TALLY ~ HOTALLY ~ HO

Volume XLIX #2 Marlborough Hunt Club “Tally Ho” February 2010

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The Masters of Foxhounds and the

Board of Governors

of the Marlborough Hunt Club

Request the Pleasure of Your Company

at the

Closing Hunt Breakfast

Sunday, the Twenty First of March

Two Thousand and Ten

Three thirty o'clock in the afternoon

at the

Clubhouse Marlborough Hunt Club

WELCOME OUR NEW JUNIOR ASSOCIATE

BRANDI SMITH email: lilwildfire1251@aol.com

29025 Hill & Dale Drive ph # 240-434-1998

Mechanicsville , Maryland 20778

RSVP by March 14, 2010 Barbara Smith Peddicord 410-507-0564

Beer, Wine & Setups provided

$35.00 per person $40.00 after March 14th $15 Children 12 and under under 3 years free

MAWC Update

by Patty Sasscer

The Maryland Association for Wildlife Conservation, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed

in 1976 to encourage the preservation of field sports and the protection of Maryland Wildlife. MAWC presently consists of 20 directors, I have been one of the directors since 2001. The organization’s mission is the promotion and protection of hunters rights, particularly in the area of legislation. MAWC employees our legislative advisor, Nancy Hill who monitors every bill introduced in the Maryland legisla-ture to determine its potential impact upon our sport, and closely monitors DNR regarding new regulations.

Recently she alerted us to an extremely bad regulation change that could potentially threaten our fox popula-tion.

When either a threatening bill or a regulation change like this is introduced, a plan is enacted to take the ap-propriate steps to defeat it. This may entail enlisting the support of several statewide sportsmen’s groups, de-veloping fact sheets, talking points and fiscal impact statements. MAWC Board members alert the members of their hunts, make the rounds in Delegates offices, testify at hearings and negotiate with bill sponsors and Committee Chairmen. Through these efforts bills get defeated. It is essential that the foxhunting community educate itself about the challenges facing our sport. Anti-hunting forces are increasing. Their resourceful-ness can be sinister. All foxhunters need to be vigilant and to educate themselves about the issues that threaten our sport. In this case, it is a simple regulation change. Please see page 8.

The work MAWC does to protect your sport is not done without a great deal of time and money. I would like all Marlborough members to join MAWC. Your $25 annual membership will help with this most important legisla-tive work to preserve our field sports. Please join. So far, less than 30 members have made their voluntary yearly contribution. Please show that the Marlborough members care about preserving our field sports.

Please send your check, made out to MAWC to:

Patty Sasscer, Box 6, UM, MD 20773 or include it with your next dues payment. Additional $25 for MAWC.

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Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Governors

Of the Marlborough Hunt Club January 19th, 2010

Present: Caroline Bunting, Greg Bush (Treasurer), Katherine

Cawood, Christy Clagett, Michael Peddicord (President), Patty

Sasscer, Sharon Schroer, Claire Simpson-Jones (Secretary), Liz

Yewell (Vice-President).

Absent: Leo Courtney, Maggie Sliker.

Minutes: The minutes from the previous board meeting were

approved as read.

Secretary’s Report: A prospective Junior Associate candi-

date, Brandi Smith, proposed by Isabel Kurek and seconded by

Marybeth Webster, has been approved to be published in the

Tally-Ho. Diana Clagett does not want to continue under her

husband’s non-hunting membership. The membership now

stands at 57 hunting, 60 non-hunting, 9 honorary, 14 absentee

and no descendant members. We have 8 junior associate mem-

bers.

Treasurer’s Report: A Balance Sheet as of 12/31/09 and

cash basis Income Statement for the twelve months ending

12/31/09 were presented to the board. Total revenue for the

year of $219,208.00 consists primarily of member dues for

2009 of $118,725.21, advance payment of 2010 dues of

$27,392.00, Roedown management fees of $31,831.38, social

income of $21,780.27, member donations of $8,109.00, and

clubhouse rentals of $6,550.00. Total expenses for the year of

$195,719.75 resulted in a net income for the year of

$23,448.24. Our cash balance as of 12/31/09 was $49,287.27.

We have had only one Pavilion rental for the year. The board

approved using the 2009 budget numbers for 2010 until the

2010 budget can be approved. It is anticipated that a new truck

will be needed mid 2010. The board reviewed past due ac-

counts. We have not had to draw down on our line of credit.

Committee Reports: Social Committee: The winter social

is scheduled for January 22nd. Invitations for The Hunt Ball,

scheduled for February 13th, have been mailed. Clubhouse

Committee: The plumbing work at the cottage to prevent pipes

from freezing has been completed for $500. That amount had

been previously approved by the board. Roedown: Still need

four more race sponsors.

Special Guest: Paula Sothoron spoke to the board about the

Rosaryville Conservancy. In 2008, they were granted up to

$100,000 in matching funds from the State of Maryland for

amounts they could raise from private contributions. The grant

expires the end of March 2010 and they are in the process of

trying to get an extension. Only $20,000 has been raised to

date. They would like to use the money to restore the stables

near the mansion. The stables are considered an historical

building so restoration would be per Historical Society require-

ments. The board approved using the $700 set aside for the

landowners Christmas charity contribution which was pledged

in lieu of Christmas baskets.

Master’s Report: To save on printing and mailing costs, a

hard copy of the fixture card will only be mailed to hunting

members and junior associates with other members having

access to the copy which will be published in the Tally-Ho.

New Business: The board approved the use of hunt club

photos and information in a Prince Georges County Historical

Society publication as requested by Wallis Cain and Lynn Rob-

erts. The nominating committee will be finalized prior to the

next board meeting.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on Thursday, February 18th, at 6:30

at the home of Liz Yewell. Please inform the Secretary if you

plan to be absent.

Respectfully submitted, Claire Simpson-Jones, Secretary

Please Update Your Directory

Philip Goodman’s Phone #’s are:

Cell - 420-279-7385 Work - 410-573-0545

Csaba Magassy’s e-mail is:

magassy@psapc.com

Did You Know This

Steeplechases and point-to-points are the same sport with minor technical differences. Both feature races over brush fences, timber jumps, and races on the flat. Steeplechase meets are governed by the rules of the National Steeple-chase & Hunt Association. Point-to-points are sponsored by local hunt clubs and run under local rules.

The stock tie evolved from the cravat. It could serve as bandage, sling or tourniquet, and even helped prevent neck injuries in falls. Some Brit-ish eventers still wear snug stocks to prevent whip-lash injury cross-country. The correct stock pin is a simple pin similar to a safety pin, useful for securing any sort of bandage or sling.

For casual riding and cubbing, ratcatcher attire was common. The ratcatcher shirt had a simple choker instead of a stock, and the colors were often of earth shades. The original “ratcatchers” were men who took terriers out as portable exterminators. Since they were of the working class, they dressed the part.

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CONDOLENCES

Our deepest sympathy to the family of our hon-

orary member Hal Clagett, our most generous

benefactor who so kindly allowed us to hold our Hunt Races on his Roedown Farm. The family

requests that any donations be made to:

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association Box 427

30 East Padonia Road Suite 303 Timonium, MD 21094

www.marylandthoroughbred.com/breeders

Nominating Committee

Selects Board of Governors Slate for 2010

The MHC Nominating Committee, Paula Sothoron

(chairman), Nancy Hill and Fred Koester

submitted the following slate:

Nominees to serve for one year term:

President.……………………………… Mike Peddicord

Vice President..…….………….……….Elizabeth Yewell

Secretary.………………………….Claire Simpson-Jones

Treasurer……….……….…………….……… Greg Bush

Masters ……………….……………...Katherine Cawood

……………………Patty Sasscer

…………………Christy Clagett

Nominees to serve for a one year term:

………...….……………….Caroline Bunting

……………………………….Sharon Schroer

Nominees to serve for 2 year terms:

……………………………… .Leo Courtney

…………………………… Eugene Roberts

Respectfully submitted by the Nominating Committee,

Paula Sothoron, Nancy Hill and Fred Koester

“Any five persons holding memberships in the Club

may place in nomination other candidates for any va-

cancy then existing or office to be voted upon at the fol-

lowing annual election of Officers and members of the

Board of Governors, provided more than one candidate

shall not be proposed by such members to be voted

upon for the same office, and provided further that the

members so nominating candidates shall send, at their

own expense, a list of their proposed candidates to all

members at least seven days before the meeting at

which such candidates are to be voted upon.”

(Article XII, Section 4 of the Constitution and By-laws of

the Marlborough Hunt Club.)

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Letter from the President

Dear Member,

The Marlborough Hunt Club family will miss Hal

Clagett, who died on February 1st. His story is the stuff

of legends – a bomber pilot during World War II, a re-

spected attorney, and a great Thoroughbred horse

breeder and race horse owner. His and Jeanne Begg's

generosity towards the hunt club and horse racing set a

high standard for the rest of us. This generosity included

the gracious use of their farm, Roedown, to hold our hunt

races each spring. For years, our Club has used the

management fee from "Roedown" to help offset the

Club’s operating expenses which, in turn, has offset your

dues. We expect to hold “Roedown” this year, April 11,

2010, but the status in subsequent years is uncertain and

unlikely. Your Board of Governors recognizes this situa-

tion and is exploring various options to address an ex-

pected budget shortfall in 2011. This shortfall in 2011 is

expected to be between $15,000 and $25,000. These

options include finding a new location to hold our hunt

races should the Roedown farm be sold to an owner who

does not want to continue the tradition, new membership

drives, and possibly researching another event such as

a horse show or music festival to replace the "Roedown"

contribution. Another option will include raising member-

ship dues. All of these options have their strengths and

weaknesses. If you have an idea we may not have con-

sidered, please let your Board of Governors know by

emailing your suggestion to mhcpresident@hotmail.com.

LANDOWNER GIFTS

This year, in recognition and appreciation of

the generosity of our landowners and farm

managers, they were sent letters to let them know that

a donation in their names was sent to the Rosaryville

Conservancy.

Continued on page 5

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A Fabulous Hunt Ball

The room, the drinks, the food the band, the best. What a fun hunt ball that was. Many thanks to Barbara Smith for thinking of such a great theme and to her committee for the perfect decorations and masks. A huge “thank you” to Claire Simpson Jones for her generosity to us and those who stayed at the Comfort Inn in Bowie. Pictures speak louder than words, so here they are:

Someone left a black boa at the Hunt Ball which I have now.

A boa was left behind at the dance.

If it was yours, Barbara has it:

410-507-0564

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Shuck and Shoot November 27th, 2009 In spite of the blustery winds members and guests enjoyed the day.

Editor: Patty Sasscer.…..…301-627-3594

Contributing Artist……….…..Barbie Sonnett

E-mail………...…..mhctallyho@hotmail.com

Fax……….……….301-574-8202 call first

Website: marlboroughhuntclub.com Send your articles, classified adds, news, poems or prose, achieve-

ments of yours, your friends, relatives, children or grandchildren.

Solicitations welcome!

Deadline for submissions—–20th of each month

February 25, 2010

Dear Maryland Foxchasers:

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently in the process of adopting its hunting and trapping regulations for

the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons.

This is to alert you that DNR is considering a potentially harmful regulation change that would extend the shooting season for

red and gray foxes. The current seasons and proposed changes are as follows:

Charles and Dorchester Counties: August 1 – July 31 (all year). No change.

That portion of the state east of the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna River, except Dorchester County: November 16 – Janu-

ary 30. Change: Season would remain open until February 15.

That portion of the state west of the Bay and the Susquehanna, except Charles County: November 2 – January 19. Change: Sea-

son would remain open until February 15.

DNR’s rationale: This would afford additional recreational opportunities to predator hunters that are otherwise hunting coyotes at this

time.

The Maryland Association for Wildlife Conservation (MAWC) is working hard to ensure that these regulation changes are not adopted

but we need your help! DNR is accepting public comment until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 15, 2010. You can submit your com-

ments via email, postal mail, telephone, or fax to:

Paul A. Peditto, Director, DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service, Tawes State Office Building, E-1, Annapolis, MD 21401; Phone

410-260-8540 or 1-877-620-8DNR, ext 8540; Fax 410-260-8596; or, Online http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/comments/

Hunt_Proposal.asp and then click on “How to Comment on the Proposed Regulations.”

Dear Mr. Peditto:

I am writing to voice my opposition to DNR’s proposal to extend the shooting season for red and gray fox. The proposal could endan-

ger the fox population by allow the killing of foxes during their gestation/birthing period. Hunters cannot determine if a vixen is preg-

nant. If they kill a pregnant vixen, they are also killing an average of five pups.

To my knowledge, there is no overpopulation of fox in the State of Maryland that would warrant expanding the shooting season, and I

disagree with the rationale that this would result in more coyotes being killed. The current regulations seem to work, so why change

them.

Therefore, I respectfully request that DNR protect this resource - by not adopting this proposed regulation change - so that we all may

continue to have good sport in the future.

Sincerely,

I have included a sample letter below if you would like to use it to form your comments. Please remember to be polite and brief.

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