Tuesday, September 6, 2006

It is 11:30 P.M. and the journalist is home from Lexington and ready to put this Traveling Journal to bed. It has been an adventure — one to be shared with the entire NWHA family. But this episode in NWHA’s journey is completed.

As we traveled home we hit some significant rain with moments of blinding water and vehicle swaying wind with horse trailer behind (oh, didn’t we mention we brought another horse home? That’s another story). I-64 in spots was bumpy with a pothole here and there that seemed to jump out of nowhere and grab the vehicle. But, we stayed on course and the trailer, with the horse in it, stayed right with us. This team: us, vehicle, and horse, made it home – in one piece — together.

Working together, staying the course, we accomplished our mission: moving the NWHA office to Lexington and having it operational by today! My daddy would say: “There is a lesson here”, and there is!

If you have a mission (and NWHA does—“It’s about the Horse”) and you believe in the mission, then you stay the course. Bumpy roads, a little rain, some strong winds, and a pothole or two are but part of any journey. You don’t quit. You don’t lose sight of the mission. You keep working (for that horse) because: “There is a difference” (check out NWHA’s Capital Campaign) — and Our Horse is worth it!

Thanks for taking this journey with NWHA, Your Walking Horse Association

Stay tuned for the next chapter: " NWHA in the Kentucky Horse Park ”

Oh, there is one catch. YOU, the members, must write this chapter !!

Sunday, September 3, 2006

NO ONE EVEN STOPPED FOR LUNCH!

Lisa, Gordan, Pam, Harriet, Duane-etc. moved papers, hustled files, opened mail, and indoctrinated Patricia (NWHA’s new Exec. Dir.) in the way of going of the National Walking Horse Association. And when the sun set, everyone was tired, but knew the direction was on target.

Monday -- for those of us at the NWHA office – it was truly LABOR DAY! But us walking horse folks know that good work requires good food , so, we did stop to enjoy rosemary infused roasted Cornish hens, wild rice a la mushrooms, fresh green beans sautéed with almond butter and graced with roasted pimento, baby romaine kissed with strawberries and gently tossed with poppyseed dressing, fresh baked multigrain bread served with tarragon butter, and a finale of warm apple pie accompanied with vanilla bean flecked ice cream.

Wish you were there

Saturday, September 2, 2006

What is Black & Blue, and full of Ribs?

NWHA Official Office Unpackers

Eight A.M.; Hotel Breakfast Room --- Coffee in hand the Crew set out to the interim office site and begin the job of the day; unloading the LONG as in HUGE U-haul truck. Boxes begin coming off. Hands (as in all hands on deck) begin sifting through and sorting into piles: office supplies, show items, trophies, brochures, computer, other equipment, furniture, DQP materials, files, well, you get the picture.

Mid-morning, another hand arises — Lisa Hite is reporting for duty. She is appreciated and really regaled when we hear she has left college friends, from out of town, at home to come help. Off to the storage unit with “stuff” and a drop off the Monster truck. Duane doesn’t even shed a tear as he leaves that vehicle behind. PIZZA --- but no break.

Now the work begins --- where does this go; call Connie or Val to see if they need any of “this” for the National; make a list to ask the Board questions; have you got those DQP reports for Dr. Reband: and the ALPHABET soup goes on ( that one is for you, Harriet --- from Clark ).

7:00 P.M. FOOD — Lisa heads home to be a hostess, with assurances she will be back on Sunday. The rest of us head out for food and a place to rest our weary but exhilarated souls. Just as we start to sit down the cell phone rings. Dr. Lawler and Pam are about 120 miles out. With plans to meet for breakfast, we say goodnight to our new Executive Director, Patricia, (This lady never sat down all day ---- and then at dinner she learned about NWHA - our mission, our horse, our people — wow - what an impression she has made on all of us already). She has a warmblood and is into dressage, Sue Fanelli. Oh, did we mention the ice cream??

11:00 P. M. Back in the room, brought some work to do so we can hit the ground running in the morning. It is the Labor Day weekend. Yet a dedicated bunch of NWHA members are present and accounted for to move NWHA into its new office—into its rightful place in the equestrian world.

There is a lot of work still to be done. NWHA needs your help to advance our Walking Horse – to date many have risen to assist with the move, both in time and with money --- as NWHA kicks off the Capital Campaign please contribute your share — for our horse!

Good night!

“There’s a Lot of Movin’ and Shakin” Goin” On…"

The journey of the NWHA Office “stuff” is only part of the move. Behind the excitement of the Road Trip is the plain ol’ hard work of the BOD and Executive Committee to keep the virtual doors of NWHA open to members. The spin point for the coordination of the office move, the National Show, “regular shows, members needs, and business needs is Juana Grover’s kitchen table. Juana stepped up to the plate when the office of the President was vacated and has facilitated this move with courage, integrity and forward thinking leadership. The words “can’t,” “NO,” and “not now” do not exist in this Board’s vocabulary.

Gordon Lawler, NWHA co-founder and Treasurer, has worked non-stop to make sure the financial needs of the organization are met. His belief in the NWHA and his leadership has been steady and true to the NWHA’s mission.

Lisa Hite, Secretary, has gotten Board actions, minutes and Flashes on to the Website quickly so members know what is “happening.”

In one short week, the NWHA Board has:
1) Determined that the NWHA deserves to be in the Kentucky Horse Park,
2) Found an interim office until we move into the KHP permanently,
3) Searched for, found and hired an experienced and capable interim Executive Director,
4) Hired part-time secretarial staff,
5) Consulted with other equine executives concerning organizational management, industry relationships and marketing,
6) Handled all the tasks so phone and internet links will be ready when the “office” arrives,
7) Established a work schedule to unpack and set up the office over Labor Day weekend so the office will be functional on Tuesday, September 5, 2006.
8) Appointed Connie Holbrook and Val Delana as co-chairs of the National Horse Show,
9) Appointed Pam Reband as interim Director of DQPs,
10) Appointed the Judges Committee, chaired by Roger Hand, to assume interim responsibility for Director of Judges
11) Made a commitment to re-establish relationships with former or non-active members,
12) Adopted a resolution for a Capital Campaign to ensure financial solvency,
13) Vowed to continue NWHA’s mission for the Walking Horse without missing a ‘beat’.

Stay tuned, there’s more to come..

The Journey Continues…

Connie Holbrook and Val Delana took the reins of the National Show, did a flying lead change and never missed a beat…

They have only been at this job one week, but with their skills and many folks offering their help, they report it will be a huge and successful show. They’re getting out packets, filing important work positions, and hear that lots of Walking Horses will be at the Miller Coliseum September 20 through the 23, 2006.

It just gives an entirely new meaning to the saying:

“WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING”