Box_Of_Frogs
Well-Known Member
This post is repeated on the new permanent OE website but I want to reach as many people as possible. It is now almost 3 weeks since the Operation Esther convoys happened. Many of the H&H Forum members who ALL pulled together to make this as successful as it was have been asking what (if anything) are we going to do next? A few people - mostly convoy co-ordinators at their local level - have been chewing ideas over and it is hoped that we could organise a jeans-and-jumpers conference in the spring so that EVERYONE who wanted to could come along and explore some options together. After all, it was the TOGETHER that made OE happen. However, I don't think we are organised enough yet to hold a conference - even a jeans and jumpers one! So we really need no more than a dozen people to form a pre-conference "make it happen" group. No fancy titles. No self glory. No pay. No pats on the back. Just lots of hard work by people dedicated to improving the lot of abused horses who honestly do have the time to give to this. This little group - I like to think of them as the GOPHERS - would pull some basic legal stuff together and talk with people like Lee Hackett of BHS to make sure we weren't in danger of duplicating what's out there already, or trying to do something that's been tried before etc etc etc. There is an issue that, after OE, there was a lot of back biting and bitching and doubting people's motives so I know some may be thinking "who does this woman think she is?" But please believe me, I just want to harness the energy and drive of OE and move it on to a more permanent role. But if we wait any longer we may lose the oomph altogether! I have a tentative list of names: Llwyncwn, Box of Frogs, EstherSupporter, October, VelcrobumOvidius, Coffeeaddict, Rachmeister. JMRT has indicated that she does not have the time but would be happy to be advised of how things progress and would act as a sort of external consultant if anything came up in her particular area of expertise. That's about 7. We could go ahead with that but ideally we need about 3 - 5 more. More than 12 would be ineffective. Less than about 10 means too much work for the individuals. The Gophers would meet (at Stoneleigh, with Lee Hackett) and get things moving for the spring conference, keeping everyone informed (via the forum) of progress. How does this sound? Need feedback please!!! Any offers for the last few Gophers? Lots and lots of hard work and time that you don't have and energy you have exhausted and of course you can never please all of the people all of the time! Please PM me if you would like to join the inaugural gophers but EVERYONE will then be invited to the conference to hare their ideas and have their say. Thanks for your time folks! x
