategic plan to further
pursue operational goals and objectives that will assist NAPRA members in
fulfilling their regulatory responsibilities to their respective jurisdictions
and the pari-mutuel industry. Discussions also focused on future projects
including the creation of additional features to the database, the NAPRA Website
and providing technical assistance and expertise to both NAPRA members and
industry groups.
“The Spring
Business Meeting was quite a success. I believe we all came a way with a
clear direction of what we need to work on,” stated NAPRA Executive
Director Frank Lamb. “The
panel on medication was of particular interest. I believe that a
partnership with AAEP, NTRA, and NAPRA to work on these tough issues is
imperative. I particularly applaud AAEP for their willingness to step up
to the plate. We need to hear from industry veterinarians.
I am excited about the role that the regulators play in this industry and
look forward to NAPRA's involvement,” stated Lamb.
Awards
During
the Awards Luncheon the following were recognized for their dedication and
contribution to the organization in the last year.
Pacesetter Awards
were presented to Scott Scepaniak,
Administrator for the Wisconsin Division of Gaming and Gordon Hare, Executive
Director of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission.
Winners Circle Awards were presented to Ben Nolt, Executive Secretary of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission and Dan Subach, Chief Steward for the Wisconsin Division of Gaming and Rachel Meek, Budget & Policy Analyst for the Wisconsin Division of Gaming.
Board
Action
The
Board of Directors of NAPRA conducted its board meeting and elected the
following as board members: