AERC members should try to stay connected to what is happening within AERC. In order to stay up on things within the organization check the website (www.aerc.org) regularly and read your Endurance News -- it is chock-full of educational material that our editor and committee members have worked on diligently in order to keep us well informed.

Ride calendar. Regularly check the ride calendar as ride managers are sanctioning daily and the ride schedule is being updated as they do so. Ride results. Always check the ride results when they are printed, making sure all information is correct. If you find a mistake, call the ride manager so that he or she can call and make the corrections.

Equine ID numbers. Make sure your horses all have their AERC equine ID numbers so their ride mileage and points will be applied to their credit without delay. If your horse does not have an AERC number, you should call the AERC office and get one assigned, for a $15 fee.

Board issues. Stay up to date and become well-informed on issues that your board members are discussing by reading the minutes from the previous meeting. (Minutes are printed in EN and also appear online.) If you don’t understand something that is being discussed, or if you have comments to add, call or write your directors. The board is here to serve and your board representatives want to know your thoughts when we make our decisions.

Volunteer. AERC has a lot of talent within our membership. If you have time and talent AERC could sure use your help. Take a look at the committees -- if there is one that you feel you could be of service to, give the chair of the committee, the AERC office or me a call alerting us that you are able and available.

We have some great volunteers but are always looking for more who are willing to give of their time and effort in order to take some of the work load off others. It takes a lot of volunteers to keep this organization running smoothly, from ride help volunteers to volunteering of your professional services. We can use you all.

Assist new members. Seasoned endur­ance riders can be of great service to new riders and members of AERC. Looking after and helping new riders at the events and mentoring, educating and making them feel welcome can bring in more AERC members as well as possibly lifetime friends. There is always something that each of us can do to make a ride more pleasurable to the new rider as well as to the ride manager.

Think gratitude. I am always grateful to all the people who help make our organization and the individual rides run smoother. I am also grateful to the riders whom we can depend on to show up ride after ride, supporting our rides and organization as well as the riders who can only afford the time or funding to ride a couple of events a year.

I am probably most appreciative of the volunteers who come out and help in so many of the events who do not even ride endurance at all but give of their time and energy so that we can ride and have a great time.

Whether you are working or riding I hope to see you all at a ride soon.

AERC members get Endurance News delivered each month!

New members: join online by clicking here or phone the office toll-free, 866-271-2372.

Renewing? Click here, or give the office staff a call at 866-271-2372.

How far will you ride this year? Join AERC and we'll help you count the miles!