  | Volume XI, Issue #7 December 2001 January 2002 |
A Word from the Vice-President
Greetings folks! Time sure flies along… can you believe that the holiday season for 2001 is already upon us? I hope you had a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving. I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome our recently-elected President Gaither Pennington to his new role within the organization, along with all of our new officers: Mike Lentz (Treasurer), Mike Sanders (Membership Chair), Bruce Forchheimer (Fundraising & Sponsorships Chair) and Matt Komornik, better known as Miss Patty Como (Rodeo Events & Training Chair). They join me, Les Boggs (IGRA Trustee) and Patrick Hunter (CAB Rep) as your 2002 BOD of Directors and Committee Chairs. We still have several gaps - notably for the positions of Secretary, PR Chair and Social & Entertainment Chair, so please contact Gaither or any other Board member if you have an interest in any of those positions or can assist with those activities. Thanks to Elections Chair Rob Larew and his team for running a very smooth and efficient election for ASGRA again this year. Kudos also go to our outgoing S&E Chair Jim Morgan and his committee for holding a fun and festive Awards Ceremony on October 28 at Sheridan's. It was a very busy afternoon, what with the General Elections and the Membership Meeting going on as well, but everything went smoothly and it was an enjoyable event for everyone who attended. Congratulations to our ASGRA members who attended and/or competed at the 2001 IGRA Finals Rodeo in Palm Springs, CA October 19-22. You all represented us well! In closing, I'd like to thank all our members and supporters for a terrific year and I wish everyone a joyous and safe holiday season! See you at the General Membership meeting on January 27, 2002! Lonni La Bel, Vice-President
It is better to light one candle than to stand and curse the darkness. 
Greetings From Your Membership Chair!Howdy all, My name is Mike Sanders and I am your new Membership Chair. I first want to thank everyone for your vote of confidence in me and my ability to handle this position. Let me tell you a short story. Recently, I was asked who I planned to have working with me on my committee. I turned the question back and said, "How did you become involved with ASGRA?" The answer was that a friend told them about it and they decided to check it out for themselves. Well, that's how I became involved with ASGRA, and I would guess that's how many of you became involved as well, by word of mouth. Our association rules require that I have an actual committee, but it's by word of mouth that this association will grow in numbers, involvement and new ideas. So, in essence, every person who has paid his or her membership dues and is a member of ASGRA is on the membership committee. We have had some difficulty during the course of this past year in keeping up with the needs of the membership. My first goal is to clean up the records so we have an accurate record of our membership. Many of you have ordered "Red Shirts", name badges and/or ladders and have not gotten them. Some of you are still waiting for your new membership cards. I need a little time to sort through the records to see who we owe what and place the appropriate orders. Once I have had a chance to do that, I will contact all of you that are owed something, either by email or phone, if no email has been provided. If for some reason you do not hear from me within the next month, please feel free to contact me at the number or email address listed below, to find out the status of your merchandise. As I am new to this position I am asking for a little patience while I learn all that this position entails. I am not perfect and as I'm sure is the case with all of us, ASGRA is not the only thing in my life. However, I will do my best to make sure everything is handled in a timely manner. If you have any questions that I may be able to help you with, feel free to contact me. I am available to you and here for your membership issues. If I don't have the answer, I will find one. And if you are interested in helping out as a member of my committee, please contact me.
Respectfully, Mike Sanders 703-354-3185 News 'Round the Corral "Happy Trails Are Here Again!" 
Remember, ASGRA trail rides are the first Sunday of the month at 11:00am!Weather permitting, we will be holding a trail ride at Piscataway Ranch in Clinton, MD at 11:00 am on the following days: January 6th: Bundle up for a ride through the winter woodlands! February 3rd: Get a jump start on Valentine's Day and enjoy a romantic ride with someone special (or who you'd like to become special!). For further information, contact Glenn ASGRA General Membership Meeting Schedule 2002 January 27 
February 24March 24 April 14 May 19 June 23 July 21 August 18 September 15 October 27 November 17 All Meetings are scheduled for Sunday afternoons. Exact times and locations TBD. Stay tuned!
DID YOU KNOW? 
You can receive a discount every time you rent a car from AVIS, just because you're an ASGRA member! When making your reservations, mention ASGRA's AVIS discount code T238399. Not only will you receive a discount, but ASGRA will also get a rebate from AVIS once a year as a thank you for having our members rent through AVIS.
Wanted!: Posters
IGRA Rodeo Season 2002 Highlights
Well another year has come and gone and we wait for the arrival of 2K2. Here are a few little tidbits of note regarding the 2002 rodeo year. AGRA's Road Runner Regional Rodeo has a new venue, Rawhide Wild West Town. From what I am told it is a real old time Wild West Town and definitely something worth checking out. Visit www.agra-phx.com for info and links to the Rawhide site. TGRA is hosting TWO Rodeos this year! They kicked it off in November with the TGRA rodeo in Dallas… and March 29-31 will find Ft. Worth rocking with Cowtown Rodeo 2002. Bighorn rodeo in Las Vegas is back this year on a new date!! NGRA hosts this popular rodeo the weekend of April 5-7, 2002. It is still taking place at Horseman's Park in Las Vegas. Check out www.bighornrodeo.com for more info. The flash intro and poster on the "rodeo info" page are worth it alone. LA Rodeo 2002 is hosting what it has billed as a "Blast from the Past" as they move back to the LA Equestrian Center for their rodeo April 19-21! Check out www.larodeo.com for more info on the first of 3 GSGRA rodeos for the 2002 rodeo year. IGRA Convention is being hosted by one of our closer neighboring associations this year. PONY is hosting the event in Cleveland, Ohio on July 25-28 and it promises to be full of fun and surprises. Even if you're not a delegate - this one's close enough to drive to and join the parties! Last but not least, especially in the minds of our rodeo competitors, IGRA Finals Rodeo 2002 will be taking place in Wild Wichita, KS October 11-13. Remember - ASGRA doesn't hibernate in the winter! The trail rides are still ongoing every first Sunday of the month at Piscataway Stables, Clinton, MD and there is always ASGRA night every second Friday of the month at the Stagecoach in Baltimore, MD. So if you're looking for something to do over the winter months come warm up to this event. And as always look for our Hoedown event, Dance on Delaware, the ASGRA Dance Tent at Pride and of course, Atlantic Stampede 2002. ASGRA is your organization. If you have ideas for an event or activity contact us. Patrick Hunter  ASGRA Calendar of Events
December 2001
January 2002
Committee Meeting Schedules at a Glance: Social & Entertainment 
Fundraising & SponsorshipMembership Public Relations Rodeo Events & Training Meeting times and locations TBD Check the ASGRA website (www.asgra.org) for schedules.
Newsletter  ASGRA Board of Directors and Committee Chairs President Gaither Pennington 133 Tull Place Alexandria, VA 22304 VP/Newsletter Editor Lonni La Bel 2155 Mohegan Drive Falls Church, VA 22043-2512 (703) 847-9533 Secretary TBD; Treasurer Michael Lentz 4602 Coachway Drive North Bethesda, MD 20852 Membership Michael Sanders 7401 Eastmoreland Rd. #228 Annandale, VA 22003 Fundraising & Sponsorship Bruce Forchheimer 1535 9th St NW Washington, DC 20001-3207 Public Relations TBD; Rodeo Events & Training Matt Komornik 826 D Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 Social & Entertainment TBD;
ASGRA Royalty 2002 & Committee Chairs
Happy Holidays |
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| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | [an error occurred while processing this directive] | P.O. Box 22042 Alexandria, VA 22304-9204 (202) 547-9590 |
Keep an eye on the web page and the newsletter for a list of General Membership meetings.
Do you have any good condition, frame-able posters from past ASGRA, IGRA or affiliated rodeos? I need to spruce up my depressing beige-painted modern office and am willing to buy if you're willing to sell. All reasonable offers considered.
Howdy there Cowboys and Cowgirls!