February, 2022
1. It is convention time! We are so excited for the 2022 NATRC National Convention in Omaha, Nebraska February 24-27. It seems like it has been forever since our last convention even though it has only been two years. That just makes this year’s convention even more special as we will be recognizing 60 years of NATRC! Our convention hotel is the Embassy Suites by Hilton located in Omaha’s popular downtown/old market area. We have an outstanding lineup of speakers and presentations that will not disappoint. In addition, the honoring of last season’s accomplishments by our members is very rewarding. Make sure you do not miss this year’s national convention. After all, we will be in Nebraska……” the good life!”
2. Support our National Convention! The silent auction this year is on-line. You will need to be present to pick up any “physical items” or arrange for a friend to bring them home. Certificates for rides, etc. can be purchased from your living room (or bathroom if that’s your shopping place!).
Each of us can also show our support with the purchase of a Friends of NATRC sponsorship for only $50!
Check out all the goodies! More items will be added as we get the information.
3. 2022 NATRC Virtual Mileage Challenge is up and running. It is not too late to sign up and join the fun. This year’s challenge runs until 12/31/22! Year-end awards will be given for the finishers with the highest number of miles at the end of December! NATRC has partnered with Top Trail to host this year’s mileage challenge. This year all your rider miles count – training and competition miles! To register go to the Top Trails NATRC Virtual Mileage Challenge page.
Click on this link to see the current National Rider Leaderboard.
4. Clinics are an excellent way to introduce new riders to NATRC. Clinics also provide a fantastic opportunity for any rider to hone their skills and learn from some of the top riders in our sport. How many clinics are scheduled in your region this year? Clinics directly benefit our A rides. It is not too late to add clinics to each of our regions for this ride year. Include a LeD ride the same weekend of your clinic and your new riders can immediately apply some of what they learned.
Our NATRC webpage has some outstanding resources to assist clinic managers. New from 2021 is an updated NATRC Clinic Handbook. This 28-page document is an excellent resource for clinic participants.
Two clinics per region will be reimbursed $100 for insurance costs determined by the earliest clinics to apply for sanction and request the $100 reimbursement.
5. Have you made our NATRC webpage (
natrc.org) your startup page for your internet browser yet? When you do, every time you open your browser, your opening tab will be our NATRC webpage. It is an effortless way to stay current with NATRC!
6. Support and promote our rides. Signing up for rides as early as possible is a huge help for ride management. Encourage your horse friends to come give us a try. Bring a friend with you to volunteer at the ride you are riding in. Not riding, no problem, come volunteer at a ride. Provide a donation to one or more rides in your region. Share our ride schedule on your social media platforms. Let your friends know that free NATRC memberships are being offered again in 2022 for first time members! There are lots of things we can do to help support and promote our rides and as a result we all benefit from these efforts.
7. Follow NATRC on social media and stay up to date. A picture a day is being added to our NATRC Instagram account! Be sure to check them out by following us on Instagram @natrc_ctr. Follow us on Facebook on the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) page. Subscribe to our NATRC (North American Trail Ride Conference) YouTube channel. (www.youtube.com) Here you will find all the NATRC Let’s Ride series webinars plus even more. One advantage of subscribing to our NATRC YouTube channel is that you will be notified immediately when additional videos are added to our collection.
8. Did you remember to read the latest Hoof Print on our natrc.org webpage? From the NATRC homepage go to Resources and then select Hoof Print from the drop-down menu. Download it now onto all your devices so that you will have it with you while you are out camping with your horse! Be sure to check out the 60th Anniversary Edition of the Hoof Print. It is one of the best issues yet! The cover page is perfect, and the rest of the issue will leave you saying “wow” over and over! Thank you to all of you who purchased ads and shared your stories for this special edition.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone in Omaha at this year’s convention. Hat’s off to the Region 6 convention planning committee and all their arduous work that went in to putting together an outstanding lineup of speakers and presentations. They have worked extremely hard and it hasn’t just been this year. Initial planning for this year’s convention began during the summer of 2019. COVID put those efforts on hold for a few months but then these past few months this committee has been meeting regularly to put together a first-class professional convention that will not disappoint. Please show them your appreciation for all their efforts!
I mentioned this earlier, but I want to encourage you again, to please support this year’s NATRC national convention. Check out the online silent auction site listed above where there are several ways in which you can show your support even if you are not able to attend. It can be as simple as purchasing a Friends of NATRC sponsorship to show your NATRC pride which I highly recommend.
NATRC, it is just plain fun!
Can’t wait to see you in Omaha! Looking forward to that ghost tour too!
John Zeliff, President
#NATRCat60 #NATRC #NATRCfamily
