11/20/2002 E-newsletter sponsored by

Change Our Address
Just a reminder to everyone that the new address for the NCHA is:
260 Bailey Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Please make sure and change the information in all of your address books, etc, so that your mail will get through in a timely manner.

NCHA's telephone numbers, extensions and fax numbers remain the same in the new office, as well as staff e-mail addresses.

Members Open House
An open house for NCHA members will be held during the 2002 Chevy Trucks / NCHA World Championship Futurity on December 13 from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm. Please stop by on December 13 for hors d'oeuvres or any weekday that you're in the area.

Director Consent Forms
Anyone who would like to give consent for their name to be included for Director Elections must sign and return their consent form to the NCHA office by December 15, 2002. All members who meet the requirements for Directors, and who give their permission to be named on the ballot, will be included on the election ballot sent to NCHA members in Districts having elections this year.

A director consent form and listing of those director districts with openings for the 2003 election can be found on page 225 of the November Chatter. This information will also appear in the December issue.

Plan Your Futurity Trip - or Keep Up
With the NCHA Futurity just days away, cutting enthusiasts can keep up with all of the latest developments at a glance with the on-line Futurity schedule. Working orders are now posted for all classes.

Record Futurity Entries A Cause for Celebration
Purse will be $2,777,597 with 1,464 horses in five divisions

The entries have been counted and recounted for the 2002 Chevy Trucks/ National Cutting Horse Association World Championship Futurity. The NCHA and the City of Fort Worth will host the largest event in the organization's history at its 41^st annual Futurity November 27^th through December 15^th.

In sum, the 1,464 entries paid up for the 2002 Chevy Trucks / NCHA World Championship Futurity speak to the important role the Western lifestyle plays in the lives of NCHA members. Cutting is more than a hobby - it is a business and a way of life.

"We are extremely excited about the number of entries for this year's Futurity. This is a significant indicator of the strength and popularity of the cutting horse industry throughout the country," said NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper. [Press Release ]

Futurity Frenzy
It's Futurity time again! This year's Futurity has several new additions to the lineup that will make it even bigger and better than ever. [Press Release ]

Chevy Trucks will have a large presence at this year's premier event for limited age cutting horses. For one, Chevy Trucks is the title sponsor of the 2002 World Championship Futurity. The added money for the event is $345,000 with an estimated total purse of $2,777,597.

There will be a host of social events during the Futurity, including:
Thanksgiving Day
Yes, we will be cutting at the NCHA Futurity on Thanksgiving Day. NCHA will provide a Thanksgiving meal in the Backstage Club above the main arena from 11:30 am to 2 pm. Come join in and celebrate the holiday with the cutting family.

Kick-Off Concert
Something new and exciting for the 2002 Chevy Trucks / NCHA Futurity is a Kick-Off Concert that will take place on Saturday, November 30. Flowmaster Muffler company is proud to present a night with Mark Wills to kick off the Chevy Trucks / NCHA Futurity.

The concert will be held in the Watt Arena. This is a free event, but you must have a ticket to get in. Go by the NCHA booth during the day on the 30^th to get your ticket to attend this special celebration.

Hall of Fame & Awards Party
Saturday, December 7 at 6 pm in the Round Up Inn. The Hall of Fame & Awards Party will recognize the Hall of Fame members and the 2002 Zane Schulte Award winner will be announced. Everyone invited, dinner provided, cash bar.

Life Member Party
Thursday, December 12 at 6 pm in the Three Bar Saloon inside the Exhibit Hall. All life members are invited, and encouraged to attend. Please RSVP to Julie Davis or Peggy Cox in the Membership Department.

Champions Party
Come and party with the stars at the conclusion of NCHA Futurity Open Finals on Sunday, December 15. The lineup includes the awards presentation, music by Tommy Alverson (Una Mas Cerveza and many, many, more), dancing, hors d'oeuvres, and a cash bar. Tickets will be available at the door.

Goodnight Gala
Former NCHA Executive Director Zack T Wood Jr. will be honored at the Charles Goodnight on Gala Monday, December 2, Renaissance Worthington Hotel, with entertainment by Martina McBride. Please contact Kathy Shaughnessy at 817-465-2089.

Santa Claus
Forget the mall ... see Santa Claus at the exhibit hall during the NCHA Futurity! Santa Claus will be dressed in his cowboy finest and ready to have his picture taken with your family on December 7^th, 8^th, 14^th and 15^th from 10 am to 8 pm. Don't forget your wish list!

Celebrity Cutting to Benefit Cancer Care and NCHA Charities
Join your friends at the 2002 Celebrity Cutting on December 6^th for a star-studded evening of great cutting, live country & western music, an auction and lots of fun presented by Americredit.

The 8^th Annual Celebrity Cutting will be held the evening of December 6^th during the 2002 Chevy Trucks / NCHA Futurity at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. The Celebrity Cutting is a one of a kind, one night only opportunity to watch some of the nation's best celebrity cutters while supporting two great causes - Cancer Care and NCHA Charities.

Guests will include Kix Brooks, Lynn Anderson, Clay Walker, Sam Shepard and many more. Plan to join us for a live "Celebrity Concert" at the Celebrity Shindig afterwards, too.  For more info and ticket orders visit www.celebritycutting.org

Sore Muscles and Joints?  You need Dromeo for those aches and pains. Deep penetrating, topical analgesic gets to where you need it fast. Proceeds benefit NCHA Charities.

Chevy Truck to be given away at Futurity
Everyone (18 or older) who purchased a 2002 NCHA membership has been automatically entered in a drawing to win a new Chevy Duramax Diesel crew-cab truck. In addition, each time an NCHA member won a check in an NCHA-approved event during the 2002 point year, he or she was entered again in the drawing.

From this group, a final pool of 100 names will be randomly drawn at 10 a.m. on November 27. These names will be published on the grounds of the NCHA Futurity and posted on the NCHA website.

Each afternoon, five names will be randomly drawn to be eliminated from the final pool until only five names are remaining on December 15, the day of the NCHA Futurity Open Finals. Those five people need to be present at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum, or arrange for a representative to be present for the give-away that evening. The five finalists will each receive a key fob, and the one with the key that unlocks the truck will get to take it home.

NCHA Futurity will be Featured on Cowboy TV pay-per-view on DISH Network
Cutting horse fans all over the country can watch the 2002 NCHA Futurity live from their own homes

Even if you can_t make it to Fort Worth, Texas for the NCHA Futurity, you can see all of the action live from your own home. The NCHA and Cowboy TV will air live coverage of the Chevy Trucks/NCHA World Championship Futurity Open Finals on December 15 at 8 pm EST from Fort Worth. Viewers will be able to see for themselves the intelligence, beauty, skill and incredible athleticism of the 25 horses that earned the right to compete in the Open Finals. The telecast will show highlights from the Non-Pro and Amateur cutting finals earlier in the week. Go to Dish Network channel #456 to order.

Futurity Sale Sessions Set
Western Bloodstock has listed horses consigned to their Futurity Sales by sale session as aservice to prospective buyers.

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce & North Texas Champions Club Stallion Service Benefit Auction
You are invited to attend the Stallion Service Benefit Auction Sunday, December 15 beginning at 9:30 am in the John Justin Arena. Western Bloodstock and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to offer 2003 breedings to some of cutting's best stock.  These breedings have been donated by their respective stallion owners and will sell to the highest bidder with all proceeds benefiting the North Texas Cutting Champions Club, a non-profit extension of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, with the sole purpose of ensuring that the National Cutting Horse Association's "Triple Crown of Cutting" remains in Fort Worth.  Stallion breedings will sell in alphabetical order.  Buyer will be responsible for the chute fee and all normal and customary mare care and veterinary expenses.  Please join us for this important event.

Breedings to Top Stallions Support Youth
Breedings to leading stallions Dualin Jewels, Smart Little Jerry, Playful Scotty, Lectric Playboy, Oh Cay Quixote, Like A Diamond and Dual Peppy have been donated to NYCHA's Stallion Service Program .

This program benefits National Youth Cutting Horse Association activities, while giving stallions greater exposure on the web and in the Cutting Horse Chatter.

Owners may donate one breeding per year per stallion to the program. Those breedings are then sold in a competitive sealed-bid process. All proceeds go towards NYCHA scholarships, awards, activities and postage for the newsletter.

To participate in the program, fill out the 2003 contract and return it to the NCHA office with a copy of the stallion's papers. If your stallion will be standing at a breeding facility, please be sure you notify them of your donation.

As soon as we receive the signed contract we will post your stallion's information on the NCHA website and in the Chatter. Sealed bids on available breedings will be due to the NCHA office by noon on Thursday, February 6, 2003.

Brumbaugh's for Youth
Brumbaugh's Leather Gallery will donate a portion of their sales between November 15 and December 15 to NYCHA. Stop by the store in West Fort Worth (817.244.9377) or at their booth in the Coors Light Cowboy Christmas Extravaganza during the NCHA Futurity to help the National Youth Cutting Horse Association. During this time, one percent of all sales will be donated to NYCHA. The holiday season is a great time to buy that leather couch or southwestern rug you've always wanted. Brumbaugh's Leather Gallery is a proud sponsor of the National Cutting Horse Association.

Renew On-line
With on-line processing , it's easier than ever to renew your NCHA membership for 2003.

And for a limited time there are extra incentives to renew your membership now:

* Sign up for a three-year membership (2003-2005) by March 1 and you will be entered in a drawing for a Sam's Club Gift Certificate, valued at $1,000.

Because of the already low rate for NYCHA members, youth memberships are not eligible for these special incentives.

Attention Amateurs
Just a reminder that 2003 Amateur cards are held at the NCHA office until after the point year has closed. If you have renewed for 2003 and have not received your new card, don't panic, it will be mailed in late December.

Advertising Opportunities
The advertising deadline for the January issue of the Cutting Horse Chatter is December 1. Call Shawn McCoy at (817) 244-6188 or (817) 980-4754 for more information.

Ranch Tours
The Weatherford, Texas, Chamber of Commerce will host the Tour of Champions December 3 and 4, 2002. You will visit state-of-the-art veterinary facilities, ranches and see some of the most successful Cutting Sires in the World. While traveling in a luxury touring bus you will have a chance to shop at many of Weatherford's charming shops. Cost of the day tour is $25 per person. Buses will depart at 9:00 am from Will Rogers Memorial Center and return at approximately 4:00 pm. Lunch is included. For more information contact the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce at (817) 594-3801 or stop by Calvin Allen's booth in the exhibit hall.

Houston Hotel Arrangements
If you're planning to attend the Houston Livestock Show cutting competition or the 2002 John Deere/NCHA World Championship Finals in Houston in February, you ought to start making your hotel arrangements now!

The following hotels have room blocks for the NCHA:

Holiday Inn Astrodome
8111 Kirby Drive
Houston, TX 77054
713-790-1900

Radisson Hotel Astrodome Convention Center
8686 Kirby Drive
Houston, TX 77054
800-552-0942