Hello ODS – please take a moment to read, as our desperate hour has arrived!

The 2009 ODS Open and Championships shows are just 3 short days away and we still have many volunteer positions to be filled before the show can go on! We would SO appreciate your help, if even for just a couple of hours. Friday particularly is very light on help, but we have several open spots all three days. If you, or someone you know, can join us, we have a few openings for scribes and e-scribes (min. 4 hour shift) and many at Gate, Warm-up, runner.

Please review this list ASAP and contact either me or Biagina Lazaroni at rsf4u@hotmail.com with your availability and preferences.
Thanks so much for considering. Each of our volunteers will receive a nice thank you gift, and anyone who volunteers 4 hours or more will have their name entered into a drawing for a nice prize.
Warmest regards,
Jennifer Milburn
Manager
Jennifer.Milburn@oregonstate.edu

Friday
Warm-up – 7:30-10:30 2 openings
Warm-up – 12:30-3:00 1 opening
Warm-up – 3:00-5:30 3 openings
Gate – 7:30-10:30 2 openings
Gate – 10:30-12:30 1 opening
Gate – 3:00-5:30 3 openings
E-scribe – 7:30-12:30 3 openings
E-scribe – 12:30-5:30 2 openings
Scribe 12:30-5:30 1 opening

Saturday
Warm-up – 7:30-10:30 3 openings
Gate – 7:30-10:30 2 openings
Gate – 10:00-12:30 1 opening
E-scribe – 12:30-5:30 1 opening
Scribe – 12:30-5:30 1 opening

Sunday
Warm-up – 7:30-10:30 2 openings
Warm-up – 10:30-12:30 3 openings
Warm-up – 12:30-2:30 3 openings
Gate – 7:30-10:30 2 openings
Gate – 10:30-12:30 3 openings
Gate – 12:30-3:00 3 openings
E-scribe – 7:30-12:30 2 openings
E-scribe – 12:30-end of show 2 openings
Scribe – 12:30-end of show 2 openings

I look forward to hearing from you!

Biagina Lazaroni, Volunteer Coordinator – (541) 915-4521 – rsf4u@hotmail.com

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Hello ODS!

For Competitors – ride times are now posted (www.odschampionshipshow.com) for the ODS Open & Championship shows. We still have several volunteer holes and would SO appreciate your help! Once you have checked your times, please check in with Biagina Lazaroni (rsf4u@hotmail.com) and let her know when you can volunteer.

For those of you not competing – we would LOVE your help as well. Please contact Biagina at (rsf4u@hotmail.com) and let her know what interests you.

Thank you all very much for considering!

Jennifer Milburn
Show Manager
Jennifer Milburn
Director of Development
College of Veterinary Medicine
OSU Foundation
850 SW 35th Street
Corvallis, OR 97333
(541)737-4218
(541)737-0498 fax
(800)354-7281 toll free
Jennifer.Milburn@oregonstate.edu
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Hello everyone,

Several changes to please note for our upcoming show.

The fall OSU Dressage Team Beaver Piaffe League show, now the co-sponsored OSU Dressage Team/MidValley Chapter ODS Beaver Piaffe League Show will be moving from Inavale Farm in Philomath to the Livestock Pavilion Arena at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. We will have covered warm-up available.

The new date is SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11.

Opening date was still 8/28 and closing date one week earlier, 10/1

Our judge will be Suzi Ronning.

Day stalls will be available at $25/stall.

This show is the second in a series. There will be series high point ribbons for Intro, Training Level Open, and First Level Open classes. If you rode in the spring show, you might want to consider trying for high point honors.

Please contact Sandy Bryce directly with any questions about the show – 541 752-2711.

Thank you!

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Nominations are open for all positions for FVC Chapter Officers.

The positions are:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Event Coordinator
Representative to ODS

Nominations need to be received by September 25th. Those running for office will be announced at the September meeting.

Voting will be at the October meeting and the new officers will be inducted into the Hall of FVC Fame the first of November.

I will post the nominations via email so those that are not able to make it to the meeting can still have their choices in the vote.

Thank you,
Sarah Diebert
Fort Vancouver Chapter
[fortvancouver@gmail.com]
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It is almost time to renew your membership for 2010, and we need your help! ODS is GOING GREEN!

This year, we are encouraging members to renew early and consider the THREE green options now being offered in an attempt to conserve resources and reduce paper and print waste.

1) Please consider renewing your membership ONLINE between now and 9/30/09. This will greatly reduce the number of direct mail renewals we send out and will conserve both in cost and resources. You can renew your ODS membership on the USDF’s secure website (https://www.usdf.org/gmo/ods.asp). Along with renewing your ODS membership online, you can also to upgrade your USDF membership to a USDF Participating Member at the same time, if you choose.

2) USDF has updated our online application to allow for a second option – members will be able to opt out of receiving the printed ODS membership card (you may use the transaction receipt e-mailed to you as proof of ODS membership and help us save paper and mailing costs).

3) The third option will be to opt out of receiving printed ODS Publications (Omnibus / Test Booklet and/or Roster). Opting out of the paper publications not only reduces paper waste, but it also saves ODS money on printing and postage which will help us pump more money into upcoming educational programs, such as the Regional Mini Convention, the “L” Certification Program and more.

FYI:
- Omnibus: Each show’s prize list is linked on the calendar page, and new for 2010, the general sections will also available online. Also new for 2010, the ODS Omnibus will be available as a PDF, downloadable in sections (i.e. Front White section, Blue Section, Green Section, etc).
- Test Book: All tests are available online at the USDF, USEF and FEI websites; renewing members would already have the same booklet from 2009 as the tests will not be different in 2010.
- Roster: While member’s personal contact information is not available online, all other documentation is – the ODS ByLaws, information on Awards, Programs and the ODS Library are all found on our website. Chapter officers may request chapter lists at any time!

PAYING BY CHECK – If you would rather pay by check, please consider printing out a 2010 ODS Membership form (PDF) and mailing it into the office (forms are located on the ODS Website at:
http://oregondressage.com/2010_ODS_MembershipForm.pdf). Otherwise, renewal forms will be mailed later this fall.

PLEASE NOTE – NEW FOR 2010:
Due to member feedback, if you wish to be in the 2010 Membership Roster, your membership must be received by our office no later than 12/31/09.

This year’s Membership Roster will be mailed in January along with the 2010 ODS Regional Omnibus and the 2010 ODS Test Booklet.

If your membership renewal is received after 12/31/09, you will be required to send a $10 postage/handling fee to receive publications and your information will not be included in the Membership Roster. Please note – this is different than the past procedure of postmarked by 1/1.

If you have any questions about your ODS Membership or have difficulty with the USDF online form, please contact the ODS Office at office@oregondressage.com / 503-681-2337 .

Thank you SO MUCH for helping ODS GO GREEN!

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From the President-Elect

True to form the timing between the August 8 Board meeting and the publication of this column is a little out of whack. Marsha is off on vacation somewhere or another and I’m trying to fill in for her and that ain’t easy.

The ODS Board of Directors would like to extend a huge thank-you to John Craven for his many years of service to the organization. As many of you know, John is a past-President and has been the ODS treasurer for several years. Now John is “retiring” from his treasurer job and turning over is visor and ledger. We are indeed fortunate that Christopher Main is taking up the treasury reins (pun intended) effective September 1. Again, Thank You John for your dedication and also to you Christopher for stepping up.

Lots of stuff coming up in the next few months.

The ODS Championship and Open Show is coming up at DevonWood September 11-12. I know a lot of you are tired of hearing this but volunteers and sponsors are what allow these wonderful events to take place. Volunteers have already put in a tremendous amount of work getting it organized and we are thankful to all of you. There are many more hours of volunteer work needed on game day and there is still ample opportunity to participate. Join us, do a little work, have a little fun, and maybe get some inspiration.

The ODS League Show Championship will taking a new venue for 2010. It is moving south to the Jackson County EXPO in the Medford area for May 22-23. Mark your calendars. Attend some league shows and qualify for the championships. If you aren’t able to qualify for the championships for some reason, come on down anyway. There will be an open show going on simultaneously. Should be good fun at nice venue.

It is getting to be that time of year when thoughts turn towards year end awards. Nominations for USDF awards are due by the end of August which may have passed by the time you read this column. Never fear, there is a second chance. ODS sponsored award nominations are not due until October 31. Check the ODS website to view the awards and nomination procedures. Awards will be presented at an “awards affair” to be held in conjunction with the ODS annual General Membership Meeting and the Region 6 Mini-convention November 21-22. The exact location has not yet been determined but the committee is searching for a site near the Portland Airport. The committee is also lining up several interesting educational sessions for the Mini-convention.

The Mini-convention is, in part, preparation for representatives from Region 6 to get together before the USDF Convention the first week of December. ODS representatives Ed Miller. Rose Newman, Gaye McCabe, Francy Haupt and Marsha Williams (alternate) would love to get your input.

It will soon be time for election of new ODS Board members and Officers. There are two Director-at-Large seats and all four Regional Representative slots up for election this year. Start thinking about who you would like to represent you at ODS. More information on the nomination and election process will be coming soon.

ODS Board has given approval for conducting another “L” judge program beginning this fall. Francy Haupt will be heading up the effort. She is going to need a lot of help and support from the membership to pull it off. It is essential that we get new judges trained if the sport is to continue. I heard a statistic the other day about the percentage of current judges reaching retirement age. Short term memory being what it is, I don’t remember the exact number but it was shocking. Even if you don’t plan on becoming a judge, it is a very worthwhile program to participate it. You’ll get a lot of insight for your riding.

It is now easier than ever to keep up with what’s going on in ODS by tapping into the social networking scene. Corinne has set a Facebook Fan site and is happily twittering away on Twitter (whatever that means.) Check out the sites.

I’ve been squawking for a while now about reaching out beyond our own little community to the broader horse community. I’d like to take this opportunity to bring your attention to an organization established by the Humane Society called the Oregon Horse Welfare Council with a mission of “Saving Horses, Helping People.” Basically the Council was established because in these difficult economic times a large number of horses are being abused and abandoned on both public and private lands throughout the state. One of the activities of the Council has been the establishment of an “hay bank” in which donated hay is provided as temporary assistance to horse owners and rescue organizations for abandoned horses. For information about Oregon Horse Council please contact Scott Beckstead (sbeckstead@humanesociety.org) and for the ‘Hay Bank” please contact Linda Davis at edenfarm@charter.net.

See you all at the Championships.

Ed Miller