Hello NCOWHA Members and Corral Readers.
 
It is only two months until we hold our June 9, 2001 Spring Classic Horse Show. Once again, the show bill has proved our show will have a proportionate amount of classes to fit the diverse style of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. We have even added two padded classes this year. Show Chairperson, Teresa Murphy is looking for interested individuals to help work the show and is taking sponsorships for classes and the show booklet. For more information call Teresa at 419/694-0658 or email: tntfarms@brightnet.
 
NCOWHA will be holding its annual Easter trail ride April 14, at 1:00pm at Malabar Farm State Park. This ride has earned quite the reputation of being an absolutely enjoyable ride for everyone! As always, there will be an egg hunt on the trails and prizes for all the youth who attend. And don’t forget to give Trail Chairperson, Budd Meyer a call if you are planning on attending the October 12-14 campout at Smoke Rise Resort, Budd’s phone is 419/756-9494.
 
The Open Executive meetings are now set for the first Tuesday of every month. The May meeting will be held at the Mifflin Twp. Fire House at 6:30. Please give our President, Matt Janisch a call if you need directions. Everyone is encouraged to attend these meetings and to be an active member in all the planning and activities of NCOWHA in promoting the Tennessee Walking Horse Breed! Now, a note from our President, Matt Janisch.
 
I would like to welcome all the members back to North Central Walking Horse Association. It is now time for us to start a new year. I would like to take time to say that the club needs to stick together. We all know in the past that there has been some arguments. I do not intend to have arguments this year. I intend to have discussions. The difference between arguments and discussions is anger. There is no place in the club for anger. There is nothing wrong with disagreeing. With disagreement, there is also compromise. We all need to work together and build a better club.
 
Part of my job as President of this club is to listen to the membership. If you have a problem with anything about the club, talk to me. I will be happy to talk to any member who has a problem.
 
The club meetings will be run according to Robert’s Rules. I do not expect everyone to know everything about Robert’s Rules. What I do expect is an orderly meeting. Act like the adults we are. It is ok to disagree, but it is not ok to be angry about it. We are all entitled to our opinions and have the right to voice them. You never know who just might have a good idea.
 
I would like to thank all the members who have filled out the questionnaire that was sent out with the membership application. In the near future, the Executive Committee is going to have a work session to review these questionnaires. This will help us to make the club more like the membership wants.
 
There has been a lot of things going on in the club. The new Executive board has had three meetings. A few new committees have been added. I believe that problems are better worked out in a committee than in a general meeting. During the general meetings, I will have each committee chair give a report.
 
Last year, club decisions were made by the Executive Committee. According to Robert’s Rules of Order, our Bylaws are written to allow the Executive Committee to handle general affairs of the club. That is what the Executive Committee is going to do. The general membership is welcome to any board meeting. The general membership is also able to speak and vote at Executive meetings. The only thing I ask, if you would like to speak, please call me so I can put you on the agenda for that meeting. I will not stop you from speaking if you don’t call, but it would make the meeting run smoother if I knew you were going to speak.
 
On February 10, we had our first General meeting, that was not very well attended. I would hope in the future more people will attend. After this General meeting, we had Joyce Morris speak about Equine Taxes. Joyce spent several hours talking about how we can make our horses a business. Joyce passed out all the forms we would need and explained them. The seminar was well thought out and a joy to attend.
 
The second is going to be a seminar with Heidi Immegart DMV, MS, PhD. I am not sure what topic she will discuss, but I am sure it will be good.
 
We have a lot of work ahead of us. The Horse Show is going to be the most work, but we do make the most money from it. The more people that help with the horse Show, the easier it will be for all of us. Teresa Murphy has stepped up to the plate to take over the Show Chairman’s job. She already has things in motion.
 
The next big thing is the trail riding. I look forward to a good year of trail rides. Budd Meyer had already started looking into places for rides. We are going to have a fall trail ride at Smoke Rise Ranch, October 12-14. Budd has already made reservations for that weekend. The ride at Smoke Rise is a lot of fun and the fall colors are beautiful. Plan now to attend.  
In closing, I would like to thank every club member for their support in the elections. I will try to live up to your expectations.
  Mathew Janisch