Howdy folks!
As we approach the close of the year, it's time to look ahead to 2006 and some upcoming changes to the newsletter. Over the last 6 years that I have been editing Thirteen Spurs we have tried to make it informative, interesting and easily accessible to you from our website, at local vendor and bar/restaurant locations and via our membership mailing list. In 2006 we plan to take a technological step forward into the 21st century with our distribution. Beginning in the first quarter of 2006, the newsletter will no longer be mailed to the membership. Instead we will be developing an e-version of the newsletter that can be emailed to those who provide us with a valid email address. We will continue to post it on the ASGRA website and to send hard copies to our bars/restaurants and vendors so that you will still have the ability to pick up a copy there.

So - now is the time to ensure that your contact information with ASGRA is current! Please send any changes to Membership Chair Ric Legg at join@asgra.org. As an added step, please also make sure that you unblock the asgra.org domain from any spam filters which you may have on your email systems so that the newsletter will be able to get through to you.

We took this step as a means of simplifying the process of distribution and to help cut costs within the proposed 2006 budget (coming soon for membership review and approval). I look forward to continuing to edit the newsletter in its new format and as always I welcome your input, suggestions and contributions to Thirteen Spurs!

Lonni La Bel, ASGRA Newsletter Editor

Many of you know that ASGRA has a Royalty Team. But do you know what they do during their year? Below you will see just how and where they have represented our association:

Performed in a variety of benefits, including:

• WigAid (for SMYAL & Youth Pride)
• Christmas for Children (for Grandma's House & PediatricAIDS)
• A private benefit for Courtney Lovelace's family to cover medical expenses
• Hurricane Relief during Atlantic Stampede and an event at Remington's
• Collected monies for the firefighters/police at their convention held in Arlington, VA
• Rhinestone Review for BHT and The Rainbow History Project benefit shows (sponsored by the Academy of Washington)

  They have been to, volunteered at and/or competed in the following rodeos:

• Cowtown Rodeo (Ft. Worth, TX); Big Horn Rodeo (Las Vegas, NV)
• Rodeo in the Rock (Little Rock, AR); Comstock Stampede (Reno, NV)
• Southern Spurs Rodeo (Atlanta, GA); Windy City Rodeo (Chicago, IL)
• Show Me State Rodeo (Kansas City, MO); Atlantic Stampede (Washington, DC)
• Space City Rodeo (Houston, TX)

  In addition, they:

• Participated in IGRA University in Dallas, TX in February 2005
• Served as delegates at the 2004 IGRA Convention in Denver, CO.
• Represented ASGRA at the 2004 IGRA Finals rodeo in Omaha, NE during both rodeo competition and the Royalty contest
• Joined IGRA at Gay Days Expo in Orlando, FL.
• Rode with the Remington's contingent during DC's Pride Day parade (special thanks to Remington's management and staff for making this happen)
• Staffed the BHT table and served as ASGRA's representative to BHT (Brother Help Thyself)
• Worked the ASGRA booth during Baltimore's Pride
• Ran the BullMaster at a Christmas party for the 9:30 club
• Traveled to MO and entertained during the Mandy Barberell Show (Miss IGRA 2004)
• Represented ASGRA at local Drag King events
• Bartended/bar-backed at Mid Atlantic Leather
• Served as Alternate Trustee for ASGRA at several rodeos
• Served as judges for HSRA Royalty Contest, as well as for the Pride of Pets event (sponsored by PetsDC)
• Been interviewed by local publications
• And participated in shows at Remington's, Freddie's and Green Lantern, just to mention a few.

Rudy Benavides has qualified to compete in Steer Riding at the upcoming IGRA Finals rodeo in Dallas, TX, and Jymmye Jaymes will represent ASGRA while competing for the title of Miss IGRA 2006. Beginning with their initial fundraising efforts to compete for their titles, this team has raised over $22,197. (This number includes both community outreach fundraising, as well as fundraising efforts done for their own charities.) This team has done a wonderful job of representing the Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association this year and I for one am very proud of they job they have done.

Mike Sanders, ASGRA Vice-President and Royalty Liaison

1 9:30pm Bingo Night at Titan to benefit ASGRA charities
6 11am Trail Ride at Piscataway stables, Clinton, MD
8 9:30pm Bingo Night at Titan to benefit ASGRA charities
9 8pm BHT Meeting; 1111 14th St., Suite 350; Washington, DC
15 9:30pm Bingo Night at Titan to benefit ASGRA charities
16 8pm CAB Meeting; DC Eagle; Washington, DC
17 7:30pm ASGRA Board Meeting; Hyatt Regency Hotel
21 Midnight ASGRA Newsletter Submissions due
22 9:30pm Bingo Night at Titan to benefit ASGRA charities
29 9:30pm Bingo Night at Titan to benefit ASGRA charities
30 8pm Benefit for the Dean Berkan Memorial Fund; Cobalt, Washington, DC

Guided by the Abbot or Abbess, the participants will experience a truly spiritual approach to life. Removed from the world, they will be encouraged to reflect on the lives they are leading, and conduct their own personal search for meaning and understanding.

Participants will come from a variety of backgrounds and age groups. They do not necessarily need to be religious, although they should genuinely be interested and open to the idea. They need to be willing to be cut off from the outside world for six weeks.

There will be some financial compensation. For more information, email us at monastery@ttpro.net for details. Or call us at 240-223-3445.

To complete and submit an application form, please go to our website www.tigertigress.com/monastery

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:
November 6th: As the air becomes crisp and cool, enjoy a ride through the colorful fall forest.
December 4th: Usher in the holiday season with a relaxing ride through the early winter woodlands of Maryland.
For further information, contact Patrick

ASGRA had 4 delegates who traveled across the country to Calgary, Canada on October 20-24 to attend the IGRA 2005 Convention. Trustee Michael Lentz led the small-but-solid delegation of Frank Harrell, Lonni La Bel and Matt Komornik (who did double duty as the Office Manager for the entire convention as well). The Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association was host to a wonderful weekend of events for delegates and partners alike. There were several cocktail parties (with delicious appetizers), shopping trips and visits to Banff for the Partners, a pub crawl, 2 wonderful luncheons with live entertainment and we even got some really good work done in between all the fun!

The revised Bylaws, Standing Rules and Rodeo Rules along with the committee reports will be available shortly on CD for each trustee to share with the organization. The Bylaws and Rodeo Rules Chairs have posted the changes from those committees out on the IGRA yahoo group list as well. Jennifer Vrana and Frank Harrell both received 2005 Directors Awards in recognition of their support of the International Gay Rodeo Association. Frank also received the 2005 IGRA Presidential Award for his outstanding contribution in forwarding the mission of IGRA during the 2005 season. Lonni La Bel had the honor of co-emceeing a fantastic IGRA Dance Competition as well. Next year, IGRA goes to Nashville for Convention. Think about becoming a delegate and representing your association - it's a fun and informative way to get to know more about both ASGRA and IGRA and to meet other wonderful folks from all over the USA and Canada.