| OLD DOMINION REGION NEWS |
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| November 2005 Hi all, The website is grossly overdue for updating and I apologize for this but time just got away from me. Hope that all had a great turkey day, I am still stuffed from eating too much!! I hope to do a quick update for all of you and then take a hiatus for the holiday as I have out of town guests arriving starting December 5th!! I will update with more detail after the New Year, which will be here before we all know it. Old News: Champs: For the first time ever our region had reprsentatives in every discipline at Championships. Although I do not have the exact scores and placings I know that our kids did very well and we are very proud of them!!! New Ratings: Our congratulations go to the following on their successful ratings this year: Emily Hairfield - B and HA; Caitlin Mann, H; Jessica Buchanan, HA; Anne Toms, H; Gaby Martin, Kaelin Creange, Carroll Courtenay, Allison Spivey, Emily Mann, Carrie Fowler, Grace Fowler. Good job girls!!! Newer News: Dressage Championships 2006: Congratulations to the following who qualified to represent our region at the 2006 Championships: Training Level Team: Maya Vitale, Buffalo Creek, Bailey Thers, Mt. Skyline, Whitney Abraham, Sinking Creek; First Level Team: Grace Fowler, Rockbridge; Mazdison Horn, Mt. Skyline, Katherine Abrams, Sinking Creek; Allison Spivey, Rapidan; Moncia Gaebe, Sinking Creek (as alternate or team HM). Regional Council Meeting/Plans for 2006: We had a very long and productive Regional Council meeting on Novermber 12th. We worked out the calendar, or most of it, to see 2006 calendar click here. I will send copy of the minutes to all club's as attachment to email so that you have the details of our discussions. Please note, we will not have a Dressage Rally in 2006, our 2007 qualifying rally will be held in April 2007. This will require having a second Eventing Rally this fall which will be our qualifying rally for 2007. Those wishing to qualify for champs in Eventing would have to do their second qualifying HT in the spring of 2007. More details to follow on this. Also note, the "D" Rally will be a Rising Star only rally. I have been asked by the organizers if this can be a 1 day rally vs. overnight rally and if the rally can be held in the Orange area. I have tentatively given them the go ahead with the contingency that I see what sort of response there is from the clubs. So, please, if you have a concern regarding this change you must let me know now. We decided to allocate $2500 for the Deep South Region and each club was going to solicit additional funds and send to me by January 15th. There was a recent posting on the RS and DC Digests about an "angel/pony tree" for the Deep South Region members. Please keep your eyes opened for this on the USPC website as I would encourage all clubs to "adopt" a member for Christmas. Once the details of this are posted I may send something out to all of you on our Digest asking if the region should utilize the money for the "angel tree". Again, will wait to see details. Test dates for C3 and above ratings are posted on the USPC website using link from home page for Opportunities and then testing schedule. Please be sure your C3 and up candidates are aware of this so that they can plan their calendar and meet the required deadlines for applicaitons (applicaiton deadlines are noted on our regional claendar, each DC will have to establish their own deadline by which they must have applications). Insurance - list of landowners: Remember that if you do your List of Landowner applications for insurance coverage for facilities used by the club online the cost will be $10 per facility. If you do it by fax or snail mail the cost is $15 per facility. Remember that the region is selling pony club charm bracelets and there is still time to order yours for Christmas. They are $30 for the toggle type clasp (gold fittings and charms) or $20 for the stretch type (silver fittings and charms). Pass this word to your members and they can contact me if they want to order. Picture of toggle bracelet, click here. Stretch bracelet, click here. This is it for now. The website is not totally updated as of yet but I will be working on each of the club pages as I have time. This is the time of year to reflect on all that we have and all that we have done. We are truly blessed to have a group of dedicated volunteers who contribute so much to the activities of the region. We are fortunate to have such wonderful young people to be working with, they are inspiring and motivating. In looking at the events in the Deep South region we are truly blessed to have escaped the wrath of nature and that we are able to extend kindness to our friends in the Deep South. I give thanks for the opportunity to serve the region, to work and get to know each of you but mostly, to have the privelage and pleasure of working with your delightful children. I love them all and that is what keeps me and all of us going!! My warmest wishes to each of you and your family for a healthy, happy holiday season and prosperous year to come. Fondly, Jan |
