January 15, 2008

Richard Pelletier

NBHA CT01 District Director

118 Colburn Rd

Charlton, MA 01507

Dear NBHA Member:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I would like to thank all of the members for a fantastic 2007 season….and wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year as we enter 2008.

I thought we had a great season last year, and I hope you all were happy with the new CT01 district.  According to my new membership roster we are up to close to 50 members, that is nearly double what we started with last year!  Let’s keep getting the word out about our group and hopefully we will continue to grow.

Last year we had 10 sanctioned shows. This year we are shooting for 12 sanctioned shows. At the this time it does not look like we will be co-sanctioning any shows other than the Sunday State championship show which will be a CT01, MA01, MA02 co-sanction.

We are working hard on getting the new schedule for 2008 in stone and plan to have it ready to distribute to folks at our 1^st Annual CT01 Awards Banquet. 

The Banquet is scheduled for March 2, 2008 (Sunday) at Noon, at Chute Gates Restaurant in Terryville, CT.  Banquet reservations forms are enclosed, please be sure to get your reservation in.  This will be a fun time, to get together, eat some food, win some prizes, and have the awards presentation.

I am also working on fundraising ideas for 2008; our group is dependent upon fundraising activities in order to be successful.  Any new ideas or help that can be provided in this area is always welcome.  Please contact me with any ideas you might have.

One definite fundraiser that we have planned is a Sharon Camarillo Clinic scheduled at the Crotta’s place in Bethany, CT on May 2^nd through the 4^th.  We are also planning on having a Friday night Jackpot on May 2^nd in the evening after the clinic wraps up.  We have only a few more clinic spots open, so if you are interested, contact Tracy or visit Sharon’s website at www.sharoncamarillo.com.  Please give a big Thanks to Janice for working with Tracy, to move the location of this clinic, on such short notice!

I know the weather outside is cold and snow is on the ground…but spring is not far away.  Keep thinking warm thoughts and it will be here before you know it! 

I hope all of you will come out to the Banquet on March 2^nd; we will have a great time.  Please send in you reservation forms as soon as possible.  Reservations forms need to be in by February 20^th.

I know many of you know about the Equine Conflict at Hills Farm in Middletown, CT. This is a serious threat to horse farms in the state. There was a previous situation like this in the Town of Dartmouth Ma a few years ago. It was very similar as a bordering neighbor with an axe to grind that caused huge problems for this arena. It took two years and thousands of dollars in lawyers’ fees to defeat this petition. As with this conflict at Hills Arena, bordering towns in MA watched how the out come went before proceeding with other complaints in other MA towns. So members, please give the Hill’s a voice by giving them your support in this fight, as it is very possible that it could be your neighbor next. Precedence is a big factor if it comes to another neighborhood!

I want everyone to know it was a pleasure to be your CT01 director last year. Everyone worked so hard to make the year a fantastic success. A great big thanks to all the volunteers, especially my family, Tracy Brandt, Chris Brandt, Laura Pelletier, her boyfriend Adam and my wife, State Director Debbie Pelletier, and our great 50/50 raffle sellers Sue Williams & Bobby Fanterella. Just a reminder we are always looking for help at the shows, selling raffles, setting barrels and working the gate…come see us in the booth if you have time during the shows to help out.