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VHC NEWSLETTER SPRING 2003 |
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VHC NEWSLETTER SPRING 2003 |
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Hello everyone! In the past 2 years I have been coordinating and maintaining our membership database, I have been in charge of mailing “welcome packets” and have emailed “greetings from VHC”. Having dealt with many personalities at other horse clubs, and after being Secretary and Vice President of VHC, I feel I am ready for this new role. There are key people who have helped VHC with paying back debt, organizing a very successful (and fun) annual trail ride, and getting newsletters in the mail. I recognize this and I am going to do my best to make each committee member feel appreciated. In anticipation of my election as President, I have been creating procedure manuals to help committee chair-people, officers, and directors with their responsibilities. In order to complete these manuals, I will need to attend at least one meeting for each committee to document the procedures. These manuals will record what works and what does not worked in order to make transitions from year to year more successful. For 2003, I would like to see VHC continue with what has been successful in the last 3 years and improve what is weak. Look for a new Legislative Committee, more fund raising efforts, Membership Committee pushing Farm/Club memberships, and an enlarge the Chart of Contacts. I will appoint a Parliamentarian, reevaluate all Directors and rely heavily on the Director at Large and Vice President to help coordinate meetings. In order to keep VHC informed of what is happening throughout Vermont, participation from regional directors at Board meetings will be imperative. Thank you for this opportunity to serve you as President for the 2003 year. Sincerely, Terry Rose, President
Vermont
Horse Person of the Year Morris Lasell The VHC is very pleased to award a 2003 Horse Person of the Year Award. This award has been presented to many outstanding horse people over the years. During the past few, rebuilding years, the council was unable to keep it up. But it’s back now, and Morris Lasell is the very deserving 2003 recipient. Here is some of what I know about
Morris…………... Morris is a past member of the Green Mountain Draft Horse Association. A current member of the Mid-state Riding Club, the New England Walking Horse Association, the Cross State Trail Riders Association, and the Dog River Club for 12 years. He has served has a director for Dog River and he is a director with the VT Farm Show Association. Morris has been a member of the Vermont Horse Council since 1977, that’s 26 years! He has served 3 terms as president, 1 term as director at large and he currently the vice president. Morris has served on numerous committees over the years; he is currently on the NEKET, Annual Trail Ride, and the By-laws committees. Morris has headed up the VHC booth at the VT Farm show for 7 years. He is a raffle ticket seller extraordinaire! Morris can work a crowd like nobody else and I don’t dare guess how much money he has raised for the VHC scholarships. Scholarships are one way Morris supports young people and shares the love of horses with them. He has introduced many youngsters from his local area and their parents too, to the world of horses. He has hosted 10 consecutive St. Jude Trail rides raising thousands of dollars for the children’s hospital in Memphis Tennessee. Morris, and his wife Brenda, also breed and train horses on their Williamstown farm. But, by far, we all know his passion is out on the trails! He and Brenda love to ride them, build them, and most importantly, share them. I don’t know any couple who rides more. Morris has successfully worked with the state and private land owners to develop trails around the state. It’s clear to see that people
like Morris Lasell will help keep the horse industry going strong in Vermont.
Membership
Report
this compares to 61 members on
3/28/02
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******************************************************************************************* Welcome new members:
Also, Thank you everyone who renewed
their dues for 2003!
Respectfully Submitted, 2003 Vermont Equine Industry Summit IV & Election of Officers The Vermont Equine Industry Summit IV was held at the UVM campus on March 29, 2003. Over one hundred equine enthusiasts attended. The attendees heard the most recent information on West Nile Virus, with Dr. Todd Johnson, Federal Veterinarian, as well as an afternoon session on Colic: At the Stable (Dr. Steve Levine) and On the Table (Dr. Phil van Harreveld). Dr. Levine addressed the assessment and treatment of colic at the barn (medical), while “Dr. Phil” explained evaluation and surgical procedures when the horse was not responding to medical options and needed surgery. One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the “Vermont Horses Count” Equine Survey results. Dr. Betsy Greene and two UVM undergraduate students presented a summary of results from the year and a half long project. Current Vermont Horse numbers in the state are estimated at 35,000, with an average value of over $5,000 per head. Using average feed intake values for horses, it was calculated that Vermont horses are “spending” up to $28 million dollars each year in feed and hay alone. The final “Vermont Horses Count” summary report will be out in print in early summer. Following the Summit was the VHC Annual
Meeting where the following officers were elected:
To contact any of the officers click HERE to see their information This year the VHC scholarship committee will be awarding scholarships for financial need to Vermont Youth and 4H’ers interested in attending a horse camp or clinic in the state. Contact Lynn Dow at 802-728-9007 or vthorseland@yahoo.com or, Brenda Lasell at 802-433-1344 LilBelgian@msn.com if you would like an application. The Cliff Murray & Floyd Fuller Scholarship will be listed in the VSAC, Vermont Student Assistance, scholarships brochure this next year. The VHC scholarship committee will continue to select the winner each year but the program will be promoted and administered by VSAC. This scholarship is for a college bound student enrolled in any animal science program. For the past few years there have been no applicants. The VSAC promotion should greatly increase exposure and interest in this memorial scholarship. This committee could use another volunteer to help with the awarding of youth scholarships and the selection of the college recipient. Please contact Lynn or Brenda if you would like to join the committee.
It is my pleasure to report on our new relationship and membership in the AHC. AHC membership entitles VHC to designate four officials to be included in AHC’s mailing list to receive AHC News and AHC tax bulletins as well as press releases, info, updates and action alerts as warranted by events affecting VHC. These names can be changed during the year at anytime. Lynn Dow and Lisa Moreno have agreed to be on this list so far. Please let me know if you have an interest in receiving this information. I plan on keeping everyone up-to-date on any and all AHC news. AHC also has a website that contains a lot of information about upcoming legislation, horse health updates, West Nile Virus updates...and much more check it out!!. www.horsecouncil.org. I emailed AHC and asked how VHC could become more involved . I was told the best way is to be involved in the very active advisory committee which is made up of State Horse Council representatives. I contacted the chairman and he suggested I look at their website. Again, this site has links to all of the State Horse Councils, the address is www.statehorsecouncils.org VHC is on this site with a link to our website. The AHC has a convention every April in Washington, DC, which unfortunately was canceled this year due to safety issues. Hopefully, VHC can be represented at next years convention!!!. The website also has sample letters to send to our congressman and senators about legislation that we feel deserves their support. Please email me at smsrumor@hotmail.com anytime if you have any questions, I look forward to taking advantage of all the information and contacts that I can. Submitted, respectfully Susan Mitchell Vermont Farm Bureau – Purpose and Benefits The Vermont Farm Bureau is an independent, non-governmental organization with over 5,000 members which represents the farming community in many ways. Members come together to analyze their problems and formulate action to achieve advancement in educational, economic, and social aspects of life, thereby promoting the national well-being. The Vermont Farm Bureau is organized by counties and is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Farm Bureau is the voice of agricultural producers at all levels. So – how does this relate to equine enthusiasts? Vermont Farm Bureau was responsible for helping to obtain the equine liability legislation, as well as improvements to animal cruelty and landowner liability laws. How does the organization benefit us if we join? Direct benefits of membership (the annual fee varies by county) include access to the Farm Family Insurance Co. which may save the horse farm owner a substantial amount on premiums. Auto, home, farm, and equine mortality are some of the coverages offered. The Safemark group purchase program offers savings on truck, tractor, and passenger car tires and batteries as well as grease, oil, baler twine, and more. Discounts on long distance telephone calls, Choice Hotels, Hertz rentals, mail order pharmacy, AmerLink log home packages, and $500 off of Dodge truck, van, and car purchases are some more benefits of membership. Vermont Farm Bureau lobbyists are currently working on a bill (H 467) to change Vermont statutes to allow equine operators to purchase agricultural machinery without paying the sales tax. This bill has a good chance of passing this session. Contact your legislator to encourage passage of this valuable piece of legislation. For more information please contact Bev McMullin
at 223-6859 or e-mail RLM@together.net.
Northeast Kingdom Equestrian Trails becoming a reality. As one of the last steps to becoming a Corridor manager, Members of Vermont Horse Council’s NEKET Committee met with community members on March 24th, at Lyndon State College to review the corridor management proposal. Members from the community had some questions but were generally supportive of the plan and commended VHC for their hard work over the past two years. As corridor manager VHC would be responsible for the use and maintenance of the trails. The project would include a three-phase plan to develop trails. Phase one, to be opened this year will consist of approximately 48 miles of trail on existing roads and logging trails. There are two overnight primitive camping/parking areas planned. The NEKET Committee is tentatively planning a work weekend on the trail system on May 31st - June 1st, as well as June 7th & 8th. Their immediate goal will be to mark trails and construct hitching posts and signage around overnight parking areas. If anyone is interested in participating, call Steve Simpson at 802-626-4413. For more information on obtaining a trail pass and VHC membership, once the trail system is open, contact David Blow at 802-655-0837. What’s the part of any parade? Why the horses of course! VHC should have an organized parade group to represent our organization when the opportunity arises. All over Vermont, summer, spring, fall and winter parades are entertaining crowds and wowing little children. If you are interested in being part of a VHC parade group contact Lynn Dow at vthorseland@yahoo.com. We will try to get organized this summer and hopefully enter several parades in 2003.
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