  | Volume XIII, Issue 7 July 2004 | Last update Jul 17, 2005 |
A Letter from the President
Guys and Gals! With summer officially started, I hope that you are planning time to kick back and relax a bit. I'd like to highlight a few items for you.
Gaither Pennington, Presiden
"My world is composed of takers and givers. The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better." Byron Frederick
Submissions for the August 2004 Thirteen Spurs are due by Monday 7/19/04!!
The Membership Corner
It's Time to Renew Your Membership! There is one more way you can renew…we have several Membership Drives scheduled this month around the area. You can find us at the following locations:
Remember to keep me up to date on any changes in your personal information. This way, you will continue to be informed of meeting notices, special events, and receive your newsletter. And last, as your membership chair, I serve as your liaison to the board. If you have concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to bring them to my attention. I can be reached by email or by phone (see sidebar). Keep check on the web page for all announcements and updates on upcoming events. Mike S., Membership Chair
 Calling All Volunteers!
Yes it is that time of year again - time to begin preparing for the ASGRA Rodeo! If you have volunteered in the past and want to do it again or have not and would like to give it a try, please contact me at for more information. There is a volunteer form online at www.asgra.org. Thank you! Beth Brockelman, Volunteer Coordinator Greetings all, as this is a good place to find our volunteers for this year's Stampede, I am the Front Gate Coordinator and am looking for those friendly folks who would like to assist with the Gate. Please contact me at 202-518-0885. Hope to see you all soon! Thanks ! Bruce Forchheimer, Front Gate Coordinator Howdy Folks! I am the Security Coordinator for Atlantic Stampede 2004. I am looking for several volunteers to serve as security personnel for the Rodeo Grounds. Free training will be provided for all security team members. You can contact me at 301-412-5249. I thank you in advance for your consideration to give a little something back and to serve your community with pride. Thank you! Ms. Tomi' Finkle, Rodeo Security Coordinator
ASGRA trail rides are the first Sunday of the month at 11:00am!Regardless of the weather, ASGRA's monthly trail rides are held at Piscataway Ranch in Clinton, MD at 11:00 am on the following days: July 4th: Feel the freedom of Independence Day on a fun ride in the summer forests and fields! August 1st: Cool down during the dog days of summer with a relaxing ride through the fragrant Maryland woodlands. For further information and to RSVP, contact Glenn at (703) 538-2225.
Upcoming 2004 IGRA Rodeos
Canadian Rockies International Rodeo ARGRA Calgary, Alberta, Canada July 2-4, 2004
John Chaney Roping Clinics
Morning: Roping - beginner through intermediate (unmounted)
 Royalty Roundup
ASGRA Royalty rode in the Baltimore Pride Parade with Club Phoenix. The theme of pride was Vive La Difference and Club Phoenix won Best Commercial Float for the parade. Congrats to them and a thank you for letting us ride and be part of the event. In addition, Destiny, Rudy and Cody were all 'arrested' at the festival for various violations by the C.O.M.M.A.N.D. leather/levi club. All the money went to charity and it was a blast. Join MsTer ASGRA at the Phoenix in Baltimore on Saturdays for Country night starting @ 9pm. ASGRA members get domestic beers for $2.50 with an ASGRA card. For more info see www.baltimorephoenix.com You can catch Destiny, Jymmye Jaymes and many current and former ASGRA Royalty every Sunday night at Freddie's Follies, starting at 9pm!!
DANCE * DANCE * DANCE 
Lambda DanceSport Association promotes partnership dancing for same-gender couples in the LGBT community. www.LambdaDanceSport.org Capital Country Dance Club is a non-profit whose purpose is to bring the joy of dancing to the GLBT community. It hosts C&W dancing the second Saturday of the month and sponsor open dancing from 8-10 pm every Tuesday at De Lounge in Wheaton, MD. www.capitalcountry.org
Capital Country Dance Club Newsletter is online! July 1-4: Weekend in Ohio with the Columbus Stompers at the 11th annual IAGLCWDC (International Association of Gay/Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs) convention. www.stompers.org. Click on the hoedown logo and follow the links.
 A Royal Congratulations
From the 2004 ASGRA Royalty Team to the following ASGRA members who will celebrate birthdays in July:
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 | May Rodeo School: first, the rulebook, contestant numbers and a lesson in safety. |
 | After a warm up on haybales, calfroping the real thing! |
 | : More calfroping practice |
 | Steer Riding 101 |
 | Chef Billy rustles up the food for the hungry cowfolk at Rodeo school. |
 | ASGRA Royalty rides with Pride in the DC Pride parade. |
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ASGRA Calendar of Events
4 11am Trail Ride at Piscataway stables, Clinton, MD
 Atlantic Stampede 2004 Grand Marshalls
ASGRA is proud to announce that Larry Jacobs, on behalf of Equality Maryland, and Dyana Mason, on behalf of Equality Virginia, have agreed to serve as a Grand Marshalls for Atlantic Stampede 2004. Each year ASGRA seeks to recognize and promote the efforts of outstanding individuals or organizations which serve the gay community in our region. Equality Maryland and Equality Virginia are two shining examples of such organizations. Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest civil rights organization, focused on making life better for GLBT citizens of Maryland. Equality Virginia is a statewide, non-partisan, lobbying, education and support network for the GLBT and straight allied (GLBT) communities in Virginia. Both organizations work tirelessly to secure and protect the rights of GLBT persons in their respective states by promoting legislative initiatives on the state, county and municipal levels and educating the public about the issues faced by our diverse community. Founded in 1989 as Virginians for Justice and in 1990 as Free State Justice, Equality Virginia and Equality Maryland have fought diligently in their state capitols and other counties and cities to win equal rights for the GLBT community. Both organizations have built extensive grassroots networks of concerned citizens to help support their efforts. Both organizations have developed strong ties in their state legislatures to lobby for GLBT causes. Equality Virginia has been engaged in efforts to repeal the Virginia sodomy act, ban discrimination in state employment based on sexual orientation, and defeat a variety of anti-family initiatives. This year, among the many other issues, Equality Virginia is working to combat the new Marriage Affirmation Act, one of the most discriminatory pieces of legislation to be passed anywhere in the US in recent history. Equality Maryland has a strong history of accomplishments. In 2001, they succeeded at a ten-year effort to win an anti-discrimination law in the state that protects Marylanders from discrimination based on sexual orientation. In 2002, they secured transgender anti-discrimination protections in Baltimore City. Recently, Equality Maryland has been active in helping keep Maryland a non-DOMA state, fighting a host of anti-family initiatives and a variety of other efforts. ASGRA is proud to recognize both Equality Maryland and Equality Virginia for their ongoing phenomenal efforts to represent all members of the LGBT community in their states. Equality Maryland can be found online at http://www.equalitymaryland.org/ and Equality Virginia is online at http://www.equalityvirginia.org/. Please check out their sites to learn more about the great work these groups are doing for our community.
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!!! ASGRA ELECTIONS: A REMINDER 
Elections are being held during Rodeo weekend this year (September 9-11, 2004). In accordance with our ByLaws, Article VI, Section 3A, which states, "The right to vote in any election of the Corporation shall be reserved for all individual members in good standing who are entitled to a vote and who have held such membership for at least thirty (30) days preceding the date of the election.
To meet this requirement, your membership application must be postmarked no later than August 13th or received via the web page by midnight on August 13th.
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