Dearest Members,
Spring is a time for new growth. ISSO is experiencing some new growth of its own!! Our 2022 Annual Meeting was held on March 19th via Zoom and was well attended. We were so lucky to have had wonderfully talented speakers to educate us on various side saddle related subjects. Some exciting announcements were made during the board meeting starting with changes to our Board of Directors. Jacquelynn Holly was elected as our Secretary for the next 3 years and Barbara Drogo has agreed to fill a Board position as well. Tammie Conway, our former secretary, is now the exclusive editor of Aside World! She has worked diligently over the years and I don’t know how she makes each edition better than the last! ISSO is very fortunate to be able to draw from this pool of smart, beautiful, and talented women.
ISSO now has a new Logo! Congratulations to Rebecca Crispin for entering her beautiful winning design into our first Logo Contest. It was a very difficult decision for the board to narrow the field of entries down to only 4 for the membership to vote on. The designs were very creative and impressive. Thank you to those that voted and well done to all that entered!
With renewed energy, ISSO also decided to award 2 scholarships this year. Congratulations to Savannah Grace Holly and Erin Stormont! We look forward to your accomplishments in 2022 and hope that we may provide support in your endeavors. Bravo!
I’m elated for all of the fun activities coming to you this May, such as Ride Aside Talk with ISSO Instructor Stacey Rusic of Australia on Friday, May 20th at 7 pm. This is a free Zoom event for our members! Stacey will lead a discussion on Preparing for a Clinic: Including Do’s and Don’ts. Stay tuned for more information on this educational experience! Mid-May Laureen Bartfield, Heidi Opdyke, Tammie Conway and I are headed to Idaho for a clinic hosted by Idaho Sidesaddle Association. ISSO has partnered with this ISA event as Laureen and Heidi are the featured clinicians. This four day adventure includes a trail ride along the Boise River, a private tea party at Château des Fleurs, two days of clinic, finished off with the enchanting Escaramuza ladies’ drill performances. I am so excited to finally meet our West Coast SS friends and ISA’s Board of Directors while visiting the beautiful state of Idaho. What’s better than being fully immersed in all things side saddle with friends? My bags are packed, Idaho here I come!
As for the rest of the year, ISSO is planning ahead for some sideways fun for all to enjoy. We look forward to serving our membership and hope we can help keep this beautiful style of riding blooming!
Kick on my friends,
Pie Truono
Photo Above of Jacquelynn Holly- new Secretary
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Photo Above of Barbara Drogo - New Board Member.
Photo to Left is of the New ISSO Logo voted on by membership designed by Rebecca Crispin
Photo Below of Savannah Grace Holly -- one of the 2022 ISSO scholarship recipients
