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On Aug. 14 – Aug 16 several members of theNYSMHS
Eastern District trail riding group headed for the Otter Creek trails in
Lewis County. Junior member, Kelly Donovan rode our Morgan mare,
Naughtee on shorter rides Friday and Sunday, but the riders pictured
here, Jim Conkling, Jim Hemstreet, Barb Hemstreet, Dean Oliver, and
Sally Conkling, did a 4-hour loop on Saturday. Campfires, roasting
marshmallows, fishing, and swimming in Sand Pond took up the rest of our
time. We still have some fall rides ahead. If anyone would like to join
us, just e-mail at
jconk@frontiernet.net.
Submitted by Sally Conkling
TIM O’GORMAN BENEFIT FUND
In late August, news came of Tim O’Gorman being diagnosed with advanced
Lung Cancer. He has started treatment under the supervision of Dr.
George Garrow. Tim is being treated aggressively as he is otherwise
healthy. Due to the sagging economy, Tim and Shirley were forced to drop
their health insurance about a year ago. The ground swell of support
from the members of the International Morgan Horse Community is nothing
short of amazing. It speaks to the overall goodness of both Tim and
Shirley and their years of associations and friendships among fellow
trainers, exhibitors, and horse people in general. At this year's
Jubilee Horse Show, donations
were given by exhibitors to help address the rapidly growing medical
expenses tied to Times treatments. An idea, of a Benefit Auction for Tim
to be held at NY Regional, germinated and was undertaken by Diane
Garrow, long standing friend and client of Tim and Shirley.
Diane, with the support of people from coast to coast and across the
pond started to gather auction items. The list grew quickly with
donations coming in from major horse events, vendors, trainers,
breeders, and individuals. In
jumped NYSMHS and the NY Regional Show Committee, who elected to
identify their yearly silent auction as a benefit for Tim. On Thursday
night, September 17, after the last class, the exhibitors gathered in
the dairy barn for
what was to be a rather exciting live auction. There were far too many
items on the auction block that night to mention here, but suffice it to
say that the range of donations made the bidding fierce and lively.
Volunteer cell phone
attendants represented bidders not present. Remember this fund raising
activity was master minded and executed within the span of two weeks.
Not sufficient time to set up a bank of phones! So, over the din that
echoed within
the massive auction site, you could hear the telephone solicitors
saying: “can you hear me now!” It was truly a ground up movement,
gaining momentum with each passing day.
With the live auction over, the fund raising activity moved to the
silent auction which ran through mid day on Saturday, September 19. If
you remember the childhood game of “Ring Around the Rosy” you have a
pretty good
image of what it looked like at the tables loaded with auction items,
shortly before the closing bell for bids. In the end, the four day
combined events raised in the high forties (that ‘s thousands).
I apologize for not listing the many individuals who worked on a variety
of aspects of the combined fund raising activities, making them hugely
successful. There were just so many folks donating items, offering their
time, energy, support and bidding that you would hate tomiss even one
person. I would like to say though, that an undertaking of this
magnitude takes on a life of its own, sometimes overshadowing the actual
event that provided the venue for the fundraiser. Acknowledgment and
kudos need to be given to those charged with the normal running of the
NY Morgan Regional. They worked around what may have appeared to be
chaotic moments associated with the execution of the two auctions,
keeping the show in tact. Additionally, The NY Futurity celebrated its
Fiftieth Anniversary during the show, without a hitch. And wonder of
wonders, Syracuse in September had its best weather in recent years. One
minor rain storm at the Fairgrounds in Syracuse … just priceless!
I received this comment from Dyan Scritchfield, mother of Megan
Scritchfield, who rides with Ron and Sue Gramse’s Bramblebush team. The
Scritchfield Family is relatively new to the horse show circuit, now in
their third season of showing. “I'm so happy to hear of the money raised
for Tim O’Gorman. I wish there was more I could do to help. I've noticed
that the horse community is extremely compassionate and it is an
absolute pleasure to be part of it. The way that people reach out to one
another and the camaraderie is unmatched, at least in my experience.
Thanks for allowing me to be part of that.”
If you hadn't the chance to bid on an item or would still like to make a
contribution to the Tim O’Gorman Benefit Fund, you may make a donation
directly to Tim or Shirley O’Gorman by sending a check to them at PO Box
698, Perrysburg, OH 43552. Please indicate that the donation is a gift
on the check. Well-wishers may email them at
OGormanStable@aol.com. And
for Barb MacMurray, Tim and Shirley O’Gorman, lets bring out the power
of prayer! Miracles do happen
every day!
Best regards,
Marion
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