NORTHERN    CALIFORNIA    HORSESHOE   PITCHERS   ASSOCIATION

NORCAL NEWS & VIEWS

Editor: Bill Harris         Volume 9        Issue 1         January 2006

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

A 'Happy New Year' to you all. The holiday season is all over and if you are anything like me, some of you will have over indulged yourselves with all of that tasty food. I know my waistline has increased a fair bit. Guess what my New Year's resolution was??? I sincerely hope everyone had a great holiday season with their families and friends.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who attended the year-end meeting. As usual, it was fun and interesting. Just a few sparks, but that is expected with this group. We managed to fill in all of the officer's positions this year. Congratulations to all of the newly elected and re-elected officers. I'm hoping this means the jobs will be spread out a bit more, and maybe a little less work for each officer. I'd also like to thank everyone for supporting my election to NCHPA President. Special thanks to Ben Yost for my nomination. We officers will do the best we can for the membership and the organization.

Our main goal this year should be to bring in new members. Casey Sluys has brought to my attention, the Pitch-N-Win program, which has been successful in the past. This program had been run by one of our greatest and well-known pitchers; Don Titcomb. Unfortunately, he has move to Idaho, and can no longer run the program here. We will be seeking volunteers, later on this year, to help get this program up and running again. There will be more info available on this in the spring. Another way to increase membership is bringing a friend to the courts. We seem to get most of our new members in this manner. So everyone; turn a friend onto horseshoes!!

We can talk more about goals in the next newsletter. I don't want to be known as one of those "long winded" officers. So, as 2005 comes to an end, and we begin a new year, I would hope that each of us would be thankful we found the sport of horseshoe pitching, thankful for the friendships, fun, and new experiences. And I hope each one of you will be willing to give back, just a little, to the game that brings us so much joy. I'm looking forward to pitching with all of you this year!! See ya on the courts.

Kimmy Stockli-----President NCHPA

1st. VICE PRESIDENT: Sharon Paddock

Wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We are especially blessed this year, we have a new Granddaughter. Her name is Dakota Rose Paddock.

I hope you will plan on pitching in the Nor-Cal Championships this year, our new season will soon begin and you only need 5 NCHPA tournaments as a prerequisite.

It sure was a great tournament last year, with pitching, eating and dancing; what more could you ask for in a week-end? Also, start getting your team TEAM together for the annual Team Tournament. It's fun, so come on out and "kick some A-"Scuse me", I meant pitch some shoes!

We hope to have some new and different tournaments next year (2007), so if any7 of you have ideas on what would make a fun tournament, please let us know, we are open to new suggestions.

I will be doing the STATS this year, it is a new job for me and one I'm looking forward to learning….I will be using the HS Master program. Paul Stewart will be sending me a new updated program and I'm really excited about it and what it can do. Congratulations to all the new officers, I look forward to working with them this year. Please have a safe Holiday and we'll see you on the Courts in 2006.

3rd. VICE PRESIDENT: Bill Harris

NCHPA By-Laws: I thank Cathie Loucks for all the help she has given me this past year. This is my 2nd. year as By-Law Chairman and the year (2006) that the By-Laws may be amended. Any changes to the By-Laws are done in even numbered years. The deadline for proposals to be in my hands is July 7, 2006. Send proposals to Bill Harris; via Postal mail at : 4949 Rainbow Trail, Pollock Pines, CA. 95726 I will not accept proposals through e-mail.

News & Views Editor: This is my 1st. year as editor and again I thank Cathie for all her help. I sure hope I can get you all to send in your club articles(s). It doesn't have to be much, look at some of your old News & Views editions to get ideas. This year the E.C. has agreed to allow AD's in the newsletter to help offset the cost of printing & publishing. See Page 2.

Horseshoe Report by: Kimmy Stockli

I received notification in November from Ken Kosky, of NHPA Game Related Sales, advising of some changes being made in the manufacturing and sale of our current list of horseshoes.

1. Gordon Horseshoes are being discontinued. Queen City Manufacturing has stopped making all of the Gordon Horseshoes and has no plans to make anymore. I have heard rumors that Bobby White of White Distributors may start making them later next year. Only rumors!!

2. All shoes that are made by White Distributors will be cast. This is including the Imperials. They will be thicker and have a different feel to them. I still have some of the original Imperial horseshoes made before White started making them. Call me if you are interested.

3. Mr. D. has been taken off of the NHPA list of shoes that we sell. I have been told of some disagreements with the manufacturer so if you want Mr. D's, call me and I'll see what I can do to get them. Though, I still have a pair or two in stock.

4. Glory GXL is a new shoe being released very soon. It is the equivalent of the Wonder shoe. Ultra lightweight for kids or folks that just like a lighter shoe.

In the future I will try and keep you all informed of any further changes in the manufacturing and sale of our horseshoes.

NEWSLINE SUBSCRIPTION FORM

Name:__________________________________

Address_________________________________

City/State/Zip_____________________________

1yr. = $12.00____2yrs. = $22.00____3 yrs. = 30.00_____

(Add $8.00 for 1st. Class) Make check payable to NHPA

Mail to: 3085 76th. Street, Franksville, WI. 53126

NCHPA NEWS & VIEWS

Published quarterly, mailed out in January, April, July & October.

It is distributed via 1st. Class Mail to each member household. The 2006 deadline for articles is March 20, June 16, September 15 & December 15.

Advertise & Support Your Club Events & NCHPA.

Talk to your local Business's about an AD.

(All AD's to be Black & White)

Business Card size is--------------------------$25.00 per issue.

¼ page size is-----------------------------------$60.00 per issue.

Send your check(s) & AD(s) to Bill Harris, NCHPA News & Views, 4949 Rainbow Trail, Pollock Pines, CA. 95726. Make check(s) payable to NCHPA.Need information; call Bill at (530) 644-8473 or e-mail at tooringer6@yahoo.com.

Sonoma County Club by: Casey Sluys

Of course you all know this great facility is located in the city of Santa Rosa? The primary reason it's called the Sonoma County Horseshoe Pitcher's Club (SCHPC) is because early in its history, 1934-1956; there were many clubs in this county: One in Petaluma, Sebastopol, Cloverdale and of course Santa Rosa. Over many years they formed the Redwood Empire Horseshoe Pitcher's, eventually becoming the SCHPC. Members in each outlying town, wanting to maintain their identity, chose the name. The reason I explain this is because in previous years we've had new members attempt to come here to pitch and end up in the town of Sonoma searching, in vain, for horseshoe courts. Please feel free to call me anytime for directions. (707) 538-3128.

We had the distinct pleasure of hosting the NCHPA Team Championships in 2005. Even though it came as a surprise to us that we would host this fine event, we managed to pull it off in fine fashion; if I say so myself, (grin). We will most likely not ever host this event again because Santa Rosa simply is not centrally located in this charter. In order for this Team Tournament to flourish, it must be held at a central club. That way more clubs can participate. Make your plans now for the Team Championships, get your teams together and come to the Tri-Valley Club in Pleasanton for the 2006 Team Championships.

The members of teams who had not pitched here before thought the facility was second to none in its aesthetics. Yes, we have full walkways with all 3 distances clearly marked, including the 20-foot line for our youngsters. Beautiful grass between the courts to keep you cooler during the warm summer months, plenty of coffee, donuts, juice and water for your refreshment. We have plenty of fine restaurants within a few miles of the courts. All our tournaments are mixed, with sign-in at 9:30 a.m., with pitching at 10 a.m. (or before). If you haven’t been to Santa Rosa and the Sonoma County Horseshoe Pitchers Club; please make an effort to do so in 2006, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Last year we hosted a National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation (NHPF) benefit tournament and were able to contribute over $350.00 to the NHPF. Please learn more about this fine charitable organization, either online at http://www.horseshoepitching.com or in issues of Newsline magazine, or from myself or the NHPF president Dave Loucks. I'd like to challenge all clubs to host at least one benefit tournament for the NHPF per year! If all 650 clubs in the United States would do that, we would have a great Foundation!

Stockton Club by: Peter P. Chavarria

New officers for 2006 are:

President-Harvey Monk; Vice-President-Paul Anzelone; and re-elected as Sec./Treas.-Peter P. Chavarria; Club Contact is Millie Schultz.

Peter went to the Tri-Valley Tourn. on Sunday, Sept. 11 and did not do so well. Then he went to the Sac. Tourn. on Suday, Sept. 18 and earned 1st. Place in his group. Then he pitched in the club tourn. on Sept. 25th. and bombed out. Go figure!!

Peter say's that their tourn's on Sept. 24 and 25 went very well. They had 27 pitchers on Saturday and 22 on Sunday.

They had a little excitement on the 24th. as Linda Hoelscher and Bob Birge went at it and pitched 26 "four dead shoes". Sat. Tourn. Champ. was Linda Hoelscher with Bob Birge in second place. Sunday's Tourn. Champion was Don Kies with Teddy Guillotte in second place.

Peter thanks all those that came to their year-end tourn. and hopes all had a good time. They only had two club members pitch in the NCHPA Championship tourn., Paul Anzelone and Bob Birge. They are looking for more club members to participate in 2006. Congrats to Bob Birge who took tournament champ in the Elder Div. and for receiving a certificate for pitching an 80% game in 2005.

Forebay Park Club by: Bill Harris

New Officers for 2006 are: President and Club Contact-Rick Eddy; Vice President-Tammy Jackson; Sec/Treas/Statistician-Bill Harris.

We lost a club member on December 6, 2005, "D'Ann Roscoe" after a long battle with Bone Cancer. She was our club Sec/Treas. for the year of 2004. We will miss her as she was always volunteering for things to do.

Our club is still working on the pits—and man is it the Pits!! The club has been digging up the 52" White Fir stump at the north end of pit 9 for the last two months and it's almost ready to pull out. We have four sanctioned tournaments this year; June 17 and 18 and August 19 and 20. (Before and after the World Tournament.)

We plan on putting up a poster at the sign-in table that identifies the percent spread in a Group, (for handicapping if needed). I believe we will use the >10% spread. That is so you will know what the spread is before you sign up. We will also put an AD in the News & Views April edition regarding our tournaments.

Shingle Springs Club by: Dave Cardinalli

Well, here it is raining again. Courts are soaked. Weed and branch pile won't burn. Community Center wants more money. Downdrains got torn off the qutters. (There's one left, but if I catch the !@#$%$ that pulled this—I'm going to drag that one off too—and stuff it where the sun don't shine.) Mud slowly starting to ease up thru thje gravel driveway. Dogs got in the trash barrels and drug the contents all over the site. Lost the key to the Aluminum can barrel and it's full of cans and water. Somebody lifted about seven shovels. Brand new garden hose disappeared. 120 feet of it. Slithered off like a Python. My "Honey," hauled it out of town in my Chevy truck. Left me just a greasy spot in the driveway. "Damnest thing I ever seen—My transmission's bound for Abilene". Threw my Mother off the train. Took my dog also, and my Harley, gold studded "Cozy Seat", and all. Hiawatha leather fringe trim too.

Cone to think of it now…I ain't seen old "Lonesome Leroy", down at the Country Store for the last few days. You want to hear some more? I have some more for you right here. Stay tuned….

JC Hays is in a Convalescent Center in Placerville. He is not well as of this writing. He has spent most of the last couple of months in the hospital. I went to see him this week and he is still pretty sharp mentally. His physical condition is not good tho. All of us here at Shingle wish him the best. After all…"If it weren't for JC Hays…there wouldn't be a Shingle Springs Club".

Jack Couch dipped his beak a little deep and came out firing about 60%. Put a serious "Thumping" upon us. All I could hear was "Clang, Clang". I thought I was tossing against a "Thirty Foot Flipper", again. Rich King served up 12 in a row one day last week. He gets in that zone. May as well just go sit in the sun.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Cathie for doing all the work she's done for so long on the News. I also want to thank Bill for stepping forward and taking up the slack. These people are real fine folks in my book.

Our club doesn't have too many members, but we have enough to get by. If we start to run short, I'll round up a couple of wino's down on Stockton Blvd. and sign them up. They can't be any more of a pain in the festerus than some of the people we already have, me included. I'll pay the freight out of my pocket.

Don't look for Shingle to fold. Never happen as long as I'm alive. We'll be planting more trees this winter. You know Jackie and Richy and Davy and Danny Appleseed and all. Keep'er pointed in the wind Matey and try to keep your powder dry

Shasta Club by: Lee Roy Lassiter

2005 was a very good year for the Shasta Horseshoe Club. We sent 10 pitchers to the Word Tournament, 11 pitcher to the State Championships and 3 to the NOR-CAL Championships. Our top winners were Elaine Butcher-4th. in the Women's Championship at the World and 2nd. in the Women's Championship at the State; Robert Gillett SR.-1st. in his class at the World and 3rd. in his class at the State; Allen Kimsey-1st. in his class at the World; Lee Roy Lassiter-3rd. in his class at the World, 1st. in his class at the State and 1st in his class at the NOR-CAL Championships; Jack Bradford-2nd. in his class at the State; Mike Robinsons-3rd. in his class at the World; Buddy Darnold-3rd. in his class at the State; Fritz Oberst-4th. in his class at the State and at NOR-CAL.

At our club annual meeting, awards were given to Lee Roy Lassiter-PLAYER OF THE YEARS; Stephen Bettinelli-ROOKIE OF THE YEAR; Stephen won 1st. place in 1 sanctioned tournament and 2nd. place in all of the other seven tournaments he entered; Lois Day won the SCOREKEEPER OF THE YEAR award. We re-elected the current officers for next year: Mike Robinson-President; Walt Butcher-Vice President and Lee Roy Lassiter-Sec/Treas. and Club Contact person.

Congratulations to Clancy Coates. He was honored at a meeting of Post #746 of the American Legion. He was awarded a certificate for completing sixty years of continuous outstanding service in the 'American Legion. Clancy has a cap with 12 gold stars, each representing five years of service.

On a sadder note, four of our former members passed away this year: Moris Miller, Oreval "Buck" Gendron, Roy R aymond Thomas and Robert E. "Bob" Proctor.

Rober E. "Bob" Proctor, August 3, 1916-November 26, 2005. Bob was a member of Shasta Horseshoe Club from 1975 through 1994. He served as one of our officers each of the 19 years that he was with the club. He served as President 4 years, Vice-President 10 years, Facilities Director 3 years, Tournament Director 1 year and Sec/Treas 1 year. Bob served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force during World War ll. Bob was a Forester with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Coos Bay, Oregon and Redding, CA. He was a lifetime member of Military Officer Association of America.

We hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hope to see you all on the courts in 2006.

Gold Country Club by: Cathie Loucks

It's hard to believe that our first tournaments of the year, scheduled for mid-June, were rained out. One wonders why the rain couldn't wait for the rainy season! Although we only managed to have one weekend for tournaments in 2005, we were pleased with the turnouts, especially for our NHPF Benefit Tournament. The club would like to express our thanks to those that participated and in turn donated to this worthy cause.

We were able to present a check for $400.00 to the NHPF, which brings the club's total donations to the NHPF to $1750.00. Please make note and support the following NHPF benefit tournaments in 2006; Saturday, May 13th. at Sonoma, Saturday, June 24th. at Gold Country and Sunday, Aug. 20th. at Vallejo. It sure would be great if every club in the NCHPA scheduled just one NHPF benefit tournament each year. Think about it!

Club member, Chuck Seal, brought home the Championship trophy for the Men's Division in the State Tournament and although only an associate member at the time, we are equally proud of John Sylvester for winning and Dave Loucks with his 2nd. place finish in the Senior Men's Championship Division. LeRoy Whittle who placed 3rd. in his Class at the World Tournament and also at the NorCals won the Senior Men's Class A at the State Championships with an 8 & 1 record and a 35.83 overall percentage. Most of his games pitched at the NorCals weren’t too great but a personal high game of 81.8% made Andy Loobey's day! Stacy Triano, the club's only woman pitcher took 2nd. place in her class at both the State and the NorCals. Great job, everyone!

Dave Loucks, realizing he couldn't give 100%, has resigned his position as NCHPA President effective Dec. 31, 2005. He has been inundated with his responsibilities to the NHPF and recently made two trips to St. Louis, MO in a 3-week period, to finalize all the details for the new location of the NHPA Hall of Fame. The papers are signed, a project manager has been hired, plans are drawn and construction is scheduled to begin in late March/early April. The project is an approximately 25,000 square foot facility, housing the NHPA Hall of Fame, 24 indoor courts with heat & air, rest rooms and a kitchen.

Andy & Maggie Loobey graciously hosted Gold country's annual Christmas party on Dec. 3rd. and this despite having just moved to their new home the end of October. The home is lovely and was totally decorated for the Holidays. Twenty-seven club members attended with each bringing a yummy appetizer or desert that was enjoyed by all. The weather was great for a few games of shoes but alas, Andy didn't move his courts.

(continued on page 5)

Sacramento Club by: Joan Bryan

We enjoyed having all of you at our tournaments in season 2005. COME AGAIN!

Rick Bermingham, Glenn Rippetoe and Larry Thorsen did the 'grunt work'. A big thanks to them. We welcomed a new member and avid horseshoe pitcher, Sam Godbloudt; who qualified at 19%, but will start the 2006 season in the 30% bracket. Look out everyone, here comes Sam-I-Am. Looking forward to seeing you all in the spring.

(----CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 "GOLD COUNTRY"-----)

He won't have the space he had at the old place but he will definitely be installing courts at the new location. Just how many has yet to be determined.

Last but not least, I would like to thank all of you for your support of me over the years, first as bylaws chairperson, then as 5th. VP, schedule chairperson and newsletter editor. Please continue to offer you support to the new board. Thanks again and Happy Holidays!

Vallejo Club by: Jim Wallace

I am happy to inform the Northern California Horseshoe Pitchers Association that "Linda Parnell" is back home after a long stay in the hospital and nursing home. She is improving daily and we expect her to take up her Secretary/Treasurer duties for the coming season. The Vallejo club hopes that all pitchers had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We will see you on the courts.

BE PREPARED

Prior to attending a tournament,

Read and Understand the codes for the tournament.

That way, there won't be any surprise's.

Also, when attending tournaments, please make sure you sign in before the cutoff time.

The Tournament Director and crew have to make up the

Round-Robin cards and Master Summary Sheets and really don't want to start over again because of a late arrival.

Thank you for your consideration.

From our pits to yours