A Letter from the President
Guys and Gals!
With summer officially started, I hope that you are planning time to kick back and relax a bit. I'd like to highlight a few items for you.
- David H, our Rodeo Director, and his Rodeo Roundtable are hard at work finalizing plans for Stampede 2004. He and Beth Brockelman, our Volunteer Coordinator, are seeking people willing to help. Won't you please help us by sharing some time and talent? You can do so by contacting David by email at or Beth at .
- Classic Rodeo of York Springs, Pennsylvania will again be our Stock Contractor for Stampede 2004. We had a highly successful Rodeo School in May at their location and are planning another one for August. If you are interested in the school, contact Scott Smiley at .
- Detailed planning with the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill has begun. We're happy to say that room reservations for September are already rolling in. Reserve your room before ASGRA's guaranteed lowest rate expires!
- Board Elections will take place during Stampede weekend this year. The Association will elect a Vice-President and Secretary to two-year terms. If you are interested in serving in either of these capacities, please contact our Election Committee Chairman Billy Collison at .
- We are looking for Delegates and Alternates for IGRA Convention. Convention will be in Denver, Colorado in November. If you are interested in serving on the delegation, please contact Mike Lentz at for more information.
Although I'm confident that you've penciled in the dates for Stampede 2004, please be an ambassador for us to your friends and neighborhood. Spread the word that the only place to be in DC on September 10, 11, and 12 will be at the Rodeo! Thanks!
Gaither Pennington, Presiden
"My world is composed of takers and givers. The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better."
Byron Frederick
Submissions for the August 2004 Thirteen Spurs are due by Monday 7/19/04!!
The Membership Corner
It's Time to Renew Your Membership!
By now you should have received your membership renewal application and weekend pass order form in the mail. You have several ways that you can renew your membership with ASGRA. You can fill out the form you received in the mail and send it in; you can pick one up at Remington's or one of the other bars where they are available, or you can go onto the ASGRA web page and renew with your credit card.
There is one more way you can renew…we have several Membership Drives scheduled this month around the area. You can find us at the following locations:
- Friday July 9th at the Phase
- Saturday July 10th and Friday July 30th at Remington's
- Sunday July 11th at the Hippo's Stage Coach Reunion Dance in Baltimore
- Tuesday July 13th at Titan during Bingo
- Wednesday July 21st at the Green Lantern
- Saturday July 24th at Club Phoenix in Baltimore
- Sunday July 25th at Freddie's in Arlington
Your 2004 Royalty Team will also be at these locations to promote the Royalty program. They will have applications for the 2005 Royalty competition being held at the host hotel, the Hyatt Regency, Friday September 10th.
Remember to keep me up to date on any changes in your personal information. This way, you will continue to be informed of meeting notices, special events, and receive your newsletter. And last, as your membership chair, I serve as your liaison to the board. If you have concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to bring them to my attention. I can be reached by email or by phone (see sidebar). Keep check on the web page for all announcements and updates on upcoming events.
Mike S., Membership Chair
Calling All Volunteers!
Yes it is that time of year again - time to begin preparing for the ASGRA Rodeo! If you have volunteered in the past and want to do it again or have not and would like to give it a try, please contact me at for more information. There is a volunteer form online at www.asgra.org. Thank you!
Beth Brockelman, Volunteer Coordinator
Greetings all, as this is a good place to find our volunteers for this year's Stampede, I am the Front Gate Coordinator and am looking for those friendly folks who would like to assist with the Gate. Please contact me at 202-518-0885. Hope to see you all soon! Thanks !
Bruce Forchheimer, Front Gate Coordinator
Howdy Folks! I am the Security Coordinator for Atlantic Stampede 2004. I am looking for several volunteers to serve as security personnel for the Rodeo Grounds. Free training will be provided for all security team members. You can contact me at 301-412-5249. I thank you in advance for your consideration to give a little something back and to serve your community with pride. Thank you!
Ms. Tomi' Finkle, Rodeo Security Coordinator
ASGRA trail rides are the first Sunday of the month at 11:00am!
Regardless of the weather, ASGRA's monthly trail rides are held at Piscataway Ranch in Clinton, MD at 11:00 am on the following days:
July 4th: Feel the freedom of Independence Day on a fun ride in the summer forests and fields!
August 1st: Cool down during the dog days of summer with a relaxing ride through the fragrant Maryland woodlands.
For further information and to RSVP, contact Glenn at (703) 538-2225.
Upcoming 2004 IGRA Rodeos
Canadian Rockies International Rodeo ARGRA Calgary, Alberta, Canada July 2-4, 2004
North Star Regional Rodeo NSGRA Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN July 2-4, 2004
Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo CGRA Denver, CO July 9-11, 2004
Southern Spurs Rodeo GGRA Atlanta, GA July 23-25, 2004
Greater Motown International Rodeo Part V MIGRA Detroit, MI July 30-August 1, 2004
John Chaney Roping Clinics
Morning: Roping - beginner through intermediate (unmounted)
Afternoon: Horsemanship/cattle working (mounted - your horse or ours)
July 24, August 28, September 25, October 23 Against The Wind Ranch Clarksburg, MD 301-540-0014
Royalty Roundup
ASGRA Royalty rode in the Baltimore Pride Parade with Club Phoenix. The theme of pride was Vive La Difference and Club Phoenix won Best Commercial Float for the parade. Congrats to them and a thank you for letting us ride and be part of the event. In addition, Destiny, Rudy and Cody were all 'arrested' at the festival for various violations by the C.O.M.M.A.N.D. leather/levi club. All the money went to charity and it was a blast.
Join MsTer ASGRA at the Phoenix in Baltimore on Saturdays for Country night starting @ 9pm. ASGRA members get domestic beers for $2.50 with an ASGRA card. For more info see www.baltimorephoenix.com
You can catch Destiny, Jymmye Jaymes and many current and former ASGRA Royalty every Sunday night at Freddie's Follies, starting at 9pm!!
DANCE * DANCE * DANCE
Lambda DanceSport Association promotes partnership dancing for same-gender couples in the LGBT community. www.LambdaDanceSport.org
Capital Country Dance Club is a non-profit whose purpose is to bring the joy of dancing to the GLBT community. It hosts C&W dancing the second Saturday of the month and sponsor open dancing from 8-10 pm every Tuesday at De Lounge in Wheaton, MD. www.capitalcountry.org
Capital Country Dance Club Newsletter is online!
To view the Club's Newsletter: www.capitalcountry.org/news/
July 1-4: Weekend in Ohio with the Columbus Stompers at the 11th annual IAGLCWDC (International Association of Gay/Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs) convention. www.stompers.org. Click on the hoedown logo and follow the links.
A Royal Congratulations
From the 2004 ASGRA Royalty Team to the following ASGRA members who will celebrate birthdays in July:
Connie Morris, Robert Steele, Forrest Olgers, Andy Andruscavage, Tony R., John Meng, Cindy B., David H, Cowgirl Fluff, Dennis Adams, Eric Powell, Vinaya Kumar!
Happy Birthday to all of you!
(Note: If your birthday is this month and you aren't listed, we either don't have your birthday on file or you have requested that we not print your name. We wish you a happy birthday as well!)
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| May Rodeo School: first, the rulebook, contestant numbers and a lesson in safety. |
| After a warm up on haybales, calfroping the real thing! |
| : More calfroping practice |
| Steer Riding 101 |
| Chef Billy rustles up the food for the hungry cowfolk at Rodeo school. |
| ASGRA Royalty rides with Pride in the DC Pride parade. |
ASGRA Calendar of Events
4 11am Trail Ride at Piscataway stables, Clinton, MD
7 9pm Boots Boxers Briefs at the Green Lantern; DC
8 7:30pm ASGRA Board Meeting; Hyatt Regency Hotel; Washington, DC
9 9pm ASGRA Membership Drive at the Phase; DC
10 9pm ASGRA Membership Drive at Remingtons; DC
11 ASGRA Membership Drive at Hippo; Baltimore, MD
13 9pm ASGRA Bingo and Membership Drive at Titan; DC
14 8pm BHT Meeting; DC Eagle; Washington, DC
17 Pm ASGRA 'Wear Your Colors" Night
18 5pm ASGRA General Membership Mtg; Remingtons; DC
21 8pm CAB Meeting; DC Eagle; Washington, DC
21 9pm ASGRA Membership Drive at Green Lantern; DC
24 9pm ASGRA Membership Drive at Club Phoenix; Baltimore, MD
25 7pm ASGRA Membrshp Drive at Freddies; Arlington, VA
27 9pm ASGRA Bingo at Titan
30 9pm ASGRA Bingo/Membership Drive at Remingtons; DC
Atlantic Stampede 2004 Grand Marshalls
ASGRA is proud to announce that Larry Jacobs, on behalf of Equality Maryland, and Dyana Mason, on behalf of Equality Virginia, have agreed to serve as a Grand Marshalls for Atlantic Stampede 2004. Each year ASGRA seeks to recognize and promote the efforts of outstanding individuals or organizations which serve the gay community in our region. Equality Maryland and Equality Virginia are two shining examples of such organizations.
Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest civil rights organization, focused on making life better for GLBT citizens of Maryland. Equality Virginia is a statewide, non-partisan, lobbying, education and support network for the GLBT and straight allied (GLBT) communities in Virginia. Both organizations work tirelessly to secure and protect the rights of GLBT persons in their respective states by promoting legislative initiatives on the state, county and municipal levels and educating the public about the issues faced by our diverse community.
Founded in 1989 as Virginians for Justice and in 1990 as Free State Justice, Equality Virginia and Equality Maryland have fought diligently in their state capitols and other counties and cities to win equal rights for the GLBT community. Both organizations have built extensive grassroots networks of concerned citizens to help support their efforts. Both organizations have developed strong ties in their state legislatures to lobby for GLBT causes.
Equality Virginia has been engaged in efforts to repeal the Virginia sodomy act, ban discrimination in state employment based on sexual orientation, and defeat a variety of anti-family initiatives. This year, among the many other issues, Equality Virginia is working to combat the new Marriage Affirmation Act, one of the most discriminatory pieces of legislation to be passed anywhere in the US in recent history.
Equality Maryland has a strong history of accomplishments. In 2001, they succeeded at a ten-year effort to win an anti-discrimination law in the state that protects Marylanders from discrimination based on sexual orientation. In 2002, they secured transgender anti-discrimination protections in Baltimore City. Recently, Equality Maryland has been active in helping keep Maryland a non-DOMA state, fighting a host of anti-family initiatives and a variety of other efforts.
ASGRA is proud to recognize both Equality Maryland and Equality Virginia for their ongoing phenomenal efforts to represent all members of the LGBT community in their states. Equality Maryland can be found online at http://www.equalitymaryland.org/ and Equality Virginia is online at http://www.equalityvirginia.org/. Please check out their sites to learn more about the great work these groups are doing for our community.
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!!! ASGRA ELECTIONS:
A REMINDER
Elections are being held during Rodeo weekend this year (September 9-11, 2004). In accordance with our ByLaws, Article VI, Section 3A, which states, "The right to vote in any election of the Corporation shall be reserved for all individual members in good standing who are entitled to a vote and who have held such membership for at least thirty (30) days preceding the date of the election.
To meet this requirement, your membership application must be postmarked no later than August 13th or received via the web page by midnight on August 13th.
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