Messages from July 2009

posted 9.30.09

Wrangler Division members:  Last night I sent a test e-mail to everyone who submitted an e-mail address on their applications.  If you have not received it, check your spam mailbox.  It may be there.  I haven't had any returned for errors so I will  begin sending group e-mails out to keep you informed of what is going on.

For starters, the entry fees for the ribbon roping and team roping are wrong on your new envelopes.  They should be $31 each instead of $32.  If you have already sent in your Gruver entries, I will credit you.  All of the envelopes I have mailed out since finding the error have been corrected with a red marker.

High school members:  Many of you should be wrapping up your first six weeks of school.  This means you will need to turn in a copy of your report card when you get it.  Failure to do this in a timely manner may prevent you from competing at Plainview.  Those of you on a nine week schedule should have your report cards in time to bring them with you to Plainview.

posted 9.29.09

Entries for Pampa are posted.  There are a couple of heelers looking for partners.  If you want to help them out, give me a call.  The window of opportunity is small, though.  I need to know before I draw positions in the morning.

Not that I didn't miss you guys, but I enjoyed not having a high school rodeo last week.  It is the first time in 5 years that I haven't been doubled up with the Amarillo Tri-State Fair & Rodeo.  It sure is a lot easier and more enjoyable not going 100 mph trying to get everything done and be where I am supposed to be at the right time.  I even went to the carnival and had corn dog one day!

I'm off to a good start this week.  Being rested makes a big difference.  I think I should be organized enough for this weekend to set up my camera and take mug shots of everyone.  It takes me almost a whole year to match names with the new faces so I figured if I had pictures, then I could study them in my spare time and speed up the process.

I'm also going to bring the leftover shirts and caps from last year's finals in case anyone is interested in a bargain.  I am very limited on the Tri-State shirts but have several caps and visors and plenty of the Region 1 tye-dye shirts.

I have been notified by the Pampa Club that there will be stalls this weekend.  When I get details on how many and if there will be a charge, I will pass that along.

posted 9.21.09

Point standings are posted.  These are charts that I do in excel so that I can condense them to two pages.  So there is the possibility of human error.  I will audit points once this semester is complete but if you spot an error, please go ahead and contact me so I can get it corrected.

posted 9.20.09

I hope our good weather streak continues the rest of the semester.  What a gorgeous day at Boys Ranch.  Everything ran smoothly and quickly.  I don't know why people in general are excited to go someplace and then are in a hurry to leave once they get there but I've seen it happen in lots of different settings- usually there is work involved.  Well, no one can complain about not getting to leave at a very decent hour on Saturday.  The wind even held off until late in the afternoon.

Congratulations to all of our event champions and also a few other winners:  Troy Valdez claimed the 50/50 jackpot from Dumas, Tammy Trevino held the winning ticket for Boys Ranch and Tom White was the last man standing in the coin toss.  Thank you to everyone who is playing.  Proceeds may be small right now but over the course of the year, they will add up so keep playing!

One of the joys of not having a rodeo on Sunday is that I get to take my time getting results done and I still finish early enough to get checks out on Monday morning.  I've posted results and the official scores.  I will start on the points charts tomorrow.

I will be working at the Tri-State Fair this week so beginning Tuesday afternoon, I won't be in the office very much.  I won't be able to forward my phone because it never fails that the phone rings when I can't answer it anyway.  But I will be checking messages and e-mails nightly.

Pampa entries are due by this Saturday if you did not put your envelopes in the box at Boys Ranch.  If you are bringing your entries by the office, you will need to put them in the black box outside my door.  If you forgot to pick up extra envelopes at Boys Ranch, you can download entry forms from the Tri-State and Region 1 News pages.

This will be our first "average" points weekend.  If you enter and compete Saturday and Sunday at Pampa, you will automatically be eligible for a third set of points based on your combined scores/times for both days.  It is only for Tri-State points - not Region 1. 

Saturday is also the membership deadline for Wrangler Division members who want to compete at Gruver on October 11th.  Please don't wait until Friday to mail it in.  I still have to get entry forms back to you in time to enter by October 3rd.

posted 9.18.09

I think we have another weekend of good weather in store for us.  We have to enjoy these when we get them because there are too many with less than desirable weather during the year.  I will be working in the announcer stand this weekend.  The post boards will be on the fence behind the bucking chutes near the table with the entry boxes.

I have updated the coin toss instructions to explain the buy back option.  These are posted on the Tri-State News page.  I will also send them in an e-mail.

I also want to formally congratulate our student officers and student event directors.  This information has been updated on the Contacts page.    Your student event directors are first in the chain of command if a situation arises in your event so please make use of them when needed.

I want to highlight a rule for this week to make everyone aware of it before it becomes an issue this year:

THSRA General Rules #7)  No person shall be allowed in the arena during rodeo performance unless entered, or as an assistant.  Anytime parents are in the arena, they are not allowed past the score line.  Each contestant will be allowed 1 and only 1 assistant in the arena and 2 assistants behind the rough stock chutes when he or she is contesting.  All contestants and their helpers must leave the arena immediately after completion of their run or ride.  No one is allowed to sit on roping box fences during the rodeo performance.

There shouldn't be anyone warming up their horses in the arena.  Every town we travel to has a warm up area.  The arena will also be closed between the morning performance and the team roping.  If you want to listen to the church service, you need to tie up your horse and sit in the stands.

Don't forget about the Tri-State team roping stock charges being incorrect.  If you picked up extra envelopes last weekend, it is your responsibility to change the fees to $28.  I have changed all of the envelopes that I am bringing with me.  I am also bringing change with me to return the extra $1 to the team ropers entered this weekend.

Entries for Pampa do not open until Monday but I will have the boxes out this weekend as a courtesy so you don't have to mail in your entries.  If you do chose to mail them, I must have them by Saturday September 26th to avoid late fines.

One last thing, Wrangler members who want to compete at Gruver must have their membership applications to me by September 26th.

See you tomorrow, 

One more last thing:  Please pick up your own trash.  The club members work all day putting on their rodeo for your benefit.  Please help them out by throwing away your trash. 

posted 9.16.09

Mark it down:  my first blunder of the year.  The team roping fees on the Tri-State entry envelopes are wrong.  When the stock charges were increased this year, I did not split the increase for the two partners.  So each partner paid an extra $1.  I cannot get your money back for Dalhart and Dumas because it has already been paid to the stock contractor but I can make it right from here on out.

I will bring a stack of $1 bills this weekend to reimburse the team ropers for the fees they have paid for Boys Ranch.  I will correct all of the envelopes so you will pay the correct amount for future rodeos.  This weekend will be the only time I will reimburse the $1, so if you picked up extra envelopes to take home with you, it will be your responsibility to make the correction.  The correct amount for Tri-State team roping is $28 - not $29. 

The Region 1 entry forms are correct.  The Wrangler Division entry forms will need to be corrected in the team roping and the ribbon roping.  I will send an e-mail to everyone before the Gruver entries open so you can correct the envelopes I've already mailed out.  I will correct the ones I send out after this point.

The online forms have been corrected.  Sorry for all the hassle.

posted 9.15.09

I want to thank everyone for not folding their entry envelopes or sealing more than one together.  You have no idea how much easier it was to sort them today when they lay flat.  I really appreciate it.

I have posted the Boys Ranch entries on the "callbacks" page.  The link is to the right under the Announcements heading.  I will try to do this by Tuesday night before each rodeo.

I think our laminating machine was a good investment because everyone's back numbers looked so nice last weekend.  I'm hoping they will be easier to keep up with through the year so I don't have to call and order more replacements.  But if something does happen to yours, you can buy a new one for $5.  Just remember that your back number is part of your dress code so don't leave it at home.

posted 9.14.09

The great weekend that we had didn't carry over into Monday for me.  Getting results audited and checks printed wasn't the most streamlined process today but they are done - finally.  I will get checks mailed and take your entry fees to the bank in the morning.

I have posted the official scores and results on the Results page.  If you spot any errors, please let me know.  It is easier to fix them earlier than later.  I won't get mad if you call and question something I post. 

A big thank you goes out to the Dalhart and Dumas clubs for jump starting our fall rodeo season.  Being the first rodeo is not easy.  We have to wipe away all the cobwebs that gathered since last year and remember how to do everything again.  I thought it was an awesome weekend.  Everything ran pretty smoothly from my vantage point.  I can't remember having better weather two days in a row this early in September.  We were very fortunate.

There were a few members who didn't have as great a weekend due to injuries.  Please keep them in your prayers for a speedy recovery.  And don't forget their parents.  It is pretty stressful for them to see their children in pain.

• Cody Kerns broke his femur in the saddle bronc riding on Saturday.

• Cameron McDonald received a concussion from an accident in the pole bending on Sunday.

• Kory McLaughlin was briefly knocked unconscious in the bull riding on Sunday.

• E J Bechthold was injured over Labor Day weekend and will be unable to compete this semester.

• Tylo Kirkpatrick was injured in football and was unable to compete last weekend but should be at Boys Ranch on Saturday.

FOUND:  a very pretty charm bracelet was turned in at Dumas.  If you lost one, come see me at Boys Ranch to claim it.

Once I get the Boys Ranch rodeo entered in the computer I will start the point standings charts.  They will be posted at the top of the Results page when they are ready.

I also want to congratulate all of our new student officers, student event directors and adult event directors.  I will be contacting you this week to make sure you are ready to step into your roles this weekend.  All of our new leaders will be updated on the Contacts page later this week.

The 50/50 ticket was not claimed on Sunday.  It was a blue ticket # 505648.  If you are the lucky winner, you have until the start of the PM performance at Boys Ranch to claim your prize.  Otherwise, the money is rolled into the Boys Ranch drawing.

posted 9.11.09

It occurred to me this morning that I need to be posting my e-mail blasts on here for the members who don't receive e-mail.  Seems like a lot all at once but it was split up over two days.  Here you go:

A few notes before this weekend gets here (e-mailed Wednesday 9.9.09):

• Contestants, parents, adults, helpers and assistants must be in proper dress code while in the arena, chute areas and working pens.  Contestants must be in proper dress code from the start of the rodeo at 10am until the rodeo is complete if they are within the perimeter fence surrounding the arena.  Proper dress code consists of:   western hat, long sleeved shirt (must be wrist length sleeved shirt, with collar and cuff.  No sweat shirts, t-shirts or pullover sweaters allowed.), western boots, and western trousers.  A contestant's back number is also part of dress code and must be visible at all times.

• Additional entry envelopes will be available at each rodeo.  You are welcome to take extras with you, but please do not stock up for the entire semester this weekend.   I will run out.

• There is no need to put one envelope inside another when entering for two rodeos.  You also don't need to seal them together.  If they are in the entry box, I will find them and match them up.  They are also easier to sort if they aren't folded up.

• The arena will be closed between the morning performance and the team roping.  During this time clubs will be providing church services and we will also have the coin toss fundraiser.  Instructions for the coin toss will be finalized and e-mailed to you tomorrow.

• I will have a laminating machine this weekend for those of you who want to laminate your back numbers to keep them nice.  Cost is $1.  You must keep up with your number ALL YEAR.  Replacement numbers cost $5 and I am very limited on extra numbers this year.  My hope is that laminating the numbers will make them easier to keep up with.

• This is a very stressful weekend for me so I ask for your patience.  I am meeting all of the new members while trying to remember all of the faces from last year and still do my regular job of keeping up with the rodeo paperwork.  Once the performances get started and everyone has the necessary papers from me, I can relax a little bit and visit.  Please don't take offense if I am busy when you stop by.

• By the way, my office at Dalhart is right inside the admission gate.  At Dumas, I will be in the announcer stand.

• When I go to the rodeos, the office phone is forwarded to my cell phone so you can still reach me in case of emergency.

This ended up being longer than I planned.  Sorry.  Sometimes I can ramble on and on.

Coin Toss Instructions (e-mailed Thursday 9.10.09)

The coin toss will take place following the morning performance and before the church service.  Here is how it should work:

 

COIN TOSS INSTRUCTIONS

 

Entry fee - $5 per person (1 ticket)

Payoff – ½ goes to the winner and ½ will be split between the host club and Tri-State

Participation is open to all members, family, friends and rodeo spectators.

Tickets must be purchased by the start of the bull riding in the morning performance.

 

• All ticket holders need to gather near the designated entry gate during the morning performance bull riding.  Once the arena is cleared, everyone with a ticket will be allowed in the arena. 

• All players must pick “heads” or “tails” and split up the group to show their choice.  “Heads” on one side and “tails” on the other.  The announcer will flip a coin and everyone who DID NOT pick the correct answer must exit the arena.

• Those remaining pick a side for the next toss.  The announcer will flip the coin again.  Everyone who DID NOT pick the correct side must exit the arena.

• This continues until there is one winner.

• This is a quick game.  Only 5 – 10 minutes if everyone cooperates and exits the arena quickly when they are out of the game.

 

Payoff scenario:

100 players @ $5 each = $500

$250 will go to the winner

$125 will go to the host club

$125 will go to Tri-State

 

I’m sure there will be additions to this list, but for now:

• No climbing over the fence.

• No horses in the arena.

I thought of a few more things you need to be aware of before this weekend (e-mailed Thursday 9.10.09):

• No dogs are allowed in the stands.  They must remain at your vehicle and be on a leash at all times.  This rule was added for a reason because even the cute little fuzzy lap dogs have bad days.

• There were several team ropers who added partners this past week.  Please come see me to settle up on your additional fees.

• I do not print any payoff checks at the rodeo.  There isn't an easy way to do it with figuring a Tri-State payoff and a Region 1 payoff.  Plus, it gives me time to find and correct any mistakes I may have made at the rodeo.  Checks will be mailed no later than Tuesday following the rodeos - Monday if there is only one rodeo that weekend.  Your entry fees will be deposited the day I mail payoff checks.

• Please support your host club's concession stand.  The proceeds help pay the bills for putting on their rodeo and anything left goes back to the members.  You can live without McDonald's for one day (unless they happen to be a rodeo sponsor that weekend.) 

• There will be fresh calves this weekend.  Richard Felts is in charge of making sure they get tied properly Friday night.  If you would like to help out, give him a call at 806-282-8311 and he can tell you what time to be at the arena.

• One last thing,  the FAQs page on the website has directions to the arenas, stall information and motel numbers for the towns that we visit.

I think that is all for now.  See you on Saturday.

posted 9.8.09

Rotations have been posted on the schedule page.  Please keep in mind it is not possible to give everyone the rotation they requested and keep the performances even.  If you did not get your request and what to change, it will be your responsibility to find someone in the opposite rotation to trade with you.  If you do this, you need to consider the impact a multi-event contestant has on trades.  All trading must be completed by 9pm tonight.  I still have to get ready for the actual rodeos for this weekend.

**Please do not call me complaining about how far you have to travel.  We have a very large membership area and anyone who does not live in my sweet little hometown of Canyon has to cover some distance to get to the rodeos each week.  We rodeo because we love the sport and travel is part of the package.

Wrangler members:  I mailed entry forms today to the members who have returned their applications.  For those of you holding on to yours, please don't wait until the September 26th deadline.  I need time to process your membership and send you entry forms for Gruver before the books close on October 3rd.

The WEDNESDAY DEADLINE for student officer nominations and Whatakid applications is almost here.  All information can be e-mailed.  Please call me if you have questions about either of these items.

posted 9.7.09

Five days and counting until we kick off our 2009 fall rodeos.  I hope everyone is as excited as I am.  There is still a lot to get done between now and Saturday morning to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.  I will be sending out some e-mails during the week with information that will be reminders for returning members and new information for all of our new members.  For those of you who don't check e-mail regularly, just make sure you look at your before you leave for Dalhart so you will be up-to-date.

posted 9.3.09

I sent a "test e-mail" this morning to make sure I had everyone's addresses typed in correctly.  If you listed an e-mail address on your membership form you should have received an e-mail with the subject line of "test e-mail from Tri-State."  I just heard of one going into the spam folder so check there first if you haven't seen one.  If it's still not showing up, give me a call.  I have only had about eight that were returned to me so far.  Not bad odds.

I will start working on the Wrangler Division membership tonight and will send a test e-mail to those members in a few weeks after the membership deadline for the first rodeo in Gruver.

FYI:  I have been lenient this week on allowing late memberships because I hate to tell someone that can't rodeo the first weekend.  This courtesy will not be extended to entry envelopes.  All late entries will be charged $25 PER ENVELOPE.  Deadline to enter the Dalhart and Dumas rodeos is this Saturday.  Late entries are accepted until Tuesday at 2pm.

When you start entering at the rodeos, the entry deadline is when the rodeo is over.  I shouldn't have to wait for you to fill out your entry forms when I am ready to leave.  My suggestion is to take care of your entries when you first arrive and then you won't have to worry about them. 

posted 9.1.09

I have updated the "callbacks" page to show the team roping pairings for the first weekend so you can either confirm your entries or find out who is still looking for partners.  Click on the link to the right under "Announcements."

I have one more page of e-mail addresses to type in tomorrow morning and then I will do an e-mail blast to test my typing skills.  Hopefully I won't have too many that get sent back to me.

My brother is leaving tomorrow for a three month rodeo tour in Spain and Italy so I am taking the night off to spend time with him.

Have a good evening,