Time is flying by this Spring – and the weather is amazing!
We are getting ready for our Annual Meeting, which will be a lunch held on Sunday March 29 at the Clarion Inn in Rochester. Silent Auction opens at Noon, lunch served at 1:00pm, and Emily McCool giving us a presentation!
This will be an exciting day – and we are allowed to use the pool so bring your towel and swim suit (included in the price!). There is even a small hot tub 🙂 *Cost is $5 per plate if you get your reservations now, and $8 at the door.
I have taken care of the spring-time essentials: completing our 2015 insurance application and policy payment, sending in our paperwork to continue our New Haven Township conditional use permit, paying for our annual Pine Island Chamber of Commerce membership and other miscellaneous items. Our board of directors helped in sending out thank yous to businesses who have made donations. Lizzy Larson has started updating our volunteer files – including a new Participation Form for each volunteer to sign. Lots of good work has been getting done.
We have taken good care of our horses this winter! Thank you Leslie, Janet and the whole horse exercise team! Just this week a visitor from Fiji “stopped by” while visiting a friend in Rochester. This woman became an instant friend of mine and of RideAbility. She complimented us on our excellent care of our horses and our obvious love, concern for and understanding of our animals. It was so uplifting to have a person of her character look over our program and give instant support (she even handed me a cash donation). It is wonderful to meet new people!
(Sierra has been diagnosed with severe arthritis in her hocks and she will be going home to live with Dorie. We have several new geldings who will stay at RideAbility this summer.)
We are developing a serious interest in miniature horses. Lizzy Larson has purchased 2 beautiful minis and she intends to share her horses and new-found knowledge with us. Bonnie Prestegard is also looking at ways to work with us in training minis for therapy. It is all exciting!
Janet is working hard to get donated items ready for silent auction baskets, tack swaps, and we are even discussing plans for a rummage sale (maybe!!). Many of you have probably heard that we have been recruited to help Hay Creek Saddle club provide horse rides at the MN Horse Expo. The Expo will be held at the MN State Fair grounds on April 24, 25 and 26. It will be a great weekend, and good PR for RideAbility!
We are starting an “Operations Board” for RideAbility. We had a kick off in January, a meeting in February and we plan to meet each month. The idea is an informal working-board who can work together and complete lots of various work items for RideAbility. Examples are: putting up poster pictures in the barn, streamline fundraising plans, improve details of goal setting for each client, review and update our first aid kit … just about anything that needs to get done! All RideAbility members are invited to be part of this Operations Board, so just ask for more information if you are interested!
Looking forward to April: Volunteer training on April 6 and 7, and classes will be starting the week of April 13 and 14.
I know we will have a great 2015 season, I can hardly wait!