NHPF Adds Board Members, Addresses Issues at Annual Meeting

by Casey Sluys, President, National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation

The National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation (NHPF) Board of Directors has added two new members to its board. They are Ron Deckard of Florida and James Scully of Connecticut. Geographic location was indeed considered when asking these two gentlemen to serve on our board. With the added members we hope to broaden the awareness of the NHPF, thereby increasing participation in our brick purchase program and our fundraising effort to assist in supporting the NHPF Hall of Fame (link to: http://www.nhpf.info/index.html) in Wentzville, Missouri.

The NHPF held our annual meeting during the Hall of Fame Invitational tournament with all board members present. A few items that were discussed include:

· The brick plaza is beginning to show signs of heaving. Some bricks are raised and some sink down a bit. We spoke to the St. Charles County Parks Department, and they informed us that it is up to us to fix this. Presently it’s a minor concern and will be looked into. Quail Ridge Horseshoe Club has members capable of doing this work.

· A letter went out to most NHPF grant recipients thanking them for their past contribution and hoping that they will continue to support us.

· The highway signs are costly, $1,200 for new signs and $3,000 per year for a (two-year minimum) contract. It was decided to wait with a decision on new signs for I-70 until we have a meeting with the NHPA Council at the World Tournament.

· We will have some new banners made in time for the World Tournament. Jim Scully will get these made at no cost.

· A second iteration of the NHPF brochure will be made soon, perhaps with a new cover design.

· All World Tournament participants will once again receive our brochure in their welcome packets. Please don’t overlook it. Thank you, Roger Vogel, for assisting us with this.

· We have transferred the tax-exempt status to both Missouri and Tennessee and there is no need to rewrite our bylaws.

· New grants will be limited to six per year with a maximum amount for each of $3,000.

· A listing of all bricks, and their purchasers, will be available soon courtesy of work done by Bob Dunn, NHPA historian.

As a reminder to all of you online shoppers: please don’t forget to log into Amazon Smile. (link to: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/62-1671910) The NHPF has received their first check from Amazon as a result of your online shopping. Thank you very much! Keep up the great work!

Special Thanks to Our Donors

We express our sincere thanks to the following most recent donors:

Donating $25-95

· Leo & Debby Bratland, IL (in memory of Sharon Tate)

· Leo & Debby Bratland, IL (in memory of Cecil Steele)

· Sodbusters Horseshoe Club, VT

· Heartland Indoor HA, MO

· Charles Bunner, WV

· Darrel & Lorraine Koistinen, WA

· Raymond Hall, NY

· Michelle M. Schack, CA (In memory of Bill Virgen)

Donating $100-200

· Henry & Linda Westbrook, SC

· Oak Bend Horseshoe Club, FL

Donating $500-600

· Dave and Carla Sidles, NE

Donating $800-1000

· Emerald Horseshoe Pitchers Association, OR

Bricks Purchased By

Sharon Del Pietro, MO (2 bricks)

· Kenneth Tate, IL

· Larry and Karin Myers, GA

Other Income

$9,900 NHPA Annual Membership Donation

$87 Hall of Fame Donation Box

$700 Rent, NHPA GRS

$2,500 Rent, Quail Ridge HC, MO

$54.50 Merchandize Sales

To learn how the NHPF came into being and exactly why we exist, view this quick, informative seven-minute video. (link to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EEUwzJuKfw&feature=youtu.be