The new year is upon us, and with it, a new season of driving fun! And it looks as though Mother Nature is going to provide us with the opportunity for some great cutter rally conditions! So dust off your sleigh bells and hitch up your furry four-legged “fatties” (well…mine are, at least!)

NOTES FROM OUR VARIOUS CHAPTERS:

Chinook Chapter: Not too early to mark your calendars for the Chinook Chapter Pleasure Show, July 17-18, near Bowden, AB. Also planned are a couple of sleigh rallies at McKinnon’s in February, the Bertelsen’s in March and some interesting and informative presentations including equine portraits, vital signs and navigating, at the monthly meetings held every second Thursday of the month at the Olds Cow Palace. Contact Melany Moore at (403) 638-2972 for more information.

Coulee Winds Chapter: Members are planning a couple of clinics and a couple of fun days for the upcoming year — the dates will be forthcoming when a few more details are finalized. The President’s Evening Social will be held in March. Some members have continued driving at local arenas during the wintery weather while others report longing for spring! Contact Jackie Lanman at (403) 345-5385 for more information.

Foothills Chapter: This “small but mighty” chapter has some mighty plans for 2010! It will again deliver the EC Learn To Drive Program and already has participants signed up. Additional learning activities and fun events are in the planning stages, with dates currently being organized. One member of Foothills, Kathleen Winfield, has been exploring “tandem riding” as another way to learn tandem driving, provide an educational challenge for riders/ drivers, assist in training young horses, and is an alternative when the snow cover proves too much for wheels! Contact Kathleen Winfield at (403) 931-0389 for more information.

Northern Lights Chapter: Northern Lights has enjoyed a four-fold increase in its membership over the past year. I’m sure it has a lot to do with its mandate to “provide help and instruction for new drivers and safe, fun events for long time drivers.” The chapter is looking forward to a full schedule of events for 2010, including several winter drives/sleigh rides, safety clinics and fun shows. Check out its schedule on the ACDA List of Events, as well as the ACDA web page. (Thanks to Brenda Hagen for the info!) For more information contact Chris Fauque at (780) 348-5253.

Peace Country Chapter: Members in the Peace Country are organizing events for 2010 — thanks to Ed Pimm for his work on the bridge they now have available for practice! For more information contact Ed Pimm at (780) 338-2285.

East/West Chapter: Organization is underway for the East/West Chapter June show — with new, fun competitions planned. You just won’t want to miss this one! This active Chapter has many other activities in the works — check out its events on the ACDA List of Events included in this article! For more information contact Chuck Taylor at (780) 875-4265.

Klondike Chapter: Unfortunately, no news was available from Klondike but look for its events in the ACDA List of Events. Contact Barb Richard at (780) 266-4036 for more information.

ACDA AGM HIGHLIGHTS:

• A revised and updated set of ACDA Driving Safety Rules was adopted by the membership. Thanks to Darlyne Copeland and the various chapter representatives who comprised the Safety Committee for their hard work on this important project.

• Discussion was held on the merits of hosting an ACDA booth at The Mane Event. Members felt that the booth was a worthwhile venue and a motion was passed to once again have a booth at the 2010 Mane Event, with a budget cap.

• A motion was also passed to allow individual chapters access to funding from the ACDA for their own promotion, with the submission of a written proposal and budget.

• A motion was passed to pay Drive Canada the annual fee for 2010, with the levy to be considered at a later date.

• The Beaumont Ag Society course has one water and one cross-country obstacle completed and is moving ahead with further construction. Course bookings can be made online at the Beaumont Ag Society website. The society extends its appreciation for volunteer hours.

• Two motions, one to change the portion of membership fees retained by each chapter and another to seek legal advice regarding the liability risk of chapter executives, were declined.

• A motion to support Deb Laderoute’s World Equestrian Games participation was passed.

• Equi-Market is offering a fundraising program to equestrian clubs, which provides $20 for the club for every $100 in member purchases from Equi-Market.

ACDA FEBRUARY EVENTS:

Date: February 21

Event: Cutter Drive, May McKinnon’s

Contact: Gordon Fulton,

(403) 224-3753,

gsfulton@telusplanet.net Chapter: Chinook

Date: February 11

Event: Meeting, 7:30 pm, Olds Cow Palace

Contact: Gordon Fulton,

(403) 224-3753,

gsfulton@telusplanet.net Chapter: Chinook

Date: TBA

Event: Fun Drive/Meeting/Ground Driving Seminar Contact: Carolyn Orton,

(403) 938-5070,

poneepantz@platinum.ca Chapter: Foothills

Date: February 14

Event: Cutter/Sleigh Drive, Lac Cardinal Museum,

Grimshaw

Contact: Ed Pimm,

(780) 338-2285

Chapter: Peace Country

Date: February 21

Event: Fun Drive, Dr. Sara Fryer’s farm Contact:

(780) 967-0606

Chapter: Northern Lights

Date: February 27

Event: Cutter Rally

Contact: Darlyne Copeland,

(780) 853-5135,

decope@telus.net

Chapter: East-West