Please extend your thanks and appreciation to Dave Miller, Helen Halderman and Brian Reid as they step down from their positions on the NWMHC Board of Directors. These three individuals have given many, many hours of their time to our club and have done an outstanding job.
Thanks also to those dedicated members remaining on the Board. Nancy Rivenburgh, Barbara Ashby, Mark Bullington, and Kate Sherry who have also spent many hours working alongside these outgoing members. Together we welcome Annette Helgeson and Margaret Slape, who are beginning their term along with myself. We have exciting plans for the upcoming year and are eager to “get rolling”!
2010 is going to see some exciting changes and new events for members to participate in and spend time with one another. This year kicks off with a once in a lifetime opportunity offered by a former member of the NWMHC, well known trainer and judge, Portia Kalinka. Portia has donated two days of her time to do a schooling show/ event for members of the club. This event will be held, due to the generous donation of Darrell and Cherie Smith of Casino Gold Ranch, on March 12th ad 13th in Dallas, Oregon at the Casino Gold facility. Instead of ribbons participants will receive feedback from Portia on their performance, with tips on how to improve and move up in the placings at the pointed shows. The cost to members to participate in this workshop is only $10 and it is open to members only. See the notice in this newsletter and on our web site for information. Portia has just signed the contract to be a judge at this year’s Western Regional Show in Reno, so here is a chance to not only show to a regional judge but to be able to ask her questions and find out what she likes to see in the ring.
The past several years have been tough ones and have found many of our members struggling to make ends meet. It is important for us all to remember to be kind to one another, and to try and understand that everyone handles stress differently – what might seem like a snippy comment or a rude reply may well be rooted in stress, not in anger or dissention. Communication is the number one way to avoid most issues and misunderstandings, and my goal for our club is to increase communication, especially between the Board and the members. To help accomplish this, I will be sending out frequent updates and informational e-mails to members throughout the year, keeping you updated on what is happening in the club and with our members. Please, e-mail me with any information you would like me to share with your club – such as family news, births and deaths, special events, etc.
I think Dave said it all in his outgoing President’s Message. The Northwest Miniature Horse Club is by far the best miniature horse club in the world. As I traveled to many AMHA functions during my terms as AMHA Secretary I would hear over and over again how people held the NWMHC in highest regards. I fielded many questions asking how they could make their club as successful as ours. I could give them the nuts and bolts, but they could never have our “secret weapon”. That secret weapon is you – the steadfast, dedicated and generous members of the NWMHC.
Thank you for putting your trust in me as your President. I will do the best job I can to help this club move forward and to continue being the Best Miniature Horse Club in the World!!!
For those of you didn’t get to attend the Winter Meeting, we had a great turn-out with 70 people in attendance at Sunday’s meeting. Saturday night, following a wonderful potluck dinner, about 30 people stayed for the wildest Bingo game that Grange Hall has ever seen. Reports of people laughing so hard their sides hurt were common stories on Sunday morning.
LaVon reported that we have 171 adult members and 41 youth members. The Bylaw Committee presented 15 proposed bylaw changes. Each proposal was looked at carefully and discussed by the members present. Ten proposals passed, four failed and one was withdrawn. A complete report of which ones passed will be included in the next issue of the NEWS.
We have a couple new committees. The Marketing, Promotion and Publication Committee will be sending out a quarterly E-News via e-mail to members and working with the Show Coordinators to obtain sponsorships for the Supreme, Champion and Reserve, and the performance awards at each show. The members voted to have the Club provide only the neck ribbons and certificates for these classes and opened up the opportunity for individuals and businesses to sponsor the awards. Each Show Coordinator will work with this committee and decide what those awards will be for that show. We should see some exciting awards presented this year, with a great variety from class to class and show to show.
The Hospitality Committee will be present at each show, helping spectators locate the show areas, coordinating sales of horses for exhibitors, answering questions and providing support for those trying to show their horses and talk about miniatures with people who come to see our wonderful animals. The new Trail Driving Committee is organizing club-sponsored trail drives and driving events. Two week-ends have been reserved at the Happ’s facility in Ethel, Washington. The dates of May 1 and July 3 have been booked for our Club to come drive on 200 acres of groomed driving trails. Details of these events will come later, but some of the things we could do include instruction in obstacle driving, marathon driving, dressage, cones, and general trail driving.
The Show programs will be done again this year with advertising opportunities offered. The Club- sponsored clinic/show featuring Portia Kalinka will be held at Casino Gold Ranch in Dallas, Oregon on March 12th and 13th, with other Club-sponsored clinics being planned for throughout the year.
It looks to be an eventful and exciting year for the Northwest Miniature Horse Club. Hope to see all of you at these events!