TxPFHA Update
May 2002
 

Sorry for the late newsletter, folks! We�ve got a temporary editor here, and I�m going to try to keep sending a monthly news update. We�re trying out both an electronic format (via email) and a hard copy format. The email saves us a lot of money, as newsletters get pretty expensive considering postage and we don�t have a lot of money at this time. If you can get word to me which format you want sent to you, I�ll try to accommodate. But please remember email saves us money. I�ll give you the future, the present, and the past.

Let�s start with upcoming EVENTS:

On May 4^th we�ll be riding in the Cinco de Mayo Parade in downtown Houston! We got a last minute invitation so news is sparse at this time. If you need more info at this time, call Gail (713-433-8029).

On May 11^th we have the greatest Trail Ride of all Time starting at Ken Sanders� place, in the Lake Houston area. It starts at 10:00am sharp! There is a cost of $10 to go toward the insurance for this ride. Bring a dish to share & enjoy yourself. Ken�s address is 602 Winchester Bend, Huffman, TX 77336. For information contact Joanne Terry at jmterry468@msn.com or Ken Sanders at 281-324-4838.

On June 1^st is the Great TxPFHA All-Gaited FUN SHOW! This time the show will be held at Nancy Flick�s place in Cat Spring, for all those that couldn�t make the last show on the south side of town. We have even more fun classes than ever �

Contact Gail (713-433-8029) for the showbill.

PRESENTLY, we are working on an awards system. An awards banquet can be way too much fun to pass up, & we want to recognize all the members who participate in the TxPFHA events. We want to give out awards for Parades, Trail Rides, Shows & Competitions, Drill Teams, Volunteer of the Year, and Sportsmanship of the Year. Is there someone who would like to help design this program? Please contact Kitty Harvey at 713-862-2423 or kitty.harvey@GrantPrideco.com

PASTLY (OK, I made that up), we had a wonderful Christmas Party in January at Donna & Mickey�s. Everyone should have Christmas parties in January. Life is so much easier then. We had a wonderful time exchanging & stealing gifts from each other. Mickey�s BBQ was to utterly delicious! Much thanks go out to the Beddingfields for once again hosting a wonderful time.

We also had a great location for our booth at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo! We started with Rodeo Parade in downtown Houston. The directors were very pleased (and impressed) with our presentation. Cathy Starbuck really knows how to organize a group into tip-top shape. Our booth was located in the AstroHall itself & got a lot more visitors than the AstroArena locations.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Happy New Year!  As we enter our second year as a club, we look back at all we have accomplished, and looking back makes the future look great.  In our first year we were able to have a great website full of information about our club and what we planned, have a first ever Dressage for Pasos Clinic, have numerous trail rides, have Nancy�s farm form the Texcelente Drill Team, have social events (remember the first ever truck/tractor/truck pull at Donna and Mickey�s?), sponsor a charity event FUN show, be in a bunch of parades and just have fun together.  Whew.  We were busy and I have only mentioned some of the things we did.

Now we have a new board and I am exciting about the possibilities 2002 holds for us.  We are fiscally sound and made our second annual premium for our insurance.  We will be putting together budgets and we will be developing a program for our youth.  We are having a FUN show June 1^st that will be our major fundraiser.  We will continue to have clinics and trail rides and our first major trail ride is May 11 at Ken and Jo Sanders.  This ride should help defray the costs of our insurance.  Nancy Flick has graciously volunteered to publish our newsletter again, and we appreciate her hard work.  All these things are planned and the year has just begun.  WOW. 

We all owe a special thanks to both Cathy Starbuck and Mickey Beddingfield for their efforts in getting this club off the ground.  Cathy is remaining on the board as Vice President and Mickey is going to ride his horse (but of course he�ll be volunteering wherever he can).

We are all out there promoting the Paso Fino breed and truly enjoying our special horses.  Remember, if you haven�t renewed your membership, now is the time.  There is a membership form on the website � txpfha.org, so if you need to renew, just drop your renewal form and dues to Donna Beddingfield.  I hope to see our club continue its growth.  I believe we have only begun and that our future as a club is really bright.  With members like you, who can do better?

If you need to get in touch with me, my home number is (713) 433-8029 or you can email me at my home email address:  GailKeller@msn.com.  Like all horse people, we�re rarely home before 9 pm, so give me a day to get back to you.  I�ll try to respond to your emails as soon as possible.

Again, on behalf of your new board, thanks for your confidence.  We�re going to have a wonderful year.

Peace and love,

Gail

Texas Paso Fino Horse Association Board Meeting at Ryan�s Steakhouse in Conroe - March 21, 2002

Board Members present: Gail Keller, Donna Beddingfield, Darla Gips, Selena Foster, Kitty Harvey, Nancy Flick, Terry Williamson. Other Members: Jesse Rivera, Bob Keller, Gina Williamson, Doug Gips, Desire Gips

Meeting was called to order at 7:40 pm

Treasurer�s Report

Donna gave the treasurer�s report. Our current balance is $1,497.39. This includes a refund that we will be receiving from PFHA and payment for the Rodeo Booth. Our taxes will be filed shortly.

Oct 2001 PFHA board Meeting Report

Gail reported that our application for regional recognition from PFHA in October 2001 was turned down. We will continue as a registered organization in the State of Texas to promote the Paso Fino breed and will continue to organize activities for our members.

Rodeo Booth Report

Gail reported that SWPFHA never checked in at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo so TxPFHA was able to get a booth. The board agreed that having the booth gave us a lot of exposure and we would like to have a booth again next year. Selena reported that The Horse Connection saw our booth and would like to have us listed in their publication. They would also like to publish our events for us. Selena will contact them to give them our information.

Awards

Although the awards chairperson could not make this meeting, Gail suggested awards should be given in at least 4 categories: Parades, Trail Rides, Shows, and The Texcelentes. Categories & Awards will be firmed up at a later meeting.

Membership

Membership reported that we have 46 current members, but we expect more renewals to be coming in.

Trail Rides

Our trail ride will take place May 11^th  at Ken Sanderson�s place. It was decided to charge a $10 fee for members to go towards our insurance fund and everyone is asked to bring a dish to share. Our Fun Show is scheduled for June 1^st.

Parades

Nancy Flick proposed invoicing members who are involved with extra activities, such as public performances, an extra fee, to be dedicated toward insurance and that specific activity�s account. Parade committee announced a possible parade on April 6^th in Crosby. They are also checking on another in June.

Meeting adjourned at 9:25pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Kitty Harvey, Secretary