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2003 New Jersey Convention Winners: Knife Throwing 1st Place Damon
Wilson, 2nd Place and 3rd Place Andrew L. B. and Draper; Tomahawks
1st Place Joe Darrah; 2nd Place Doug Corey; Best Dressed - Pandora
Steele; New Whip Performer - Kevin Ramsey; Favorite Newcomer -
Michaele; Assist & Help Instuctor - Mark the Whip; Helping Teach -
Nick Panzella
In the 16 years the WWAC has been around we have seen steady
growth. The Regional get-togethers are taking off. NJ has always
been a popular event at Wild West City. With the help of Helen
Panzella, Thomy Hawk and Larry Zwickel the event has grown to 40 to
60 people. The Texas event, under the guidance of Mark and Carole
Mulligan for the past 4 years, has seen as many as 70 people. The
Lee Brothers have been hosting in Wisconsin for almost 10 years now
and have had a very successful group attracting many new members.
Gery Deer’s new Ohio event started off great and is now going into
its second year. Lorenzo Veal is now launching the Mid West get
together drawing people from Detroit to Chicago. We should see great
things happening there! Gordie Peer and Helen Panzella have taken
over in Florida since Louise Mefford passed away and Gordie’s ranch
is filled with WWAC Club members each year.
The National convention in Las Vegas is going strong. Last year we
saw Andy Rotz make history with 11,123 Texas Skips. Each year people
come form all over the world for this event, which averages 175 to
200 people each year.
Publishing: The WWAC publishes four books now. Cowboy Fun,
The Complete Book of Trick andFancy Riding, How To Trick Rope by
Clare Johnson, and the new Charro trick roping book.
Guinness Records: We now have three: Kalvin Cook - Biggest
Loop, Kimberly Minks - Big Loop (Women’s), Andy Rotz - Texas Skips.
Membership: We have about 500 members who pay dues. This is
good but is not enough to keep the WWAC alive. Over the 16 years we
have had about 2,000 people pass through the WWAC. Many join to
learn a few things and then move on. Some have moved, died or were
paroled. There is a very active enthusiastic core group that loves
this club. For a special interest sport to have 500 active people is
a great sign. The WWAC is a profit corporation in the state of
Nevada. Two years ago we set up a non-profit 501 c3 with the
National Heritage Foundation. This allows our members to make a
donation to the WWAC and get a tax deduction. This is not a part of
your annual dues. Only checks written to the NHF/WWAC go to the
benefit of the club.
Future: It’s getting harder and harder to find a Hotel in Las
Vegas to hold the WWAC convention. For the use of a room the size we
need, most hotels charge $5,000 to $10,000 per day. The Tropicana
has been very helpful to us. For the last two years they’ve asked
only $1,200 per day. Next year, though, they want $2,500 per day –
obviously, that’s twice the cost of last year, but it’s still below
market and a nice gesture on their part. For the past few years the
National Convention lost money. Now with the cost going up we have
to come up with some creative ideas. Sponsors, donations, grant all
have been talked about.
1. Sponsors: If you know a company that would like to be a
sponsor let us know. But it’s not just corporations, there can also
be individual sponsors and family sponsors. You can remain anonymous
or we can have a sponsor page in the Ropelines Newsletter. The
categories are: Platinum sponsor - $200. or above; Gold sponsor -
$100 to $199. Silver -$50. To $99. Remember, if you need a tax
deduction make the check out to NHF/WWAC.
2. Donations: If you want to support us, you can send a check
or use a credit card or donate something to the Auction at the
awards banquet.
3. Grants: Now that we have the Non-Profit, if you know of
any foundation or organization that gives historical or educational
grants, let us know.
To maintain the newsletters and support for regional and the
National convention for our next 16 years will be a challenge. The
WWAC has helped western enthusiasts learn skills, it has nurtured
wannabes into skilled performers and it has gotten many of those
performers lots of jobs. We believe our organization performs a
vital function in keeping the traditions of the Western Arena Arts
alive. The values embodied in our culture are a precious resource
that we cherish. If you’re reading this, you probably feel the same
way and we salute you for your participation and hope you can
contribute to our future growth.
WWAC HISTORY: Of course, all the Arena Arts started as practical
skills. Use of the rope goes back into the mists of time but it was
brought over to the New World by the Spaniards and worked its way up
into the States. At the nearest playground you’ll see how the basic
ranching skills began to develop into elaborate performances.
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Trick roper Doug Smith performs
at the Ohio 2003 Convention
Memorial Day weekend 2001 WWAC
members donated their time and
talents for a show at an assisted
care home in Las Vegas.
Center, Virginia Herrick, star of
numerous “B” Westerns. She
appeared with many of the
legends such as Gene Autry.
Left, Scott Shepherd (as the
Lone Ranger), and on the right
Mark Allen as Mark Allen |
About
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