Howdy ya'll,

Convention is just around the corner. Can you feel the excitement and anticipation? I definitely can! If anyone has free time to help use coordinate events, give input and ideas on ways to do things, we are all for it. I know Bill Tedder would like some more help. Convention is October 19-22 and most of us will be staying at the hotel and working. So mark you calendars and come help! What a great way to meet other Smokys or in other words, your brothers and sisters.

SMRA is chugging right along. Our Committee Chairs are learning the ropes and taking charge. Thank you Committee Chairs for taking initiative and getting the work done. Let's keep working smarter, not harder! Remember, SMRA is only as big and strong as it's members. If members stop helping, we loose SMRA and what it stands for which may differ to some but basically it's an outlet for rodeo guys and gals to enjoy their sport and to help those less fortunate on a local and international bases. Let's keep thing fresh and new and always upbeat!

Let's now forget why we are here. There are children terminally ill children and if SMRA can help take the pain away for just one afternoon with horse therapy like Angel Heart Farms offers, then we've left our mark. If SMRA can help fund a wish to an ill child that otherwise would never get a chance to see Disney World or meet a country music artist, then we've left our mark. If SMRA is able to help fund education in the gay community that HIV/AIDS is still as strong as ever and just as deadly and that even though there are drugs to extend life with those infected what kind of life is it. If SMRA can help stop one person from contracting this terrible disease then WE'VE left our mark.

Smokys, let's leave our mark and dedicate our hard work to those marks that were never made! And this is never more important than now with the loss of our dear friend George McIntyre. He was a good friend and a funny, talented Miss SMRA 2004. I will miss her tardiness, unpredictable nature, good heart, smile, never-give-up attitude. Let's leave our mark for George!

Your Bud,

Justin James, President

Plans for a great IGRA Convention are shaping up. The Hotel Preston is pretty much ours for the weekend so be sure to book a room under the IGRA Convention Block if you want to be in the middle of it all. We just confirmed performances by Steff Mahan and Comedian Donna Carter, as well as, the four bars for our Music City Pub Crawl: Blu, Chute, Tribe and Play. Tickets will be going on sale soon for the nightly events so please talk it up amongst your friends.

Volunteer opportunities are abundant. If you have not already done so, please contact Terry S. and sign up. We need each and every one of you to help make this event successful!

I look forward to seeing you all at our next Convention Committee meeting on Tuesday 8/15, 6pm at the Chute. Feel free to drop in to any of the sub-committee meetings before then.

Thanks, Bill Tedder, 2006 IGRA Convention Chair (treasurer@smra.net )

Another great competition for Mr. Bud Light happened at Play on July 14th. “Thank You!” to our judges, Sandy, Kerri and Vince, who did a great job and gave some great feedback to both contestants. Our special guest performer from Play was none other than Austria Andrews herself. Ms. Andrews did a wonderful job for us and “Thank You Thank You Thank You Austria!”

Our two contestants competed fiercely for the coveted title of Mr. Bud Light – Play 2007. The competition was close and very entertaining. The 1st runner up was Yhon from Atlanta GA. He and a few of his teammates had stopped in Nashville on their way to the Chicago soccer games. Yhon entered the competition with the support of his friends after they found out it was an SMRA fundraiser for our charities. What a great group of guys and SMRA thanks each and every one of them for their support and we wish them well for the games. Chris, contestant number 1, was awarded the title of Mr. Bud Light Play. Chris did a great Bud Light promotion to the tune of “Sin Wagon” and, for his Clydesdale, choreographed a routine and danced the night away. Great job Chris!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 24th, when MR. BUD LIGHT NASHVILLE 2007 will be selected at Play. The comptetition will begin at 9:00 p.m. and should prove to be exciting! Tell your friends!

SMRA will be holding one more Yard Sale/Car Wash event this summer. It will be on Saturday, August 19th, at Lipstick Lounge and will begin as a yard sale (from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.) and then become a car wash (from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.).

Please set aside items to donate to the Yard Sale and gather buckets, sponges, towels, etc. for the Car Washe. These Saturday are great fundraisers and a lot of fun, too!

On Wednesday, August 23, 2006, Donna Carter will be performing at Zanies at 8:00 p.m. Donna was a big hit at SMRA's Winter Round Up last January and she's coming back to Nashville! Visit Donna's Website to learn more about her special brand of comedy!

Click HERE to learn more about Donna's appearance at Zanies.

Plan to join the SMRA gang for a night of rowdy fun!

Please mark your calendars and join us at the Chute Complex beginning at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 27, 2006 for SMRA's second "Gay Ol' Opry" night! All proceeds will benefit Smoky Mountain Rodeo Association and its charities. Scheduled performers include Justin James, Angelica Devil, Terry Sweeney, Bianca Page, Jason Haywood, Mr. Bud Light Chute J.C., Kitty Kincaid, and more. Mark your calendars and plan to attend this fun night!

As close to the Grand Old Opry as we can get without being there!

Howdy y'all! It's an honor to be selected as cowboy of the month. Here's a little about me and my cowboy experience: The area of California I lived in was semi-rural when I was younger and had a large equestrian community so I had an early exposure to horses and a country way of life. My mom was from Middle Tennessee so you can be sure I knew country music too. All of this combined to form a love of and respect for the cowboy/country lifestyle. I was always fascinated by how a small man could possibly stay on a 1500 pound bucking horse or a one ton angry bull. I got involved with the California gay rodeo group several years before retiring and making Tennessee my home. I believe participating in gay rodeo is a great way to meet quality people, have a lot of fun, and support important charitable works. Within SMRA, I am the By-Laws Chair and just generally hang out with the boys and girls. I live on a small farm out in Dickson (TN) and I really enjoy being close to the land. I'm a practicing martial artist so you can always feel safe around me, and I speak five languages too, so come on up and say Salut, Ciao, Hola, or heck, just say Howdy!

Saddle up and join the Human Rights Campaign as they host the third annual Wild West Showdown: A Shindig for Equality on Friday, October 22nd at the Two Rivers Mansion.

This event is designed to not only raise money for HRC but to also provide awareness and promote participation in the fight for equal rights."

Our very own SMRA Dance Team has been invited to perform! Their performance will give you a little taste of what to expect when Nashville is placed in the nation's eye during the IGRA Convention in October. So get your cowboy boots and hat and come support our dancers during this event!

The 2006 AIDS Walk will be held Saturday, September 30th. The Walk will be approximately 2.8 miles long and will take the average person about 45 minutes to complete. Water will be made available free to all registered walkers; other drinks and food will also be available for purchase. This is a family affair - so kids and pets are very welcome! (Just be sure to pick up any surprises your pet leaves behind!) Be sure to stay after the Walk for a brief Awards Ceremony and to cheer your fellow walkers on!

SMRA has it's own webpage to organize walkers and donors. Follow this link to participate!

To learn more about Nashville CARES and the 2006 Aids Walk, click HERE to visit their website.

Please remember to save some time to help out during Convention. The dates are October 19- 22, 2006 and EVERYONE'S HELP is necessary to make this event a success!

Additionally, if you know of any groups or organizations that might be willing to volunteer, please send and email to correspond@smra.net and let us know who needs to be contacted.

More details will be provided as the convention date draws near but, for now, please save these dates!

Any active individual member on good standing for a minimum of three (3) months prior to Elections may be nominated for an office.

If you would like a copy of SMRA's current Bylaws and Guidelines, send an email to membership@smra.net.

The ultimate event of the rodeo, Bull Riding is an advanced version of Steer Riding, but with a one-half ton more beef to contend with and the added danger that many bulls turn back on the rider and attempt to get even for having their routine disrupted. Guaranteed, once you are on the bull and the gate opens, few riders ever leave this event without being slammed to the ground and scurrying for cover, as the Bull Fighter moves in to save the cowboy or cowgirl.

Smoky Mountain Rodeo Association mourns the passing of a beloved member, George McIntyre. George, aka Yvette DuPree (Miss SMRA 2004), will be missed by many and remembered by all.