SEPTEMBER 2010

A FEW THOUGHTS...


Hello Members!

Hope this months edition of the newsblog finds each and every one of you doing great and enjoying this wonderful weekend we are having this Labor Day holiday!

I have mentioned in the last few months the possibility of a show this fall at the Middle TN Fair. They were unable to juggle things around to accommodate us this year. We will keep working on them for the future – as I know we would all love a “not so hot” seasoned show!

We have new members that have joined this past month! Please welcome: Jerry & Betty Sircy of Shelbyville, TN (evergreen316s@yahoo.com) and, Dana Rathbun of Lewisburg, TN (castlewoodjacks@hotshotwireless.com) I, for one, enjoyed meeting you ALL at the Wilson County Fair show!

In this months edition of the ALL EARS:

OCTOBER CALENDAR UPDATE
ANNUAL MEETING & OFFICER ELECTIONS
WILSON COUNTY SHOW
FIVE QUESTIONS
REPORTERS CORNER: Bottle Baby

We will chat again soon!

~Diana Poole, President

October Calendar

OCTOBER EVENTS


First off, I need to update the members in the East Tennessee area…I am sorry to say, that we (TDA) had to cancel the venue at Lovingood Farms in Louisville, TN for October 9th. After months of planning, only two members RSVP’ed and neither were bringing donkeys. I am sorry this didn’t work out. We will keep trying!

NEW EVENT: Trail Ride/Trail Drive Elkmont, Alabama (just south of the TN border off of I-65) Saturday October 9th. (Time to be determined by those participating) - Bring your mini, standard, mammoth, mule, horse, bicycle…… This 10+ mile trail can handle it all. Follow this link for info on the trail. http://www.traillink.com/trail/richard-martin-trail.aspx . Each animal will need a Negative Coggins & Health Certificate to travel in to Alabama. If interested, contact Lydia Spears at miniacre@bellsouth.net or 931.796.4920.

FUN/FARM DAY: Sandy Carroll is inviting all members and their family to her farm on Saturday October 16th. Mark your calendars now – we will email more info to you (time etc) after Sandy gets the TN State Fair off of her plate.

The TDA Calendar has been updated to reflect this information.

Fun Day - October

October 9th is the day for the next planned TDA get-together. It will be held at LOVINGOOD SPRINGS FARM in Louisville, TN (their web address is: http://tnhorse.com/ ) . This is just outside Knoxville. Though the date wasn’t our first choice, it was the 1st date that Lovingood had open. If members want to stall their donkey(s) over-night on Friday – please contact the farm directly to make a reservation. The fee for the stall is $25. There will be no charge to members for the venue – it will be paid for by club funds.

This is a lovely facility and if you have a driving or riding donkey, there is plenty of space for you to go enjoy the scenery. It is also everyone’s hope that if you are unable to bring your donkey with you that members will still come out and enjoy fellowship.

We hope to be able to hold a couple of quick clinics on this day. As we get more information together it will be updated on the calendar.

Volunteers needed also – if you can help with some things, please email Diana Poole at tda.president@gmail.com .

East Tennessee Get-Together

A wonderful facility has been found to hold a get-together in the East Tennessee area this fall. Watch your email as I will be sending out a survey (in the next few days) to get your input on a date and “agenda”. All members are encouraged to participate! It will take place at Lovingood Springs Farm in Louisville, TN. which is a suburb just south of Knoxville. Special thanks to all the members that have been helping find a venue! Here is their link: http://tnhorse.com/

East Tennessee Meeting held March 6, 2010

EAST TN MEETING


by Shirley Price

(note from Diana, many apologies that this was not published in last months newsletter, no good excuse, I just totally missed putting it in.)

On March 6, we had our first East Tennessee TDA meeting of the year at Calhoun’s Restaurant in Knoxville. Thirteen members and guests attended: Patti Baker, Jeff Langston, Donna Langston, Deirdre Tarr, Dennis Vonderfecht, Sheila Anderson, Alice Munsey, Bill Poole, Diana Poole, L. J. Mix, Deb Mix, Shirley Price, and Dr. Jim Blackford.

We enjoyed hearing our guest speaker from the U.T. Large Animal Vet School, Dr. Jim Blackford, DVM, MS, DACVS. Dr. Blackford presented an informative slideshow of the U.T. Vet Hospital facility, services, and the veterinarians and students who work there. Dr. Blackford relayed that someone is always with your animal and under the care of a veterinarian. At the end of his presentation, he took questions from the group. If anyone has any questions, he gave his email jblackfo@utk.edu and phone (865) 974-5701.

After the presentation, Diana and Shirley welcomed everyone to the meeting. Then everyone introduced themselves and where they were from. Dennis Vonderfecht was introduced as the previous East Tennessee VP and was recognized for his contributions and donations to the club.

The meeting led to discussion of when and where to have the next get-together. Everyone agreed they would like to get together in the East Tennessee area and have a fun donkey day with learning sessions and possibly a cook-out. We would like to plan a place where folks could also bring their donkeys. A date and place will be announced.

Everyone had a good time and looked forward to the next time we could all get together.

LJ Mix & Jeff Langston won the door - prizes!

Dierdre Tarr, Dr. Blackford, Bill Poole

Shiela Andreason & Alice Munsey