Fire at NVTRP Barn - Now We Rebuild... Updates

September 4th, 2007

The fall session begins today and will end on December 9th. Thank you to everyone who has helped make it possible for our riders to ride again.

August 7, 6:28 P.M.

Ok, we have set up the following workdays at our new locations and we need your help! A lot of works needs to be done to get the barns ready for the arrival of our horses.

We've named our new locations so everyone knows what is happening at which location as we go along. There is the Grand Canyon (don't worry, it's not really a canyon) and Sputnik (because it is our satellite location).

WORKDAYS

Tomorrow, Wednesday August 8, 8am-12pm

Friday August 10, 6pm-9pm

Saturday August 11, 8am-12noon

Saturday August 11, 4pm-7:30pm

Sunday August 12, 8am-12noon

Please RSVP to info@nvtrp.org or 703 764 0269 and you will recieve directions. Both locations are in the Clifton area. If you have tools you can bring, please let me know in your RSVP-- we are especially looking for post hole diggers, hedge trimmers, brooms, hammers, tampers, lawn mowers, weed wackers, but 'you name it', we probably need it. Please label your tools with your name so they do not get mixed up with someone elses.

All volunteers will need to fill out and bring volunteer paperwork. The three forms are available here. Volunteers for workdays must be at least 12 years old.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Kelsey Redfearn Gallagher

August 4, 11:24 P.M.

Good Evening All,

I hope that this update finds you well and coping with this heat wave!!

There is a lot to tell you. First, as always, I will begin with a heartfelt thank you to all of you who continue your extraordinary efforts to help rebuild NVTRP. The Saturday morning volunteers braved the heat and held a car wash. Their hard work raised over $600.00 today! And some of you managed our table at the 4H Fair today. We also have folks manning the table tomorrow too. This is all just Amazing!!

With this heat wave we are anxious to move our horses to a sheltered barn. Several of our Clifton friends have graciously offered the use of their unused barns on a temporary basis. The staff has selected two facilities that have rings as well so we will be able to resume lessons!!

Each of the rings need some work to get them in shape for lessons. Kelsey is organizing a few workdays. We'll need a lot of peoplepower to get ready so, if you are able to help, please do. Stay tuned to this space and our website for workday dates and times.

Once the sites are ready, we will move the horses and give them a chance to acclimate. Due to space constraints we will have to split the herd, so they may need some tlc to adjust.

Lessons will resume on September 4th, the start of the fall session. Bree will provide details in the next few days and you should receive registration materials by August 10. If you were riding during the summer session, your fall fees will be adjusted to account for the four missed lessons.

I am happy that we are able to resume lessons. We want our riders working with their equine instructors. It's what we do. I emphasize that our arrangements are temporary and we must continue to focus on our goal -- a home of our own.

Stay Cool!
Have a good night,
Rhonda

July 26th, 10:23 P.M.

All,

Hard to believe that the fire happened one week ago. Events have moved so fast and we are still racing to catch up. The best in all of this has been hearing from all of you!! How fantastic is our community?!

I have been doing a lot of writing this week (with more to come I'm sure). We are searching for grants and foundations that might help us find a permanent location and rebuild our home. Some of you have helped with this effort and I thank you so much. When I can, I like to include a sotry or NVTRP memory in my letter or email. They make me laugh and cry all at the same time. For those Saturday morning volunteers out there -- think of Jake-- the pure joy he has every week laying on his tummy, what a fantastic back stretch. And, then there is Erin, who I credit with charming me into the program! Please share with me some of your favorite NVTRP stories (info@nvtrp.org).

This will be my last update for a while. Rather than daily notices, I will keep you informed as events unfold. Please do come to Our Community Meeting on Sunday. We all want to see you!!

Community Meeting: Sunday, July 29th, 7:00PM at the Clifton Town Hall. The address is 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton, Virginia.

Until Sunday, take care,
Rhonda

July 25th, 2:19 P.M.

To Our NVTRP Community,

Thank you for all your generous offers to help. Your update today is how you can start helping. The energy and enthusiasm of everyone is fantastic! Below are various ways that you can help -- some are volunteering opportunities and others are ways you can help us raise money to get NVTRP back up on its feet as soon as possible.

Grassroots Fundraising Activities

If you would like to do fundraising activities on behalf of NVTRP, we would love your help. You just need to register your activity with us by contacting Kelsey Redfearn Gallagher at info@nvtrp.org or 703-764-0269 and we will set you up with a marketing kit and donation envelopes. Everyone asking for money on behalf of NVTRP will need NVTRP branded donation envelopes so that we can acknowledge our donors and keep track of all our great neighbors asking for assistance.

Suggestions of activities:

  • Special collection at your church
  • Bake Sale
  • Car Wash
  • Donation Jar at your barn, vet's office, etc.
  • Yard Sale
  • Join our silent auction group to solicit items for our Ride to Thrive Polo Match on September 22nd

Corporate Donations & Grants

  • Ask your company to make a donation. Please check with Kelsey and she will help coordinate you with others who may work at the same company.
  • If you have experience with grant writing and can help in that capacity, please let us know.

Heartfelt thanks to AOL for donating $5,000 today!

Property Search

Write a letter to the Supervisor for the Clifton Area, Elaine McConnell and Gerry Connolly, Board of Supervisors Chairman and ask for their help in identifying 12-15 acres of land suitable for NVTRP.

Elaine McConnell
6140 Rolling Road
Springfield , VA 22151

Gerry Connolly
12000 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax , Va 22035

If YOU know of potential opportunities where a parcel of land might be available within the area of our program, please email us at info@nvtrp.org.

Volunteering Opportunities

These are some of our volunteer opportunities. Right now we have to limit the number of people out on the property at each given time, so the first to respond will be put on the list. Don't worry, there will be lots more opportunities in the near future -- we will have lots to do!

RSVP to Kelsey at info@nvtrp.org or 703-764-0269.

Wednesday, 7/25, 6pm - Help muck the fields and move hay. If you have a truck, wheel barrow, pitch fork and/or shovel to bring -- all would be helpful. Ten people needed.

Thursday, 7/25, 6pm - Help move our shed and its contents from ring area out to one of the fields. Trucks are helpful. Ten people needed.

Friday, 7/27, 6pm - Grooming Teams. Come help groom our hero horses and give them some TLC. Five people needed.

Saturday, 7/28 & Sunday 7/29 - Volunteer at NVTRP Table at Dover Saddlery Sale this weekend. Will be divided into shifts between 8:30 and 5:30pm.

Saturday, 7/28, 6pm - Grooming Teams. Come help groom our hero horses and give them some TLC. Five people needed.

Sunday, 7/29, 6pm - Help set up for our Community Meeting at the Clifton Town Hall . Six people needed.

***For all volunteer activities please bring completed volunteer paperwork -- 3 forms available on our website www.nvtrp.org***

Donating

The most helpful donation right now is money. Donations can be made online or mailed to:

NVTRP
PO Box 184
Clifton , VA

We are have a registry of items needed at:

Clifton Saddlery
Home Depot

Used tack- used tack in good condition can be dropped off at the Manassas Southern States, 9751 Center St. Manassas , Va. and they will deliver it all to us when we have a place to put it!

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Kelsey, Breeana, and Maryrose
NVTRP Staff
info@nvtrp.org

July 24th, 10:49 P.M.

Good Evening,

PLEASE COME TO OUR NVTRP COMMUNITY MEETING THIS SUNDAY, JULY 29TH, 7:00PM AT THE CLIFTON TOWN HALL!!!! THE ADDRESS IS 12641 CHAPEL ROAD, CLIFTON, VIRGINIA. We want to see all of you -- riders, volunteers, all of our supporters, and folks from the community -- to share hugs, say thanks and talk about the next steps for our program!!!

And, I am so proud of Michael and Erin!! We asked them to come out and ride to help us tell the story about the importance of our program. I am sending you the link so that you can see Michael if you missed the news.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/13734988/detail.html

Best Always,
Rhonda

July 23rd, 10:19 P.M.

Good Evening Everyone,

It's late. The Board meeting has just ended. In the midst of discussing our next move, we shared many of the stories that all of your wonderful efforts have given us. We are working very hard. Please check here tomorrow. We will share details of our Community Meeting (which is tentatively scheduled for Sunday evening) where we will share our plans for moving forward and try to answer all of your questions. It will also be a time for sharing hugs and tears (and also a few laughs).

Take good care,
Rhonda

July 22nd, 10:02 P.M.

To Our Heroes,

I end a weekend of hard work, lots of tears and lots of hugs with a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who have given us so much love and support over the last few days. You have been tremendous!!

Where do I begin. First, I have to assure Erin that Peaches is doing just fine! I heard that Erin saw Peaches leaving the barn the other night and she thought Peaches was leaving the program. She cried. Peaches will ALWAYS be with us. She is being treated like a queen by Maureen McIntyre, who graciously agreed to take care of her until NVTRP starts operating again. I saw Peaches last night and she is just great!

Clifton Saddlery, I'm lost for words. Wow -- we have already received so many supplies and equipment. Thank you for organizing this effort and sponsoring NVTRP at your sale this weekend!!! And, to all of you who have given through Clifton Saddlery -- you are fantastic!!

Did I ever tell you that we have the best veterinarians on the planet? Well, we do. Haymarket Vets have taken such good care of all of our horses. They responded immediately on Thursday night and have been out to check on our horses each day since the fire!!

Let's all remember our Fairfax County firefighters who worked so hard to put out the fire and save our horses!! They have also been out each day to check on the smoldering debris. I have a request to our riders. Please do me a favor and send a special letter of thanks or a picture of you riding one of our horses to John Caussin, Assistant Chief, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 4100 Chain Bridge Rd. Fairfax, VA 22030 and thank our firefighters for saving our horses. I know that they would appreciate hearing from you.

And, we already have so many special stories of folks in our community who are making special sacrifices to help NVTRP -- like Sean, who called to say he is going to contribute his graduation money to NVTRP and the group of kids, who when they saw a sign about what happened, decorated an old helmet box for donations. The kids pulled their spare change (and hit up some adults) and have put a total of $8.00 in the box for starters.

Finally we have received bunches of emails like this one from Laura, one of our volunteers:

"My heart is broken. Coming to the barn every weekend gives me so much joy and personal strength. This morning I cried at my desk, then I took a walk and there it was, right there on the DC sidewalk I saw it… a shiny lucky penny, and I knew everything will be alright and I will be there every step of the way to help in anyway you need me.

So as they say,

walk on, "

There is a long road ahead and we still need lots of help, your strength and prayers.

Have a good night,

Rhonda

July 21st, 4:38 P.M.

All,

Wow, the gererosity of our community is just astounding. The phones have not stopped ringing and the emails continue to pour in with offers of support. You are fantastic!

So many of you have asked what to contribute or how to get your friends and neighbors involved. At this point, the best contribution is a monetary donation. I know you want to buy supplies for our miracle horses, however storage is a key issue for us right now. And, allowing Bree, Kelsey and Maryrose an opportunity to purchase tack and supplies with your contributions will reduce the chance of too much duplication.

We continue to evaluate avenues that allow us to continue riding as soon as possible. We will keep you posted of our progress.

Have a great afternoon,
Rhonda
Chair, Board of Governors

July 20th, 11:32 P.M.

Good Evening All,

Sorry for the late email. We are still working at the office. The outpouring of support has been tremendous!! With all this wonderful energy, I know the program will not only survive, but rebound stronger than ever. Today was devoted to clean up and organization. Kelsey organized a group of volunteers (thank you all so much) to bathe the horses and just provide TLC.

We will stay in touch as plans and details unfold. Please see our press release. Our staff and volunteers were also interviewed for Fox Channel 5 (aired on the 10pm news). You can view the story at:

http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=3838188&version=1&locale=EN-US

Rhonda
Chair, Board of Governors

July 20th, 1:52 A.M.

Dear NVTRP Community,

Last night NVTRP was challenged with the unexpected: a barn fire. Fortunately, our staff, volunteers and horses are all fine. No injuries occurred. The barn, all of our tack and supplies are a total loss.

Bree, Kelsey and Maryrose are doing an outstanding job. Their response to this crisis is commendable, insuring that the horses are safe and secure.

We now begin the process of assessing the damage, restructuring our operations and moving forward. Lessons are suspended at this time. I will send an email daily to inform you of developments and let you know our progress.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers! We will need your help to get through all of this. And, we will; NVTRP will continue.

Take care,

Rhonda
Chair, Board of Governors