  | Volume XIII, Issue 10 October 2004 | Last update Jan 21, 2020 |
A Note from the Vice President
Hi folks! Well, Atlantic Stampede 2004 is now just a pleasant memory. We had the good fortune to enjoy beautiful weather for the weekend, along with a full complement of events, both at the rodeo grounds and the host hotel. Competitors and spectators came from all over the US and Canada, as well as from other countries just to enjoy the weekend activities with us. We are especially grateful to the competitors for providing such a terrific rodeo show and to all the volunteers who spent countless hours before, during and after the rodeo making sure that everything went off without a hitch. Judging from the emails, calls and notes we've been receiving everyone had a spectacular time. The Royalty competition, entertainment and dances at the Hyatt Regency (our host hotel) were all well-attended and a lot of fun for everyone. Our ASGRA elections were held over the rodeo weekend this year, and proved to be a very successful way to ensure everyone had a chance to vote. The results are in and as of November 1 your new ASGRA VP will be Mike Sanders and Secretary will be Frank Harrell. Please don't forget to RSVP and join us at the Membership Meeting and Volunteer Awards banquet at Remington's on Sunday October 10. See the website for info or contact Mike Sanders directly at . We look forward to seeing you there! Lonni La Bel, Vice President
"Age is …wisdom, if one has lived one's life properly." Miriam Makeba Submissions for the November 2004 Thirteen Spurs are due by Monday 10/18/04!!
The Membership Corner
Howdy all,
While the hat I will wear for the next two years will change, who I am will not. I will still be reachable both in person, by phone and email. I will continue to work with all of you and be there as a sounding board for your concerns. I look forward to serving as your Vice-President. Remember to keep your new Membership Chair 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. Your Membership Chair serves as your liaison to the board. If you have concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to bring them to his/her attention. Keep check on the web page for all announcements and updates on upcoming events. Mike S., Membership Chair 2001-2004
 ASGRA Elections Results
Rodeo Gang, the elections have ended and if you were not at the Fairgrounds on Sunday of Atlantic Stampede, you might not have
heard the results. The membership was voting for two positions, those of the Vice President and Secretary. The results are as follows: Thanks to all our ASGRA members for taking the time to fulfill this important responsibility of membership and voting! Billy Collison, Elections Chair
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:
Don't forget the 18th Annual IGRA Finals Rodeo in Omaha, NE October 14-17!!! Come out and support our ASGRA competitors at Finals Rodeo and the IGRA Royalty Competition! For details see www.igra.com
A big ASGRA thank you to all those who came out and supported or participated in the Atlantic Stampede 2004 over the weekend of September 10-12. The weather was beautiful, the crowds enthusiastic and the competition exciting! We appreciate all of you who volunteered to help out over the weekend, traveled from many places all over the world, competed at the rodeo or in the ASGRA Royalty competition, supported us with your attendance at the rodeo and/or the dances and even those who were just with us in spirit!
A note of thanx Words cannot describe my pride, appreciation and the heartfelt thanks that I have for each and every member of this year's team. I have been responsible for security details for 5 Presidents and hundreds of other government leaders. I have never been so impressed with the dedication to duty that each of you displayed the Rodeo Weekend. There were a total of 16 volunteers who worked one or both days of the Rodeo and my hat is off to each and every one of you!
Tomi`Finkle,
ASGRA Calendar of Events
A Royal Congratulations from the 2004 ASGRA Royalty Team to the following ASGRA members who will celebrate birthdays in October: Bruce Forchheimer, Phil Hastings, Rick Garcia, Audra Williams, Richard Harrison, Earl Hess, Mark Baker, Michael Lekas, Terry Frick, Grant Ingalls, Louis Varnado, John Scott, Jason Kutz and Ron Tickerhoff
Happy Birthday to all of you! Lambda DanceSport Association promotes partnership dancing for same-gender couples in the LGBT community. Lots of great dance opportunities of all kinds - check it out on their website: www.LambdaDanceSport.org Capital Country Dance Club is a non-profit whose purpose is to bring the joy of dancing to the GLBT community. CCDC hosts C&W dancing from 8pm-midnight at Generations Dance Studio on the second Saturday of the month. Lesson starts at 8; dance starts at 9. Generations Dance Studio is located at 816 N. Saint Asaph St. in Alexandria, VA. CCCD also sponsors open dancing from 7:30-10:30pm every Tuesday at De Lounge in Wheaton, MD. For more details & directions, see the events section of their website at http://www.capitalcountry.org/. And for those interested in an all women dance environment: Jackie's Dance Party is a monthly non-smoking evening dance event with mixed music. 7pm-midnight. Saturday, October 23rd ; Admission $12. Light snacks provided; water & soda available for purchase. Du-Shor Dance Studio, 7800 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda (Bethesda metro; free garage parking ). Info:.
 ASGRA Committee Chairs Needed for 2005!
Public Relations (PR) is a vital role for ASGRA, and one that can be both challenging and rewarding. An official description of the full responsibilities for the PR Chair can be found in the ASGRA Bylaws, Article VII, Section 2, Item F. As stated in the ASGRA Bylaws this is a one year term, November 1 - October 31. Following is a quick summary of some of the most important tasks for the PR Chair, including unofficial responsibilities:
Helpful but not required duties:
In Memoriam As many of you may have already heard, we lost yet another member of the IGRA family on September 8. Woody Howard (aka Suzanne Target) was a long time member of AGRA (Arizona Gay Rodeo Association), a talented performer and a witty and fun-loving person. A Celebration of Life gathering was held at the Camelback Sunset Chapel where many of Woody's friends, fans and adopted family shared their joy at his life and sorrow at his passing. Woody was much loved by many of us on the IGRA circuit. ASGRA extends its sympathy to AGRA and to Woody's many friends everywhere. He was an amazing man and will be missed. Lonni La Bel, Editor
 A Rodeo Rookie's Report
Everyone said I was nuts to be competing in my first rodeo at the age of 53, but it turned out to be an incredible experience! I have gone to the rodeo every year for the past 6 years; the first 3 years I went with my partner, then the last 3 I went alone, after he died. Last year as I sat by myself watching the events, I watched the Chute Doggers, and thought: "I could learn to do that." When I saw that ASGRA was offering training in Rodeo events, I decided to go--to challenge myself, and to meet some new people. What an incredible experience it was! Attempting Chute-Dogging for the first time is an incredibly scary experience--the steers are big and often not real happy about participating. Making yourself do something that is that scary is an incredibly exhilarating experience--one that I have found has served me well in other areas of my life (i.e.: "If I can wrestle a Steer, I can do this!"). It is also an incredibly bonding experience among the students to go through this together. After two trips to "Rodeo School," I registered to compete this year. It was such a different experience than my last few "trips to the rodeo:" seeing all my old classmates was so much fun--there was definite admiration and affection among us. At the actual Rodeo, I was struck by the lack of competitiveness among the contestants…everyone was supportive and helpful--like we were in this together, competing against the animals rather than each other. Sunday was a particularly special day for me…among the family and friends that came to watch and lend support were my two grandsons! They were incredibly impressed by what their old 'pop-pop' could do…and I was incredibly proud to be pushing my limits in such a way, and feeling the closeness of the other contestants, and the support of my family. Well, it wasn't my 'first trip to the Rodeo,' and I know it won't be my last. Despite what young gay people think, your life isn't over when you reach 30.…or 40.…or even 50! Jack Neville, ASGRA Member and Rodeo Competito DID YOU KNOW IGRA Convention is scheduled for November 11-14, 2004 in Denver CO. ASGRA will be sending a delegation as always. If you'd like more info or might be interested in checking out Convention as a spectator or delegate contact ASGRA's IGRA trustee Mike Lentz at .
 Royalty Roundup
And the winners are.. Thursday September 9 was the beginning of the 2005 ASGRA Royalty Competition prior to the Kick-off party at Remington's. All of the contestants did very well in the interview portion of the contest. They then had a chance to relax a little with friends at the party before they had to get back into competition mode for Friday night. The public portions of the competition (entertainment, western wear and public presentation) were held at the Hyatt, the host hotel. During the contest we had several local entertainers perform between categories, giving the contestants a chance to change and shift gears for the next segment of competition. A very special thanks goes out to one entertainer who made her debut at the competition this year. Iona Trailer is her name and she looks especially sexy in red. Many of us know her outside of the female impersonator role as ASGRA's own treasurer, Scott Smiley. Thank you Scott for your willingness to entertain us this year. While we only had one contestant for each category, they each had to make a minimum of 525 points to win their position. It is not a given that they would win just because they were the only contestant. In addition to having to make points, they each had to raise a minimum of $500 to be eligible to compete. This team raised $2,721 before the contest even began. Your 2005 ASGRA Royalty Team is Miss Jymmye Jaymes, Mr. Rudy Benavides, Ms. Busty Bottoms and MsTer Xavier Bottoms. Their charities for the upcoming year are SMYAL, PetsDC, MetroTeenAIDS, PediatricAIDS and SLDN, and they will be hosting fundraising events all year to support these charities. In addition to these charities, Jymmye Jaymes will be hosting "The 8th Annual Brandy Dover Memorial Christmas for Children", a benefit in December for Grandma's House. We are very proud of the accomplishments of this team so far and look forward to having them represent all that ASGRA stands for this year as they travel the IGRA circuit competing, entertaining and raising money for their charities. Congratulations to Jymmye, Busty, Rudy and Xavier and good luck during your year as ASGRA's Royalty Team for 2005! Last but not least, Good Luck to Destiny B. Childs, Miss ASGRA 2004 as she goes to Omaha, NE this month to compete for the title of Miss IGRA 2005!!!
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 The lovely Iona Trailer entertains the enthusiastic crowd at the 2005 ASGRA Royalty contest on Saturday night of AS20054.
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The last three years have been very exciting for me. I have gotten to know most of you in person and through email and have been able to communicate your needs and concerns to the Board of Directors. Some of the suggestions that you all shared with me have become part of what we do as an association. Through frequent and open communication, there has been an increased sense that this is YOUR association, not just one that belongs to the board of directors. I hope this will not change with a new person taking over as Membership Chair and that you all will continue to communicate with the person that takes my place. (Interested in becoming our Membership Chair? See the notice in this newsletter with info on the duties and requirements. Contact President Gaither Pennington if you'd like to volunteer.)
Upcoming 2005 IGRA Rodeos
October 2004
