Rockbridge Hunt Newsletter -- June 1999

You have generously given permission to the Rockbridge Hunt to ride over your property and we are very grateful. You are given a full membership of the Hunt with rights and privileges equivalent to dues-paying members. You have "riding privileges" which include the right to designate one adult family member or married couple as riding member(s) of the Rockbridge Hunt and the receipt of a fixture card which serves as an invitation to hunt. Use of the riding ring at the Hunt's property and use of the riding trails on Hunt's property and the Hunt, Inc. common property are additional member benefits. You have "voting privileges" which means you have the right to designate one person to vote at the Hunt's meetings of the general membership. This person may be a family member or someone else designated by proxy. You have "social privileges" which means you will be invited to all of the Hunt's social functions and will be welcome at any events to which the general membership is invited (hunt breakfasts, the biennial Hound Show & Kentucky Derby Party, the annual Horse Show, etc.). There is an annual dinner provided by the Hunt's Executive Committee to honor you as some of our most important Hunt supporters.

If you would be interested in following the hunt in a vehicle, please speak to someone on the Executive Committee, well in advance, and we'll try to make arrangements. Some areas are obviously more accessible than others and sometimes ground conditions make car following impossible. Thank you.

1999 Rockbridge - Glenmore Hound Show Results

Our thanks to Farm Choice (in Staunton) and The Highland Company for their generous donation of "The Pride" dog food. The judge for the show was Mr. Coleman P. Perrin, MFH. The Rockbridge Hunt is grateful for his gracious and patient assistance and for his informative comments. Glenmore Hunt will be hosting this show in 2000. Results and pictures are also on a separate page.

Single dog, unentered 1. Glenmore Ballad 2. Rockbridge Wizard 3. Glenmore Banjo 4. Glenmore Bagle 5. Glenmore Bashful Couple of dogs, unentered 1. Glenmore Ballad and Glenmore Banjo 2. Rockbridge Wizard and Rockbridge Cody 3. Glenmore Angler and Glenmore Able 4. Glenmore Bagle and Glenmore Bashful Single dog, entered 1. Glenmore Bandit 2. Rockbridge Turtle 3. Glenmore Zach 4. Rockbridge Timber 5. Rockbridge Lazer Couple of dogs, entered 1. Glenmore Zach and Glenmore Zoro 2. Rockbridge Lazer and Rockbridge Turtle

Single bitch, unentered 1. Rockbridge Willow 2. Glenmore Ariel 3. Rockbridge Witch Couple of bitches, unentered 1. Rockbridge Witch and Rockbridge Willow Single bitch, entered 1. Glenmore Barley 2. Glenmore Raisin 3. Rockbridge Thistle 4. Rockbridge Lollipop Couple of bitches, entered Class cancelled. Favorite Old Hound Class 1. Glenmore Trimmer 2. Rockbridge Cricket 3. Glenmore Jalen Pack Class (5 couple) Pronounced a tie.

Unapproved Minutes of the 1999 Meeting of the Rockbridge Hunt Membership

President Frank Farmer called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.
The minutes from the 1998 meeting were read and passed.
The treasurers report was presented and passed with the comment that the proposed budget for 1999-2000 was only a suggestion on how the executive committee could spend money. It was also noted that a new roof has been installed and paid for which was not budgeted for in the 1998 budget.

Old business

Masters report: MFH David Bolen reported that we had a fun year even if slightly lacking in quarry. He thanked the membership for all the volunteer help with the year's activities, and thanked the hunt staff for their hard work. David also said that he will schedule joint hunts with Bath County, OakRidge, Bedford and Glenmore. He also mentioned our continuing good relationship with our immediate neighbor Glenmore.

A current hound list was passed around. We have 26 entered hounds.

Peg Russell inquired about a vaccine for foxes for rabies. Kathy Eichelberger said that rabies vaccines are tightly controlled and there are no approved vaccines for foxes.

The Hunt Ball report: Nancy Conner reported that we made money on the 1999 version and thanked everyone who donated items for the silent auction and thanked the folks doing the purchasing. Buster Lewis has agreed to head up the Hunt Ball committee for 2000. Frank Farmer also added that Glenmore Hunt has suggested a joint Hunt Ball at the Homestead in Hot Springs. Frank also added that he declined the offer.

June Hunter Show Report (1999): Joan Alberti reported that the prize lists are printed and delivered same to be mailed to the membership. She also commented that profit depends on the weather to a certain extent although Fancy Hill Farm does have an indoor ring. The show has been well sponsored (at $10 a class). The Food committee reported that they are organizing the concession stand this year and will be contacting the membership for help. Wilson Shepard also commented that he is still looking for able bodies to help with each of the two rings at two hour shifts (setting jumps mostly).

Endurance Ride (1999): Kathy Eichelberger and Frank Farmer reported that the 1998 version had 104 riders making it the 4th largest endurance on the east coast. The date for the 1999 ride is September 5, 1999 again at Zollman's pavilion. The veterinarian staff will be Kathy and Stan Eichelberger, Todd Burdock and Randy Darton. Farrier on call will be David Conner. Jeannie Jeffer will be feeding the masses.

Hound Show Report: Carol Atwood said that it was an excellent party. Although other local hunts were invited, only Glenmore brought hounds to show. The kennels were cleaned (outside) and some electrical work was done in preparation. Hound show 2000 will he held at Glenmore.

A membership drive was suggested. Some discussion of the initiation fee occurred. The executive committee can set the fee to any amount they desire, but the by-laws require that there be a fee. A new position of membership secretary was suggested. It was commented that the executive committee can appoint such as position as they see fit, but to make it a voting position would require a change of the bylaws.

The nominating committee presented the slate for the 1999-2000 executive board. The whole slate was voted on as presented. The new board is as follows:

MFH - David Bolen
President - Frank Farmer
Secretary- Erica Jones
Treasurer - Cindy Morton
Steward - Carol Atwood
Steward - Pete Whitlock

The other two stewards, Kathy Eichelberger and Lauren Keating, will continue in their positions.

New business:

Peggy Russell reported on the agricultural district being proposed for Hunt Inc. landowners. She asked the Hunt, as a member of Hunt Inc, to consider signing up. Carol Atwood said that she would talk to the county administrator concerning questions members raised about kennel buildings and a concession stand.

Lois Farmer thanked the rest of the kitchen committee for all their hard work (Nancy Conner, Carol Atwood, Lauren Keating, Viola Wise, Jeannie Jeffer and Judy Mundy. She said that Dick Ford acted as an unofficial member.

Dick Ford reported from the grounds committee that Wilson and D D Shepard have been hard at work enlarging the parking lot. He hopes to get rid of the semi-permanent puddle in the lot. Dick also hopes to get some of the rotting ring fence posts replaced.

Gene Clapsaddle brought up concerns related to the last newsletter stating that as an honorary MFH, he is entitled to vote on the executive committee. Gene stated that he thought the bylaws do not include an honorary MFH on the executive committee. He would like to see this discrepancy, as he sees it, be fixed in the near future.

There was a suggestion to coax new members into parting with a photo of themselves to run in the newsletter.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9 p.m.

Correction Concerning Officers of the Executive Committee

Blair Jones, Newsletter Committee Chairman

Dr. Clapsaddle brought to the attention of the membership at the May 1999 meeting that the April 1999 news letter declared in error that the Executive Committee includes Honorary Masters. My search through past minutes of the general and Executive Committee meetings found the following:

Minutes of the Annual Meeting, May 13, 1983:
Under new business, Mr. Farmer, Chairman of the nominating committee which also consists of Mrs. Anne Mish and Mr. Curtis Kirby, presented their slate of nominations for officers. First of all, the nominating committee recommended that Miss Wise by unanimously elected as Honorary Master, the title Mr. "Tex" Tilson already held. It was recommended that the President appoint an adhoc committee to investigate the By-Laws as we should have an Advisory Board consisting of the Honorary Masters, Tex Tilson and Viola Wise because it would not be wise not to utilize the expertise of those two. Dr. Clapsaddle stated that we should make certain without any question that the advisory committee will be voting members of the Executive Committee.

Minutes of the Annual Meeting, May 12, 1993. New Business:
David Bolen made a motion to elect Gene as honorary master, Frank Hartis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Unfortunately, the records of Tex Tilson's last season as Master including the minutes of the May 1970 membership meeting are not in the secretary's collection so I have no written history discussing the privileges bestowed to our first Honorary Master. I assumed "Honorary Masters" have privileges of a Master with none of the responsibilities. I paraphrase Dr. Clapsaddle, "Since the By-Laws explicitly list officers, but do not mention "Honorary Master" in the make up of the Executive Committee, interpreting the By-Laws to include Honorary Masters as members of the Executive Committee is inappropriate."

I offer my sincerest apologies to Miss Wise, Dr. Clapsaddle, and members of the Executive Committee for confusing the membership with my previous newsletter article. For the past four years when I served as steward, the Honorary Masters were recognized as voting advisors by administrative action of the Executive Committee with unanimous approval of the committee members.

Future Foxhunters

Carol Atwood has been training and encouraging some of the future foxhunters. She's been taking a few members of the Rockbridge Hunt Pony Club out on trail rides to get Pony Clubbers and their equines used to the wide open spaces and things like creek crossings. You may have seen some of her charges at the summer trail rides.

Carol is preparing to offer her services to other young riders in the area, including Pony Clubs and 4-H groups. She's interested in working with any groups in the geographic area from which the Rockbridge Hunt draws members. (For example, future foxhunters from the Staunton area work with the Glenmore Hunt.)

As well as the trail rides she is available to present informal, introductory lectures on the subject of foxhunting. If you know of any youngsters who might benefit from these kinds of activities please let Carol know about them or encourage them to get in touch with her.

More trail rides scheduled!

Trail ride and pot luck at Zollman's Pavilion Sunday, June 27 at 2:30 PM. and eat at 5 - 5:30 PM.
Trial ride and pot luck at Jones's Sunday July 11, ride at 3:30 PM and eat at 5:30 - 6 PM.
Trial ride and pot luck at Broadview on Saturday, July 24. Come early and relax with a swim in the pond. Eat at 4 PM. and ride at 6 PM.

And don't forget the REAL trail ride coming up over Labor Day weekend. Kevin Baird and Brenda Ratcliff are the folks to contact for ride information. Members are encouraged to leg up their horses and give this a try. It can be quite fun especially if you take the philosophy of 'to finish is to win'.

June Hunter Show

Good weather, good food, a nice facility and lots of nice horses arrived at Fancy Hill in early June at our annual hunter show. A couple of RH members were even seen showing their horses - among the brave (i.e. willing to make a display in public) were Susan Conner, Diana Bunting, Joan and Nick Alberti, Marian Pittman, and Erica Jones. Divisions were well filled with riders coming from Blacksburg to Stauton. This show has traditionally been a 'warm up' for the Roanoke Valley show that starts the following weekend (at least for those folks who take these things seriously). RH would like to thank Hellen Young and Janet Wynot for donating the hot dogs and hamburgers to sell at the food booth. Also thanks are due to the food committee members who personed the refreshments (including our MFH), Pam Moscow for those divine moose-sized chocolate cookies, to DD and Lola Shepard for lassoing the in-gate help. At press time we don't have a complete volunteer list but we can report that Cindy Morton and Blair Jones were seen opening the gate & replacing misplaced jump poles. Anyone knowing of any other volunteers I've not mentioned please let me know.

Contact your Executive Committee

David Bolen
Frank Farmer
Cindy Morton
Erica Jones
Kathy Eichelberger
Lauren Keating
Carol Atwood
Pete Whitlock
Please contact any of these folks if you have any concerns, problems, questions, etc., etc.

Unapproved Minutes from Executive Committee Meeting
June 2, 1999

President Frank Farmer called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Present: David Bolen, Frank Farmer, Cindy Morton, Erica Jones, Kathy Eichelberger, Carol Atwood, Lauren Keeting and Viola Wise.

Treasurer's report (Cindy Morton). Dues still owed for 1998-9 are $2865. Cindy also passed around a count of members by category. David Bolen promised a list of landowners for RH. Balance is the same as it was at annual meeting plus the $175 brought in from first trail ride. Cindy is planning to bill for 1999-0 season around July 15th.

Carol Atwood brought up question of giving David Conner a raise and the related question of the increase in their health insurance policy. David B and Cindy M agreed to research the amount the policy increased and any problems. Cindy reported that Jay Moore had concerns that we are not paying David C. minimum wage.

Agricultural/Forest District - Carol A. reports that the 'rules' can be written by the members of the district. No 'rules have been written yet. No vote on joining or not joining district.

David B. - Nancy Conner was approached by the loggers concerning cutting some cedars on Hunt property. Discussion tabled.

Frank F. - suggested that the executive committee make 'inactive ' status go away and consider member's petitions on a case by case yearly basis. General discussion to suggest to the membership that inactive members become social members. General agreement that social members can cap three times per year in spite of by-laws stating that 'social members do not ride'. Discussion on changing member status in by-laws.

Discussion of Blair Jones' proposal to form an advisory committee consisting of honorary MFHs, and annually agree to have them as voting members of the executive committee. Frank F. agreed to contact Gene Clapsaddle to invite him to executive meetings.

Carol A. asked if we should be getting waivers signed before anyone rides on trail ride or in hunt. Commented that we are 'losing' prospective members' addresses when they show up for trail rides and we have no clue what their names and addresses might be. David B. said he has copies of the waivers.

Discussion of appointing Blair Jones as 'field secretary' to chase folks down to sign waivers. No vote.

Discussion of having secretary Erica Jones contact all executive committee members to remind of meetings. Pete Whitlock was not informed of the June meeting in a timely manner.

Next meeting will be at Frank & Louis Farmer's abode in Fincastle July 7th 7:30 p.m.

Members adjourned to the Farmer's kitchen for refreshments.

Rockbridge Hunt
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