MDDA Awards Meeting

A small group of Midwest Distance Driving enthusiasts gathered at the McFarland Municipal Center on Saturday, November 11, 2006, to celebrate the 2006 driving season and conduct the annual meeting.

The smells of good food soon permeated the facility as friends enjoyed appetizers along with their conversation. Wes then split the attendees into 3 groups for a game of Pin the Name of the Harness Part on the Horse. This required each member of each group to be blindfolded, twirled and generally pointed at a large illustration of a horse in harness. The blindfolded individual then approached the illustration with a named harness part, while his/her group shouted directions (and the other groups shouted opposing directions) and placed the named part somewhere on the illustration. The results were hilarious! It was a great ice breaker.

A quieter game was then run by Jane called Know Your MDDA Members where participants had to put on their thinking caps. They needed to match a list of some active members with descriptions of their involvement in MDDA, distance driving and the names of their horses. Entries were later used for the drawing of door prizes.

The groups then broke up with individuals filling their plates with a variety of excellent food and enjoyed visiting and eating. When everyone was totally stuffed and relaxed, Wes took the floor to conduct the annual meeting.

Wes announced that Connie Gray and Pauline Stollenwerk were retiring from the board while Jack Shea, Mary Clapper and Katz Jackson were newly elected to the board. Sandy Rudstrom and Wes, Gary, Jac, Jane and Roger are continuing as board members.

The membership approved changes to the By Laws revising the date of the annual meeting from February to November and allowing the board to approve expenditures greater than $300 or contracts longer than 1 year by a 2/3 majority.

After the business meeting Wes asked Gerry Millard to assist in handing out the awards. The driving awards were based on a formula for completed drives accounting for miles and placings.

First up was our excellent and active group of Rookies. The Singles drivers were led by Jack Shea , the Rookie of the Year, with Lee. Katz Jackson with Talon was a very close second, followed by Mary Clapper with Benjamin and Pair rookie driver Jim Clay with Pepe and Scarlet.

Next came the Limited Distance awards. For Singles Wes Licht had the Champion with Annie, Jack Shea was Reserve Champion and Katz Jackson placed 3^rd. Congratulations to Jack and Katz for completing 5 drives to qualify for this award as well as their Rookie awards. No pairs qualified.

Then came the Competitive awards. For Singles Jac Deweese had the Champion with Scooter and Reserve Champion with Cake. Gary Jackson was 3^rd with Horus. No pairs qualified.

Some other fun awards were presented for unique occurrences during the driving season.

Jack Shea received a ‘Checklist’ award in remembrance of his experience at DRAW IV.

Jac Deweese received a ‘Bulldozer’ award to commemorate Cake’s bulldozing around a mud puddle at the Louise Riedel Bra Bender drive.

Jac & Marguerite were awarded the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award for their significant efforts in promoting MDDA. Connie and Pauline received Special Service awards for their many contributions in support of distance driving since its beginning in Wisconsin.

Last, Mary took the floor and surprised Wes and Jac with a “special” gift in appreciation of their help with her horse Ben and his harness. She had made a pair of beautiful driving aprons and muffs with heat packets.

The group may have been small, but it was dedicated to Distance Driving. The enthusiasm was apparent in the good conversation and pleasure exhibited by the attendees.