NEWSLINE STORY

published November – December 2016

Give the Gift of NHPA Membership

by Bill Marvin, 5th Vice President and Regional Director and Court Sanctioning Director

Fall signifies the end of the 2016 outdoor pitching season for those of us in the North.  It also marks the start for 2017.  New cards are now available for purchase from your Charter Secretary.  One way to recruit new players is to get them a membership for Christmas.  The NHPA card will fit nicely inside a Season Greeting and is a nice surprise to someone who has been thinking about joining the NHPA and will bolster the membership numbers for your Charter.

It isn’t too early to start thinking and planning for a trip to St. George next July.  Ask anyone who attended the World Tournament in 2013 and they will tell you that not only was the pitching venue great, the area around St. George is spectacular.  Zion National Park, Snow Canyon State Park, and the Dinosaur Museum are only a few of the numerous sites to see.  A quick search on the Internet will show scores of things to see and do in this hidden treasure.  To be eligible, adult players must have at least four sanctioned events twelve months prior to the entry deadline of May 15, 2017: Juniors and Cadets need only one.  Take a look now at the tournament/league schedule in your area to ensure you will qualify. 

The NHPA Council will be meeting in January to brainstorm ideas to advance the sport of Horseshoes.  We have been elected to promote and foster growth of the NHPA and to ensure that all points of view are represented.  While the forum is a great way to exchange ideas and discuss options that can be taken, we appreciate hearing from all members directly.  Email, phone numbers and snail mail addresses are available on the web site.  If you have a suggestion or wish to share your opinion on ways you feel improvements could be made, do not hesitate to contact one of us.  While there is no guarantee your idea will be adopted, it will be discussed and considered by the Council. 

As 5th Vice President, one of my duties is to distribute tournament patches to Regional Directors for their Charters.  If you are a Tournament Director, now is the time to notify your RD as to how many patches you will need for 2017.  The NHPA will use approximately 13,000 patches next year.

Speaking of Regional Directors, these folks are a valuable resource that can answer most questions and provide assistance whenever necessary.  Don’t hesitate to contact them.  They have the experience and expertise to steer you in the right direction.  Also, utilize Charter Officers to help build participation in your local club or league. 

If there is a topic you would like discussed in the Newsline, by all means let me know and I will do my best to research and clarify it. Easy does it.