NORCAL NEWS & VIEWS
Official Newsletter of the Northern California
Horseshoe Pitchers Association
FROM YOUR PRESIDENT……..
A NEW
YEAR!
As we begin a new year I wish you all the best in your lives, an increase of ringers and much pleasure in the game we all love!
One
of our goals for 2004 is to not only bring in new members but also to re-kindle
interest in some of our past members who have fallen by the wayside. To this
end, the NHPA has instituted a co-op advertising program that we hope to
implement in the NCHPA. If any of you have any ideas for general advertising
that might work for the entire charter please call or email Casey Sluys or
myself for details.
At
the annual meeting in November, the delegates voted to continue this newsletter
with the understanding that each club would endeavor to send articles of
interest to Cathie for publication. These articles can be about your club
activities, club member activities or whatever you think other NCHPA members might
find interesting. You do not have to be an English major to write something, as
that is why we have an editor! I hope every club will send Cathie an article
for each issue. We don’t want to cancel the newsletter for lack of submissions
or interest.
Kimmy Stockli is doing a
great job as manager of the Shoe Shop. When you are at the Yolo courts, make
time to check it out as she has brought in several new items to enhance your
enjoyment of the game. If you are in need of horseshoes or paper supplies but
not at Yolo just call or email Kimmy and she will take care of your needs.
NatStat Director, Glenn
Jamieson has spent a ton of time putting all member stats on the Website. You
can now log on and pick up all the info you could possibly want on yourself or
a fellow pitcher just by typing in a NHPA card number or last name. The files
are updated every Wednesday and you will be able to see what tournaments have
been posted, your current average and probably your date of birth, marital
status, etc. Log on and check it out!
Sponsorship for some of
our major tournaments would be nice to have. The “State” tournament, which we
host in odd numbered years, is an expensive endeavor and sponsors can only
assist in making it a success. It is not too early to start soliciting sponsors
for 2005. It would also be great if we could find some sponsors for the Norcal,
Team and Senior Championships not to mention any tournament that could use
money or prizes to assist in making it more successful. Sometime all you have
to do is ASK! I will be happy to provide the NCHPA non-profit tax number if
requested.
Let’s
work together to make 2004 a great year for our sport of horseshoes! Thanks for
your support. GARY K.
2004 NCHPA OFFICERS………
Gail
Sluys ran unopposed and remains as
NCHPA secretary/treasurer for two more years. Now that Gail is retired, this
gives her something to keep busy! (Just what she needs after trying to keep up
with Daniel & Travis!)
Cathie
Loucks, after being appointed in 2003
to fill out Gary’s term as 1st V.P. decided to throw her name in the
ring for the next 2-year term. She actually thought someone would run against
her just to get rid of her but the plan backfired and she remains in the
position for 2 more years. (Dave isn’t real pleased as he thought they were
through, after 20 years, with the political side of horseshoes!)
Wayne
George of the Tulare club was
nominated and elected as 3rd V.P. and replaces Pat Moore as bylaw
chairperson.
Although
it is early, it is never too soon to start thinking about running for office.
At our November, 2004 meeting we will be asked to vote for the offices of
President, 2nd, 4th and 5th V.P.’s. Think
about what you may have to offer as an officer of our organization. New people
and their ideas are always needed and very welcome!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks & a Lesson Learned..
I
wish to express my gratitude to the many people who supported me during my
vice-presidency years. I will be spending part of my time between two states
during the next few years. (CA & WA)
Horseshoes
has taught me several lessons, the greatest being that of humility. Some days
you have it, others you don’t! It’s the others that we need to correct. Many of
us have the skills to improve that can be accomplished through practice and my
hope is that many of you will improve your game.
I
realize that it is not only the sport itself but the many people we meet
throughout the years that drives us to love the game no matter how frustrating.
We have a unique sport and it behooves us all to support and promote it every
chance we get.
With
the World Tournament not only in 2004 but also 2005 so close to us, we need to
make every effort to attend and participate in both if only to show the East
Coast that we too, here in the West do pitch shoes!
Once
again, thank you for your support over the past 4 years that I have served you.
I hope that you will support Wayne George in the same manner.
PAT MOORE (2000-2004 3rd V.P.)
p.s.
Yes, there have been Pat Moore sightings this year!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLUB NEWS………..
TUOLUMNE
COUNTY HORSESHOE CLUB held its 1st Mother
Lode Tournament on Oct. 4th & 5th. This 2-day event
included 3 groups pitching with a handicap using cancellation scoring. The 1st
5 places in each group split $1,100.00 in prize money. In placement order the
winners in group 1 were, Carol Casados, Tom Munoz, Marie Williams, Ed Engle and
Jack Casey. Group 2 winners were, Chuck James, Dee Rice, Pat Moore, Gail Kane
and Ted Haynish. Group 3 winners were, Tommy Bridgers, Jerry Johnson, Fred
Reibin, Barbara Perssons and Victor Williams. Thank you not only to the winners
but also to ALL participants and to our sponsors. Proper Care Pest Control
donated $400.00, Chicken Ranch Bingo donated $200.00 and several merchants of
Tuolumne County donated gifts and/or gift certificates for our raffle. This
tournament will be an annual event although in 2004 it will be a 1-day event
scheduled for Oct. 2nd.
Club
members are currently working with the Parks & Recreation Dept. and we hope
to have shade over our new courts by this summer.
Thank
you to all the pitchers that participated in our 2003 tournaments. We look
forward to welcoming you back along with many others in 2004. Happy New Year to
all!
FRED REIBIN (Tuolumne Club Correspondent)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
VALLEJO’S
team consisting of captain, Bill
Milligan, Kimmy Stockli, NCHPA’s 2nd v.p., Doug (no toes) Simon and
Jerry Wagner took 3rd place honors at the annual “Club Team
Tournament” held at the Tri-Valley courts in mid-October. Thirteen teams from
various clubs participated in the event that held the prelims on Saturday with
the top teams moving to the finals on Sunday. Vallejo was in 5th
place at the start of the finals but managed a 3rd place finish with
Kimmy leading the team with an impressive 63% average. Bill averaged 61%, Doug
29% and Jerry 26% and for their efforts won $160.00. JIM WALLACE
~~~~~~~~~~~~
GOLD
COUNTRY HORSESHOE CLUB celebrated the
holidays in a big way in December. On the 7th, the Loobey’s hosted
the club’s annual holiday potluck. The club buys the meat course (this year ham
& London broil) and the drinks (beer, wine, etc.) and the club members all
bring a dish to share. Maggie of course, had the house beautifully decorated
for Christmas and managed to arrange table settings for the 38 people who
attended including 12 associate members (3 from Reno) We missed the several members who were unable to attend due
to illness or previous commitments.
During
the course of the afternoon, 2004 dues were collected and 2 previous club only
members were eager to join the NCHPA as full members. We hope you will all
welcome Frank Temple and “Pete” Petersen to our horseshoe family!
After
a fabulous dinner, club president Andy Loobey, presented GCN awards to several
members. Leroy Whittle received a plaque for moving from the teen group to the
30% group skipping the 20’s altogether. Certificates were presented to Karl
Dalla Rosa, John Behrbaum, Leroy Whittle and Andy Loobey for pitching high
games over their average but not quite high enough (25%) to receive a
certificate from the NCHPA. Each team
player, Andy, John, Leroy and Tony Urata, also received a certificate for their
performance and a 4th place finish in the NCHPA “Team Tournament”.
As
if that wasn’t enough of a celebration, the following Saturday, Leroy Whittle
and wife Sam hosted a club, gift exchange party. For this (new tradition?) each
person brought a gift along with an appetizer or dessert. Numbers were drawn
and each person had the option of choosing a gift from the table or from
someone who had chosen previously. Many coveted a horseshoe belt buckle but
after changing hands several times went home with Everyone had a great time at both parties.
Dave
and Cathie Loucks, who have been back working with their son in the sports
publication business, took a break and headed for the warm beaches of Puerto
Vallarta for a few weeks. Jeannie and Jim Gibbons gassed up their motor home
and headed for So. Cal. and Arizona for the winter months. The “women’s
auxiliary” continues to meet once a month and will eventually decide what
surprises are in store for you at the “extravaganza” tournament the club will
host on August 21st. MAGGIE
LOOBEY & CATHIE LOUCKS
~~~~~~~~~~~~
STOCKTON
will be hosting 10 tournaments in
2004 including the “turkey shoot” in November. Sorry we couldn’t hold off the
rain clouds for you folks who came to pitch in 2003. Our first 2 tournaments in
2004 are scheduled for April 17th & 18th. Even though
we have been rained out in previous years, we are ready to try again and hope
we will luck out this year. Sure would be great if a very large building was
available for our use. (nothing wrong with dreaming!)
Our
club members are always willing to help out, rightfully so, and without their input
we could not continue to grow and be productive.
John
Stockstill assumes the duties of the club presidency with Danny Hernandez as
his vice-president. Millie will remain our contact person and I will continue
at the sec./treas. spot.
I
would like to thank the Stockton members for their help throughout the year.
Happy New Year! MARY FIG
~~~~~~~~~~~~
SACRAMENTO club members wish you all a
Happy New Year! We held our annual Christmas, club dinner at J. J. North’s with
20 members and some guests in attendance. It was good to see Mike Martinez and
Bill Virgen’s granddaughter Charise, who will be joining the club for 2004.
Larry Thorsen and Glenn Rippetoe, club delegates,
reported on the outcome of the annual NCHPA meeting and the election of officers. One of our long time members, Bob Jensen,
passed away in December.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AWARDS
BANQUET
Cathie always
wants things for the newsletter so I thought I would give some input about the
dinner and just generally “rattle” on!
I for one
thought the 2003 awards presentation and the dinner was great. Among the
positive comments I overheard was the fact that it was short and as always the
food was good. Of course, anytime I don’t have to cook, the food is good!
We
paid the caterer for 88 dinners, which was less than in 2002. I had sent out
letters and tickets to each club contact person, the number of tickets being
based on past sales. Two clubs did not bother to respond.
Some
of you may not be aware that 1st and 2nd place of EVERY
group of the Norcal Championships receives a complimentary ticket to the
dinner. Some of them weren’t used but still had to be paid for. Those who did
attend were Linda Hoelscher, Foa Remillong, Mary Keiser, Steve McGrath, Casey
Sluys, Kevin Smith, Rick Eddy, Tommy Bridgers and Tony Urata. Tom Munoz, Earl
Smith and Arik Horton did not use their tickets. Also, complimentary tickets
were given to 8 people that placed in the Seniors Championships. Four of the
tickets were used by, John Sylvester, Gail Kane, Bill Brown and Ken Schulze.
Not using their tickets were Bill Milligan, Glen Conner, Don Reip and Teddy
Guillotte.
I
handled this job in place of Millie Schultz this year and it makes me realize
even more than before just how much she has done for both the NCHPA and the
Stockton club. She and Joe both have always been there when needed. We will
certainly miss Joe but plan on getting Millie back into the swing of things.
I
would like some answers. What would it take to get some of you off the couch to
attend this awards dinner? Did you not hear from your contact person regarding
tickets, is the dinner too early, too late, bad location, bad time of year or
what?? Less than 100 is a poor showing to honor your fellow horseshoe players
as they receive the awards for accomplishments during the year. Please let
myself or another officer know your feelings regarding the dinner. Sharing can
be the greatest time of our lives.
During
the year we sometimes get our “toe stubbed” (so to speak) and have issues with
someone or something…
this
is normal. If we didn’t have little ups and downs it would be a very dull life.
Get off your butts and join the mess along with your fellow players; allow the
‘someone or something’ to be heard. Ask questions. I for one ask stupid
questions and then find out that some of them aren’t!
So many players have been around since the “good old days” and although I enjoy the era I’m in, I also love stories from the past. How come some of you “oldies but goodies” haven’t written stories for the newsletter to share with everyone? Come on, it’s easy…one letter after another…try it, you might like it. I did say I was going to “rattle” and I’ll just add this: “The only day I can change is the one I call today, as it unfolds before me and before it fades away. Yesterday belongs to God and tomorrow’s in His hand, so I must do my best today to make it something grand”…(by Clay Harrison)
That’s
it. Again, Happy New to all. 5th
VP - MARY FIG
Although the committee had several candidates to choose from, the one inducted into the 2003 NCHPA Hall of Fame was Ken Schulze of the Sonoma County club. Congratulations Ken! You certainly deserve the honor.
Ken pitched in one (his first) sanctioned tournament in 1991 and never looked back. During the next 11 years, he pitched in 514 tournaments winning his class 70 times, placing 2nd 89 times and placing 3rd 78 times. His highest winning effort was a Vallejo tournament in August of 1997 when he averaged 66.07% with a high game of 80%. He has traveled to several World Tournaments and twice brought home the bacon and 3rd place trophies. In 1998 he was awarded the NCHPA Presidential Award for his donations of time and money to assist in the rebuilding and expansion of the Sonoma County courts. He was awarded the NCHPA Pitcher of the Year Award in 3 consecutive years, 2000, 2001 and 2002. Since 1996 he has pitched in over 50 tournaments every year. This alone is quite an accomplishment for a gentleman in his 80’s!
Ken is also a generous supporter of not only the NCHPA but also of the NHPF (the Foundation created to support the NHPA Hall of Fame).
Although
Ken has received many awards in his 12 year association with the NCHPA we, his
fellow pitchers have also been rewarded by his friendship, his kindness and of
course his competitiveness. Again Ken, my and all of your fellow pitchers
congratulations for an honor well deserved. CATHIE LOUCKS
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marilyn Clark of Fortuna died peacefully in her home with her family
at her side, on Oct. 26, 2003.
Marilyn
leaves behind her loving husband Henry, of 44 years, 4 daughters and 11
grandchildren. Born in Scotia in February of 1943 Marilyn was an avid
seamstress and quilt maker. She enjoyed playing horseshoes, bingo and cards. She
loved to travel, spend time with family and friends and was always ready to
help those in need. Some of her horseshoe family might remember the excellent
witch she portrayed in a rendition of “Little Red Riding Hood” staged several
years ago at the NCHPA Awards dinner. I think Henry was the only person who
knew who was behind the costume and makeup.
Marilyn
will be missed greatly by her family and friends.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A New 3rd
Vice President
I was elected to serve as your 3rd VP at the
November meeting. I will endeavor to do my best for you and I also expect to
learn a lot in this position. If any of you have suggestions or comments I will
listen with an open mind. Please send me any ideas that you have for the
bylaws. I will be a voice and an ear not only for the pitchers but also for our
wonderful sport. Thank you for your support. As a Tulare club member, I do hope
to see you at one or more of tournaments this spring. WAYNE GEORGE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OTHER
STUFF
A
NEW FORM has been approved by the
NHPA to be used for those male pitchers who are not yet 70 years but wish to
pitch from less than 40 feet. This form must be completed by the pitcher and a
doctor and submitted to the NCHPA Board for approval. No one is permitted to
make the change until written approval is granted. Even if approved the Board
reserves the right to review and/or withdraw the exemption at any time.
The forms may be obtained from either the president or
secretary/treasurer. Some pitchers already granted an exemption in previous
years will be asked to complete the new form.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE
2004 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE, which is
included in this mailing, has NEW CODES. Please make sure
you read the codes assigned to a tournament prior to attending and finding
something you don’t like and then complaining about it. The entry fee for all
tournaments is $8.00 unless designated differently. All tournaments, unless
designated as NO handicap, are subject to a 2/3, 80% or 90%
handicap if there is a spread of 10% or greater in a group. Subject to means
exactly that. It is up to the tournament director to make that decision prior
to starting the tournament. Several tournaments have EARLY sign-in times – be
aware! And last but not least, if the no. “1” is posted make sure you get a
copy of the flyer. It will contain all the info regarding a particular
tournament, such as entry fee, pre-reg., 2-day, prize money, etc., etc., etc..
Flyers will be posted on the website, sent to each club contact and printed in
the newsletter, if timely.
There
are 142 tournaments listed on the schedule for 2004. I was under the impression
that most pitchers felt this was too many but it seemed that instead of cutting
back some clubs wanted more. I believe no one has a tournament scheduled for
the same day unless they are 100 or more miles apart. If I made any mistakes on
the schedule please notify me at once and I will make sure they are corrected
and people notified. I hope you all have a good season, get to a lot of
tournaments and most of all have a great time. CATHIE LOUCKS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
State Tournament………It was brought to my attention that the tournament
schedule for 2003 showed codes 2, 18, 20 & 23. The only code that should
have been listed was 18 (see flyer). Code 2 (last year designated no handicap)
should not have been used because the tournament is always subject to
handicapping in any group below the championships. I apologize if anyone that
was in one of the few groups that were handicapped was upset with this
decision. No one complained to me when they got the schedule or during the
tournament and it was entirely my decision.
I’d probably do it again! CATHIE LOUCKS
SUPPORT
THE NHPF
I’m pretty disappointed in the contributions for the newsletter and have been for several years. I myself, and I’m sure others who faithfully send articles, find it hard to believe that out of over 500 members only a handful have anything to say about anything. That certainly isn’t the case at most tournaments where everyone is discussing what, where, why and how. Gary mentioned in his article that the delegates voted to continue with the newsletter but he also mentioned that the clubs would be sending articles. Well, what you see is what I got! If I’m willing to spend my time doing this for the membership, I expect the members to support it and you are NOT!
THE DEADLINES FOR THIS YEAR
ARE: THURSDAY, APRIL 15TH
TUESDAY, JUNE 15TH
MONDAY, AUGUST 16TH
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH
Unless
all the tournaments are canceled from 1 through 28, I should at least have one
article from those clubs with tournaments scheduled through April 10th.
That will be Tulare, Yolo, Shasta, Sonoma, Tuolumne, Willows, Vallejo and
Placer County that you will be reading about in the April newsletter. There
will also be articles from your officers including yours truly. Looking forward
to a full mailbox! Don’t forget if your tournament has “1” posted after it you
need to submit a flyer for publication a minimum of 30 days before the
tournament. CATHIE L.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Submitted by Ralph Carter and taken from the May 2003 newsletter of the Brea Congregational Church)
On
April 26th, Orville Lokken drove to San Bernardino where he had
lived and worked for 34 years. Meanwhile, Ralph Carter journeyed from
Sacramento for this special reunion. They were both to compete in the “Ralph
Carter Open” horseshoe tournament.
Ralph
and Orv were long time educators in the San Bernardino School District and
friends from the beginning. It was Ralph who got Orville interested in pitching
and joining the local club. They are both past presidents of the club and have
been active participants in the sport for more than 20 years. This special
tournament honoring Ralph was the site for what became the “perfect reunion”.
Before
the sign-in deadline, Orv stopped by the cemetery to place 2 roses on his
wife’s grave Bernice died on 9/6/01). This must have pleased God because Orv
won the Class A group undefeated and was named Tournament Champion. The amazing
part was that he averaged 60%, something he hadn’t done in over 2 years. His
standard excuse was simple, “when my wife went to heaven, my horseshoes went to
hell”! Not to be outdone, Ralph took 1st place in his group making
the long trip extra special. This reunion couldn’t have been more perfect for
either Ralph or Orv.
~~~~~~~~~~~~