A Letter from the President

May 2006

Volume XVI, Issue 5

Page Article 1 ·         President’s Letter 2 ·         Membership News 3 ·         Happy Trails to You! ·         ASGRA Calendar of Events ·         ASGRA Birthdays ·         AS2006 Volunteers Needed! 4 ·         ASGRA News You Can Use ·         Royalty RoundUp 5 ·         Pride 2006 Planning 6 ·         Rodeo Training 2006 ·         NYC Memorial Day Hoedown 7-8 ·         Sunshine Stampede 2006: ASGRA Results ·         A Competitor’s-Eye View

 

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“Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile I caught hell for.”

·          Earl Warren

Submissions for the June newsletter are due May 22

Guys and Gals!
The viability of ASGRA depends on the willingness of members to step forward and serve as Officers or in other leadership roles.  During Atlantic Stampede weekend this year, the Association will elect a Vice-President and Secretary to two-year terms.  Please consider sharing your time and talents to help the Association continue to grow and thrive.  Additional information on these elective offices will be forthcoming and will be posted to the ASGRA website.

A quick overview of items include: 

• The Board gratefully acknowledges Scott Smiley’s excellent service to the Association, first as an arena volunteer, then as Treasurer for 3 terms and finally as this year’s Rodeo Events and Training Chair.  Last year’s recipient of the Association’s highest award, the Golden Lariat, Scott serves as an example of what volunteerism is all about.  We wish him well as he changes roles from Board member to active Association member.
• We need to fill positions for Rodeo Director, Rodeo Events and Training Chair and a number of coordinator roles for Stampede 2006.  If you can share your time and talents in any of the roles, please contact any member of the Board.
• We are finalizing a sponsorship package with our local Budweiser distributor.  We gratefully acknowledge their past support and look forward to working with them directly as sponsors!
• We are finalizing arrangements for Classic Rodeo of York Springs, Pennsylvania to serve as our Stock Contractor for Stampede 2006.
• Entertainment information packets will be going out in the next month.  We hope that this year’s response is as exciting as in years past!!  
• Detailed planning with the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill has begun.  We’re happy to say that room reservations for September are already rolling in.  It is important that you reserve your room before ASGRA’s guaranteed lowest rate expires!  We cannot guarantee either our special rate or room availability if you fail to book after the first week in August.  Don’t miss out on the best rate in town for rodeo weekend!
  
  

Although I’m confident that you’ve penciled in the dates for Stampede 2006, please be an ambassador for us to your friends.  Spread the word that the only place to be in DC on September 8, 9, and 10 will be at the Rodeo!  Thanks!

·          Gaither Pennington, President

Membership News

Membership Meetings Scheduled for 2006

At the last Board of Directors meeting we set the dates for the General Membership Meetings for 2006.  All meetings are held at 4pm and this year we will try and combine the dates and locations with a social event attached. Please watch the ASGRA web site and Calendar of Events for further information.

Annual Bylaws Meeting

July 16, 2006 will be the Annual Bylaws Meeting. This meeting is essential to the organization as it is the only time of the year that we can propose and make changes to the Bylaws and Standing Rules. This year we will hold our Annual Bylaws Meeting in conjunction with a “pot luck” picnic at Karl Klingener & Carvie Gillikin’s house. The start time will be 4pm. Please RSVP by July 7^th  so we may have an accurate head count.

Annual Elections Meeting

September 10, 2006 will be the date for the Annual Elections Meeting. Please check the web site for further information, as we get closer to the date. (This meeting is held in conjunction with Stampede)

Annual Budget Meeting

December 3, 2006 will be the Annual Budget Meeting. The location has yet to be determined and will be announced as we get closer to the date.

Did You Know???

Did you know that ASGRA has stopped mailing newsletters? Due to budget constraints, the Board of Directors decided last year that we would stop spending so much money in printing and postage. Through the efforts of Patrick H. we have developed ASGRA HTML Emails in order to advise the members of events and happenings. The newsletter “Thirteen Spurs” (Thanks to Lonnie L. our Wonderful Editor) is now distributed only via email. Please take a minute to update your contact information so that we may continue to keep you informed!

Master Calendar

We have revived the ASGRA Master Calendar on the web site. Please check the Calendar frequently in order to keep abreast of events that may be coming up. If you have any events that you wish to post on the calendar, please feel free to send them to Karl Klingener (Membership Chair) at .

Events may be anything in the community that may be of interest to our members. I will update the calendar to include the event and a link to the event website.

Calling All Volunteers!!!!!

Mary Lynn, Royalty and Membership will be kicking into high gear with events and contests that promote both our Bud Light Distributor and Atlantic Stampede. Some of these events will be fundraisers and some will be just promotional events. As the events are scheduled, I will add them to the Master Calendar and call upon volunteers who would like to help organize and run the events. As some of you were in attendance, our last Promotional Event and Membership Drive was a “Best Ass in Jeans” contest held at Remington’s. This was very successful and fun! Won’t you please consider helping ASGRA in one of these events!

Buckle Sponsors

Won’t you please consider sponsoring a Stampede Buckle! Sponsoring a buckle is a more permanent way to be a part of Atlantic Stampede. All sponsored buckles are engraved with the sponsor's name(s) or phrasing. You may go to the Buckle Sponsorship page to select the buckle you wish to sponsor and input your information.  Buckles sponsored before July 1, will be listed in the rodeo program and will be recognized on a banner placed at the rodeo site. Any buckles sponsored after this deadline may or may not appear in the rodeo program, but the sponsor will be announced periodically at the rodeo. Buckles run between $200.00 and $225.00.

Happy Trails To You!

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:

May 7^th:  Enjoy the full bloom of spring with a leisurely lope through the Maryland meadows!

June 4^th:  Kick off Pride month with a rainbow ride along the early summer trails!

For further information, contact Patrick at 202-352-2356 or

ASGRA Calendar of Events

Birthday Congratulations to the following ASGRA members who celebrate in May:

Joseph Lipani, Bill Thompson, Michael Altieri, Ken Withers, Mark Wofford,

Mary Lynn Logsdon, Jeff Renninger, Joe McRae, John Plank, Scott Morton,

Chris Eskelinen, Bob J., Derrick Miller, James Erhart, Will Trokey,

Rudy Benavides, Edward Higgins and Belinda Ann Gavin. 

If your birthday is in May and we did not include you, it is because we either did not have your birthday information on file or you have requested us not to publish your name. 

We wish you a happy birthday as well!

Calling All Volunteers Have you volunteered for the rodeo in the past?  Would you like to give it a try?  Well now is the time!  Mark your calendars for Atlantic Stampede 2006 Rodeo on September 8-10.  Volunteers are needed in all positions. Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Beth Brockelman at you can also fill out the volunteer form online at www.asgra.org Thank you for your help.

More News You Can Use

ASGRA Royalty and Miss IGRA have been busy with fundraisers lately!!  In April we had 3 different events.  We held the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Freddie’s Beach Bar.  It was a blast and we were able to raise $262.00 that night for our charities.  We also held our first ever Royalty DOG WASH!! It was a small but fun event.  Although it rained that day we were still able to raise $138.00.

“It’s a Phoneraiser!”

                                                         

ASGRA Royalty is running a fundraiser called PHONERAISER.  Please donate your old and unused cell phones.  You can drop them off at Freddie’s Beach Bar, Remington’s, and Titan.  All phones are given to needy families with medical emergencies.  Contact any ASGRA Royalty for more information. 

Please stay tuned for future fundraisers coming up such as Green Lantern Underwear Auction, Titan Beer Bust and another Dog Wash!!!!

Thank you to all of the ASGRA members that came out to support the "Best Ass in Jeans" contest held April 14th. We had a terrific turnout and signed up 12 new members at the membership drive. Please look for more events as we kick into high gear for Stampede fund-raising.

Atlantic Stampede Poster 2006 is here

Atlantic Stampede happens September 8-10, 2006, but the poster will begin to show up in area venues throughout the coming months.  This year’s poster theme is “Ride with Pride”.  We are very proud of our rodeo heritage, our 15 plus years of charity service to community and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender persons being an important part of the fabric of the American landscape.  The poster is available in a .pdf format on the ASGRA website, so feel free to print off a copy of your very own.

Pride Planning 2006

Volunteers for Pride

ASGRA is looking for volunteers for upcoming Pride events.  ASGRA plans to participate in the following Pride events for 2006:

• Baltimore, MD Block Party – June 17^th
• Harrisburg, PA – July 29^th
• New York City – June 24-25
• Washington, DC – June 10

Help is needed in the following areas:

• Providing information about Atlantic Stampede 2006 happening September 8-10
• Providing general information about Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association
• Sign up of new members
• Sing up of riders for our manual bucking bull, Brutus
• Providing one-on-one instructions for riders of our manual bucking bull, Brutus
• Operators for Brutus, both headers and heelers (front and back heave hoers)
• Persons to take pictures of riders on Brutus
• Parade marchers (NYC and DC only)
• Persons to haul items to and from Prides
• Persons to help with set up and tear down of Brutus (Assemble floor mat, legs and base and bull cavity)

All volunteers would be scheduled for allotted times through the day providing you with some free time to take part in the other fun events and vendors at all pride locations.

Anyone who would like to volunteer or who would like more information may contact Patrick Hunter at 202-352-2356 or

Rodeo Training Opportunity

Rodeo School Update

ASGRA Officials have made numerous attempts to solidify a contract with Classic Rodeo Productions regarding our Spring Rodeo School. Unfortunately, we were unable to do so and will not be having a Spring Rough Stock School.

On a much brighter note, ASGRA members Louis Varnado and Andy Pittman have graciously offered their farm for several clinics.

May 20, 2006 (Saturday) Speed Horse Clinic  10:00am to 3:00 with a one hour
lunch break (lunch and bottled water will be provided) Riders mush have their
own horse, negative coggins required, contact Louis or Andy for further
information.  Advance registration is requested by May 6, 2006. Professional trainer will be on site for instruction.

May 21, 2006 (Sunday) Rain Date for Speed Clinic.

July 23, 2006 1st calf roping on foot using woody (ASGRA’s calf on wheels)
2pm - 4 pm (soda and bottled water provided)

August 13, 2006 2nd calf roping on foot using woody 2pm - 4pm (soda and
bottled water provided)

Won’t you please consider these awesome clinics and practices?!  To Register, contact Andy & Louis at 301-579-6005.  The farm is located at 13279 Croom Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.

Get Ready for More Fun Than You Can Handle!!!

Get Ready for More Fun Than You Can Handle!!!

Take a trip to New York City this Memorial Day Weekend for the New York City Hoedown, sponsored by Big Apple Ranch, Friday May 26 - Sunday May 28 at the midtown Roosevelt Hotel. 

Three nights of country-western dancing, three days of workshops with the east coast's best instructors, a competition, exhibitions, a dance swap, after-hours parties, brunch, and the Annual Convention of the International Association of Gay and Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs. All this is included in the low registration price of just $95, available through May 12.  After that the price is $105 for the weekend.

All proceeds benefit the NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project.  Big Apple Ranch's last hoedown, in February 2003, raised $25,000 for the beneficiary.  Over 600 people attended from all over the country and Canada.  This time will be even bigger.  Don't miss it.

Check out www.nychoedown.org for information about the events and hotel.

Sunshine Stampede 2006

Florida Gay Rodeo Association held its very first IGRA rodeo April 7-9, 2006 at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds, in Davie, Florida.  By all accounts it was an overwhelming success with an exceptional arena, huge audience and extensive local and national media coverage.  Team ASGRA was a definite presence both within the arena and outside it.  Our rodeo competitors made a fine showing:  

Saturday

Jennifer Vrana took 1st place in Chute Dogging, 2nd place in Calf Roping on Foot, 1st place in Steer Deco and 4th place in Wild Drag Race.  Jackie Thompson took 3rd place in Chute Dogging and April C placed 6th in Wild Drag Race.

Oscar Mocelo placed 1st in Bull Riding and was the buckle winner in that event.  Karl Klingener took 1st place in Chute Dogging, 4th place in Barrel Racing, 6th place in Pole Bending and 6th place in Goat Dressing.  Carvie Gillikin placed 5th in Pole Bending, 2nd place in Flag Race and 6th place in Goat Dressing.

Sunday

Jennifer Vrana placed 4th in Calf Roping on Foot, 3rd in Steer Deco (and was a buckle winner in that event) and 4th in Wild Drag.  Jackie Thompson placed 1st in Chute Dogging and was the buckle winner in that event.  April C took 1st place in both Calf Roping on Foot and Wild Drag.  Darla H placed 7th in Wild Drag.

Oscar Mocelo placed 1st in Steer Riding.  Karl Klingener took 7th place in Chute Dogging (making him the buckle winner in that event), 5th place in Barrel Racing, 7th place in Steer Deco and 5th place in Goat Dressing.  Carvie Gillikin placed 5th in Pole Bending, 7th in Steer Deco and 5th in Goat Dressing.  Lance Haverly took 6th place in Wild Drag Race, while Mitch Horn took 7th place in Wild Drag. 

Jennifer Vrana finished up as All Around Cowgirl, only the 2nd time in IGRA that it has been done without competing in horse events.  Karl Klingener was 2nd runner up All Around Cowboy and Carvie Gillikin  was 4th runner up All Around Cowboy.  Team ASGRA finished in  3rd place in points with 1,165.  Well done, folks!!

Sunshine Stampede 2006: A Competitor’s Eye View

I competed in Florida's first gay rodeo last month.  It was a nicely run rodeo and who isn't going to think Florida is lovely when you can leave DC in the afternoon and be swimming under palm trees before dinner?

The Calf Roping on Foot Competition was something that had concerned me as I hadn't opened my roping bag since DC's rodeo last year.  For this rodeo, I should have just kept my money as it was Calves 2; Jackie 0.   I guess I was too concerned with Chute Dogging.

Chute Dogging, for the newbies, is when you start out in the bucking chute with a 400-500 lb. steer.  You must bring it out past a 10 foot line and then you wrestle it (or "dog" it) to the ground.  Fastest time wins for the day and the lowest combined time over both days of competition wins the buckle. 

I had retired from Chute Dogging in September 2004.  Earlier that year, I had an ornery steer get his horn under my vest, split it up the side and impale itself
in my left breast, without breaking the skin.  Sounds a lot more painful than it really was.  Yet every time after that incident, I was so concerned about that happening again that I was never in the moment and doing what I had to do.  So I decided it was best to retire.

Ok, retirement only lasted a year.  I was in Florida for the birth of my first nephew and I was going to laze around so I decided to try Chute Dogging again.  I'd be able to rest up if something happened, so why not?

Saturday's competition was different as the order of events had been changed and Chute Dogging was in the afternoon.  Usually it's the second event of the day.   My steer was not happy as it kicked me while I was getting into the chute and it was tall, almost up to my sternum (which is exactly where it landed).

I remember getting the good-ahead whistle to dog the steer and thinking, "I don't remember what to do!"  So I did what came naturally, twisted and fell.  The steer fell too, right on my chest with its horn under my left arm and I finally had to strong arm it over for my time.  I thought I had barely made it within the time limit, but I was wrong and placed third.

After a soak in the hot tub and a bit of rest, I was ready for the next day.  Before getting in the chute, I got some great advice from a bulldogger that worked the arena.  This time I had a steer that was not only bigger than the one from Saturday, but was even more feisty and strong.  From the moment I was in the chute with it, it tried to push me around.  Finally I had to just shove him backwards to let him know who was boss (and to hopefully tire him out). 

I don't remember much of that dog (and yes, I did dog); I just remember that it was a lot better than Saturday's dog, my other arm hurt, and for the first
time EVER, I had dogged on BOTH days!  Adding to that feat, I found out I got 1st place and managed to WIN the buckle!  That was a magical moment to be sure.  Later that afternoon as we were leaving, I grabbed the banner for the Chute Doggin buckle and its sponsor.  It's now over my bed to remind me that I can do just about anything I set my mind to.

Another first for me was at the awards ceremony.  For the first time, my family was there to see me get my awards and that capped the weekend for me! 

If you'd like to see what the rodeo was like, take a look at the slideshow. 

·          Jackie T., proud winner of her 6th buckle