Newsletter Committee:
A Busy Fall
Rockbridge Hunt had two major horse events this fall. The first event was our day of hosting Hunt Week (editor's note: this probably should be renamed Hunt Two-Weeks).
This year's Hunt Week for us started out at a new-to-us parking spot at the barn owned by Geri Wenz and Robert Wicklund. Starting at this location meant that we could easily hunt "across the road" from Montafon Farm. This fixture continues to be very popular with the hunt week riders and this year we were blessed with a very brisk chase to boot.
Fred Burks and Sandra Worthy -- also known as our hard working hunt week committee -- managed to find us a number of financial donors to help support expenses such as food, drink, and music. Hunt week does "pay" individual hunts for hosting a day, but having donors really helps in the planning as we never know exactly how much we will get from Hunt Week.
Our donors this year were Ted and Ann Beck, Rockbridge Farmers' Co-op (and they set up a small tack shop for the day upstairs in the barn much to some shoppers delight), Farm Credit, Jay Moore, Lucy Turner and Fred Burks. These folks helped to pay for our caterer "Blue Ridge Catering" and pay for the band "Gary Ruley & The Mule Train". The barn was supplied by Geri Wenz and Robert Wicklund. This structure has been redone with new (wood) siding and upstairs floor. They hope to be able to host some fund raising events for local non-profits besides maybe renting out for some more weddings. The 4 box stalls, wash stall and 2 foaling stalls on the ground floor are all new too.
We also had a lot of help (the physical labor type) from: Terry and Cynthia Secker, Ann Layman, Katie Wick (greeting rigs), Wilson Shepard (traffic and parking), Judy Mundy, and some clean up help by Laura Jarvis and Erica Jones. Laura also lent us her ever helpful tent which was set up to supply cover for the registration table.
If I missed some folks who helped out please accept my apologies let me know and I will certainly give you credit next newsletter.
Our second big event this fall was our first attempt (in recent memory, anyway) at putting on a Hunter Trials graciously hosted by Broadview Ranch. By all accounts it "went great" except for the small glitch of the public address system mis-functioning. Walkie-talkies were quickly substituted. Hunter Trials
The weather was great that day in spite of fairly rotten weather the day before AND the day after. Although the ground was muddy the footing held up well on the outside course over a hay field.
The organizers, Carol Atwood and Terry Whitmore, had help from Anita Claytor (ran the in-gate) and Laura Jarvis who did the food and Ann Howard supplied the stirrup cup (and what is a horse event without food, please tell me??). Terry had a lot of help from people from her own barn including Katie Coleman and Shelby Bingham. Also helping were landowner/spouses Alan Tilson and Larry Atwood. When I talked to both of the organizers they were ecstatic about how well the day appeared to go.
Carol Atwood is thinking hard about repeating the event in the spring . Broadview Ranch is continuing to build new jumps and expand the course. It is hoped that this spring there will be enough jumps to continue to have the existing 2' 6" course and add a lower one.
David Conner tells me that we still have a kennel full of hounds. Actually we now have seven more approximately 6 week old (they were born in early December) puppies. Alas the bitch Turkish had problems with the whole ordeal, was weaned off the puppies 2 1/2 weeks early; that vacation did not quite do the job and she was later spayed. It is reported that she is now doing much better. Tot was the sire and this batch will probably all have names starting with a "T". David is getting low on "T" names (and "W" names as Waffle had several litters of puppies several years ago). I was told that the Fox Hound Assoc. will send you a list of possible names sorted alphabetically for just this situation when you have a lot of offspring of parents whose name starts with the same initial. The other alternative is to break the rule of naming using the same first letter of the bitch and name the whole litter using a whole new letter. If I could be so bold to make a suggestion, the letter "E" is pretty under-employed and would make a great way to start the names of the litter David is planning for the spring. Hound News
In case you have been like me and have not been paying attention, our hunt ball is scheduled approximately a month later than its "normal" February date and this year will be MARCH EIGHTEENTH. We will again be collecting items for the silent auction. I know some folks have read this before from previous newsletters, but Rockbridge Hunt tries hard to keep the price of the hunt ball down and the silent auction does wonders to make up the difference in income. This is especially true in those years when attendance is down slightly (for what ever reason). Hunt Ball
A few details. Tickets will not go up in price ($55 per person) from last year's excellent rate as long as you pay as an "earlybird". Those who procrastinate and pay at the last minute (i.e. after our deadline) will be charged $65 per person. Look for your invitation to arrive in the 'snail mail' soon.
The band this year is Night Vision, and they come highly recommended by a hunt member although they have never played for us before. They play a wide variety of tunes. Cocktails and silent auction will begin at 6 pm; the buffet dinner will be served at 7:30 pm give or take.
Again this year Nancy Conner (463-9547) and Pam Moskal (989-3182 or swert22@cox.net) have volunteered to collect items from folks so the donations can be in hand before the day of. Erica Jones (544-7359) will also collect items in the Blacksburg area. Or if you bring them along when you come hunting someone will take it off your hands. If you get motivated Nancy and Pam certainly can use the help to solicit horse-related businesses in your area. Those businesses that donate items and services certainly get publicity with their donation(s) -- at the ball and in this newsletter..
Items that have been popular in the past have been virtually anything horse, hound or fox related. We also have some clever hunt members that can make really dandy things (crafts; baked items, decorative items, jewelry, gift baskets) and they are always appreciated. The donations committee would also like to respectfully suggest if anyone has a vacation home, condo or camping spot under-utilized in the coming year, that that would make a dandy auction item.
Thanks also need to go out to folks organizing and cooking for the two hunt breakfasts we had this fall (alas the "Christmas" breakfast got cancelled for all that white-frozen-ground-attire we had in December). Food Notes
For opening hunt Kathy Eichelberger and spouse Stan put together a smashing meal starting with roast pork and ending with pie and various other deserts. They had a bunch of other people helping out with bread, salads, drinks and appetizers. Kathy admits that she solicited help via e-mail and did not write down everyone's name so you all will have to settle for a heartfelt but general THANK YOU! Those of you who got left out of this newsletter if you let me know I will run your names in the spring edition.
For New Years breakfast Erica Jones and Kay Morton organized the meal for approximately 34 hardy folks. Cynthia Secker showed up to help calm the flustered cook and organized the set up. I also had a couple of people hand me desert items and appetizer extras (Fred Burks and Jay Moore). Having Becky Williams come in before serving time and start the cleaning up process was a wonderful help.
Alas, the next scheduled breakfast is for our closing meet March 25. Anyone wishing to schedule an "ad hoc" breakfast is more than welcome to do so. Contact Carol Atwood if you are interested.
The executive committee met on January 17, 2006. Members present were: Cindy Morton (MFH), Carol Atwood (President), Judy Mundy (Secretary), Fred Burks ('07), Kathy Eichelberger ('09), and Sandra Worthy ('09). Absent were: Blair Jones (Treasurer) and Terry Whitmore ('07). The budget was discussed. Blair did a good job with organizing it. We want to send David Conner to the MFHA Biennial Staff Seminar on April 8--9. Joan Alberti agreed to run the horse show in June at Hollins University. She needs help with collecting sponsorships and the food sales. She also is donating 5--6 pairs of jump standards to the hunt. Thank you, Joan! The EC voted to offer membership to proposed new members, Dawn Carey and Tom Kirlin. Summary of Minutes from the Executive Committee Meeting
The following is a list of new calendar dates [editor's note: some of these dates have CHANGED]:
Sun. April 2, Landowners Luncheon
Sat. April 8, trail ride
Sun. April 30, Hunter Trials
Sat. May 6, trail ride (maybe marking trials for hunter pace?)
Sat. May 13, Hunter Pace
Sat. June 3, Horse Show
Sat. Sept. 9, Hunter Pace
Sun. Sept. 10, Hunting Season Kick Off Party
Sat. Nov. 4, Opening Meet
No date set yet for Fall Hunter Trials
Deer season dates are Nov. 18 – Dec 2.Respectfully Submitted, Judy Mundy
One of the most difficult things to do when you're putting on an event is to try to keep a list of everyone who helps. With a big event, it almost seems impossible (did you ever wonder why events like horse trials have one person dedicated to be in charge of the volunteers?) And how do you decide what is applicable to the "volunteer" status? If someone came out and cleared trails, should we thank them when we run a hunter pace over those trails? (Maybe!) And it's terrible when you forget to thank someone. Volunteers!
Our members do a great job of volunteering and donating as much as they can manage in an amazing assortment of not always terribly obvious ways. Everything we do feeds into supporting the club regardless of whether that activity made money or was "just" a social event.
Clearing trails helps the membership learn the territory. Hunter paces introduce prospective members to riding cross-country and allow experienced members a chance to 'do their own thing' over familiar countryside. The hunter trials can be an inducement for sharpening our horsemanship, helping riders set a sometimes elusive goal for themselves and their mounts in this non-competitive sport of foxhunting. Better riding means a safer experience in the hunt field and more fun for everyone. Some of the events raise money, which is always helpful. All the events allow newcomers to meet the membership. Our members are one of the best things about this club.
Those of us who love foxhunting and want Rockbridge Hunt to flourish are grateful for all the help and support we receive. Thank you!
March 26 (Sunday) -- Landowners lunch. Corrected Dates Upcoming Events
April 2 (Sunday) -- Spring Hunter Trials at Broadview Ranch.
May 10 7 pm (Wednesday) Annual meeting. Proxies will come out in next newsletter.
June 3 is the hunter show at Hollins College. Joan Alberti organizes this every year for us and requests help getting class sponsors.