From the President
IGRA University Coming in February
ByLaws Volunteers needed
Coosie's Corner Recipe of the month
My First Time By Anonymous Cowboy
Monthly Calendar What's happening

From the President

We have achieved something that hasn't happened since 2001. We have a full Board of Directors. Joining our ranks are Matt Komornik, Rodeo Events & Training Chair and Penny H., Fundraising Chair.

Your 2007 Board is the most diverse in the history of ASGRA. We have the entire GLBT and straight spectrums covered, as well as a mix of color, gender, age and nationality. Our ages span 33 years, from youngest to oldest. And if we include our Royalty Team, that number increases 37 years.

This board, YOUR board can accomplish much…but we need your help. While we have committee chairs, they need people that are willing to help out on all committees. The more people we have helping out, the better we will be as an organization.

One area where we need volunteers is on the Bylaws Committee. If you are able to help out with this task, please contact Tom L.

The budget was submitted to the membership for your approval. And I am pleased to say that we have an approved budget in place for 2007. Thanks to everyone that took the time to participate in that process by casting your votes.

I do have one sad bit of news to relate to you. Our IGRA Trustee, Lonni LaBel has had to step down from that position. Work got the better of her time and in the best interest of ASGRA, she found it necessary to step down.

The board has appointed Mike Benner as our interim Trustee. The position of Trustee will be voted on by the membership at our next regularly scheduled election, along with the offices of President and Treasurer.

I want to thank all those who served during 2006 on the board of directors, Gaither Pennington, Carvie Gillikin, Karl Klingener, Mary Lynn Logsdon, Mark Whiting and Lonni LaBel. Thank you for sharing your time and talents with us and for helping to make our association what it is today.

Mike S.
ASGRA President

ASGRA Business Members

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David Pool

IGRA University 2007 is ready to rodeo!

• New and Exciting Curriculum
• Simplified Degree Program
• More Arena Training

Online Registration, Hotel Information, Curriculum and Instructor Information: http://www.igra.com/University/index.htm

For additional information, email Brian Rogers at

IGRA University is a great way to learn more about rodeo. Everything from how to hold effective meetings, to producing a profitable rodeo, to how to hold fundraisers, to learning more about Royalty and Gender Diversity will be discussed.

If you wanted to get more involved on both a local or International level of rodeo, this is a great place to do that. In the 2007 budget, we have funds set aside to cover your tuition fees. If you have an interest in attending IGRA University 2007, contact me for more information on how to obtain those funds.

Mike S.

Volunteers Needed!!!

We need at least two volunteers from General Membership…more if you can join us…to read and submit changes to our By-Laws and Standing Rules. The Board has agreed to accept me, Tom, as Chair. And after no-arm twisting I have two wonderful people from the Board as members to the By-Laws Committee…these are Jymmye J. and Jon H. Now I need two volunteers from the General Membership. I promise to make the experience as easy as possible. Come join us. We need your help and assistance. This is a means of you helping your Association.

I can be reached at .

Thanks,
Tom

Coosie's Corner

For the Lettuce Wedge recipe check the February newsletter

An open faced smothered turkey sandwich for bunch. A famous dish at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.

Ingredients

½ cup butter
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 egg, beaten
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 tomato, thinly sliced
1 pound thinly sliced cooked turkey
8 slices bread, toasted
8 slices bacon, cooked

In a large skillet, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to absorb all of the butter. Slowly whisk in the milk, and 6 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Stir in the egg to thicken the sauce, but do not allow to boil. Remove from heat, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Heat remaining tablespoon of butter in a small skillet. Saute mushrooms in the butter until soft. Set aside.

Preheat your oven's broiler. For each Hot Brown, place two slices of toast onto a heat proof plate or dish. Cover the toast with about 1/4 cup sauteed mushrooms and a couple of tomato slices. Place a liberal amount of turkey onto each Hot Brown, and pour an even more liberal amount of sauce over. Smother that baby. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over the top.

Place under the broiler until the sauce is speckled brown and bubbly. Remove from broiler, criss-cross two slices of bacon on top, and serve!

ASGRA History In Review

My First Time
By Anonymous Cowboy

I want to tell you about my first time. It happened yesterday and I still can't sit very easily. My butt's pretty sore and I'm walking a little funny today. They always said your first time would be like this, but I never believed them. Boy, was I wrong. It all started like this:

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, cold and crisp with just a few wisps of clouds in the sky. The sun seemed brighter than it had been in weeks. Everything was perfect for an afternoon in the country.

My "partner" and I started out easily enough down a worn but familiar (to him, apparently) trail which led into the nearby woods. There was no one else in sight once we got inside the trees. We were on our own and it felt great. Checking out the terrain, my "partner" and I started down a hill.

Now, I have to explain one thing: my "partner", I soon found out, can be pretty stubborn. Whenever he wanted a drink, we stopped. Whenever he wanted to piss, we stopped. And it took a lot of practice on my part to let him know exactly where I wanted to go. But that's what relationships are all about: communications and compromise.

Anyway, we were actually getting along great. I'd pet him every now and then (I knew he liked that). All-in-all, we had a fairly slow, amiable walk.

After a short tour of a nearby clearing, we headed back into the woods and were suddenly overtaken by a posse of our friends. Greetings were exchanged and pleasantries shared. One friend and his "partner" soon took off on a run. Well, wouldn't you know it, without any regard for my feelings, my "partner" was on my friend's "partner's" tail in a second. Down the hill and out into the clearing we ran without so much as a breather.

My "partner" apparently wanted to buck because things were getting pretty rough. So there, with the rest of the gang watching in full view, I was repeatedly pounded. I tried to ease myself off him, but that only lasted a few seconds and I was forced back down onto him. Holy cow, and I thought this was going to be easy.

Well after a little practice and getting use to, I actually kink of liked it and we fell into a nice rhythm. We'd slow down for a while, and then when I wanted to go fast, he obliged. It didn't even bother me anymore that we had an audience. It was nice having a little moral support.

After awhile, he started to get tired, although he didn't want to admit it. I think I could have stayed on for hours, except for the beating my backside took. As a friend remarked, "Men wern't meant to have their legs spread that far for that long." Maybe, maybe not.

So much for my first horse ride at Piscataway stable. And like every good ride, I can't wait to do it again!

The February newsletter deadline is January 28. Send your articles to