GREETINGS FROM NODA's PRESIDENT
   
Dee Liebenthal
(Monthly Greetings are published in the "NODA NEWS")
 

SEPTEMBER 2010 GREETINGS

Dear NODA Members,

The summer show season is starting to wind down.  Our recognized shows are over and we are more than three quarters of the way through the Schooling Show series.  As I write it is mid-August with temperatures in the high eighties along with humidity to match, summer is nearly over and our Juniors and Young Riders are all getting ready to head back to school.  Have you enjoyed the heat, or are you longing for the temperatures of the Fall as I am?  Before you know it we will be riding in long johns, earmuffs, and gloves, wishing it were hot.

The recognized shows went very well with Robyn Ambrose at the helm as Manager and Mary Lou Gallagher doing an awesome job as Secretary again this year.  The riders, horses, and volunteers baked under the sun on Saturday and were drenched on Sunday.  Regardless, almost everyone stuck it out.   As always we had great volunteers, organized again this year by Karen Eisenhauer.  How many years has it been now Karen? 

Robyn and Mary Lou were in the midst of planning our recognized show when Karen Puchalsky, Secretary for WPDA’s recognized show, suffered a severe horse-related injury. Robyn and Mary Lou stepped in to take her place and get WPDA through their show, which was held just a few weeks after ours.   I am sure everyone in WPDA appreciates all that our two dedicated show experts did.   We all wish Karen a speedy recovery.   Oh, and we wish Robyn and Mary Lou a speedy recovery too.  I am sure they are exhausted.

The Schooling Shows have been very successful this year.  We have a fabulous committee and everyone works very hard to make sure the shows are successful and fun for all.  We have a new Schooling Show Manager.  Kim Moody has stepped down from the Manager position and her Assistant Manager, Chris Goodall (formerly Chris Leja), has taken over.  Chris has been working with Kim all summer and is doing a great job as Manager.  Please give her all your support as she learns the ropes.  Kim Moody remains Chair and will still be around to help Chris.  We all thank Kim Moody for her dedication to making the Schooling Show Series successful over the last few years.  She, Fran Cverna, and Gail Patton, with the help of countless volunteers, have helped to make NODA Schooling Shows a fun way to learn about showing dressage.

Speaking of HELP, NODA needs some.  Our fabulous Schooling Show Secretary, Fran Cverna will end her tenure at the end of this summer.  NODA is looking for someone who is organized and has good computer skills to take over this job for 2011.  You will also need to be available to work at each show throughout the summer.  You will work with great volunteers, get to know more NODA members, and you can also earn some extra spending money as the Secretary keeps part of the office fee from each entry.   With a membership of 289 thus far for 2010, I know someone is out there who is willing to help with the Schooling Show Series.  Come on and step up to the plate and help out your club.

NODA needs you!   Volunteer for a committee.  There are lots of committees that are in need of help.  Volunteer for the Banquet, Awards, Schooling Shows, Recognized Shows, or Education Committee.  We all really have a good time and we want more people to join the fun.  YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU!

Do you have a facility that would be suitable for a NODA Educational event or a NODA open meeting?  This is another way you as a member can support your club and help us to make our events available to the wider membership.  If several facilities were used just once, it would help reach a more diverse audience.  Do you have a program that you are putting on at your barn that might qualify for NODA support?  Let us know what you are doing -- if it's something that could benefit the membership at large, we can work together and help with advertising and volunteer support.  NODA NEEDS EVERYONE'S SUPPORT!

Upcoming dates to remember:

September 17th - NODA Open Meeting, discussion the proper fit of helmets presented by the Paddock Saddlery, desserts and fellowship.

October 22nd - Charles de Kunffy Part II- if you liked Part I, you are going to love Part II.  And if you missed Part I we hope you can make it to Part II.  There will be a lecture and demo titled, "A Visual Guide to the Daily Vocabulary of Riding,” with demo riders and horses.  Check out the website and newsletter for details.

Do you plan to apply for Year End Awards?  Have you earned your necessary four (4) NODA bucks from volunteering in 2010?  If you have waited until the end of the season to try to get your volunteer hours in, you could be out of luck.   There will be no exceptions.  You must have 2010 NODA bucks to apply for a Year End Award. 

Enjoy the warm weather,
Dee

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JULY 2010 GREETINGS

Dear NODA Members,

It seems that I always start off this letter talking about the weather.  I guess it's because the weather here in NE Ohio has such a huge impact on our riding schedules.  That being said I hope all of you are enjoying your summer and getting in lots of riding.  Before we know it we will be wishing  the hot and humid days were back. 

This is the first issue of the NODA News where you won't get a paper copy unless you have dial-up or no email, and have filled out the OPT OUT form.   If you forgot to fill one out,  please do it now and send to Alice Brightup, Membership Chair,  27925 Louise Drive, Solon, OH  44139.  We don't want you to miss your mailed copy if you can't access the NODA News on line.

Thank you to all who volunteered to help out LEC with the Derby.   It's nice when two organizations can work together and help each other.  We hope that we will be able to do more of this type of thing in the future.  

The Schooling Shows are going along very well, with two under our belt already this year, and July 11 at Grand Haven coming up soon.  Kim Moody  and Fran Cverna reported the show at Rocky River on May 30th was well attended.  There were 74 entries and 130 rides.  Once again Margaret McElhany and her crew were very helpful.  It's always a pleasure to put on a schooling show there.  Thank you also to all the volunteers for the day.  As always, you were all fabulous.  If you haven't signed up to volunteer at one of NODA's schooling shows, please call Gail Patton, 440-442-5256 to get your name on the list.

The Recognized Shows are also right around the corner -- July 24 and 25 will be here before you know it.  If you aren't  making plans to show in either of these two shows, we hope you will be volunteering or watching and shopping our annual silent auction.  We also hope that you sent in your sponsorship/ad form in support of this event.  This is NODA's big annual fund raiser and we need your support.

Do you have some comments or ideas that you want to share with NODA's Board?  Perhaps an idea for an educational event or a fund raiser or some thoughts on how we might improve our Schooling  or Recognized shows?  Please submit those ideas to your member liaison, Kathy Kirchner, at MemberRep@nodarider.org.  She will bring your ideas  and or comments to the appropriate committee chair and/or to the Board.  Remember to tell us about the things that you like as well as what you don't like. 

Don't forget to get your volunteer hours in to qualify for awards.  You must  submit Four (4) - 2010 NODA bucks with your application for year end awards.  There will be no exceptions.  If you don't have time to work at a show, you can submit an article or volunteer in some other capacity.  You can work on a committee such as the banquet or awards committee, or you can help with the silent auction, gathering donations.  NODA is always in need of help in some capacity.  Tell us what you like to do and we can find you a job. 

I don't usually talk about myself in this letter but in case you haven't heard through the grapevine, I have a new horse.  His name is Rens.  He is a Dutch Warm Blood gelding,  just turning 12.  I am so excited because he is trained.  He is not a baby that I have to try to teach.  He is teaching me.  I have learned the hard way that an AA doesn't always have the tools necessary for training a horse, especially a vintage AA like myself.  I not only don't have the tools to train a young horse, I also don't have the time.  I am having so much fun.  He has a personality to die for and he is so handsome that if I weren't already spoken for, he would be my pick . . . and he is my pick as my new dressage riding partner.

Enjoy the warm weather,
Dee

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JUNE 2010 GREETINGS

Dear NODA Members,

It's been a crazy Spring for many of us.  NODA's first show of the season at Blue Moon Stables was well attended.  If you were there as a spectator or a participant,  we hope you enjoyed your experience.  If you took pictures and would like to share them,  please send to Linda Cooley,  webmaster@nodarider.org.   Be sure to identify the folks in the photos and the photographer.  We will try to get them in the newsletter and on the website. 

The memorial for Gretchen Singleton on May 2nd at Fieldstone Farm TRC was a wonderful tribute.  Nancy Smith moderated, and many of Gretchen's students, friends and family members told stories and shared memories of a much loved friend, teacher, and equestrian.   This memorial was a celebration of Gretchen's life with much laughter and more than a few tears.   I think we all left with the desire to be better people.  

I bet you didn't know that last year only 19 NODA members sponsored  classes for NODA's Recognized Show?  As of May 12th we have 255 members.   Those 19 people represent 8% of NODA's membership.  I for one was very surprised.  Other than membership fees, The Recognized Shows in July are the only big fund raising opportunity that NODA has,.  For $20 you can sponsor a class in memory of a favorite horse or a loved one.  You can also sponsor a class in the name of parent or a friend.  Why don't you and others from you barn get together and sponsor a class or two?  You could just say "Good Luck to all Competitors" from  Name your Facility.  Please support your Dressage Club and sponsor a class. 

The Charles de Kunffy demonstration and lecture on May 14th was very well attended.  Charles gave the more than 65 people in attendance not just information about proper lungeing, but also information about riding and the relationship between rider and horse.   A big "Thank You" to Topline Stables for hosting, letting us borrow Charles for a couple of hours and supplying demo horses and riders for this educational event.   Thanks also to Marcia Doyle and her team of volunteers for getting the event together.  Whenever something like this happens you can be sure that a lot of people supplied a lot of volunteer hours to make it work. 

We want your feedback about putting the Newsletter online.  What feedback we have gotten from members so far has been positive.  Don't forget to send the "Opt Out" form if you do not have email or you have dial up.  This June issue will be your last hard copy. 

The Newsletter is in need of articles.  We want to keep the content about you and your dressage or horse experiences.  Did you attend a clinic or other educational event that you would like to share with the rest of NODA?  Did you and your horse share an experience at home?  Earn NODA bucks toward year end awards or the banquet or show entry fees.  We also would love to have you share your pictures. 

We had a fabulous response to the T-Shirt Art Contest for the Recognized Show.  The members of the board viewed the anonymous entries and narrowed it down to the two that they thought would work best on our volunteer t-shirt.  It was a very difficult decision as all the artwork was wonderful.  We hope to share it all in the newsletter and on the website in upcoming months.  Thank you to everyone who participated. 

As I write this, we are only two weeks away from June.  I see a busy summer ahead of us and look forward to the bright sunshine, and some cool trail rides.  

Sincerely,
Dee Liebenthal, NODA President

MAY 2010 GREETINGS

Dear NODA Members,

With the April NODA News you received a hard copy by snail mail as usual and also an email containing a link to the electronic copy on our website.  This will be the first of a three month transition period, where members will receive both a hard copy and an email notification as NODA's newsletter "Goes Green."  During the next three months you will have the option to "Opt Out" by filling out an "Opt Out" form and forwarding it to our newsletter editor.  You may "Opt Out" and continue to receive the hard copy only if you do not have email or if you have a dial up internet connection.  Everyone else's hard copy will be discontinued with the July edition.  There are some big advantages besides saving trees.  NODA will save approximately $2300 a year, after advertising income.  Another big advantage is that you will get your NODA News about two weeks earlier, as printing and snail mail added about two weeks to the process.  Our ads and announcements will be current and more relevant and the pictures will be vibrant in full color.  I know that many of you will be sad to see the end of the printed copy but think of the trees and money we will be saving.  We are sure that you will support NODA's efforts to "Go Green." 

Don't miss the rare opportunity to attend a lecture and demo by Charles de Kunffy.  Join fellow NODA members and other equine lovers on March 14th at Topline Stables in Aurora to hear Charles speak on lungeing the horse and lungeing the horse and rider.   Education is important to all of us.  It reminds us how much we know but more importantly how much we still need to know about our partnership with our much loved horses.  Go to the NODA website, www.nodarider.org , for information and a registration form, or contact Marcia Doyle at 216-233-7212.  You can also email Marcia at, marcia-edu@nodarider.org. 

Speaking of education, on April 5th Fran Cverna and I attended a lecture and demo on Biomechanics given at Rocky River Stables by Colleen Kelly.  She was coming to the area from her home in Australia for the Equine Affair and decided to offer other organizations her services while here.  Jeni Hren-Gaffney and her Bath Pony Club took her up on that offer.  There was a terrific turnout to hear and also to ride with Colleen.  Jeni and her Pony Club did a great job in getting out the word and putting this event together in a very short period of time.  It was probably one of the most entertaining lectures I have ever attended.  Colleen is like the Joan Rivers of equine education.   In her lecture, Colleen spent a lot of time on safety.  If you didn't always wear a helmet before she spoke, I can't imagine that you wouldn't after hearing the stories she told.  After the lecture we watched several riders demonstrate some basic concepts of biomechanics and riding.   Colleen pointed out several times that if we are not balanced when we ride, we are "always falling off."   My favorite quote of the night stressed sitting up straight with your chest out.  The perfect visual from Colleen was, "Pull those fillies out of the paddock!"  If you can imagine those words being spoken with an Australian accent, you’ll know why we laughed so hard that there wasn't a dry eye in the barn.  Thanks to Jeni and her Bath Pony Club for sponsoring this event. 

Take your camera with you to the NODA horse shows this year.  We are always looking for pictures in an 8 x 10 format for our cover.  Send your favorite photo to newsletter editor Niki Sackman at editor@nodarider.org; you might just find your photo on the cover.  Pictures must be digital and of high resolution, sized appropriately to fit the cover.  There should be lighter space around the pictures so that text will be readable.  Any people in the pictures must be NODA members and be properly identified. 

Use the NODA website for updated information from NODA as well as from Region II and the USDF.  The Calendar is a "go to" for many horse events throughout our area.  There is membership information, Schooling and Recognized Show information, and now you can read the latest NODA News on line and in full color.  In the next month or so you will also be able to see newsletters from the recent past.

Remember to volunteer for NODA shows and committees.  We need your help to keep NODA running the way you would like to see it.

Happy Spring,
Dee

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APRIL 2010 GREETINGS

Dear NODA Members,

Another month has come and gone in the blink of an eye.  The snow has turned to rain and mud and our horses are loving a good roll in the delicious brown stuff. 

We had another record turnout for the monthly board meeting on March 8th at the Paddock Saddlery.  We welcomed new member Rob Ellins who has joined Lora Szloh and the committee to get our history digitized.  It was nice to see another new face along with the regulars.

Mark your calendars and save May 14th for a date with Charles.  Charles de Kunffy will be in Aurora March 14th through the 16th for a mounted clinic at Topline Stables.  Janeen Langowski-Grava has  agreed to let NODA "borrow" Charles for three hours of lecture and demonstration, and NODA is lucky to be able to hire this remarkable clinician for a half a day.  What a terrific opportunity!  The demonstration and lecture will be on lungeing the horse and lungeing the horse and rider.  Our education committee has worked hard to get this put together quickly, and we are excited to offer this educational event at a very reasonable price.  We are also able to offer USDF continuing education credit.  Please look for details in our monthly newsletter and also on the website.  If this works well, NODA could be looking for other similar opportunities at other venues in the area.   Please plan on joining us for this wonderful and rare opportunity. 

Attention NODA Professionals!  NODA is working hard on a new award just for you beginning this year.  We want to reward your hard work with your  students and your support of NODA Schooling Shows.  Watch for the details coming soon.  If you are a professional you could be the 2010 "NODA Professional Of The Year".  Think how nice that would look on your website.   We will be soliciting comments from you on this new annual award.

NODA is "Going Green!"   We will be joining many other GMOs in an effort to save trees and money by distributing our newsletter through e-mail.  We will parallel for a few months to ease folks into the transition, and those who do not have e-mail or high speed connections will still get the mailed copy.  Look for more information in this issue of the NODA News. 

Please remember that if you have anything you wish to say to the board about any of NODA's plans or programs, compliments or complaints, please contact our member liaison, Kathy Kirchner.  We welcome your input.   

WELCOME SPRING!!!

Sincerely,
Dee

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MARCH 2010 GREETINGS

Dear NODA Members,

By the time you get this edition of the "NODA News" we will be a lot closer to Spring.  I know that everyone is looking forward to better weather.  Have you noticed that people living here in Ohio have developed a deep appreciation of every day of sunshine experienced between December and March?   What day was that sunshine again?

Our February Board meeting was held on the 8th at the Paddock Saddlery.  It was well attended, and we are very excited that new people are getting involved.  This month we welcomed member Lora Szloh.  Lora rides her 16-year-old Arabian, Charlie, at Rocky River Stables.  Along with her equestrian activities, she is a wife, a helpdesk support person for a law firm, and a student at Tri-C, hoping soon to transfer to Akron University's History Program.  Her love of history brought her to NODA's Board meeting to talk about digitizing NODA's historical information.  NODA has 40 years of information in boxes and once we have completed this project we will easily be able to access historical information for current reference and use.  It will be fun to know what NODA was doing in February 30 years ago.  We will start this project with Newsletters and meeting minutes.  A big "thank you" to Lora for volunteering and to our VP, Kim Moody, for finding such a talented member.  Kim, along with Fran Cverna, will direct the project.  If you are interested in lending a hand or two, please don't hesitate to contact Lora, Kim, or Fran.

Look for the highlights from the January Board meeting in this month's Newsletter.  Also in this month's edition, NODA announces a contest for the budding artist in you.  Would you like to design the 2010 Recognized Show volunteer T-Shirt?  Check out the rules and deadlines in the Newsletter and on the website.

With Spring right around the corner, mark your calendar with these upcoming important dates:  May 2nd from 6PM to 8PM, there will be a memorial for Gretchen Singleton at Fieldstone Farms TRC.  May 2nd is also NODA's first Schooling Show at Blue Moon Stables in Novelty.   We hope to see you at these events.

We need volunteers to help Lisa Cardinale with the Silent Auction.  She will need both ongoing help and help on the show grounds during the Recognized Horse Show in July.  Please contact her at 330-527-0683 or at  silentauction@nodarider.org.    

Remember that you can earn NODA Bucks by writing an article for the "NODA News".  The content must be of interest to the general membership.  For instance, it can be an interview with a professional, an account of your personal experience at a riding clinic, or a story about your most memorable or challenging ride.  If you have an idea for a story but are not sure if it qualifies for publication and NODA Bucks, contact our editor, Niki Sackman, at editor@nodarider.org. 

The Schooling Show season is not far away.  Reserve your volunteer time early for a show near you by calling Gail Patton 440-442-5256.  Don't wait until the last minute to get in your four required hours.   You can find the Schooling Show schedule in the newsletter or on the website. 

Sincerely,
Dee

FEBRUARY 2010 GREETINGS

Dear NODA Members, 

This past December we suffered the loss of a much loved and valued member of our organization.  Gretchen Singleton passed away on December 21st.  She was an active member of NODA for many years, serving on the Executive Committee as Treasurer and most recently on the Awards Committee tabulating scores for year-end awards.  She was a constant supporter of NODA activities, attending and encouraging her students to attend NODA clinics, shows, and lectures.  We could count on her support if there was a need for an experienced demo rider or just another pair of hands to take down a dressage ring.  She had more energy and good humor than most, and was always there with a smile and words of encouragement whether or not you were her student.  She contributed much to NODA and the world of horses.  She will be missed by so many.  There will be a local memorial for Gretchen in the spring.  

We know that the winter months make getting to NODA Board meetings a challenge, so thank you to everyone who came out for our first meeting of the new year on January 11th.   We also want to thank The Paddock Saddlery for hosting NODA's monthly meetings.  It was very well attended even though the weather made the roads a bit tricky.  There were the familiar faces along with lots of new ones.  We welcomed Mikki Pietrantozzi who is co-chairing the Schooling Show Committee; Berni Moauro who, along with returning member Marcia Doyle is co-chairing Education; Jennifer Kick, our new Treasurer, who is taking over for Kathy Dennis who left us for sunny Florida; Carol Cassano, who will be offering her expert event planning experience to the Banquet Committee; and Chris Leja, who will be Assistant Schooling Show Manager.  Please remember that NODA Board meetings are open to all members.  You can also contact Kathy Kirchner, our Member Liaison, if you have a question or comment that you would like addressed by the Board.  Beginning with the March issue of the NODA News, you will see highlights from the previous month's meeting.   

All NODA committees are already hard at work making 2010 another great year.  The Schooling Show and Awards Committees are working to complete the prize list.  You should receive yours in February.  The 2010 NODA Schooling Show Season begins on May 2nd.  Check out this issue of the NODA News or the NODA website for the complete 2010 Schooling Show schedule.  It is going to be another fabulous series.   

We want to remind you that NODA belongs to you, the members.  We survive because we have dependable and dedicated volunteers that serve on committees, work at horse shows and clinics, and give up time to do something as simple but important as picking up the Newsletter from the printer and delivering it to the post office.  The NODA Bucks you earn when you volunteer never expire and can be used for anything that NODA sponsors, from membership to schooling show entry fees to the year-end banquet.  Remember to earn your NODA Bucks early and often! 

Stay Warm,
Dee

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JANUARY 2010 GREETINGS

Dear NODA Members,

I am honored and excited to start a two-year term as NODA's  President.   Before I go on, I wish to emphasize that my overriding goal is to make the next two years not only a positive experience, but one that includes all NODA members.  It is very humbling for me to follow in the footsteps of NODA's many fabulous past presidents.  Our Club has 40 years of fascinating history and it never ceases to amaze me that this geographic area  supports such an enormous, diverse, and successful horse community.   I often wonder about the origins and history that led to such a large community of horse enthusiasts.  Not being from this area, I was not a part of the Red Raider Camp program, and wonder about the magnitude of its influence on the modern horse population.  It sounds like a subject for a research project.   Is anyone interested? 

Speaking of our past presidents, we can't thank Dale Lappert enough for her contributions to NODA.  She is not only an amazing leader, but  a storehouse of knowledge about NODA, USDF and Dressage.  Her contributions and dedication to NODA since its inception in 1969 have been and will continue to be important and essential to our Club .  So many of us never realized  our own desire to volunteer for a particular committee until Dale explained it to us.   She is the definition of delegation.   She has volunteered countless hours to the betterment of NODA and Dressage.  NODA will forever be grateful.

Along with strong support for all NODA's current offerings and benefits,  there are a few things that are worth looking at over the coming term:

*   Form an ad hoc committee to take a look at our by-laws and propose change where appropriate. 
     It's been a number of years since they were last looked at.

*   Our volunteers - NODA's most important asset - should be encouraged and rewarded. 
     Taking a look at  our volunteer requirements and doing more to reward those who get more
     involved will be a very important priority.   

*   40 years of existence produces a lot of history on paper.  Getting that history into a form that can be quickly
     accessed is a big job, but with today's modern technology we should be able to get NODA's history digitized. 
     Digital access will allow NODA to share and compare the past with the present and also make the information
     available to future members.   We hear that Mary Dana Prescott's house has been taken over by so many
     boxes containing NODA history that she can't find her couch or her dog! 

Continuing and expanding our educational events is the highest priority for NODA.  Through our presentations, lectures, symposia, and schooling shows, NODA provides members and other horse enthusiasts  information on nutrition, health, safe and sane riding, and treatment of our equine companions.  Marcia Doyle and Berni Moauro have agreed to Co-chair the Education Committee.  Please support NODA's fun and fabulous educational events.   If you have ideas or would like to help or offer a venue, please contact them. 

As indicated earlier, I would like the overriding principle of the next two years to be inclusion.  It is important to the success of NODA that we obtain your participation and listen to your ideas.   Accordingly, it is a high priority to both expand the involvement of current members and encourage the sharing of ideas and participation in NODA activities.

Remember that NODA's monthly Board  meeting is open to all members.   If you cannot attend a meeting and have questions or concerns, contact Kathy Kirchner, NODA's Member Liaison, and she will bring your thoughts to the Board. All board members’ contact information is on our web site, www.nodarider.org, on the Officers page.

I look forward to the next two years.
Dee

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