track watch - millarville racing and agricultural society · 2015-12-02 · millarville racing...
TRANSCRIPT
CONTENTS
Page 2 President’s Message by Malcolm Sills
Page 3 AGM Details
Page 4 & 5 Board Member Nominees
Page 6 MRAS Membership
Page 7 Millarville Musical Ride
Page 8 Robbie Burns
Page 9 Market Manager
Page 10 Games Night
Page 11 Historical Committee Gift Ideas
Page 12 Facility Calendar
December OFFICE HOURS
Monday-Friday 9am-4pm CLOSED Dec 23rd- Jan 3rd.
Office Reopens January 4th
MRAS UPCOMING EVENTS MRAS AGM Dec 7th
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 2015 Memberships expired Oct 31st
Renew in the office or online at www.millarvilleracetrack.com
TRACK WATCH December 2015
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE It’s only a few weeks until Christmas and I hope your preparations are going well.
I want to start by saying a thank you to both the Board and Staff of MRAS for working through a challenging
transition year. The Board has moved from an administrative to governance model and in doing so have passed management of the daily operations to the Staff. We have learnt many things along the way and I think year two will be much smoother. Your efforts are very much appreciated. Thank you as well to the members for being patient while we worked through a lot of issues.
Another huge thank you needs to go to all our over-worked volunteers. Your efforts resulted in 5 great events and over $42,000 profit for MRAS. From information we received from our committees, 678 volunteers donated 14,200 hours of time. A sincere thank you to all of you for your commitment to making MRAS a destination of choice.
The volunteer appreciation night was held last month and it was a great success. It was great to see over 100 people out for the evening enjoying the turkey dinner prepared by Rusty Spur Catering. Thanks to the staff for organizing the evening.
Also, last month was our Christmas market, which was a tremendous success. We unfortunately experienced the perfect storm - school was out on the Friday for the public schools, the weather was great, and our advertising worked very well. We had a record-breaking number of visitors on every day of the
market which resulted in traffic jams on the highway, long delays in the parking lots and over-crowding inside the buildings. There has been, and will continue to be, discussions around how we can mitigate these issues. We were delighted to have Mrs. Claus overseeing the Kids Only tent. From all reports, she did an absolutely fantastic job. Thanks Patty Webb for all the effort you put in to MRAS. Thanks also to the many volunteers and all the vendors who made this a great weekend.
The Boards attention is currently on the 2015 year end financials and 2016 budget. In addition, the Board will compile the numbers and make application for the 2016 Agricultural Grant. This is the last year for Mick Howden and Pat O’Brien, who are finished their terms as Directors. I have worked with both Mick and Pat for 3 years and can tell you that their level headed decision making abilities and their dedication to helping make MRAS a better organization will be missed. Thanks so much for all your efforts in running MRAS over the past 3 years.
We are looking forward to the AGM on Monday, December 7th at 7:00 p.m. at the Racetrack Hall. We have a busy agenda that includes: proposed bylaw changes, fiscal year-end review, recap of 2015 markets and events and the election of new Directors. Biographies for the people who have offered to stand for election as 2016 Directors are included in this edition of Track Watch. I am very much looking forward to my upcoming term as past president. Thanks to everyone who supported me in my term as president.
Malcolm Sills
MILLARVILLE RACING & AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Monday, December 7, 2015 7:00 p.m.
Racetrack Hall
All 2015 and 2016 MRAS Members are encouraged to attend & vote!
Items for discussion include:
x Fiscal year-end review; x Election of Directors; and x Proposed bylaw changes.
Memberships will also be available for purchase at the meeting.
Volunteer Appreciation On Saturday, November 21st we celebrated our many volunteers who supported MRAS throughout the year. Malcolm Sills kicked off the evening with a warm welcome and a big thank you to our volunteers who dedicate their time to MRAS and ensure its success year after year. Malcolm recognized Pat O’Brien for his commitment to MRAS as a Board Director for the past three years. Pat has volunteered his time in many roles to assist with event preparation and grounds maintenance at MRAS. Thank you Pat! Mick Howden will also be completing his term as a Board Director at the end of this year. Unfortunately, Mick was unable to join us this evening, we will have to catch up with Mick at a later date and thank him for his many contributions to MRAS. Our evening included a presentation by Patty Webb to Suzanne Sills for her commitment and dedication as the Fair Chairperson this year. We enjoyed an excellent turkey dinner provided by Chantal and Tim of Rusty Spur Catering. The Bill Batensby and Robert Libbus duo performed a great selection of music we all “toe tapped” to throughout the evening. After dinner, John Lockhart shared the life time story of his companion “Fred the Hat” and the celebration of Fred’s retirement. Then, before Fred could hit the hat box, we heard sleigh bells and Mrs. Claus joined us with a basket of candy. Mrs. Claus made her way from table to table determining who had been naughty or nice!! It’s funny how she knew everyone in the room…. Throughout the evening we had 22 successful door prize winners. Each door prize was a $50.00 gift certificate from a variety of businesses in our local area. Thank you all for a wonderful evening and for your support and kindness throughout the year. Kelly
2015 BOARD MEMBER NOMINEES
BILL JACKSON has been a long time member of the community, and has been involved in the Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society for his entire life. Bill has been a previous member of the Board of Directors as President for two previous terms in 1972 and 1992.
As a resident of the community for the better part of his life, Bill has been heavily involved in many areas of the Priddis & Millarville Fair including the Domestic Animals & Livestock Divisions. Most recently Bill has been involved in sponsorship generation for the Fair, as well as donor of the 2011 Fair Star, Reggie the Rooster and 2015 Millarville Majesty.
As a tireless volunteer, Bill also commits his energy to the Millarville Christ Church on Highway 549 and a second term director of the Southern Alberta Pioneers and their descendants. His involvement with these groups has helped the MRAS over the years greatly by helping with gate coverage for markets, and floor installations in the arena for events.
After all of his volunteering at the MRAS, it’s surprising to think that he has anytime left for himself. But Bill still runs a small cow/calf operation north of the racetrack in Millarville, and is also an area legend regarding his water witching abilities. He is called all over the MD of the Foothills to help residents find the best spots for well sites. His talent with finding water is pretty incredible, and his clients attest that he is able to locate wells that run at about 20 gallons per minute. We are excited to have Bill stand for nomination to join the Board of Directors for another term.
KARIE WYLIE
Karie Wylie moved to Calgary in 1988 to attend Alberta College of Art and Design. After acquiring a Diploma in Textile design in 1995, she opened her first business, “Land & Sea”, a retail store, followed shortly by “Blue Funk”, a private label manufacturer of bath & body products. Her latest venture is “Big Blue Moma”, an artisan/craft business that is well known to the Farmer’s market community, and a regular at Millarville Farmers’ Market.
Karie has extensive volunteer and Board experience including the Calgary Arts Academy where she served as Chair of Marketing and Chair of Finance for two years. She has also been an active member in several community organizations such as Junior Achievement and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary. In her spare time she enjoys mushroom hunting, gardening and camping. Her love of travel (and Big Blue Moma) also takes her to Africa once a year, where her and her husband, Dominique, have other volunteer pursuits.
Bill has been a Board appointed director this year and has agreed to run for an additional 2 year term.
Karie is a new member and is running for the initial 3 year term
Hello, my name is Shane Darling and I would like to put my name forward to be on the Board of Directors for the Millarville Racing & Agriculture Society (MRAS).
I grew up in Stony Plain, AB and now live in the Priddis area (2009). While growing up in Stony Plain I had many opportunities and exposure to agriculture from bailing, building corrals & fences, calving and assisting with the family garden in Bon Accord, AB. Since moving to the Priddis area, I have been helping friends with their horses with watering, feeding, handling, tacking, halter breaking, and trailering.
I have always been enthusiastic outdoors person and enjoy hunting, fishing, archery, rodeos, camping and sports. I grew up playing hockey and still play on occasion today. I had volunteered with the minor hockey association in Kindersley, SK as an assistant/head coach as well as a power-skating instructor. Some of my other volunteering activities have been with the annual Cancer ride, Priddis/Millarville Fair (kids world and pie eating contest), Priddis Panthers hockey practices, Kindersley Rodeo, Kindersley recreation board (built 3 softball diamonds).
For education / employment, I graduated from NAIT in the Instrumentation Engineering Technology program. I am a Red Seal Journeyperson Instrument Mechanic and have been employed with ConocoPhillips Canada for the past 15 years. Some of the positions I held while in the company ranged from Instrumentation, Operator, Planner, Scheduler, Maintenance Foreman, and Operations Excellence Coordinator. Currently I am in the IT department as a Program Business Analyst.
In closing I thank you for your time and hope that you would consider me as a board member.
Hello, my name is Anne Marie Mullane and I would like to put my name forward to be on the Board of Directors for the Millarville Racing & Agriculture Society (MRAS).
Our family moved out to the Priddis area 23 years ago and we have enjoyed the Millarville RaceTrack facilities and programs throughout that time. Three generations of our family including our dogs and horses, have competed and volunteered at various events MRAS events over the years. We have been fortunate to have been a part of such a valuable and enjoyable and relevant organization and look forward to seeing the next generation of our family take part one day.
I recently retired after 35 years in the oil patch and currently consult part time. I have experience working on other boards, most recently the Assessment Review Board and would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the MRAS Board.
Hello, my name is Stacey McArthur. I grew up in Red Deer, spending my vacations on my grandparent’s grain and cattle farm near Sturgeon Lake, AB, which is where I developed a passion for the rural way of life. I moved to Calgary 15 years ago and continue to visit our family farm whenever I am able.
I am a Certified Human Resources Professional with over 12 years’ experience in various industries including retail, transportation, oil and gas and construction. I have enjoyed being a generalist in my field and am currently a Human Resources Business Partner with Stuart Olson, a Canadian commercial and industrial construction company.
Throughout my life I shown horses in Hunters and Jumpers, and I look forward to branching into western riding with my new horse. I have ridden and boarded my horses in the Priddis/Millarville area for the past 10 years which has led me to frequenting the MRAS farmers’ market and events.
I enjoy the Millarville area and would like to contribute to the community through involvement with the MRAS. Thus, I would be interested in being a candidate for election to the MRAS Board of Directors.
Stacey
McArthur
Shane has been a Board appointed director this year and has agreed to run for an additional 1 year term.
Anne Marie has been a Board appointed director this year and has agreed to run for an additional 2 year term.
Stacey is a new member and is running for the initial 3 year term
FOR ARENA MEMEBRSHIP: PLEASE VISIT WWW.MILLARVILLERACETRACK.COM OR THE MRAS
OFFICE.
2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Malcolm Sills [email protected]
President
Brent Foster [email protected]
Treasurer
Catherine Duerholt [email protected]
Secretary
Bill Jackson [email protected]
Barb Castell
Pat O’Brien [email protected]
Rick Charlton
Faye White [email protected]
Ralph Onciul
Mick Howden [email protected]
Anne Marie Mullane
Shane Darling [email protected]
MILLARVILLE MUSICAL RIDE
Millarville Musical Ride is a drill team who do performances and parades. They are starting to recruit riders for the 2016 season. This Club is open to ALL AGES.
If you would like to improve your riding skills; perform for appreciative crowds; have your horse learn from their experiences; make new friends; and have fun – then this is the group for you.
You must supply your own horse, transportation and make a commitment to be part of this wonderful team.
If you would like to come and join us and would like more information please call Donna Buckland (403) 710-9167 or Email [email protected]. Please visit our website www.millarvillemusicalride.com or “Like” us on Facebook.
SUNDAY PRACTICES START: January 3, 2016 (11am-1pm)
Another Successful Market Season …..Thanks to You!
I was unable to attend the Volunteer Appreciation Night so I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the hard working volunteers that assisted in the success of both the summer and Christmas markets.
Thank you to the market committee for all of your assistance throughout the year with vendor Jury, decorating, brainstorming and help implementing these new ideas.
Myrna, you are a fundamental part of the summer market, helping with set up every Friday, garbage and recycling, maintaining the cleanliness of the washrooms during summer and Christmas, and your creative problem solving idea to change the men’s to women’s washrooms when the crowds were enormous. Your commitment does not go unnoticed and I am so thankful for your support throughout the year.
The Christmas market! Wow! Words cannot express my gratitude towards many of you that take on the back breaking work of the floor install and tear down, year after year. The troops seem to have it down to a fine science, which in turn, makes my job in satisfying the early set up vendors much easier! * On a side note, we are looking for the next generation of floor installers if you are interested!
And to Mrs. Clause, you know who you are, your creativity and craftiness made the Kid Only Shopping a HUGE success this year. The kids just loved being greeted by you and receiving one of the 1400 candy canes that were handed out. Thank you for taking this addition and making it just as amazing as you are.
This year we faced significant parking and traffic challenges. To those that were here, that were called in, or simply stopped to help: THANK YOU! And for you to come back to do it all again the next day and with a smile, hats off to you! For your top notch attitudes, commitment, and support, I just simply cannot say thank you enough.
I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing, dedicated, supportive and time generous group of people. This community, and the support we receive, is truly remarkable and I hope you all recognize that we could not host all of the historical events we do, without all of you. THANK YOU!
I am looking forward to 2016 starting June 18th! See you there.
Melonie McKee Market Manager
MILLARVILLE COMMUNITY LIBRARY CHRISTMAS HOURS
CLOSED FROM 7:30 pm on December 23rd to January 3rd OPEN ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30TH FROM 10:30 AM – 7:30 PM
We will be closed for regular hours from Christmas Eve to January 3rd, but we will be open on Wednesday, December 30th from 10:30 am - 7:30 pm if you need to come in to the library. We are taking our hard working volunteers to a Christmas luncheon at the Saskatoon Farm in early December. It is fun to get together and show our thanks to these great gals who help us keep the library open for over thirty hours each week.
We are offering a few classes in the winter/spring through the Foothills Continuing Education Council. Be sure to check the calendar when it comes out with the Western Wheel at the end of December. There will be badminton, pickleball, Ukulele, eBooks for Mobile Devices, Adult and Child cupcake nights, and Scottish Country Dancing to get ready for the Square Butte Robbie Burns Dinner on January 23rd. If you ever have an idea for a class, or would like to teach something, please call Norma at the library at 403-931-3919. There are lots of new books in the library so come in and get some great reading material for those chilly winter days and evenings
FOR ALL OUR UP-TO-DATE LISTINGS GO TO…….
WWW.TERRYALLWARDEN.COM
IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT SELLING OR BUYING, CALL ME! EVALUATIONS ARE FREE!
Games Night at the Millarville Racetrack
December 12, 2015 * Every second Saturday of the month after that!
Starts at 7:00 pm
$2.50 a person
Bring a snack and some friends
Questions? Call Pearl Laycraft
Millarville Horticulture Club Every second Tuesday of the month (Sept to May)at 7:30 pm a speaker is arranged to talk and share their knowledge with the club. We meet at the Millarville Church House. December 8th, we will be making winter planters with Paul Rishaug. We need to have numbers by the December 1st. There will be a $20 fee for the container and greenery. January 12th we have Gordon White, a forester from Okotoks, speaking on black knot, fire blight and other tree diseases. Also, please remember to like us on Facebook! Whether you are a novice or expert in landscaping or gardening, join our club. It is only $15 /year. We welcome new members.
For more information email [email protected] or call Sheila at 403-931-3989.
Christmas Gift Ideas!! Local History Books for that Special Person to
enjoy!!
Going to the Fair Volume 1 - A Collection of Stories $20.00
Going to the Fair Volume 2 – A Collection of Stories $20.00
Saddles and Service –Winston Parker’s Story $30.00
Foothills Echoes – Stories of farmers, ranchers and oil workers living in the Millarville Area $40.00
Photo Place Mats – laminated local photos depicting buildings, wildlife, scenery $5.00
Contact Barb Godwin at 403-931-2196 or stop in at the Millarville Racetrack Hall Tuesday mornings from 9:30
to 11:30
Millarville Racetrack Historical Committee
Fun Christmas Facts
1. The Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees out of dyed goose feathers.
2. Each year more than 3 billion Christmas cards are sent in the U.S. alone.
3. All the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas would equal 364 gifts.
4. According to the Guinness world records, the tallest Christmas tree ever cut was a 221-foot Douglas fir that was displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Washington.
5. The world’s largest Christmas stocking measured 106 feet and 9 inches long and 49 feet and 1 inch wide. It weighed as much as five reindeer and held almost 1,000 presents. It was made by the Children’s Society in London on December 14, 2007.
6. The British wear paper crowns while they eat Christmas dinner. The crowns are stored in a tube called a “Christmas cracker.”
7. It is estimated that the single “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin is the best-selling single of all time, with over 100 million sales worldwide.
8. The earliest known Christmas tree decorations were apples.
9. Donner and Blitzen originally went by the names "Dunder" and "Blixem."
10. The poinsettia, a traditional Christmas flower, originally grew in Mexico, where it is also known as the ‘Flower of the Holy Night’. Joel Poinsett first brought it to America in 1829.
FACILITY SCHEDULE – December 2015 PLEASE NOTE: Schedule is subject to ongoing changes. Please call the office at 403-931-3411 for any scheduling questions.
LEGEND: CAMPSITEFULL FACILITYRACETRACK HALLFARMERS MARKETINDOOR ARENARODEOARENASAND RINGQUONSET
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1
2
Peggy Cowan 12:00p-5:00p
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding
3
Sheep Creek Weavers 9:00a-3:00p
Millarville Mutts 6:30p-7:30p
4
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding
5
Saddle Sores 9:00a-12:30p Saddle Sores 9:30a-12:30p
6
Millarville Mutts 1:30pm-3:30p
Millarville Musical Ride 11:00a-1:00p
7
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding
MRAS AGM 7:00p-10:00p
8
9
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding
Peggy Cowan 12:00p-5:00p
4H Beef 7:00p-9:00p
10
Millarville Mutts 6:30p-8:30p
11
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding Millarville Playschool
10:00a-1:00p
4H Beef 4:00p-12:00a
12 Paws n Effect 1:00p-4:00p
Games Night 7:00p-10:00p
4H Beef 1:00p-4:00p
13 Milarville Musical Ride
2:00p-4:00p
Millarville Mutts 8:30a-1:30p
Millarville Mutts –Canine 1:30p-3:00p
14
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding
Millarville Mutts 6:30p-8:30p
15
16
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding
Peggy Cowan 12:00p-5:00p
OFFICE CLOSED AT NOON
17
18
Arena Grooming 8:30-10am No Riding
19
Paws n Effect 8:00a-6:00p Horse Powered Adventures
3:00p-6:00p
Private Function 4:00p-11:00pm
20 21
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding
22 23
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding
OFFICE CLOSED
24
OFFICE CLOSED
25
OFFICE CLOSED
26
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding 27 28
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding
OFFICE CLOSED
29
OFFICE CLOSED
30
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am No Riding
OFFICE CLOSED
31
OFFICE CLOSED
1
OFFICE CLOSED
2
Arena Grooming 8:30am-10am
No Riding