  | Volume X, Issue 4 August 2001 | Dec 1, 2002 |
A Word from the President…
Howdy Cowgirl & Cowboys, Things have been quite busy around the ASGRA corral this past month. Hoedown in Baltimore was a grand success with a good time had by all. I would like to thank Jim Morgan, Patrick Hunter & our fabulous Social & Entertainment Team for a splendid event. Your president & vice president served cocktails & Bud Lite all evening. Jim M. & Bobby T. sold script tickets and merchandise, while our Treasure Steven H. keep track of the funds. Mike S. spent hours at our front gate collecting and selling dance tickets. Madonna and Bobby T. made sure ASGRA Royalty was well represented; Madonna kept things going on the dance floor and promoted the association all evening. Billy C., Joe R. and Alain? Well, all I can say is that those guys seemed to be everywhere and tireless! Thank you everybody for being there to help us have another stellar event in Baltimore. As I type, it is the eve of the IGRA convention. The ASGRA delegation that will represent our organization is preparing for a long journey to the west coast. Along with that trip will come long days of politics, meetings, lobbying and voting. The ASGRA delegation is experienced and energetic. We are lucky to have some of the best talents in the IGRA representing us there. Remember, the decisions made at the annual convention govern all of us over the next rodeo year. Be informed and talk to your delegates. Your delegates are your voice at convention. Wish us all luck. The Krispy Kreme Delegation rides again! Don't forget to make your plans to join us in Delaware August 3-5 for a weekend of fun at the Double L and Renegade as we bring Rodeo to the beach! Also now is the time to step forward and volunteer your time and talents to help out where and when you can at the Atlantic Stampede 2001 rodeo. Our big charity fundraiser is here again and we need every member's help to make it another ASGRA success. This is our tenth Stampede rodeo and I want to see it remembered as one of our best events ever. Please give your member support to a great cause. Stampede profits help us give back to our community.
Just a final reminder, "Don't forget to renew your membership." We need you. Membership and Stampede 2001 ticket order forms are enclosed in this issue to facilitate the process. You can also visit our website (www.asgra.org) to download forms and/or order tickets online from our webstore (thanx to Billy C. and Steve H. for keeping that updated). Let's Rodeo!
 The Journey to Long Beach: Shaping Change within IGRA
The year marks my second trip to IGRA Convention. Both years with a mission: to educate the cowboys and cowgirls on diversity and sensitivity. Prior to last year's convention, I was looking through the rules for Royalty, both on the local level and on the International level for a specific listing. That listing was the gender that royalty had to be to compete. Did the Mr. have to be male? Did the Ms. have to be female? The only rule I found was that the Miss candidates had to present themselves as male for the interview and horsemanship video, and in drag for the all public items. There was nothing in either set of rules regarding the other two categories. So I asked. I sent an email to the ASGRA Board of Directors and the IGRA Board asking if there was any such rule governing the gender of the Mr. and Ms. Royalty positions. What started out as a simple question led to much more. I met with two of our delegates last summer and we talked about transgender issues and what they meant with regard to competing both in the arena and in the royalty contests. We came up with a proposal to present on the floor of convention. It was reworked and was accepted. The result of that can be found on page 2 of the IGRA 2001 Rodeo Rules book, under the heading of "IGRA Statement of Position on Gender Identification". I was asked last year to present a session on gender issues at convention. I had never done one of these on that type of level before, and certainly not by myself. But I figured that since I started this, I needed to see it through. So I did some research and came up with a packet of information to present to those who came. There were about 8 people present for that session, so it wasn't that scary for this shy introvert. At the conclusion of that session, I was asked to present it again at the IGRA University this year. Unfortunately, I was not able to do so due to a prior commitment. As convention approached this year, I received an email from IGRA President Craig Rouse requesting me to present another session on Sensitivity and Gender Issues at convention. I accepted and began the search for other information to share. Not knowing what to expect in terms of attendance this year, I was very surprised to see the count at 18 people from 10 Member Associations. The mix of Board members, trustees, competitors, International and local royalty was good. I had asked two people to assist me in my presentation this year and pulled a third from those gathered. With their assistance, we discussed bathroom issues, job security, personal safety and other concerns surrounding people who fall under the umbrella of transgendered. This session spawned much discussion throughout the rest of convention. It would appear that what started out as a simple inquiry has turned into a yearly event, and has helped this shy man come out of his shell and do what I have lovingly termed "educating the cowboys/cowgirls".
ASGRA was the sponsoring association for the Gender Identification ruling, and that is something to be proud of. We, as an association, are at the forefront of educating the masses on transgender issues - something that apparently was needed, based on the 10 associations represented at the Sensitivity session. Next year, perhaps we will have all 19.
ASGRA Board of Directors and Committee Chairs President: David Hehr 13512 Woodvale Court Woodbridge, VA. 22191-1832 Vice-President/Newsletter Editor: Lonni La Bel 2155 Mohegan Drive Falls Church, VA 22043-2512 Secretary: Gaither Pennington 133 Tull Place Alexandria, VA 22304 Treasurer: Steven Haber 1314 12th Street, NW Washington, DC 20005-4402 Membership: Michael Schanno Fundraising & Sponsorship: TBD; Public Relations: Sonny Koerner 300 South Taylor St. Arlington, VA 22204-1445 Rodeo Events & Training: Cindy Brendle 5702 Plummer Lane Lothian, MD 20711 Social & Entertainment: Jim Morgan 1514 T St NW Washington, DC 20009-3910
News 'Round The Corral Stampede 2001 Tickets Now on Sale! Stampede 2001 tickets are now on sale. The advance price for the weekend package is still $45.00. Buy early, and save $10 off the at-the-door price, and $20 off the price of each event if purchased individually. Tickets can be purchased on-line, via our website (follow the link at www.asgra.org) or at most Lambda Rising locations. You can contact our Treasurer, Steven Haber, at treas@asgra.org for any required ticket purchase information.
Don't forget to get tickets to the Western Steak Dinner that follows the rodeo on Sunday and precedes the Contestant Awards Presentation Ceremony. (Dinner tickets are not part of the weekend package.) The dinner is an additional $25, and tickets will only be available in advance since we need to get a count to the caterers ahead of time. Last year's Steak Dinner had a great turnout, and this year's promises to be even better!
 IGRA Convention 2001 was a very busy, productive and fun weekend. Due to several personal emergencies, we had a much smaller delegation than originally expected. We did manage to keep a full slate of 6 delegates at our table all weekend, however. A special thanx to Matt Komornik (aka Miss Patty Como) and Mike Sanders for stepping in to ensure coverage, along with Lori Butcher who spent a lot more time at the table and in meetings than most alternates normally do! A list of the delegates who represented ASGRA follows:
Delegates: David Hehr (President/Board), Lonni LaBel (Board), Cindy Brendle (Board), Sonny Koerner (Acting Trustee/General Membership), Billy Collison (General Membership), and Mike Sanders (General Membership).
ASGRA Royalty 2001 & Committee Chairs
IGRA Trustee: Les Boggs 2514-C S Walter Reed Dr Arlington, VA 22206-1289
ASGRA Social and Entertainment Schedule for Summer/Fall 2001
Stampede Training Day/Play Day: August 12
What's New 'Round the Corral
Remember, the ASGRA trail rides are the first Sunday of the month at 11:00am!
Regardless of the weather, we will be holding monthly training sessions for roping and camp events at Hideaway Ranch in Brandywine, MD at noon on the following days:
FREE PERSONAL TRAINER FOR ASGRA MEMBERS! Webmasters note: As this newsletter is posted to our web site, this is no longer in effect (Sept. 23, 2002) ASGRA is proud to announce an added member benefit for all current and valid ASGRA members. In conjunction with the Crew Club, a longtime ASGRA supporter, members will be able to consult and work with a personal trainer on Wednesday nights at the Crew Club's brand new workout gym stocked with state-of-the-art resistance workout equipment. Every Wednesday from 6-8pm, the club has arranged to make its personal trainer (a Texas native, and rodeo friendly) available to ASGRA members through September 5th. The trainer will work with each individual member to establish a focused workout to promote strength building according to each members specific rodeo event(s). Should ASGRA have a lot of interest and support in this program, the Crew Club would be interested in offering the same program next year. In order to participate, you must be a current ASGRA member and show a valid ASGRA membership card at the desk of the Crew Club (14th & P Street, NW). They will issue you a special membership card for ASGRA members only. This will allow you to be at the club every Wednesday from 6-8pm for the training sessions with other ASGRA members. You must agree to rules and conditions of the club, and extra curricular activities are not part of this program. That is on your own time and your own dime. Male and Female ASGRA members are welcome. For more information, feel free to call the Crew Club.
Royalty Roundup Information ASGRA's own Miss ASGRA 2001, Blair Michaels took the title of 1st Alternate to Miss Gay DC. She will be traveling to Dallas in October for the Miss Gay America contest! Congratulations Blair! It was a triple-threat event on July 11 when Mr. ASGRA 1999 Daniel Lusk joined Mr. ASGRA 2000 Sonny Koerner and current Mr. ASGRA 2001 Bobby T. to compete in Ester Goldberg's popular "Feygele Feud" at JR's. Mr. ASGRA 2001 teamed up again with First Runner-up Mr. IGRA 2001 Sonny Koerner to host Summer Heat 2001 at Sheridan's on July 13. Miss ASGRA 2000 Jymmye Jaymes, Miss ASGRA 1999 Miss Patty Como and Ms. ASGRA 1999 Lonni La Bel joined them to raise @$3000 for the following charities: NOVAM, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, City of Hope AIDS Research and the Rodeo Contestant Crisis Fund. Miss ASGRA 2000 and Miss ASGRA 2001 co-hosted the annual Brandy Dover Memorial Christmas in July event on July 27 at Sheridan's, raising @$1300 for Grandma's House. ASGRA's Royalty past and present has been a visible and active team on the rodeo circuit this summer as well, visiting Little Rock, Atlanta, Calgary, Omaha, Los Angeles… and lots of other places as well! Royalty 2002 contestant packets are out and available from any of the current Royalty team!! Come be a part of this vital team! Keep an eye out for the Royalty Rodeo Roundup Welcome Party coming up just before Atlantic Stampede!!
ASGRA Calendar of Events
August
ASGRA Elections Notice ASGRA will hold its annual elections for the 2001 - 2002 association year on October 28. All active members in good standing with at least six months of continuous membership are eligible to run for office this year.
The following Offices are up for election: Members wishing to run for office must submit a written biography listing their qualifications for the nominated office by Sunday, September 23rd. The information in the biography serves as a helpful reminder to members familiar with the candidate's background and as an important introduction to members who are unfamiliar with the candidate. Format
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