Tis the season for holiday cheer
And fast approaching - the end of the year.
While cowboys and cowgirls gallop about
Purchasing presents to give with a shout
Visiting family and friends near and far
And traveling by rail, air, horse or car
For Ramadan, Hanukkah, Christmas or Solstice
Whatever your own personal belief is
May your journey be safe and your gatherings fun
And may you return home safely, everyone Best wishes to the whole ASGRA
Family From the Board, the Newsletter Staff and me!

Lonni La Bel, Newsletter Editor

As promised in the last issue, here is the schedule of General membership meetings for the 2003 year:
(Times and locations to be announced via email and the web page)

You probably noticed that there are two months missing from this list, April and June. That's not a mistake. There are no meetings scheduled for those months. With trying to work around religious holidays and other rodeos in April and various Pride celebrations in June, it just wasn't feasible to have meetings scheduled.

Just a reminder that Board meeting are open to members who wish to attend. They will be held the 2nd Thursday of every month this year at the Capital Hilton. Check the schedule marquee at the hotel for the room.

Here is a list of your current ASGRA member benefits:

• 10% discount at Carol's Western Wear;
• No cover charge on Friday or Saturday nights at Remington's;
• An average of 27.5% discount on Avis rental vehicles for business or personal use; (Use code T-238399)
• 20% discount on entrees at Sheridan's.

As your membership chair, I serve as your liaison to the board. If you have issues, concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to bring them to my attention. I can be reached by email at or by phone at the number listed on the contacts page.

Mike Sanders, Membership Chair

A toy drive has been set up to benefit the kid clients of Pediatric AIDS of DC. We will be collecting canned foods for the Food & Friends and Whitman-Walker Clinic food banks. Winter clothing will also be collected for several clothing banks. Excess toys (beyond what PADC can use) will be given to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. The Defenders have identified Joseph's House and Miriam's House for cash donations because of their long-standing reputations for good deeds and because both of them are in dire need at this time to keep their operations going. ASGRA has already committed to donating $500 cash for the two selected charities.

There will be a special Sequins and Studs show that evening featuring many of your favorite entertainers, including some past and present ASGRA Royalty. If you are interested in volunteering to assist with this event, please contact Lonni La Bel.

• RoadRunner Regional: Rodeo 2003 AGRA Phoenix, AZ January 17-19, 2003
  
• Cowtown Rodeo 2003: TGRA Fort Worth, TX March 28-30, 2003
  
• Bighorn Rodeo 2003: NGRA Las Vegas, NV April 4-5, 2003
  
• L.A. Rodeo 2003: GSGRA Los Angeles, CA April 11-13, 2003
  
• Rodeo in the Rock 2003: DSRA Little Rock, AK April 25-27, 2003
• Great Plains Rodeo 2003: OGRA Oklahoma City, OK May 23-25, 2003

A Reminder to IGRA CONTESTANTS:
It is your responsibility to keep IGRA informed of address, phone, and email changes. You can update your information with them at http://www.igra.com/address.html

• Web Master: Frank Harrell 12905 Clifton Creek Dr. Clifton VA. 20124
  
• IGRA Trustee: Michael Lentz 4602 Coachway Drive North Bethesda, MD 20852
  
• Publications Chair: Billy Collison 18600 Walkers Choice Rd. #5 Gaithersburg, MD 20886-0539
  
• BHT Representative 2002: Bruce Forchheimer 1535 9th St NW Washington, DC 20001-3207
  
• CAB Representative 2002: Patrick Hunter 410 15th Street, NE #26 Washington, DC 20002
  
• Mr. ASGRA 2003: John Alvey 2298 17th St., NW Apt. #7 Washington, DC 20009
  
• Miss ASGRA 2003: Miss Courtney Lovelace (Sam Marsh) 2298 17th St., NW Apt. #7 Washington, DC 20009

The Board has devoted a great deal of time in recent months to preparing the Proposed 2003 Annual Budget. We would like to give members an opportunity to review and discuss the proposed 2003 budget at the December 15th, 2003, General Membership Meeting. We will not be voting on the budget at this meeting; it is simply an opportunity for the membership to provide feedback to the board on this document prior to its being finalized. After the membership meeting, the Board will be meet to consider any feedback it has received and finalize the budget.

After the budget has been finalized, it will be sent to the entire membership along with a mail in ballot for those who are not able to attend the January meeting in person. It is imperative that all members vote on this important issue so that the Board knows whether or not it has the authority to spend funds in 2003. Currently, there are several items pending such as deposits to reserve our dates for Stampede 2003 that cannot be acted upon until a quorum of the membership has voted. Please make sure your voice is heard.

Copies of the draft budget will be available at the December 15th meeting. If you are unable to attend the December meeting, but would like a copy of the draft to review, please contact Scott Smiley (see our contacts page)

Mike Sanders, Membership Chair

If you've got a skill or talent that you can offer, the Social & Entertainment Committee wants you! If your main talent is a willingness to pitch in, we want you, too! The S&E goal for 2003 is to involve as much of the ASGRA membership and the country western community as possible, whether you volunteer to help or just come out and enjoy socializing at the events. S&E is about having some fun and building a sense of community among our members. Join us for the fun!

Some of the events planned or suggested for 2003 include:

• Couples / Line Dance / Team Dance competitions
• ACM and CMA Awards Night parties
• DC, Baltimore and NYC Pride events
• The Hoedown at the Baltimore Inner Harbor
• A murder mystery dinner party
• Social hours after General Membership meetings
• Sunday morning Brunch socials

JR Key, S&E Chair

DID YOU KNOW…..
Stage I (formerly the Stagecoach) has brought back Country-Western dancing to Baltimore on Saturday nights! In addition they have their Reunion Tea Dance on the second Sunday of every month. Check it out!

January 2003 issue: Submissions due: 12/23/02 Mail out date: 12/30/02

"Oh, the Bikers and the Horsefolk can be friends…"

The East Coast Greenway Alliance held its 11th annual meeting in Philadelphia last month, where organizers reported substantial progress toward their vision of a network of multi-user trails stretching along the Eastern Seaboard from the Canadian border in the north to Key West in the south-2600 miles of hiking, running, biking, roller-blading, wheel-chairing, and horseback riding. This is a cooperative effort involving local, state, and federal governments, private corporate sponsors, and volunteer trail groups in all 15 Atlantic coast states and the District of Columbia.

The Greenway would incorporate as many existing trails as possible, encourage planning and constructing new park and trail projects to link into the network, and fill in the gaps with scenic byways until off-road public rights-of-way, such as abandoned railroad corridors and old industrial riverfronts, become available. The entire Greenway route has been mapped, about 20% is complete, and another 30% is in various stages of development, planning, and construction.

The East Coast Greenway, like most off-road transportation and recreation trails, is dominated by cyclists and runners. Most of the support comes from cycling and running interests. A little research reveals that the Greenway actually includes a number of segments open for equestrian use, including the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge ("Downeast") Trail in Maine; the Hop River, Airline, and Moosup Valley Trails in Connecticut; the Delaware & Raritan Canal Towpath in New Jersey; and the WB&A Trail in Maryland. Construction has begun on the Coventry Greenway (RI) parallel bridle path, and restoration of the Hutchinson River Parkway (NY) and Merritt Parkway (CT) bridle paths is planned. In the South, portions of the American Tobacco Trail (NC) will allow horseback riding. Plans are being worked into the Savannah & Ogeechee Canal (GA) restoration for equestrian use, as well as some "alternate" Greenway trails in Florida.

Of course, the concept of multi-use trails brings up a number of issues, including design and construction, conflict management, and even whether it is possible to have cyclists, backpackers, runners, horseback riders, and other users along the same right-of-way. But these issues are being worked out on the ground, and when these user groups stop fighting each other and get together, they stand a better chance to get more trails planned, financed, built and maintained.

Saturday June 7 is National Trails Day, and the Alliance plans events all along the Greenway. One of these will occur on the geographic and symbolic center of the Greenway-- the "President's Trail," which includes the National Mall in Washington DC. A White House ceremony officially dedicating the Mall and the Mt. Vernon Trail in Virginia as parts of the Greenway is already in the works. I was pleasantly surprised when I asked if I could bring a horse to National Trails Day in DC, and the organizers responded with an enthusiastic "yes!" As always, be careful what you wish for, because the next question was "how many equestrians can you bring with you?"

At its last meeting, the ASGRA Board voted to authorize Lonni La Bel and me to do more research and explore how ASGRA could participate in National Trails Day. While there are many details that are still too hazy to be nailed down, this is what we have come up with so far:

• Several ASGRA members probably would be willing and able to ride as a group on the National Mall in a national event on that Saturday afternoon. It could be a fun time, and a terrific photo op.
• The Alliance has connections with the National Park Service, the White House, and other authorities along the way, so permits would not be a problem. Connections with the Capitol, Park, and DC police forces might be used to help with logistics as well.
• We could serve a special purpose at the national event on the Mall, educating equestrians, cyclists, backpackers and other trail users on "trail etiquette," conflict avoidance, and other multi-user trail safety issues. A few other saddle clubs have done this before. (How about an Animal Channel cable TV special, perhaps with cross marketing to the Travel Channel and ESPN?)
• June 7th is also DC Pride Day. Informed sources tell us that the DC Pride Committee is planning to hold a parade that evening in the Dupont Circle area. The same informed sources tell us that the Pride Committee would be able to include "horses" on their permit application without any problem, and they already have a direct connection with the DC Metro Police mounted patrol to help with logistics.
• We could probably do an "urban trail ride" in Rock Creek Park that afternoon between the two events, with a picnic provided for both two and four-legged participants.
• There are several venues in or near DC for overnight boarding, so two-legged ASGRA members could still enjoy the DC Pride evening festivities after taking care of the four-legged members.

Ken Withers, ASGRA member

rompstomp - The annual "ROMP and Stomp" in California brings equestrians and cyclists together on the trail in California. Photo courtesy International Mountain Bicycling Association http://www.imba.com

On Thursday November 21st, a group of six people made a trek to Richmond, VA. One of our former (and soon to be rejoining) members invited us down to talk about ASGRA with the Central Virginia Business and Professional Guild.

We arrived, set up, mixed and mingled to the music as it played on a small boom box, and we watched a host of professionals in suits and ties learn to rope.

Gaither put together a wonderful PowerPoint presentation that covered all the events, including the traditional "Fashion Show" from the Wild Drag costumes and our very own Dolly Madison Race.

We talked about the joys of being a member of ASGRA, the charity work that we do for many organizations in the DC-Metro area (and some outside as well) and how to become involved. Afterward, several of us went out for dinner with about 10 of their members and were able to talk a little more about the association we call ASGRA. Thanks to Bailey Kier, Lonni LaBel, Diane Mejia, Gaither Pennington, Mike S., and Scott Smiley for their willingness to travel to Richmond on a "school night".

If you would like to be part of the next posse that heads out of town to promote the country western lifestyle and the sport of rodeo, or perhaps you would like a posse to come talk in your area, contact either Gaither at or Mike S. at . And just FYI…. posses are not limited to board members. All are welcome to join.

Mike Sanders, Membership Chair