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NEWSLETTER #13, May 1, 2009 |
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DEAR FRIENDS,
We are half way through our spring programs with the McGee Center and Social Services and can't believe how quickly the time has passed. The kids are gaining confidence each week in their ability to problem solve and become leaders for their horses. We look forward to reports back at the end of the programs from their counselors, teachers and/or parents about the positive changes they've noted over the course of the program.
We have many volunteer needs coming up, so please take a look below and let us know what you can do to help staff the community events that are so important to continuing to build community awareness of our organization. For those of you unable to volunteer on a regular basis, these opportunities are a great way to show your support by making a smaller commitment of your time.
Thanks goes out to all of you who continue to support Horses for the Spirit. Every little bit helps -- whether it is telling people about our organization or cleaning up manure and picking up trash at the facility.
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 CREATIVE GIVING
"Cate at first was a little resistant to the idea," says Debra. "But after we discussed the fact that she had already received gifts from her family, she realized she had enough."
Cate is one lovely little girl who is beyond her years in understanding that concept. Horses for the Spirit is very grateful for Cate's willingness to share her birthday with us in this way.
Debra is a long-time friend of Robbie Maus, co-founder and program director for Horses for the Spirit, and thinks of Robbie as a sister. "I am very proud of her diligence to bring Horses for the Spirit to life. I was also the product of a broken home and actually went through some very rough teenage years," she recalls, "so I have a strong belief in what you all are doing with the program. Horses made me into the person I am today and Robbie is a huge part of that."
As a way of saying thanks and supporting this program, Debra and her husband came up with this idea for creative giving. All of the other parents thought it was a great idea too and the kids enjoyed playing together at the birthday party and didn't even miss the gifts, not even Cate.
Thanks to the Huiras family and their friends for this very heartwarming gift! |
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Help Horses for the Spirit Get a FREE Booth at the Wild Horse and Burro Expo
The good folks at the Wild Horse & Burro Expo have come up with a mutually beneficial way for us to get a free booth this year.
We need three people to spend a day working for the Expo folks and in return, our booth will be free.
If you can volunteer for them on Friday, August 21 or Saturday, August 22 or Sunday, August 23 from approximately 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., please RSVP to Deb Conrad at deb@horsesforthespirit.org by Friday, May 8th.
Macy's Community Shopping Day - Saturday, May 30th
We have two needs for the community shopping day: 1.) two people to work as Macy's representatives to staff the overall event (the time commitment will be a half day) and 2.) two people to work our booth at the event from about 9 am to 2 pm.
Reno Rodeo Parade - Saturday, June 20th
The Reno Rodeo Foundation has requested that Horses for the Spirit and all other recipients of grants from the foundation have a presence in the Reno Rodeo Parade this year as they celebrate 90 years of service to our community!
We are looking for riders to join us (must have own horse and transportation) as well as walkers to carry the banner and hand out candy.
If you would like to show your support for the Reno Rodeo and for Horses for the Spirit by committing to join us at this event, please RSVP by Friday, May 15th with your name and contact phone number. Please contact Deb Conrad at deb@horsesforthespirit.org.
 Reno Rodeo - Stand Up and Be Recognized Night - Sunday, June 21st - Please Join Us!
Our goal is to get 20 or more people to join us for a big Horses for the Spirit showing at this event. It's an easy, inexpensive and fun way to support Horses for the Spirit and the Reno Rodeo!
They will be designating Grandstand 1 as a special Stand Up and Be Recognized section for our supporters and individuals who have benefited from a program or service funded by the Reno Rodeo Foundation in the past year. (That includes Horses for the Spirit!)
In order to help pack the Grandstand, we want you and all of your friends, family and co-workers to join us on this night.
General admission tickets are $10.00 and can be ordered online at www.RenoRodeo.com, by phone, or by using the downloadable ticket order form. Grandstand 1 will be reserved for Reno Rodeo Foundation general admission ticket holders.
Over 17,000 individuals have benefited from a program or service funded by the Reno Rodeo Foundation since August 2008. Your support of the 2009 Reno Rodeo will help them to continue to be a philanthropic leader in northern Nevada.
We look forward to cheering with you on the 21st of June as we celebrate the children and families in our community whose lives are improved because of the Reno Rodeo.
July 19th 2009 at McKinley Arts and Cultural Center, Reno
Wild Horse & Burro Expo
August 21-23, 2009 at the Reno Livestock Events Center, Reno
McGee Center Program
We could use some extra hands to help us clean pens and move obstacles while the trained volunteers work with the kids and horses. Contact Deb Conrad at deb@horsesforthespirit.org for more info.
Wednesdays through May 20th, 9 am to 1 pm
Social Services Program
We could use some extra hands to help us clean pens and move obstacles while the trained volunteers work with the kids and horses. Contact Deb Conrad at deb@horsesforthespirit.org.
Saturdays through May 23, 10 am to noon (no class on Saturday, May 9th)
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THANK YOU! We are very grateful to everyone who worked their tails off for us at the facility to help us rake rocks, clean the corral and clean up trash to make our facility look nice and tidy. The young ladies of the McGee Center joined our other volunteers and were so helpful we actually finished up early, which was a really pleasant surprise. Thanks to everyone who pitched in! |
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CONGRATULATIONS!
2009 Red Cross Real Heroes Honors Ivonne Popsin
Ivonne is a graduate of our youth program and we're so proud of her for receiving this award. She was in the kitchen at the McGee Center when the cook started choking. Ivonne said she was a little panic stricken at first, but quickly decided to try a move she'd seen in the movies -- the Heimlich Maneuver -- to try to dislodge whatever the cook was choking on. It worked! Good job, Ivonne, for acting quickly and responsibly to assist someone in need! Read the article in the Reno Gazette-Journal. Ivonne admits that all the attention she's been getting over this is a little weird. We just couldn't help it -- when the kids we've worked with do something out of the ordinary, we love to see them recognized for it!
Parelli Selects Three of Our Own to Perform in the Savvy Spotlight in May
Congratulations to our volunteers Robbie Maus, Kathy Voorhis and Marie Chance for being selected to participate in the Savvy Spotlight at the upcoming Parelli Celebration in Reno May 15 -17. Each will show off their skills and more importantly their relationship with their horses during the event. It's a new kind of "horse show" where the relationship with the horse comes first and everything else is icing on the cake. If you're attending the event, we hope you cheer them on!
Two Volunteers Officially Pass Their Level 1 Assessment
Kathy Voorhis and Deb Conrad both recently turned in videos to be officially assessed by the Parelli team. Both are now official Level 1 graduates. Kathy is well into Level 2 and 3 with her mare Kiowa but has not been assessed for that yet. Deb is beginning to play in Level 2 and hopes to be officially assessed again at a later date. |
SHOP AND SUPPORT HORSES FOR THE SPIRIT!
$10 CASH GOES TO HORSES FOR THE SPIRIT WHEN YOU BUY A MACY'S COMMUNITY  SHOPPING DAY TICKET
We need to sell about 50 more tickets in the next month -- please buy your $10 Macy's Community Shopping Day Ticket now and help us reach our goal!
Simply drop a check for your ticket(s) in the mail to Horses for the Spirit c/o Deb Conrad, 2470 Seneca Drive, Reno, NV 89506.
Be sure to include the address where you want your tickets mailed! This is an easy, inexpensive and great way to support us!
 SHOP AT COUNTRYSUPPLY.COM AND HORSES FOR THE SPIRIT GETS 5%! Need to buy horse-related products? Try shopping online at countrysupply.com and we'll receive up to 5% of your purchases.
It's easy! Simply go to the website and shop, then before you complete your order, enter our code (horsesforspirit) in the Country Care box at the top of the online order form.
 BOARD YOUR HORSE AT AVALON FRIESIANS AND HORSES FOR THE SPIRIT GETS 5%!
Need a place to board your horse? Are you interested in dressage? Need access to an indoor arena as well as a nicely maintained dressage court? Avalon Friesians might just be the place for you and your horse! Victoria Myer of Avalon Friesians, a long time supporter of Horses for the Spirit, has space available and will donate 5% a month to Horses for the Spirit for any space filled at her barn when you mention this ad. Call 378-7403 or visit the website at www.avalonfriesians.com for more information about boarding.
SHOP AT OUR CAFE PRESS STORE FOR HFTS LOGO MERCHANDISE.
Whether you want to buy a t-shirt for yourself... or your dog, a coffee mug or beer stein, tote bag or baseball cap, for any purchase you make at our Cafe Press store, $3 per item goes to Horses for the Spirit. Visit www.cafepress.com/hftsreno to buy now! |
THANK YOU TO OUR NEWEST MAJOR SUPPORTERS!
Thanks to generous donations from the following, our organization is able to offer its services to kids in our community.
Reno Rodeo Foundation Marshall R. Matley Foundation
Scott Greene, DVM |
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| We are grateful to ALL our supporters, past and present! Whether you volunteer for us, spread the word about us or provide financial or material support, you help make a difference in the lives of kids in northern Nevada. | |
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We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter and encourage you to send it to friends, family and colleagues who might be interested in Horses for the Spirit. Please send us an email if you have any trouble viewing this newsletter or if you have questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Robbie Maus
Erin De Los Santos
RanDee Banovich
Juanita Chapman, MA, MFT, LADC
Deb Conrad |
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