Messages from November 2009
posted 11.28.09
All of the fundraising charts have been updated through today's mail (Saturday.) I am expecting a VERY full post office box when I return from Las Vegas. As you can tell from the charts, there are a lot of members who work best under the pressure of a deadline. (I'm guilty of that, too.)
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE check your postage before mailing large or bulky envelopes. It is very aggravating having to wait in line at the post office to pay for someone else's postage.
On that note, my drop box outside my door has been taken down. This way you won't be tempted to leave something while I am out of town. Use the post office. They like me there. They know I am going out of town and they will keep all of my mail bundled for my return.
I won't be checking the answering machine while I am gone and haven't decided yet if I am taking my computer with me for checking e-mails. I know this is a lousy time to be gone with so much stuff due, but we will all get through it just fine.
Enjoy your week.
posted 11.25.09
Happy Thanksgiving!
posted 11.22.09
I have all of the points audited now. If you look on the Results page, below the standings, there will be a link that will take you to a page where you can look at each event for each association.
posted 11.19.09
Every fall when the rodeo season wraps up, I get questions about what I do when there aren't any rodeos going on. Technically, this is my vacation time. When our rodeos start back up in February, I work straight through until November with a rare weekend off every once and a while.
So this is my time to get caught up on everything that doesn't get done on a regular basis during rodeo season. For instance, balancing my personal bank statements. The rodeo checkbooks are so time-consuming that I don't want to even think about my own. I usually end up working on 4 or 5 months worth of statements at a time and praying that I didn't make any major mathematical errors in my balance three months ago. I also get to read more books, watch movies and work on some jigsaw puzzles during these months. Plus, I have chores around the house that I need to catch up on.
I cut back my office hours so you will most likely get the answering machine after 8pm. But I still work just about every day that I am home. I have all of the fundraising items that are coming in to get organized and sent to the state offices, points for the fall rodeos need to be audited and this is the time to get stocked up on supplies for the spring rodeos and start getting ready for the finals. Basically, it is all about organizing. The more organized I can be before the rodeos start back up, the easier things are for me.
Since I never feel like I am organized enough, I have posted the charts I use to keep up with all of the fundraising items so you can make sure you have received credit for everything you have turned in. I have a knack for putting things in a "safe" place until I am ready for them and then not remembering where that "safe" place is. So this is my way for you to help me keep up. If your name is supposed to be on one (or all) of those charts and it is not, then call me so I can start looking for secret hiding places. And it is not always me messing up. Each year it seems I have more and more mail that is lost or damaged in transit. So please don't think you are bothering me if you want to call and make sure you mail made it to me safely.
The fundraising charts are on each news page. Just click on the button for "program ads" and it will show you a list of everyone who has turned in their ads so far. Each page has a date stamp at the top so you will know if the chart was updated to reflect that day's mail.
I will post my points charts when I get through my audits so you can see how I come up with my totals. I should have these up sometime this weekend.
posted 11.12.09
The spring schedule has been posted. Take a look at it and start figuring out what rotation you would like to be in. Rotations change each semester so your fall rotation doesn't mean anything when we start back in February.
I haven't heard from anyone about the three jackets, rope can and spurs I collected in the last few weeks. Please call me if you are missing one of these items.
You are less than 3 weeks away from the December 1st deadline for your fundraising requirements. Don't put it off any longer. If you are planning to bring them to me in person, you need to do that before I leave on November 29th.
I also need report cards again pretty soon. Just because there are not any rodeos going on doesn't mean you don't have to send me your report cards. I do keep up with who turns them in. Those of you on six week grading periods should be getting a new one in the next few weeks. Make a copy of it and send it to me.
posted 11.9.09
I forgot to mention yesterday that I have acquired a new coat, a rope can and pair of spurs. That brings my coat total to three when you add in the two collected at Plainview. If you are missing any of these items, please give me a call.
posted 11.8.09
Our fall rodeo season has ended. We started off with amazing weather in September and ended with surprisingly good weather for early November and only a had a few bad days there in the middle. I'd say we faired pretty well in that department.
Thank you to the Pampa Club for hosting our final two Wrangler Division rodeos. I think everyone had a pretty good time and were pleased to be outdoors on such a nice day. We appreciate your hospitality.
Results for both rodeos have been posted. Checks will go out in tomorrow's mail and entry fees will be deposited. I will get points updated tomorrow.
Don't think that there is nothing to do now that the rodeos are complete. You still have fundraising requirements that are due by December 1st. I will be reminding you each week until then but you don't have to wait until the deadline to turn your items in.
The office will be closed from November 29th until December 7th. For those of you who bring things to my office, please plan ahead. I will not be accepting anything in my drop box while I am out of town. I cannot be responsible for money that is left in an unsecured drop box. Use the postal service. It will be safe in my P.O. box.
posted 11.4.09