November 2020 FCOHC Newsletter

As promised, this is the balance of the November newsletter.

The two main issues discussed at the meeting involved the December 6th Christmas party and the election of officers for 2021.

Chip Sharp has helped us set up the Christmas party at the Eagles Lodge on East Main Street in Lancaster. Chip was present at the meeting and helped us work through last-minute details. The final arrangements will go like this. First, there is no charge to the members to attend the party. In the past, we have catered the meal which we charged for. This year with the loss of our major income from the AAY show, we cut back to stay within a much tighter budget. The club will provide 3 choices of main entrees. These are pulled pork, chicken, and lasagna. The balance of the meal will be a covered dish carry in from the members. It is not mandatory to bring a covered dish to attend. I am asking that those planning to attend make a reservation with me by November 22nd. The reservation will help us plan on the amount of meat to purchase. Email your reservation to me at cstreite@gmail .com. If you plan to bring a covered dish, give me a heads up on what that might be. This will help us plan a balanced meal. Water, tea, and lemon aid will be provided by the club. A cash bar will be available for those that would like something different to drink.

The meal will be served by your officers so we limit the number of people touching the serving utensils. There will not be a gift exchange this year. In years past we had said limit the gift to approximately $10.00. This year with no gift exchange the idea was floated to donate a similar amount of money to the FOUNDATION DINNERS organization in Lancaster. They provide free meals to anyone in need and depend entirely on donations from the community. The idea was voted on and passed with unanimous support from the members attending the meeting. I will provide a box or jar of some sort where donations can be deposited. This is to be clearly VOLUNTARY and is not a requirement of attending the party. If you choose to donate, the amount you donate is strictly your choice. There is no minimum. I am confident any and all donations will be greatly appreciated by the foundation.

In my shorter version of this newsletter a week ago, I tried to compliment you as members on how active you had been riding in October. Somehow that portion of the newsletter got deleted. So here goes my second attempt.

At the end of September, maybe the first of October, Keith and Donna White made their annual trip to Benezette Pa. Benezette is located in north-central Pa. and is ground zero where the Pa DNR personnel reintroduced elk back into the state a hundred years ago. Today the area has a herd population of approximately 1000. Great riding in this area plus a unique opportunity to see animals that are different than we normally in counter in the woods.

About this same time frame, Bryan Black and his son traveled to Colorado to elk hunt. Bryan did not take his own horses, but rented horses out there to pack into the mountains. Although I am told they had a great time, the hunt was not successful. They did see mule deer and bear which certainly did add to the experience.

In early October, Margaret Hite, Sue Keller, Cathy Campbell, and Sandy Sexton plus another of their pose’ traveled to Mammoth Cave Kentucky for a 4 or 5-day ladies-only getaway. This was Margaret’s first out of state trip with her horse. I’m told they had a great time and I applaud their independence and sense of adventure.

The 3rd week of October, 20 of us, 18 of which were OHC members headed to Red Hill Horse camp near Mt. Vernon, Kentucky to ride in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Beautiful place to ride, similar to the Hocking Hills but as one described it (on steroids). There were places I questioned the steroids and suggested maybe crack. Beautiful but a lot of rock.

To finish up the month, Bennie Sloan went home from Red Hill, washed his shorts, repacked, and headed to Big South Fork in Tennessee for a week.

I know others that stayed local and rode multiple time in October. Here is the bottom line, I am extremely proud of all of the Fairfield county OHC members and their dedication to riding their favorite horses. Some talk the talk, but Fairfield county can also walk the walk. This is why we are consistently one of the top member clubs for trail mile turned into the state. A big hats off to all of you!

All improvement projects at Hocking for this year have been completed. We were given a $925 grant from South Central Power Foundation. That money was used to purchase the supplies necessary to construct a 3 tie rail on the equine trails at Hocking, a concrete manure bin at the day ride parking area at Hocking, and a concrete pad to park the water buffalo on at the special use area, also at Hocking. We came up a little short on our original goals due to loss of income from the AAY show, but I’m still satisfied with the improvements that we made to the equine facilities at Hocking. We have had tremendous positive feedback from others that ride and use the Hocking facilities. Thanks to all that helped with these projects.

To finish up from our Sunday meeting, the election of officers for 2021. Nothing changed. Cathy Campbell will remain your secretary, Margaret Hite, treasurer, Pam Dean your Vice President, and myself Chris Streitenberger, President. Tom McGuire will stay on as trail boss. I do want to finish this newsletter with this heads up. Three of these members have indicated this will be their last year as officers. I don’t know how else to say it, but we need new blood to get more actively involved next year.

Hope to see a bunch of you at the Christmas Party on December 6th. Happy hour starts at 5 o’clock with dinner at 6.

Chris