This month’s message will be devoted to a few announcements.
#1 The Green Valley Grill has moved further into Watsonville, down by the Auto Center. Might be good news for them but it’s bad news for us since they no longer have a dining area large enough to accommodate our group for our Holiday gathering in December. SO…Deb Tracy is on the hunt for a new location. If anyone has a venue to suggest anywhere between Santa Cruz & Carmel, please get in touch with Deb ASAP since most restaurants with rooms large enough for this type of event book up quickly during the Holidays. I’ve asked her for some options by the time of the October member meeting.
#2 Assuming we find a venue for our Holiday gathering, I need photos from Day Rides and Campouts to include in our Annual Slide extravaganza. I can accept small batches of slides via email but would prefer to get them on a CD or Memory Stick. You can mail them to me or bring your photos to the October or November member meetings.
#3 Also related to the Holiday gathering…If you have any ideas for our “special” awards and a supporting photo, I’d love to start compiling those as well.
#4 We have one nominee for the Secretary position. If you know of anyone who would like to be considered for our open Board position, or any of the other positions, please get in touch with Margaret Pare, the nominating committee Chairperson. Nominations will be announced this month & elections will be held in November.
#5 The Board is accepting nominations for Member of the Year. If you know of a member who deserves to be recognized, please send me an email with your nomination & the reason or reasons why that person should be considered.
#6 At our last meeting, the Board & all Members present agreed to donate $1000. To the Emma McCrary Trailblazer fund. The primary focus of the fund is to support & maintain the trails Emma created in our local State Parks.
#7 The new Steinbeck Chapter of Back Country Horsemen is looking for members. The annual membership fee for an individual is $40. Or $50 per family. The objectives for BCH are to improve promote the use, care & development of California backcountry trails, campsites, streams & meadows & to advocate good trail manners. If you want to join, contact Lisa Deas at muledaze@yahoo.com. She is already busy talking to Rangers at Fort Ord & Arroyo Seco, & planning projects to improve ignored or unused areas in the Central Valley. The chapter needs members who can contribute time & talent to the organization, although participation is not a requirement.
#8 It’s time to give some thought to next year’s Ride Schedule. There wasn’t much turnout at our Day Rides this year & I wonder what Members would prefer to do instead. I’m curious to know if it’s an issue with riding the same places all the time or whether you’d all prefer more long weekend campouts throughout the area. If neither of those… what would you like to do? Give it some thought & let me know.
Although the days are getting shorter and the nights a little more crisp, hope you’re out there enjoying yourselves with your frinds & equine companions.
Happy Trails,
Shawn
