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President's
Letter Dear Members,
Happy
New Year!
Isn’t it exciting to start a new year? VHC has big dreams for
the future. You can’t help but get wrapped up in the spirit. The feeling
of a clean slate and new beginning is always welcome. We can make a resolution
to begin each day with a clean slate. We can put the past behind us and start
over. There is nothing stopping us except old habits. So, as friends who share
a love for horses, let’s make it our New Year’s resolution to start
over, look ahead with excitement, and start over each day.
With that in mind,
I’d like to remind you of some happenings that are occurring this month.
Our Directors Meeting is January 16th at the South Burlington Middle School. Grant
Mitchell will speak about his involvement with horses and the mounted security
outfit he has. Thank you, David Blow, for organizing this. Also, the Farm Show
is the 25th, 26th, and 27th. Call Morris Lasell if you can help with the booth
(433-1344). Thank you, Morris, for once-again, taking this project on.
Please
think of a horse people in your life. Someone who you would like acknowledged
for hard work and dedication to the horse industry. Nominate that person for Horse
Person Of The Year. Also, think within the organization. This year we are looking
for new leaders. Election of Officers will be at the Annual meeting in March.
All suggestions welcome. Happy Trails
Sincerely,
Terry Rose, President Return
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Directors Meeting
January 16
1:00 P.M.
South Burlington Middle School
Guest Speaker: Grant Mitchell The
Middle School is on Dorset street in Burlington. Mapquest says 14E. take an immediate
right (off the interstate) onto Dorset Street. The same road that Barnes and Noble
is on.
It’s one mile from Barnes & Noble...On the left-hand side... Return
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|
Cowboy
Days,
Stories of the New Mexico Range
by Stephen Zimmer | Illustrated
by Justin Wells, | Zon International
Publishing Company, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2003,
144 pages, paperback, $11.95 |
Cowboy
Days is a delightful collection of stories about the life of cowpunchers and their
experiences living on the range. Being only 144 pages and fourteen stories with
easy reading type size, it is a worthy choice to fit into those times between
chores or for an evening’s read before the fire.
Cowboy Days will appeal
to all the would-be cowboys and Western history buffs. The stories give the reader
a sense of what everyday life on a ranch is like. The happy times and the hard
times. The lure of the West, as well as some of the customs and traditions, comes
through. Readers that have spent some time in the saddle negotiating trails and
working from horseback may easily imagine themselves part of a story’s happening.
Reviewed by Lynne A. Miller
Return
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The 5th Annual Tunbridge Ride
What
a great weekend! The committee
worked hard, trying to make all the changes suggested in last year’s survey.
This resulted in some real nice comments from many riders all weekend.
Thank
you Anne Groman for helping find new trails for Saturday’s ride. Everyone
had plenty of room finding trees and shade for their horses at lunch time. There
were a lot of ponds for watering horses on the trail as well. The weather was
good. And it didn’t end there! After returning to the fair grounds, we had
a nice hot BBQ dinner to look forward to. Plus some super door prizes. Most of
the committee people bought the prizes and donated them. I think they out-did
themselves. They were so awesome, we wished our names were in the hat with everyone
else’s. Congratulations Betty Mazza our lucky winner of the 50/50 raffle.
Sunday’s
trails were marked by Brenda and Morris Lasell as well as myself 2 or 3 times,
trying to find some new trials. Sunday’s ride had some beautiful views, the
color was just starting to turn. They were good, easy going trails with some hills.
I hope you all got a chance to sign the guest book at the top of Kibbling Hill.
This year we had 98 riders. We were hoping for a larger profit margin, but the
cost of the catering has more than doubled from years past. We heard from some
of the riders and their ideas on cutting back on the expenses next year. Cut back
on the catering? Maybe cater Saturday night’s BBQ dinner only? Then each
person brings their own food for the remaining meals. Or, don’t have it catered
at all? That would mean we all fend for ourselves by bringing our own food for
the whole weekend. But if we do this, we should get together and share a pasta
dish Saturday night. Bring your own chair and meet in the pulling ring that’s
located in middle of the track at the north end? In doing this, it would cut the
cost of the caterer way down and we could also cut the entry fee for the whole
weekend.
So, again this year we need additional comments or any new ideas
to help out. Please E-mail me and be heard for next year’s weekend ride.
Karen Blow, Kaybee10@charter.net,
address the subject as Tunbridge ride survey so I don’t delete it. This survey
will determine the cost and what we try for next year, so pass the word on. This
is everyone’s chance to be heard. We are looking for your input.
Committee
members:
Robyn Barabe, Jim & Annette Deberville, Tim & Clara Davis,
Patricia Branon, Anne Groman, Morris Lasell, Solange Rea and Roger Morin. Thank
you for all your help. And for donating some super door prizes.
- Karen Blow Return
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NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE
Members
are Lynn Dow, Terry Rose and Virginia Lancaster NEWSLETTERS
consist of “Letter from the President”, reports from each committee,
an article of interest, membership form, and schedule of events DATES
AND DEADLINES: Newsletter Deadline to Receive
Issue Reports January January 1-10
April April 1-10
July July 1-10
October October 1-10 HOW
TO SUBMIT ITEMS Each Committee is responsible
for submitting their report to Virginia Lancaster on or before the deadline date.
The secretary/chairperson from each committee should submit it via email to Virginia
Lancaster at - Virginia@vthorse.com NEWSFLASHES
are upbeat, interim mailings with schedule of events, WARNINGS, holiday cheer
and date of next meeting. Lynn Dow has been responsible for these being mailed
out for years 2001, 2002 and 2003. Return
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ECONOMIC IMPACT
OF U.S. HORSE INDUSTRY Dear Horse
Owner;
We are hoping you can take a few minutes out of your schedule to participate
in a survey that will have a significant impact on the Horse Industry.
The
American Horse Council Foundation recently commissioned Deloitte Consulting LLP
to update and enhance its Economic Impact of the U.S. Horse Industry Study, conducted
in 1996. The study has proven a valuable resource in explaining the economic impact
of our industry on the nation and individual states to Federal, State and local
officials, the media as well as the general public. This study represents one
of our most effective tools to create a deeper understanding of our diverse industry
and its participants to the public and policymakers whose decisions impact us
most.
Your feedback will be invaluable in helping the Foundation provide an
accurate reflection of the significant size of the horse industry and the economic
impact that it generates. A few minutes spent answering this survey could ultimately
result in tax savings, better land use, funding for emergency relief and equine
research and other benefits to you and all of the individuals and businesses involved
with the industry.
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS PROJECT.
Deloitte Consulting LLP is overseeing the survey process. Your anonymity
will be preserved and all responses will be kept confidential, for use only in
the context of this informational survey.
Please take a few minutes to complete
the online questionnaire by following the hyperlink: http://surveys2.rresults.com/190/0001_4/index_x.cfm?s=70113MBT1&iid=2209
(As of Jan. 25 this link did not work, please call the phone
number below to receive a copy in the mail - VHC webmaster)
Please
answer each question to the best of your knowledge. The response to the survey
is expected by the 19th of November. If you have any questions regarding this
survey, or would like to request a hard copy of the survey, please call the Deloitte
Consulting support line at 1-866-840-5511. Your time and cooperation is appreciated
and will help us to accurately assess and promote the attributes of the United
States horse industry and its affiliates.
Sincerely,
James J. Hickey,
President Return
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FARM
SHOW ITEMS VT YOUNG AGRICULTURE AMBASSADOR I
have an application form for the 2005 Vermont Young Agriculture Ambassador contest.
If you have anyone that you would like to nominate, let me know. The judging is
Wed. Jan 26 at the Vermont Farm Show. FARM
SHOW RAFFLE Spread the word! Morris needs
gift certificates from businesses. We will raffle them off at the Farm Show. Last
year we had a huge list. Thank you in advance for getting them to Morris. Call
433-1344 if you have questions. - Terry Rose Return
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MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
REPORT
January 7, 2005 | *190
members, this compares to 197 @ 10/5/04
This compares to 152 @ December 31,
2003*
Including: | 7
Lifetime
8 NEKET Sponsors (down from 17)
12 Business
58 Family (down
from 60) | 11
Farm/Club (down from 12)
83 Individual (up from 79)
11 Junior (up from
10) | Breakdown
by County
Addison = 15
Bennington = 3
Caledonia = 8
Chittenden
= 23 (down from 25)
Essex = 2
Franklin = 13
Grand isle = 2 (down from
3)
Lamoille = 9 (down from 10)
Orange = 28
Orleans = 8 (down from
10)
Rutland = 12
Washington = 41
Windham = 1
Windsor = 16
Out of State = 9 (down from 10) | Welcome
New Members: Paige Schneider from Hardwick
and
Barbara Goulette from Plainfield | Thanks
to the rest of our members for renewing their dues!
From all of us on the Membership
Committee,
Happy New Year!
Terry Rose, Susan Mitchell, Cindy Cross Greenia,
Beverly McMullin
Return
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| Vermont
Equine Liability Statute Signs The
Vermont Horse Council has a supply of signs available for sale. We will have them
at the VT Equine Summit IV and at the UVM horse fair, both in March. If you would
like to reserve one for your property please contact Lynn Dow. email:
vthorseland@yahoo.com | |
