Big Sky Fox Trotter Association

Minutes for September 23, 2006 meeting,

12:00 p.m., Jokers Wild Casino, Missoula, MT

Minutes: Kristina Tracer moved and Mark Goss seconded that the April 1, 2006 minutes be approved as printed in the last newsletter.  Motion passed

Ross reported for treasurer Marie Clutter.  The ending balance as of 9/09/06 is $5,122.98.  This includes $13,355.00 in income and $10,119.39 in expenses, combined with our previous balance.  There are some show expense still outstanding which should not exceed $1,000.  Ann Damrow moved and Kristina Tracer seconded that the treasurer’s report be approved.  Motion passed. 

Clinics: Mark Goss, clinics chair, reported that he is working on a cow clinic tentatively scheduled for early November.  He will let members know when that is ready to go.

Mark discussed the Helena clinic which took place May 13. There was a great turnout (about 30 people), excellent training tips, an awesome facility and a great opportunity for camaraderie.  It was organized by Mary Greene, Marianne Wheat and Jan Prill, and he thanked them for their efforts.  Mary Greene submitted a story and photos of the clinic which appeared in the September issue of the Journal.  Mark will pursue additional clinics/schooling shows or one day shows in the Helena and Bozeman areas.

Contact Mark at 406-961-3119 or mrg1947m@netscape.net if you have clinic ideas.

Ross reported for trail ride chair Thea Gervais.  The Bob Marshall/Scapegoat ride took place on July 1-2 and was organized by Mary Greene, Jerry Christison and Jan & Ray Prill.  Twenty plus riders participated and the scenery and trails were beautiful.  The weather was excellent and everyone had a great time.

The Crazy Creek national trail ride was organized by Thea and held on August 18-20.  Dan and Jeanine Nelson led the rides and the weather was warm, but bees were a real problem for horses and riders.  We had a nice turnout of riders from as far away as Minnesota and Missouri.

Gary Becker has volunteered to organize next year’s co-hosted National Trail Ride in the Sunlight Basin area of Wyoming.  We have traditionally co-hosted one National Trail Ride with the Big Horn Basin Fox Trotter Club which Gary is a member of, and it is the Big Horn Basin Club’s turn to host next year.  We thank Gary for taking on the organization of this popular ride.

The Curt Bates and Laurie DeMarois Memorial Trail Ride (after the show) took place July 23 in the Lost Horse area, at the conversion dam.  Twenty-eight riders participated (including our judges and show announcer Joyce Graening), the ride was led by Dan and Jeanine Nelson, and three people joined us for lunch, which was catered by Lost Horse Lodge.

Bob and Jack Womack will investigate the Garnet area for possible trail rides. 

Marianne Wheat has offered her ranch as a place for a combined meeting and ride.

Ross Damrow, show chair, reported on BSFTA's 2006 show held July 21-22.  Jan Prill, assisted by Mary Greene, was show secretary, and Ross thanked both of them for their excellent work.  Karen Philips read a humorous letter to members from Jan in which she thanked everyone for their support of a “newbie” show secretary.

Ross reported that there were 37 riders, 45 horses and 303 entries in 2005.  There were 45 riders, 59 horses and 358 entries in 2006.  We had an excellent turnout for our show.  There were 42 competitors in model, 108 in performance, 101 in versatility and 63 in ranch horse classes.

Sponsorship donations were $3,458 in 2005 and $4,605 in 2006.  Karen Philips thanked Ann Damrow for her huge help in contacting sponsors.  Ann brought in $1,000 and added 21 new sponsors, an amazing accomplishment. 

The drum that Catherine Hanson made and donated to the club as a fundraiser brought in $1,323 which was way beyond our expectation of $500.  Members thanked Catherine for her generosity in donating her drum.  They thanked Ann Damrow once again for selling hundreds of dollars worth of raffle tickets for the drum.  Ross also thanked Randy and Cathy Olson who also sold many raffle tickets.  The winner of the drum lives in Hamilton, MT and bought the first tickets that were printed and she bought lots of them!

Ann Damrow suggested we have another raffle item for next year’s show, and Randy and Cathy Olson volunteered to get information on obtaining National Finals Rodeo tickets as a prize.

Regarding publicity, members requested that next year we have a story in the Ravalli Republic, the local paper, highlighting our show.

With the fees paid for cow classes, we broke even despite an increased cost of $15 per cow (which is still a good price).  Overall, the show had income of $11, 058 and expenses of $8,660 for a profit of $2,398, with bills for awards and a few other bills still outstanding.  Those bills will bring us down to about $2,100 profit.  The club purchased several show items including a larger judges tent and eight walky-talkies.

Ross recommended that the 2007 officers and board quickly form a show facilities committee to explore locations for future shows, because many competitors want BSFTA to look at other facilities in addition to the fairgrounds.

2005 Affiliate of the Year Competition: Annette Padgett put together the club’s scrapbook which was a fabulous work of creativity.  We finished in the top 3 in the national competition.  Annette is considering whether or not to produce a  2006 scrapbook.  Bill Free moved and Mark Goss seconded that Annette compile a 2006 scrapbook for Affiliate of the Year competition.  Motion passed.  Assisting Annette are Kristina Tracer and Bobbi Dyrud.

National Versatility Report:  Mark Goss, a member of the National Versatility Committee, reported on the changes taking place for next year’s regional circuit competition.  It took more than 2 months to develop the new rules, with lots of negotiating back and forth.  The 2007 regional circuits will no longer have double points for competitors at the Ava Show & Celebration.  From 3 to 5 shows are allowed in the regional circuit, and there is no fee to MFTHBA for affiliates to participate as a circuit show.  Shows in a regional circuit will produce their own regional award; they are not required to provide a saddle.  The same minimum of the 8 classes required this year will be required in 2007.  There will be a regional circuit points keeper, who is not a competitor.  The circuit point system will be based on the number of competitors in the classes, with a maximum of 10 points for the winners.  At the end of regional circuit competition, regional winners will be announced, and the top 4 competitors in each division (youth, amateur and open) will qualify for national competition at the Ava Show & Celebration.  Competitors who want to participate in the regional circuit must apply before the first regular show they compete in.  Ranch classes don’t have to be required at regional circuit shows.

Contact National Versatility Committee members Mark (406-961-3119 or mrg1947m@netscape.net) and Suzanne Nebeker (208-756-7168 or moabnp@netscape.net) if you have circuit questions.

Ava Show & Celebration Results for BSFTA Members: Six BSFTA members traveled to Missouri to compete this year and they did exceptionally well.  Competitors were Mary Auger, Bill Free, Thea Gervais, Mark Goss, Suzanne Nebeker, and Jack Womack.  Mark reported that in 17 Amateur Versatility classes, our members won 12 first places, 10 seconds and 7 thirds.  They won 71% of the first places amid competition so tough it rivaled open competition levels.  People at the Ava show are now well aware of the versatility talent coming out of the West and specifically the Big Sky Fox Trotter Association.  In addition to all six competitors placing in various classes, the following members placed as follows in championship competition:  Jack Womack won Amateur Versatility Champion; Thea Gervais won Amateur Ranch Horse Champion and Amateur Versatility Reserve Champion ; Suzanne Nebeker won Open Ranch Horse Champion and Open Versatility Reserve Champion.  This was an outstanding showing by our members--congratulations to everyone!  Mark Goss will write a story with all the details for the newsletter and web site.

BSFTA Annual Banquet: Annette Padgett is checking to see if we can again schedule the Missoula Country Club for this event, and she will try to schedule it for Saturday, Nov. 4 or Nov. 11.   Kristina Tracer will make arrangements for a band.  Annette will mail invitations to members and to former founding members of the club also.  Kristina and Ann will assist Annette with banquet preparations and a Power Point presentation.

BSFTA Elections: Members have nominated candidates and have volunteered to run for office, and we have people running for all positions.  Ballots will be mailed by mid-October with a deadline of December 1, which is the same way we did it last year.  Newly elected officers will be installed at the annual meeting in January.

MFTHBA Elections: Members discussed the importance of voting in the national election and especially voting for candidates who have supported affiliates outside of Missouri.  There was unanimous support for the ballot measure to establish regional representation.  The ballot wording may not be perfect but members are 100% in favor of getting a regional voice on the MFTHBA board.  Karen will send an e-mail to members with recommendations from our National Versatility Committee members Mark Goss and Suzanne Nebeker, listing potential folks to vote for and reminding members to vote.

Letter to MFTHBA Regarding Canter Rule:  Bob Womack moved and Jack Womack seconded that BSFTA write a letter to the MFTHBA Board of Directors requesting that they enforce the rule which prevents excessive pumping of horses in the canter.  The rule is III. Standards of the Fox Trotting Horse, Section 4. Canter (page 8 in the Revised 2006 rule book) “... Excessive pumping of the horse will be penalized, by lowering the horse’s placing, when being judged.”  Motion passed.  Bob volunteered to write this letter.

Member News: Get well cards were circulated for Eastern Director Vaughn Clutter, who is recovering from a mini-stroke, and Jeanine Nelson, who is recuperating from surgery.

Next meeting: Ross thanked everyone for their participation, time, and attendance at the meeting.  The next meeting, our annual meeting, will be January 13, 2007 in Whitehall, MT, at the First Christian Church at 12:00.  Directions and reminder notices will be sent out before the meeting.  For more information, contact Ross at 406-961-4321 or rossdamrow@montana.com.  

Meeting was adjourned at 2:15.