Our first official year to represent our state at The Reno National Gay Rodeo held many moments of great Pride and Enthusiasm. The Mr., Ms., Miss Reno National Gay Rodeo Competition was filled with moments of tension and peaks of hilarity - all ending in disappointment that our candidates were not given more attention for their tremendous individual efforts! A year of reflection and the continued efforts of our 3 candidates to always represent CGRA proudly- points out that our efforts were not in vain, but builders of strength and character.
To Reno - Thank you for the opportunity to participate and wishing you even more success with 1983. For all of CGRA,our thanks to Scotty, Robbie and Bob for a year of memories and Pride!! We know you will continue to represent us to the best of your ability until your successors take your place!!
With extreme pride, we-the membership and Board of the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association welcome you to Colorado and the 1st Annual Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo (a Iii' bitty ole piss-ant country rodeo). We are very happy that you have 'chosen to be a part of Denver's city-wide party, and we hope that everyone enjoys themselves this weekend.
We feel that Denver has a feeling all its own. It's in the air, in the land, and in the people, and we want you to share it with us. There is no way to describe it, but it has something to do with breaking away from the ordinary. It will enchant you with its uninhibited friendliness. It will dazzle you with the city's varied and colorful night-life, and it will captivate you with its unique kind of western spirit.
We hope you'll experience it all in Denver, and make the Rodeo an annual event.
The unofficial theme of the Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo is one of pride, and we encourage you to join us in projecting this theme; because by doing so, is to encourage individual growth, responsibility and self-pride.
So, enjoy yourselves this weekend and we look forward to seeing you back again next year for our 2nd Annual Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo.
From all of us of CGRA, thanks!
Where does one begin when so many are involved? Thank you to the first Cowboy who rode in a rodeo- To Phil Ragsdale for conceiving Reno National Gay Rodeo - To C.G.R.A. members and helpers for every second of their time and love that they gave to bring us this far - To the Denver Tavern Guild for their complete support - The Denver Gay Community and Businesses for the pride, enthusiasm and involvement - The hundreds of Bars and Community Support Groups all across the United States and Canada for putting up our posters and supporting our efforts - To Walter and Terry in Houston and all their friends in the great State of Texas who have lent their hearts, energy and encouragement - To all of you - contestants, dancers, fans, advisors, and hundreds of workers - Thank you for the opportunity to brush shoulders and share in this weekend of Gay Pride.
Wayne Jakino
Pres. C.G.R.A.
All planning of a good rodeo is handled by "The Committee". RMRR Committee this year is the CGRA Board of Directors. (Back Row): Peter Fox, Mobility-Logistic Chairman; Chuck Betts, Secretary (Recording); Wayne Jakino, President; jim Morgan, Secretary (Corresponding); Rich Rezac, Public Relations/Fund Raising Chairman. (Front Row): Lee Williams, Vice President; Betty Weiland, Treasurer; Ron Jesser, Rodeo Events Chairman; Craig McCarthy, Dance and Entertainment Chairman.
After raising funds last year for an outside charity (re: Reno National Gay Rodeo and Muscular Dystrophy) the Board and Members of the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association decided it was time we looked at a way to channel funds, raised by us, back into our community. This topic was discussed by the Board and was then brought to the floor for discussion at a General Membership Meeting. It was decided that we were capable (and certainly had the enthusiasm) of hosting a regional rodeo. Thus, a vote was taken and, as the result of a majority vote, the idea of the first annual ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL RODEO was born.
Again, our primary concern was to establish a way of raising funds for charity and at the same time establishing a way to direct those funds back into the community. This became an issue last year after Colorado raised over $5,000.00 and Texas raised over $36,000.00 for the National Rodeo in Reno. This money (as well as all other money raised by other states, organizations, etc.) was donated to Muscular Dystrophy. We, as an association, feel MD is a very worthwhile charity. However, we feel that particular charity is already well funded. And, we feel that each gay community has its own needs, which often times are overlooked. So, it was decided that funds raised by Grand Marshall candidates would go to the charity of the candidates' choice. Our only requirement is that the charity be a registered tax deductible charity (and this will be verified by a panel in charge of that portion of the Grand Marshall competition).
C.G.R.A. has chosen the National Gay Health Education Foundation, Inc. (NGHEF) as the recipient of the funds raised by Grand Marshall entry fees. Since we are hosting a regional rodeo rather than a community rodeo, we felt it important that these funds be available to all gay people. And, we feel that the lack of education does, indeed, contribute to the causes and effects of the health problems now plaguing gay communities everywhere. We have met with a representative of NGHEF and they have formulated plans to put these funds to work immediately. A scholarship fund will be established to assist those who would like to attend the NGHEF Fifth National Convention (to be held here in Denver) but are financially unable.
Our second concern was that of gender identity in our association and community. We have worked hard to make our association one for gay people-- not men or women. We feel men and women are equally capable of whatever they chose to do. It is for this reason that we have chosen not to separate, by gender, (i.e. Ms., Miss, Mr.) candidates for Grand Marshall. The judging will be based on the individual, not gender, and will be very strictly Western Dress, Personality, Horsemanship, and Funds Raised for Charity. So, may the best person win!!!
We, the Board and Members of C.G.R.A., welcome you here to the Denver area and to the first annual ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL RODEO! We hope you will give serious consideration to our purposes stated herein and will continue to lend your support to us and to the rodeo. Have a wonderful time and we hope to see you here again next year for R.M.R.R.
I never realized the tremendous amount of work involved in putting together a program like this one! We present it with great Pride and hope you enjoy!! Special thanks to Karen Abbott of CAMELOT COMPOSITION for hours of typesetting - Richard Mogensen of GUM BALL GRAPHICS and Dana Holloway and Liz McNutt from AVANT GARDE for the layout, design and printing. Love you all - Thanks for a great job.
Wayne Jakino
CGRA - President
