On October 13, 2011, the Pegasus board of directors conferred the honorary office of President Emeritus upon former board presidents Seth Armen, Betty Foulk and Tina Theurkauf at a cocktail reception in their honor. Representing Seth at the event were his son Chris and grandson Mitchell.
The President Emeritus designation can be conferred to any president or former president who has served the organization with distinction. Candidates eligible for consideration must have completed a minimum of one full term as board president and two full terms as a member of the board of directors, have demonstrated loyal and meritorious service as a board member, and continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to the organization. Seth Armen, Betty Foulk and Tina Theurkauf are the very definition of Presidents Emeriti.
Seth Armen's involvement with Pegasus spans more than twenty years. In the late 1980s, he joined the organization as a volunteer at Ox Ridge. Soon after, he was asked to become a member of the board of directors. During his tenure, Seth participated in several committees and served as board president. One of Seth’s proudest accomplishments is the invention and production of Peggy the Teaching Horse, which he created with the help of his sons, Chris and Ted. Seth patented Peggy’s design and turned the patent over to Pegasus. Today there are more than 70 Peggys in use at therapeutic riding centers around the country. In 1995, PATH International (formerly NARHA) honored Seth with the National Volunteer of the Year award. In 2001, Seth received the Pat Bugg Award for Special Service and Dedication in recognition of his many invaluable contributions to Pegasus.
Betty Foulk joined Pegasus as a volunteer 35 years ago. As Greenwich chapter chair, she has been instrumental in attracting many new volunteers and riders to the program. In the early years, Betty also worked diligently to find a new facility to accommodate her 16 riders when the location of our first Greenwich chapter closed. As chair of the Facilities Committee, she led the two-decade search for a permanent home for Pegasus. Deeply committed to our mission, Betty continues to provide her valuable insight regarding the growth of our programs. Due in large part to her work with Pegasus, Betty was named Outstanding Volunteer of the Year in 2001 by The Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County. As a token of our deep appreciation for her unparalleled dedication, Pegasus named Betty the 2003 recipient of the Peggy & Bill Larned Award for Most Helpful Volunteer. Betty was also recognized on a national level in 2008 when PATH International selected her as the Region 1 Volunteer of the Year.
Tina Theurkauf began her relationship with Pegasus as a sidewalker and horse leader at the Greenwich chapter in 1977 and was later invited to join the board of directors. She became board president in the mid-1980s, which she recalls as a very exciting time for the organization. As often happens, Tina’s volunteer involvement with Pegasus encouraged her husband, Bob, to also join in the fun. A rider himself, he assisted with the announcing and various other activities at the Horse Show. Years later, they are frequent class ribbon presenters at the event. Bob and Tina credit their longevity as volunteers to the enormous satisfaction they have gained from knowing how much Pegasus programs mean to our riders. In recognition of their commitment, Tina and Bob jointly received the Peggy & Bill Larned Award for Most Helpful Volunteer at the 2007 Pegasus Horse Show.
The Pegasus of today owes an immeasurable debt of gratitude to our inaugural honorees for their decades of dedicated and visionary work. On behalf of the many families whose lives have been touched by Seth, Betty and Tina, it is our distinct pleasure to recognize their commitment and celebrate their induction into the office of President Emeritus.
Below is a slide show of the event's highlights:
