January / February / March

A few thoughts……

• Don’t forget to pay your 2013 dues! You can send them to Dana Rathbun at 1450 Donna Rd. Lewisburg, TN 37091. Dues are $15 per person and $5 for youth.This will be your last newsletter until your dues are paid. 

  New TDA Website: Our address is http://www.tennesseedonkeys.com

• Congratulations to Lydia Spears and Kay Allen for winning best animal in the Lewisburg parade.

TN DONKEY ASSOCIATION - 2013 Dates to Remember:

April 4th - Mule Day Mini Mania Show, Columbia at 1 p.m. - Judge Marvin Butler

April 6^th – Mule Day Parade, Columbia

April ? - Driving Event
April 27th deadline for calendar photo submission

May 3rd thru 5th - KY Horse Park Driving Event, Lextington, KY

May 11th - Woodbury - a few classes?

May 18th - TDA Event, Maury Co. Park, Columbia - possibly Spring Meeting as well

May ? - Driving Event

June 1st - TDA Event, Sandy Carroll's farm, Shelbyville

June 22nd – Westmoreland Show – Judge ??

July 11th thru 13th - Great Celebration Mule & Donkey Show, Shelbyville

July ? - Driving Event

August 3rd - Bedford Co. Fair Donkey Show, Shelbyville - Judge Dawn Ware

August 4th - Williamson Co. Fair Donkey Show, Franklin - Judge Brittney Barnett

August 18th - Wilson Co. Fair Donkey Show, Lebanon - Judge Lori Love

Sept. 14th - TN State Fair Donkey Show, Nashville – Judge Karen Iverson

Sept. 28th - Westmoreland Donkey Show, Westmoreland - Judge ??

October 8^th thru 12^th - National Drive Event, KY Horse Park, Lexington, KY

October 19th - TDA Event, Maury Co. Park, Columbia

October 26th - Pet Day, Maury Co. Park, Columbia - TENTATIVE DATE
November- Annual Meeting ?
Keep an eye on the events page on the web site:
http://www.tennesseedonkeys.com/Events.html

2014 Calendars

Yes it is time to start thinking about the 2014 TDA Calendar. Keep in mind as you take photos of your new babies this year to set your digital cameras to the highest resolution. If you are scanning a photo it would be great if it was scanned at 600 dpi.  Landscape photos only unless they can be cropped to landscape and keep their integrity. The deadline for submitting photos for the calendar is April 27th and voting will be open to the membership for 2 weeks. Keep in mind that if you have a photo chosen for the calendar you must pay the $100 publishing fee. To submit a photo please email them to minidonks@united.net so that Dayle can get them on the web site for voting. As soon as the voting has completed I will notify you as to which photos have won. Any member can submit photos for the calendar! If you need more info about the calendars you can contact Theresa at 615-230-7260 or email ccrdonkeys@comcast.net.

2012 Awards Winners

 

Congratulations!

Winning the Lottery

As a general rule I do not buy lottery tickets. My sister is forever asking, "How do you expect to win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket?" But still, I just can't make myself throw that money away knowing the odds. What are they....about one in a billion? I'd rather put that money in savings and have something to show for it in the end.

Paying an entry fee is kind of like buying a lottery ticket but, at the same time, it's oh, so very different. I am buying a person's opinion of my donkey on that particular day. In a way it's like a game of Russian Roulette. That's a scary thought. Anyway, on that particular day that judge's opinion is all that matters. We pay for it; we ask for it and, by golly, we get it!

When one pays that fee one is agreeing to accept that opinion. Take it with a smile even if you disagree. Why spoil the joy of the moment for the competitors who do win? They paid their entry fees, washed and groomed their donkeys, worked their donkeys, drove to the show and most importantly LOVE THEIR DONKEYS just like you do.

If you choose to purchase an opinion of your donkey take the outcome like a true sportsman; shake the winner's hand, look them in the eye and congratulate them. We are the examples our youth see. They see how we handle winning and losing. They will apply what they learn in these donkey shows to how they handle their future world situations where nothing is ever fair.

Let's treat each other the way we want to be treated. Let's help those around us instead of striving to get a ribbon or a point. When we see or know about an injustice, let's do our best to right it with the least amount of demoralization. Let's encourage one another instead of cheating to win or griping or stepping on someone else to get to the top. We all like and want to win but let's not make it at the expense of someone else.

I say an entry fee is much more than a chance to win. It is a chance to build relationships and celebrate with friends and strangers alike. It’s a chance to make a deposit in a bank that will last forever. It's a ticket that can be a winner every time.