Kathy Ruelle

Greetings & Happy New Year to everyone!

First, I want to say thank you to each of you for volunteering and being a leader in your club!  Each of you and your clubs are an integral part of our Region! I am looking forward to a great year in 2006!

Being unable to be at the 2005 NLR annual meeting, I did want to share a bit of info about myself and a few of my thoughts about Northern Lakes Region with you.  Pony Club has been, and will continue to be a large part of my life as it encompasses two of my passions, kids and horses! 

It's the first time since 1992 that I have not been at an annual regional meeting, starting with the North Central Region before we became our own region.  I was part of the group that campaigned for our own region to provide more affordable opportunities for our Pony Clubbers.  We started with only six clubs, now there are 18 active clubs!  Over the years, I have worn many different hats from being a PC-mom, Jt-DC, DC, RS, HMO and coordinator for many various regional events.  I have witnessed and been a part of the many accomplishments and disappointments of the Region over the last ten years.  My life is far richer for having been a part of so many lives!

As we move into our second decade, I often think of several sayings that Cindy Piper promoted while she was USPC President.  They were:

"Who I AM makes a difference"

Each of us here today, has made a positive difference in many lives already through our volunteering in PC and hopefully will continue to make a difference.  At times, it's hard to see it, especially when you're in the midst of dealing with conflict!  It may even be years sometimes, but it does come back.

The African proverb: "It takes a whole village to raise a child"

I like to change the proverb to "It takes a whole region to raise a Pony Clubber."  As our Pony Clubbers progress through the ratings, it becomes more difficult for a single club to provide the learning and teaching opportunities for a smaller group.  It takes dedication and opportunity for our Pony Clubbers to advance in their skills and knowledge.  Together, as a region, we can continue to work collectively to provide more opportunities.  These opportunities can range from teaching in other clubs, being an examiner, to participation in mounted prep clinics and learning seminars.  One of our greatest resources that is frequently overlooked are our C3, B and H/HA Pony Club members!

The Regional Council is a team of leaders who are already volunteering to make a difference.  Together, we can continue to grow and provide more opportunities if each club is willing to assist regionally.  This regional assistance can range from using the older Pony Clubbers from another club to teach for your club, to being a part of organizing a Rally or Retreat!

I would like to focus on establishing an infrastructure to facilitate this job-sharing in raising our Pony Clubbers. As my great-grandmother's favorite saying went, "many hands make little work"!

As the RS, I will need your help. I alone cannot do the job, nor can anyone by themselves.  Each of us has a full and busy life.  If we can share the jobs among the clubs, we can accomplish many things and raise our Pony Clubbers without overwhelming any one person or club!

Thank you and have a great year coming up!
Kathy Ruelle