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By: Diane Wilhite
You
may ask what it takes to be a great volunteer for PPTRC.
Besides the usual hard work, dedication, flexibility,
positive attitude and willingness to do just about anything,
we need to remind ourselves that PPTRC cannot operate
without YOU! This is because our riders cannot ride without
volunteers, and unfortunately classes are occasionally
canceled because of this. Additionally, volunteer
responsibilities include barn chores which are crucial in
operating a facility such as ours. We ask that volunteers be
willing to help in ALL aspects of our Center and to treat
their job like a REAL job! PPTRC riders, staff and other
volunteers are counting on you!
Since our last newsletter, PPTRC has been extremely busy
with numerous events and the year has flown by! As you may
know, we hold Volunteer Orientations just before the
beginning of each session and we always need our seasoned
volunteers to help in demonstrating good horsemanship and
class activities such as side walking and leading a horse,
as well as emergency dismounts. We truly appreciate all of
these special volunteers for their continuing dedication to
PPTRC. Our January volunteer orientation included Catherine
Buckley, Kathy Steward, Rochelle Gillham, Terri Dunton and
Betty Moore; March volunteers included Sylvia Bryson, Ann
Booth, Ann Feigenbaum, Rebecca Reigenbaum and Aedan Sprung;
June volunteers included Catherine Buckley, Tammy Chojnacki,
Becky Hutton, Dee Starkey, Heather Heuberger and Mary
Gagliardi; August volunteers included Hannah Burlew,
Cristina Molnar, Sylvia Bryson, Catherine Buckley and
Kristyn Fabela. Many thanks to all of you for your
contributions!
PPTRC’s first schooling event of the year for our riders was
held on April 1. It proved to be extremely successful and
the riders had a wonderful time. Volunteers who helped with
the event included Becca Sickbert, Debbie Arangio, Koreen
Clay, Sylvia Bryson and CiCi Lee. May brought a special
event for riders with disabilities held at the Norris-
Penrose Event Center. PPTRC volunteers for the 3-day event
included Marie Gaudreault, Melody Heller, Christy Pitto,
Debbie and Alicia Arangio, Catherine Buckley, Tammy
Chojnacki, Heather Heuberger, Sylvia Bryson, Becca Sickbert
and Rochelle Gillham.
PPTRC had a booth this year at the Falcon Festival to gain
public awareness and acquire volunteers and riders. A very
special thanks to Joy and Leon Gomes who helped with the
booth during a long, hot, windy day. You made the morning go
by so much faster. Thanks also for your marketing efforts!
The Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame hosted a very “Special Rodeo” for
PPTRC riders on July 12. For PPTRC riders only, numerous fun
activities were planned including goat tail tying, water
bucket contest, flag race and ring toss. With 14 riders
participating, we needed a lot of volunteers to help with
horse/tack transportation, grooming/tacking, leading and
side walking, as well as audience support! Special thanks to
Lisa Cowan, Kassie Kerr, Amy Stacey, Elizabeth Vossmer,
Dallas and Bridgette Schauer, Rochelle Gillham, Frank and
Diane Martinez, Alicia Arangio, Melody Heller, Dee Starkey,
Frank and Diane Martinez, Becky Hutton, Sylvia Bryson and
Christy Pitto for her photography.
The annual PPTRC fundraising event “Miracles in Motion” Gala
was held on September 23 at the Norris Penrose Event Center.
With over 200 guests participating in a silent and live
auction, the event proved to be a huge success! Volunteers
were needed for guest check-in, file management, gathering
auction items, invoicing and check-out/ payment. This was an
incredible group of volunteers who worked long, hard hours
during the evening to ensure the event was successful. All
of us at PPTRC are truly grateful to these volunteers for
their wonderful contribution: Kaycee and Erica Dunning, John
Tooze, Kassie Kerr, Chris Tatum, Heather Bourland, Frank
White, Harvey LeCato, Christy Pitto for her wonderful
photography throughout the evening, Kathy Steward, Heather
Heuberger, Catherine Buckley and husband, Donald, John
Wilhite, Becca Sickbert, Tammy Chojnacki and Steva Gay. In
addition to the volunteers that evening, we relied on the
PPTRC schooling team to prepare our horses and volunteer to
lead and side walk with our riders for a performance that
evening. Unfortunately, this was canceled because of a very
wet arena and cold weather. Schooling team members who
volunteered included Sheila Herrndorf, Kelsy Ervin, Janet
Combs, Amara and Marion Nagle, Ann and Rebecca Feigenbaum,
Elizabeth Vossmer and Karla Boogaard. In addition to the
above, Kassie Kerr and Chris Tatum hauled tack to and from
the event center. Thank you! |
