Membership
THE PIEDMONT CHAPTER OF THE OLD PEOPLES RIDING CLUB
WELCOMES YOU AS A NEW OR RENEWING MEMBER!!
Established March, 2002
2010
OFFICERS, COMMITTEE HEADS AND FEES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
Betsy Burnett, President |
937 4626 |
|
|
Miranda Kettlewell, V.P./Events |
636 6201 |
|
|
Susie Rowe, Secretary |
937 3932 |
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|
Laurie Counts, Treasurer |
937 6171 |
lauriecounts@vabb.com |
|
Kay Brady, Publicity |
364 6261
|
kbrady@att.net |
|
Jenny Emig, member at large |
364 1303 |
|
|
Christine Lambdin, member at large |
|
COMMITTEE
HEADS
|
Sharon Sweeney
|
Ratings |
|
|
Katherine Hedrick |
Classified |
|
|
Webmaster |
Donna Parkman |
FEES and
RELATED INFORMATION
1.
Annual Membership Meeting (AGM), January 10, 2010, Jeffersonton
Community Center
2. New Members: Membership - $60 for year January 1 – December 31, 2010
3.
Renewing Members – dues must be paid no later than January 31st;
otherwise a late fee of $5 is applied.
INTENT
Piedmont OPRC
was established in 2002 to promote horse activities for adults.
Emphasizing fun, camaraderie, and education, we hope you
will grow through your participation in our club activities. Our
specific objectives include the following: that you continue to
improve your riding, knowledge, and horsemanship; that you will
expand your horse horizons and try something new, and, most of
all, that you will make new friends within our local riding
community. The Board Members and instructors are here to help
you reach for these goals.
STRUCTURE
OPRC is based
on the United States Pony Club. The USPC has been in existence
in this country for the last 50 years.
Our local club rules are based on the rules of the
National Old People’s Riding Club. A requirement of membership is that each new member must be
rated prior to participation in any club activity. The rating is
required to establish your ability to safely participate in club
activities. The requirements for the
D1 rating may be found on the National OPRC site. In OPRC there are
variations to accommodate riders of different disciplines. After
the initial rating, there is no pressure to move up – only
opportunity to learn.
NEW MEMBER
INFORMATION/FINANCIAL STRUCTURE/RATINGS
If you would
like to join our organization, please see the National OPRC site
and send your dues,
Membership Forms,
including Activity Release, to our
Membership Chairman, Paula Payne at 9435 Mt. Zion Church Rd,
Rixeyville 22737.
You will also have to
download and complete the medical information form. This medical
information must be worn in an armband, available from
Dover Saddlery
or Horse Country, Warrenton, at all
mounted Club activities.
Our
membership year begins January 1st. Dues may be paid
as soon as the Membership Chairman sends out the announcement
asking for renewals. Our dues include membership in the
National OPRC organization
and National insurance provided for members in good standing of
each chapter. Read more details about this on the National site.
New members may join the Piedmont chapter of OPRC until
the 31st of July of the current year. After that date we would
like you to join us the following year.
Please contact one of the Board Members if you are
interested in joining or if you would like to come and watch one
of our lessons/activities.
Following the
AGM, the initial rating will be held as soon as possible to
enable all new members to take advantage of upcoming lessons.
There is no charge for this rating. The rating consists of a fun
test, a safety check and a few questions. All forms and payments
must be up to date before a new member is allowed to participate
in the rating.
After the D1
rating, it is encouraged, but not necessary, for members to rate
up. Piedmont Certificates and badges will be given to those who
advance. The badges can be ironed onto club saddle pads.
TO OUR
RENEWING MEMBERS
Memberships
MUST be renewed no later than January 31st following
the yearly AGM. Late dues
for renewing members, will be subject to a
$5.00 fee required by Nationals.
CURRENT MEMBERSHIP CARDS CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM THE
NATIONAL SITE. Membership cards can be used at various shops,
including Saddle Liquidators in Haymarket, for a discount.
OFFICERS,
CLINICIANS AND RATERS
The Board
Members, clinicians, and raters are chosen for their ability to
teach, organize, and instill confidence in the horse and rider.
The current President, a graduate B, ran the local Pony Club for
five years, judged Pony club stable management at the regional
level, and taught riding for twenty-five years. She understands
the system. The other officers have had a variety of teaching
and horse related experiences.
Board members for Piedmont OPRC shall be five including the
president. They shall serve terms of 3 years and shall be
elected at the Annual General Meeting. At each AGM, two board
positions shall be up for election. Every third year the
president's position is up for election. Board members may serve
consecutive terms. They are appointed by the President so as
to give each member a chance to be part of the inner workings of
the club.
ACTIVITIES
Piedmont schedules mounted meetings, weather permitting, on the
second Sunday of each month. Winter sessions
are typically held in an indoor arena. Please arrive on time,
ready to ride. You, your tack and your horse should be
reasonably clean: no unnecessary jewelry or flying hair!!
There are safety reasons for this. We also enjoy many “extra
curricular” activities. Check under
Events on this website, to find a list of
recent or upcoming activities.
As our club
has grown over the past years, we suggest that when mounted
lessons are announced, those who wish to participate should let
the organizer know as soon as possible. Some activities may be
limited. If you are on the waiting list for an event and
don’t get in, you will be first on the list for the next event.
One of our most popular activities is Summer Camp started in 2006
and held over a three-day weekend. This is an overnight camp
near Staunton with lovely accommodations and superior
instruction. Besides riding, there is fishing, tennis, and
swimming. One needn’t ride to attend and enjoy - as many “horse
husbands” and children come along to enjoy the facilities.
LESSONS/FEES
Your annual dues entitle you to one voucher for one regular
monthly lesson. These vouchers cannot be used for musical rides,
lesson marathons, or summer camp – only for regularly scheduled
chapter lessons. They must be used within that calendar year and
are non transferable. “Curriculum” monthly
lessons will include an instructor and/or facility fee. The club
is fortunate to have several wonderful and reasonably priced
instructors who have been working with us for several years.
Along with the announcement of the monthly lesson, the
cost, if any, will be noted. These costs are generally very
reasonable for the value received.
Members will be responsible for the cost of a planned activity if they cancel less than 48 hours prior to the start of the event. If there is a waiting list for said event and we can fill your spot, you will not be responsible. If we cannot fill your spot, you will be responsible for the established payment. This policy was put in place to insure the return of our instructors and for the convenience and sanity of our organizers. We hope you understand the necessity for such a policy. We understand completely that things happen at the last minute, especially with horses, but we have contracted with our instructors/facility for a certain amount and they expect to be paid regardless of circumstance.
EQUIPMENT
Each riding member is required to have an ASTM approved helmet,
boots or shoes with sufficient heels, and a medical armband.
Medical information should be in clear view at all times. Until
you order your armband, keeping the information in your pocket
or hat is acceptable. In addition to being a member in
good standing, having signed everything and paid your dues, a
copy of the Pony Club D and/or C USPC Handbook is invaluable. A
smile and a terrific attitude will also go a long way. A
protective vest is a good idea while jumping, but not required.
A notebook is suggested for recording teaching information and
thoughts on your lessons. It’s also an invaluable review tool.
SAFETY
Safety is paramount. Especially in the beginning of the year, we have informal safety checks. Your Board is responsible for your personal safety and that of your horse. If a suggestion is made, it is for that reason. At each lesson someone will be appointed as First Responder. She or he will carry a cell phone and be in charge should the dreaded accident happen. Please comply with all instructions given you in a crisis. The instructor, President or acting President has the right to dismiss any member who, in their opinion, presents a danger to himself, his horse, or others. The same applies to lameness issues. They have the right and obligation to ask that person to leave the lesson. There can be no argument or recourse. Please understand that it is for the safety of the individual or the group.
CLUB SADDLE
PADS AND SHIRTS.
Piedmont has
a club logo that can be embroidered on saddle pads and polo
shirts. When we are competing or just doing lessons, it’s nice
to wear these as it looks terrific and identifies us as the
special people that we are! Please contact one of the Board
members for further information on how to order.
Never, ever
hesitate to contact any of us with your questions. We’re here to
help you get the most from your OPRC experience.
National Website
www.oldpeoplesridingclub.org
Piedmont website
www.oprcpiedmont.org
PLEASE BOOKMARK THESE SITES AS ALL OUR INFORMATION WILL BE FOUND
THERE AND YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING INFORMATION ON
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES.