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Finally, printed below is the unapproved version of the
October 15, 2005 meeting minutes:
Big Sky Fox Trotter Association
Minutes for October 15, 2005 meeting,
12:00 p.m., Jan and Ray Prill's home, Helena, MT
Call to order: President Ross Damrow called the meeting to order at 12:45
p.m., following lunch. Attending the meeting were Ross, secretary Karen
Philips, directors Kristina Tracer (western region), Mary Greene (central
region), and Neil Peterson (at large representative), and members Mary
Auger, Jerry Christison, Ann Damrow, Bill Free, Gail Hansen, Lilia Hansen,
Joyce Johnson, Bill Inama, Jan Prill, Ray Prill, Mariann Wheat, and Jack
Womack. Also attending was guest Michael Hummert. Michael and Vonnie
Campbell joined the club at this meeting. Welcome to Michael and Vonnie,
and thank you, Jan and Ray, for hosting the meeting.
Minutes: Jerry Christison moved and Kristina Tracer seconded that the
August 27, 2005 minutes be approved. Motion passed.
Treasurer’s report: Karen Philips reported for treasurer Donna Goss. The
ending balance was $2,372.92 through October 15, 2005. The bill from
Ravalli Country Fairgrounds for the show was higher than previous years.
Ross will review all the charges with the fair staff. The show committee
can compare prices with other facilities too. Ann Damrow moved and Mary
Auger seconded that the treasurer’s report be approved. Motion passed.
Donna Goss and Joyce Johnson will form a budget committee to develop a
2006 budget. Contact Donna Goss (406-961-3119 or mrg1947m@netscape.net) if
you want to serve on the committee or if you have budget information to
submit.
Committee Reports:
Trail Rides: Ross reported for Thea Gervais, trail committee chair. Ross
thanked Mary Auger for hosting the Big Horn Basin Fox Trotter Association
(BHBFTA) trail ride in the Crazy Mountains area on August 6-7, which was
enjoyed by all who participated.
Ross reviewed the rules for national rides which are that we are limited
to three rides between us and the Big Horn Basin Fox Trotter Association.
Members discussed potential areas for next year's rides. Jan Prill, Mary
Greene, and Ross will work with Thea to organize a ride in the Bob
Marshall Wilderness. Another area being considered is the Lost Trail Lodge
area, near the Idaho border. Suzanne Nebeker also said at the August
meeting that people who participated on the ride she organized would like
to plan another one.
Ross wants to see more involvement from members from other areas of the
state and we will have to work hard to do that. Mary Greene agreed to
contact some members in other areas to get feedback from them. One popular
idea was to combine a meeting with a trail ride: Meet at someone's house (Mariann
Wheat volunteered her place) or at a trailhead, hold the meeting, and then
go on a ride. Ross Damrow will contact Bozeman members about this idea.
Contact Thea Gervais at 406-642-6546 or mtgervais@hotmail.com if you have
other trail ride ideas.
Clinics: Ross reported for Mark Goss, clinics chair. Jan Prill and Mary
Greene will scout for clinicians and facilities in the Helena area and
will contact Mark with their information. Ross will contact Vaughn Clutter
for possible clinics in the eastern area.
Jane Zubia will be in Corvallis this spring (possibly in March, April or
May) and before the July 21-22 show. She will train riders, horses, and
horses and riders together and will work at Mark and Donna's arena.
Contact Mark Goss at 406-961-3119 or
mrg1947m@netscape.net for information
on clinics.
Show: Karen and Ross presented sponsorship plaques to Pete Peterson, owner
of N Hanging P Foxtrotters, for the High Point Youth Championship and to
Mary Auger, who will deliver a plaque to Teresa Powell. owner of Clyde
Park Tavern, for the Amateur Two-Gait Championship. All plaques have been
or will be delivered to the remaining championship sponsors.
Youth Committee: Jack Womack, Youth Committee Chair, reported that he met
with Mark Goss before the 2005 show to develop a mission statement and
determine the requirements for recognition by Ava of a youth club as a sub
group of BSFTA. At the annual January 21 meeting he will report on the
mission statement and present an outline of the process so far. Karen
Philips will send him a list of current youth members. Pete suggested
holding a youth meeting at the show, and Jack plans to do that and hold
additional meetings too. Jack doesn't want to limit membership to those
who own fox trotters and members agreed.
If you have or know of children (or grandchildren) who might be interested
in the youth club, contact Jack Womack at 406-549-4344 or
jackwomack@hotmail.com.
Old Business: None
New Business:
Nominations: The following members have agreed to run or have been
nominated for office or director positions:
President: Ross Damrow
Vice-President: Bob Womack and Mark Goss
Secretary: Karen Philips
Treasurer: Donna Goss
Western Director: Bill Free and Kristina Tracer
Central Director: Mary Greene
Eastern Director: Vaughn Clutter and Lyle Hansen
At-Large Directors: Jerry Christison, Mark Goss, Gail Hansen, and Ole
Netteberg
Ross and Karen will contact all members who were nominated to confirm
whether they are willing to run or not. Ballots will be mailed out by Nov.
1 and must be returned by Dec. 1. Jerry Christison noted that because
BSFTA members are so widespread across Montana and other states, it was
decided by the organization early on to have five directors so that they
could get together with the officers and make decisions as needed, without
always holding regular membership meetings.
Intermountain Regional High Point Versatility Horse and Rider Circuit:
Ross and Mary Auger coordinated discussion for Suzanne Nebeker, our MFTHBA
representative and MFTHBA versatility committee member. Members received
copies of the rules and forms for the circuit, and Ross and Mary presented
information and fielded questions. The following concerns and questions
were raised:
If shows must offer competition for youth, amateur, and open for each
versatility and ranch horse class, this will require a lot of awards and a
lot of time. One question asked was if there is any way to combine the
divisions in each class so the show will go faster. The sponsorships could
be limited to one sponsor for the class rather than 2, and definitely not
3.
Rule # 7: Can a horse compete in two divisions in two different years? Can
the horse win in one division one year and compete in a different division
the next year? Can a person compete on two different horses?
Why is a regional competition limited to 3 shows? Members want all
regional shows that offer versatility points classes who apply to be in
the circuit to be included.
Why do competitors have to compete in Ava for a regional award? This is
costly and sometimes impossible for competitors in our region. The award
should be regional because members want the competition to be inclusive.
Why do the shows have to offer ranch horse classes? This is difficult for
some shows and it won't affect the points earned by competitors if they
are allowed the same opportunities for accumulating points in the region.
They get ranch horse points at some shows and not others.
Why and how were the specific versatility classes chosen for circuit
competition?
Who will be calculating the points? It should be a group of
non-competitors who do this and the group should be representative of the
region. Everyone should be very clear on the correct formula for
calculating the points.
After extensive discussion, Jerry Christison moved and Mary Auger seconded
that we table further discussion on the Intermountain Circuit until the
annual January meeting. In the meantime, newly elected directors and
officers will discuss this further and make recommendations to the
membership at that meeting. Motion passed.
2006 Show: Ross and Ann Damrow volunteered to be show co-chairs. Donna
Goss will be show secretary, Gail Hansen will chair awards, and Karen
Philips will chair sponsors. Volunteers to help Mark Goss with announcing
are Pete Peterson and possibly Steve Benedict. Gail, 2005 show chair, will
assist Ross and Ann as needed. Other show responsibilities will be decided
by the show committee. If interested in helping, contact Ross at
406-961-4321 or rossdamrow@montana.com.
Mary Auger suggested we look at the numbers of participants in classes
during the last few years and eliminate classes with fewer than three
people, or combine classes as needed. Pete suggested a stock charge for
cow classes. The cow class charge in Ava was $30 per contestant.
BSFTA Awards/Celebration Dinner: The location is again at the Missoula
Country Club on November 12. Annette Padgett mailed invitations to all
current members, and Karen Philips provided her with a list of charter and
other early members who are not members now.
NILE Show: Pete Peterson received correspondence on the October 2006 NILE
show and he will e-mail Ross with the information. BSFTA has participated
at the show in the past, and members feel it is worth our involvement
again. We set up a booth and market the breed and our organization. Thea
has the display board for the booth and it is a very nice one. The show is
well attended, and it is good exposure for our organization and the breed.
Jerry suggested we get involved in other shows too, but unfortunately most
of the other shows and expos are no longer happening. Fairs are still
viable sites for setting up a booth.
Correspondence: Karen read letters from Les and Judy Mattfield and Steve
and Donna Benedict. Les and Judy thanked us for the get well card and for
members' thoughts and prayers during Les' recovery from a heart attack.
Steve and Donna's daughter Carrie has been fighting a tough battle after
stomach surgery, and they thanked us for our support of her during
recovery. Please continue your thoughts and prayers for Carrie.
Next meeting: The next meeting is January 21, 2006, in Missoula. Meeting
location is to be arranged. For more information, contact Ross at
406-961-4321 or rossdamrow@montana.com.
Meeting was adjourned at 2:50.
Karen Philips, Secretary
This information was sent to members by:
Karen Philips
Secretary, BSFTA
725 Mihara Lane
Corvallis, MT 59828
406-961-0101 |
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