The meeting was held during our Oaktoberfest camping weekend at RRR. The dessert auction netted ~$900 plus $260 to HHYEC. Dalton, Jerry G., Tami R., Christine and Jo orchestrated the dessert auction. Polly orgnized the dinner.
The parade ladies, and anyone else interested, are planning to ride in the Rossford Halloween Parade October 26. Contact Tami Rockwell.
Several members went to the Mohican State Ride and chili cookoff. Polly went and represented us in the CCO.
The NW region state ride was a huge success.
2026 officers - all approved, no one objected to retaining current officers:  Pres. Jack Collins, VP Kathy Brown, Sec. Connie Bauer, Treas. Jo Neeley.
Starting in November, meetings will be back at Bunkers. We are welcome to eat in the bar before the meeting. We will set up and tear down the meeting room (banquet room in the back). They will not serve us back there at all. They are not charging us to use the room.
Trail miles will be due in January, at the party.
Mounting stands have been replaced in Oak Openings. We will put our plaques on the one at HHYEC
Jack is still working on the first aid class. It will be 2hrs. Checking on February.
We will have the Souper Rides in Nov. and Jan.

21 Tribute POP to Al for HHYEC

51 members and 17 guests attended at RRR.

September was our corn roast meeting, hosted by Jack and Patty Solak.
A motion was made and passed to donate $500 to Friends of Van Buren for a gate obstacle on the obstacle course.
A set of carhartts have been procured  for the FCOHC donation to the live auction at the state ride at Van Buren.
Polly, Tami and Kate plan to ride in the Swanton Corn Festival Parade.
Polly will be going to the Mohican State Ride Chili cookoff to represent us.
We will be selling 50/50 tickets at Van Buren on Saturday. Hawkers needed.
Jack wants to have a planning committee meeting to organize/change some things i.e. have our chili cookoff in April and make the August meeting a hawaiian theme.
Jack is working on a camping package to donate at the state meeting which includes 2 nights camping at one of our camping weekends at RRR, breakfast, dinner and guided rides at OO.
Jack would like to do something for the 250th anniversary of the US.
Nominations for 2026 officers were solicited. A  suggestion was made to keep the current officers and close nominations.
Octoberfest - we'll have boiled dinner. Polly will organize with Christine and Kate.
HHYEC RAT - there will be a $1000 reverse raffle with live draw on Nov. 29.
We need to move meetings indoors in November. Jack will check with Bunkers.
Cowboy Christmas - Donna M. had suggested pony rides. She will look into it and organize it. We will have to buy additional insurance.
~234 Tribute POP's were given to Al for HHYEC.

43 members and 1 guest attended at RRR.

The chapter meeting was during a camping weekend at RRR.
A discussion was had about placing an ad in The Horseman's Corral for our Cowboy Christmas Tack Swap ($150). A motion was made, seconded and passed.
Joel volunteered and cleaned trails with Lora. He is going to continue to do so for as long as it works out.
The Post-holiday party was discussed. It is tentatively planned for Jan. 3 at Flo's church. A club activity in lieu of or in addition to was discussed i.e. bowling. To be further discussed.
A suggestion was made to give pony rides during Cowboy Christmas. Feasibility and details to be determined.
FCOHC is in charge of the 50/50 at the Van Buren state ride. Hawkers needed.
Nominations for 2026 officers were requested. None received. Connie does not want to continue as secretary.
Tickets need to be sold for the blackstone grill raffle. None have been requested. See Lisa Line.
Our September meeting will be Sept. 2. Corn and brats will be provided. Bring a side.
A suggestion was made that there needs to be trail etiquette education done. It was suggestion to try and get that into the parks' newsletter.
The club ride at Mohican was fantastic. There were 19 people, 10 rigs.
Trail maps were again brought up as well as signage. The trails are changing so frequently that making up to date maps would be difficult if not impossible.  There is an interactive map on our website (link to), and the metropark website that should be current and it has roads labeled on it. Getting someone to provide road signage in the park is another matter. The park and Swanton township have jurisdiction over various parts.
There were 9 entries in the chili cookoff.
Chili cookoff winners:   1st   Polly Alvarez (embroidered champ chair)
                                           2nd  Patty Porter Solak  (FCOHC polo shirt)
                                            3rd  Connie Bauer (tote bag)
A suggestion was made, motion made, seconded and passed to subsidize our winning member that chooses to go to the state chili cookoff if anyone goes.

45 members and 4 guests attended at RRR.

A small grill was donated to RRR by Connie and Kenny.
10 trailers are signed up for Mohican. There are a few spots left.
The Christmas party venue was mentioned. Otsego Park is charging $600 with $100 deposit returned if there is no damage and no alcohol. We are looking for another venue.
Six dozen hotdogs were served at our National Trails Day weenie roast.
The stone project was discussed. We are looking for haulers to haul the stone to the park.
A donation was made to SHAC.
The donation to Friends of Van Buren was tabled until next meeting.
The Show Arena has renegged on our reserved date for Cowboy Christmas. Our option is to have it Nov. 30.
Baking cookoff results: 1st Bonnie Williams - rhubarb pie; 2nd Michelle Miller (West Unity) - coconut pie;
3rd Deb Vaughan - turtle cake.
Next meeting August 16  during our chili cookoff camping weekend at RRR.

37 members attended at RRR.

The June 3 chapter meeting was held at Reed Rd. Ranglers. It was the pizza party meeting along with the Happy Birthday to all of us event.  Forty-nine members and guests attended. Terry and Amy O. and Jack were hosts.
Jack continues to work on our first aid class. It will be no cost to our members unless someone needs to be certified.
The flower sale netted us a profit of $188.25.
Jack reported on recent communications with Lora G., our OO liaison. She has set aside Saturday Aug. 23 as a volunteer trails clean-up day, hand trimming only.  Members are not interested in giving up a Saturday and would prefer to do it on a weeknight instead. The trash cleanup that we offered to do is being put on hold due to territorial issues so we should just pick up trash if we see it when we ride. Jack will check with MSF to see if we can do a trash pick up there. We are welcome to work on mounting stands but must go through Lora. The one at the lake is slated to be removed and replaced because the park people think that the current one cannot be properly fixed. If anyone sees problems with any of them, take pictures and get them to Jack or Kathy. Jack will also check about the trail between the rider center parking lot and the MSF parking area on Rt. 64.
National Trails Day is Saturday June 7. We will have our weenie roast at the RC, 11 am to 1 pm. Jack and Beth Haas are hosts and Polly will ask her dad about helping. Members can bring cookies like last year.
Our next chapter meeting is our picnic meeting July 1 at RRR. Hosts are needed.
Members reported some camping trips in May to Pleasant Hill Lake, Waterloo and Van Buren.
Our chapter trip to Mohican Aug 8-1o has reached the minimum number of campers needed. There are 4-5 spots left. We will be offering those to friends and family.
Solicitations were received for donations to Lucas Co. Saddle Horse Advisory Committee for fair expenses ($250) and Friends of Van Buren for their ongoing trail improvements ($1000). These will be further discussed and voted on at the next meeting.
Kathy has reviewed the constitution, by-laws and standing rules and found that no procedural updates are needed. Membership prices will be updated.

47 members and 2 guests attended at RRR.

The meeting was held during our Kentucky Derby camping weekend at RRR following a potluck dinner hosted by Jack, Polly and Roy, Terry and Amy, and Jerry H.
Connie Bauer has been appointed to the secretary position.
Our Christmas/Holiday party will be the first Saturday in January at Otsego Park. The rental price at OP has risen to $600 with a $100 refundable deposit.
We picked up some new members at Equine Affaire including 2 youth.
Flower sale orders were due at the meeting to Connie Bauer.
Our FCOHC apparel store is set up with 3Cord. https://fultoncountyohc.itemorder.com.  Per Terry, it will only be open until August 1, ,2025 and can be reopened at a later date. They have polos, t shirts, sweatshirts and jackets in various colors which can be ordered and shipped to you for $7.50 or picked up free at Archbold, Napoleon and Bowling Green 3cord stores.
Jack is looking into a first aid/CPR class for members. A non certification class would be 2 hrs, no cost; certification would be longer with stricter requirements and cost of $25 per person. He will check on doing it on a weekday evening, during hotter weather when riding is restricted, or colder weather when many don't ride. He's working with the Fulton Co. Fire Dept.
National Trails Day will be the first Saturday of June (the 7th). We will have our Rider Center weenie roast. Hopefully someone will organize this as Jack would like to ride. Polly will check with her dad, Art.
June 8 there will be a poker run at White Star.
June 1 there will be a youth ride in our region for the Jr. Ambassadors at White Star.
A couple of people volunteered for committee positions - Donna M. for the holiday party, chili cook off and Oaktoberfest; Donna G. for the holiday party.
Our next meeting will be June 3 at RRR. There will be pizza and birthday cake provided for goodwill donation. Hosts - Terry and Amy O.

39 members and 4 guests attended at RRR.

The Christmas/Holiday party committee needs a lead coordinator. The date was discussed: early Jan is difficult for some. Place: no objection. Date needs to be determined.
HHYEC clean-up is Sat. Apr. 5 altho weather is not promising. Bring chainsaws, rakes, nippers. Record volunteer hrs. including load up and travel time as well as tools used - power vs hand vs heavy. [It was cancelled.]
Winter Blues breakfast was attended by ~30.
Money that was donated earmarked for the park was discussed.  A suggestion from the park liaison suggested donation of stone to fix muddy trail spots that haven't been addressed in a long time. A motion was made and approved to donate stone.
The Derby party, May 2-4 will be a camping weekend at Reed Rd. Jack will get the burgers and buns which will be provided by the club. Polly will bring a TV. It will be a potluck. Guests are welcome.
Jack asked if there was any interest in sponsoring members to attend a first-aid class.
A trail cleanup in OO was discussed. It would need to be on a weekday evening, along roads and trails that we ride. Members were receptive. The path between the Rider Center and 64, which is MSF, is getting very overgrown. Jack will check with MSF about clearing.
A portable griddle has been purchased for a raffle to be drawn at Cowboy Christmas. Ideas to increase traffic were discussed.
Terry O. presented the sample polo shirts made by 3Cord. Gold and black were shown. Any color or style will be choices to order. The ones there were available for $25. This is not a money maker, we are selling for cost.
OHC will have a booth at Equine Affaire and volunteers are needed to staff it in 3 hr shifts. Contact state or stop in when you're there.
Our flower sale through Sadowski's is going on in April with forms due May 6 to Connie Bauer, pick-up May 8-9 or anytime thereafter at Sadowski's.

24 members attended at The Bunker Bar

Jack shared a Thank You card from Rodeo 419 for prizes donated to their fundraiser.
Events confirmed: Cowboy Christmas Tack Swap Dec 7, 2025 at TSA. Lisa would like to have a blackstone grill raffle.
                                 NW Region/state ride - Sept 19-21 at Van Buren. You must make your own reservation.
                                 General Membership meeting March 8 at Newark.
                                 Chapter breakfast at Delta 109 March 15, 9 am
Terry Obermyer offered to restart and coordinate our apparel arrangement with Three Cord.
A sign-up list for committee volunteers was circulated and a few spots were filled. We will continue to seek help with our many events and projects.  See the committee list on the Committees page under the About FCOHC tab.
Over 200 Tribute POPs collected were donated to HHYEC.

30 members attended at The Bunker Bar.

  The past year's events were discussed and it was decided to repeat them this year (see events page). In addition, we will have a Winter Blues Breakfast on Mar 15 at Delta 109. We also have the opportunity to group camp at Mohican Aug. 8-10 as Cheryl got us in through the lottery draw.
Large mugs with an FCOHC design were given to 15 individuals drawn from those who turned in trail and saddle hours. Winners were Ron Cowell, Michelle and Rod Miller, Connie Bauer, Caron and Daryl Maines, Myndi Dawes, Elizabeth Campbell, Christine Vance, Beth Haas, Marni and Scott Steele, Flo Hannum, Polly Alvarez, Donna Gray.
Lisa suggested a blackstone grill raffle for Cowboy Christmas this year.
Jack told us about a Jr Ambassador program presented at the January Winter State meeting. It is for youth members 17 and under and consists of logging activities and getting involved in their local chapter. There will be awards in each district and statewide. Kathy Brown has information which is also available on the state website.
There will be a meeting of the NW district on Feb 22, 10 a.m. at The Juniper Brewing Co. in BG.  This is a planning meeting for the Regional State Ride at Van Burn in September.  Note: location was changed to BWW in BG.

35 members and 1 guest attended at The Bunker Bar.