The International Gay Rodeo Association 20th annual convention was held in Denver, Colorado on November 11 through 14. ASGRA had a full delegation of 6 delegates and 5 alternates for the first time since 1996. Delegates included Michael Lentz, Frank Harrell, Lonni La Bel, Mike Sanders, Sandy Lee, and JR Key. Alternate delegates included Karl Klingener, Mary Lynn Logsdon, Rachel Barnett, Angel McWilliams, and Destiny Childs. Six of these were first time participants at convention. ASGRA member Matt Komornik served as convention office manager for the seventh year in a row.

The IGRA convention meets each year to review rodeo rules, standing rules and bylaws for updates or changes, to establish future rodeo schedules and select Finals rodeo sites, to train and certify officials, and to elect officers. Committee meetings are held on Friday before the convention to review possible changes and to develop programs and activities that will take place throughout the next year. The International dance competition and an annual awards dinner also take place at convention. In Denver, there were numerous social activities held throughout the weekend.

One of the most significant standing rules changes was the addition of the Ms/Ter title within the royalty program. This is a title that ASGRA first introduced in 2003 and for which we led the effort to include in the IGRA royalty program. The convention chose Reno to host the 2006 Finals rodeo, but did not select a site for the 2006 convention. Matt Komornik was re-certified as a chute coordinator and Michael Lentz was re-certified as an IGRA rodeo judge.

Four IGRA Appreciation Awards were given to those helping promote ASGRA's rodeo and community activities. Those recipients were D.C. Allen of The Crew Club, Glenn Mlaker of Hamburger Mary's/Titan, David Harrington with Montgomery Eagle LLC, and Linda C. Molesworth, V.M.D. of Bay Equine Service. Matt Komornik was the recipient of the International Award for his contributions to IGRA member associations as the volunteer convention office manager for multiple IGRA conventions. Sonny Koerner was selected for the Trustee's Award based on his accomplishments as a contestant, royalty team member, and goodwill ambassador for IGRA. Michael Lentz was given the Presidential Service Award for his longtime services and contributions to IGRA.

The 2005 IGRA Convention will be held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on October 20-23, 2005. We would like to have a full delegation again next year so please consider participating in this great event as a representative of ASGRA. Contact Michael Lentz at if you would like to be a part of the 2005 delegation. ASGRA pays the convention registration fee and a partial reimbursement of expenses to delegation members.

Michael Lentz, Trustee

Submissions for the January newsletter are due December 20

Road Runner Regional Rodeo Phoenix, AZ January 14-16
IGRA University AA Conf Center; Fort Worth, TX February 18-20
Cowtown Rodeo Fort Worth, TX March 4-6
T-Town Rodeo Tulsa, OK April 8-10
Bighorn Rodeo Las Vegas, NV April 22-24
Rodeo in the Rock Little Rock, AR April 29-May 1
Rodeo Wichita Wichita, KS May 13-15
Comstock Stampede Reno, NV May 13-15
Great Plains Rodeo Oklahoma City, OK May 27-29
Zia Regional Rodeo Albuquerque, NM June 17-19
North Star Regional Rodeo Minneapolis/St Paul, MN July 1-3
Canadian Rockies International Rodeo Calgary, AB, Canada July 1-3
Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo Denver, CO July 8-10
Southern Spurs Rodeo Atlanta, GA July 22-24
Greater Motown International Rodeo Part VI Detroit, MI July 29-31
LA Rodeo 2005 Los Angeles, CA August 5-7
San Francisco Bay Area Gay Rodeo San Francisco, CA August 19-21
Windy City Rodeo Chicago, IL August 26-28
MGRA Show Me State Rodeo Kansas City, KS September 2-4
Atlantic Stampede 2005 Washington, DC September 9-11
San Diego Rodeo San Diego, CA September 23-25
Space City Rodeo Houston, TX Sept. 30-Oct. 2
21st Annual IGRA Convention Calgary, AB, Canada October 20-23
International Dance Competition Calgary, AB, Canada October 22
19th Annual IGRA Finals Rodeo Dallas, TX November 11-13

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:
December 5th: 'Tis the season for a ride through the snowy Maryland woods!
January 2nd: Start the New Year off right with an invigorating lope along the wintery trails!
For further information and to RSVP, contact Patrick at (202) 352-2356.

ASGRA added the Ms/Ter title in 2003 and we had our first Ms/Ter ASGRA this year, Cody Jaymes. And for 2005, we have Xavier Bottoms filling that position. This title is one for male impersonators and is held by women.

Adding this category does several things for IGRA and the local associations:

• It makes both the men's and women's categories equal by giving both genders 2 positions on the Royalty Team, instead of the 2 men and 1 woman that is current in practice;
• It brings in additional monies (a minimum of $800.... $100 entry fee, $200 for an IGRA fundraiser, $500 for a 501(c) 3 charity and the required monies that the titleholders must raise;
• It also opens the door for more women to participate on the local and IGRA levels and may also bring more women into our membership;
• It brings in additional revenue to our rodeos from their supporters;
• And it has the potential of increasing our contestant base, as well as bringing in younger contestants.

The 2005 ASGRA Royalty Team and I are available to you all as well if you have questions about the title of Ms/Ter. If you are considering running for Ms/Ter ASGRA 2006, feel free to contact any one of us about what is required of this position.

Mike S., ASGRA VP

December 2004
1 9pm ASGRA Night at the Green Lantern
5 11am Trail Ride at Piscataway stables, Clinton, MD
8 8pm BHT Meeting; DC Eagle; Washington, DC
8 9pm ASGRA Bingo Night at Titan
9 7:30pm ASGRA Board Meeting; Hyatt Regency Hotel
15 8pm CAB Meeting; DC Eagle; Washington, DC
15 9:30pm ASGRA Night at the Green Lantern
22 9pm ASGRA Bingo Night at Titan
29 9:30pm ASGRA Night at the Green Lantern<

Starting December 1, there will be boxes available at both Titan and The Green Lantern for donations of toys for homeless children. Please give generously.

A Royal Congratulations
from the 2005 ASGRA Royalty Team to the following ASGRA members who will celebrate birthdays in December:
Mary Kelley, Cara Williams, Steve Johnson, Dusty Cowboy, Destiny B. Childs, John Alvey, Mark Blaylock, Robert Torrance, Tim Gregory and Sandy L.
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!)

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/.

Do you know what BHT is? BHT stands for Brother Help Thyself, a charitable organization that funds and nurtures nonprofit organizations that serve the GBLTQ and HIV/AIDS communities in the metro Baltimore/Washington, DC area. ASGRA is a member organization with a voting representative on the Board. But we need more help!

BHT funds groups by collecting money for the Combined Federal Campaign/United Way (#8288) - groups like ASGRA that designate and donate money from its events. BHT also sponsors charitable and social events of its own. If you are interested in knowing more or getting involved with BHT, please contact Billy Collison or ASGRA rep Bruce Forchheimer at . Want more info? www.brotherhelpthyself.org

On December 19, 2004 at 9pm at Freddie's Beach Bar & Restaurant, Miss ASGRA 2001 Blair Michaels, Miss IGRA 1st Runner-up 2005 Destiny B. Childs and Miss ASGRA 2005 Jymmye Jaymes will be hosting the Brandy Dover Memorial Christmas for Children Celebration. Please bring an unwrapped toy to donate. Entertainment will be provided by current and former IGRA & ASGRA Royalty members.

We would like to invite you to consider offering some of your time and talents as our Chairperson for Membership, Social & Entertainment or Rodeo Events & Training. President Gaither Pennington has agreed to step up as a temporary Rodeo Director for Atlantic Stampede 2005, but we need to identify a permanent Rodeo Director as soon as possible.

As you are aware, vacancies limit the Association's ability to efficiently conduct normal business and make it more difficult to plan and produce quality events. ASGRA has a well-deserved national reputation for producing high quality events. It is our hope that this coming year's rodeo will continue that proud tradition. If you are willing to share your time and talents by offering your services, please contact Frank Harrell or Gaither Pennington as soon as possible. A simple email to us at either or to let us know about your interest in one of the vacancies is all that we need to start the process. The Board of Directors will be considering all submissions at our next board meeting scheduled for December 9th.

At IGRA Finals in Omaha this October, ASGRA was honored with the presentation of the Spirit Stick. The Spirit Stick was the brain child of Mr. CGRA 1995, Michael Vrooman. He wanted a symbol that would be recognized as one of excellence and would stand out in a crowd. It was first presented at the IGRA finals in Albuquerque, NM in 1996. It is a wrung from a piece of a staircase, purchased from Home Depot. It was cut down to its current size, sanded and painted the IGRA colors (red, black and white). Although other members may have custody from time to time, the main responsibility for securing the Spirit Stick generally falls on the Royalty Team of the winning association.

There is no "neutral space" for the stick. It is in play and can be stolen at any time. In the event it and/or its carrier are stolen or kidnapped, the only way to win its freedom is to meet the demands of the people or person that stole/kidnapped it. Those demands come in the form of holding a fundraiser. There is no set amount on that fundraiser, however the type of fundraiser is almost always stated in the demand letter/phone call. You will also be told how much you need to raise for the release. In the past, the typical amount that has been required is $250-300. All money goes to charity. (Past demands have included having to sell soap in the lobby of the hotel; shining shoes in the stands; singing silly songs in a public venue, etc.)

The idea here is FUN. If the stick is stolen, follow the instructions and have fun raising the money to get it back. Team up with other ASGRA members or your fellow ASGRA Royalty team members to win it back. If you are at a rodeo and it is stolen, make sure you get word to the announcer that it was stolen from ASGRA and by whom. Have him/her announce that you are doing a fundraiser to get it back. If you know the name of the charity, tell them that as well. It will usually help people dig into their pockets a little more deeply. If it happens at Convention or University, have it announced on the floor or during committee meetings. Pass a hat or some other type of collection item.

So sing your song, shine your shoes, dance your jig, sell your wares or whatever is required and make sure you bring the Spirit Stick safely home to ASGRA territory!!!