Doug Martin was an easily recognizable member of Performance Standardbreds even when he wasn’t wearing his cap that read “Lois’s Dad.”

Doug wore many hats. A tireless volunteer, he was always asking “What can I do to help?” He was the gadget guy, giving presentations on various items to keep riders and drivers safe and prepared — always of prime importance to him. His voice booming from the announcer’s booth was a staple at horse shows. Many visitors to the Standardbred booth at Spruce Meadows will remember a gelding named Dinky, thanks to Doug’s great joy in showing how Dinky loved mints. He was a dedicated champion for Performance Standardbreds and a true horseman.

When Doug set off on his journey across The Great Divide last January, Performance Standardbreds lost a staunch supporter and a good friend. At the Annual General Meeting this year, his wife Martha and daughter Lois presented the first Doug Martin Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award to Dana Zarowny.

Dana involves herself in almost everything Performance Standardbreds undertakes. She sold tickets and provided silent auction items for the Bale for Billy fundraiser this year. She has recruited bodies for clinics and shows. She volunteered to create and maintain our new website (saving the club about $600 a year) and willingly provides her computer skills for posters and brochures. And she has been “elected” club secretary for 2010!

In addition to her volunteer efforts, she has a family, a full-time job, and her own crew of four-legged beasties, including a placement horse that she is fostering at her own expense. Dana embodies what it means to have volunteer spirit: passion for the cause, self motivation and willingness to contribute time and talent, in addition to always being very pleasant and eager to help. Congratulations, Dana, and thanks from all of us — Doug would be proud.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDBREDS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

About 15 members met at the Deerfoot Meadows Community Rooms on November 21 for a potluck lunch followed by the AGM. This is a condensed version of the minutes:

• Placement Program: We discussed options for more exposure and increasing placements, including the possibility of involving 4-H. Sometime Royal (Timmy) continues to be our Ambassador Horse.

• Treasury: Bale for Billy Fundraiser at Simons Valley was well received and enjoyed by all who attended. Due to the high cost of staging such an event, it was not as profitable as we had hoped.

Chaos to Collection schooling show had more entries this year than before and turned a nice profit. Clinics were successful both as great experiences for the participants and for raising funds. The group can no longer afford current expenditures for advertising. We are looking at free online advertising, as well as advertising in smaller local newspapers.

Spruce Meadows costs have become prohibitive. A motion was passed to withdraw from Spruce Meadows in 2010. Instead, we will try to get a booth at The Mane Event in Red Deer as well as continue our participation at the Calgary Stampede.

• 2010 Funding: We will apply for a grant from HRA and continue to investigate government grants to help with expenses for placement horses. We will encourage more associate memberships at $10. This will be promoted as a donation, although suggested benefits for associate members include lapel pins, bumper stickers and/or discounts for auditing clinics.

The Tack Depot: As a fundraiser, 20 per cent of the cost of items purchased from the catalogue will be donated to the club. See the website for contact information if you wish to make your purchases benefit the club. A casino is being considered and a committee has been struck to investigate.

• Meetings: It was agreed that in order to keep our group active and involved, we should meet more regularly. Informal meetings will take the form of a pot luck lunch at various members’ homes every other month. Kathy Sunberg will host the first of these on January 17. Visit the Performance Standardbred website in the header to this article for contact information.

• Website: It was suggested that we incorporate Pay Pal into the website for fundraising, memberships, entries, donations etc. This will be investigated. Dana asks members to submit their Standardbred photos regularly to show people what is going on with the group. Mailboxes will be set up for key members of the group.

• 2010 Executive:

Co-Chair: Holly Howard (coposition open)

Newsletter: Jackie Arnold

Secretary: Dana Zarowny

Treasurer: Kathy Sunberg

Membership Coordinator: Kathy Sunberg

Placement Coordinator: Kathy Sunberg

• Committees established for 2010: Events (shows, clinics), Fundraising, Social, Placement, Special Events (booths/demos, parades), Casino, Volunteer.

Meeting adjourned with a fun gift swap of the “tacky but useful” at 3:00 pm.