Miss Mae passed away on Monday, October 5, around 11 a.m. We believe she died from a stroke while in Wichita visiting a friend.
Miss Mae was involved with the Missouri Gay Rodeo Association since it's inception in 1986 and served on the board as Treasurer since MGRA's beginning. She was also a prominent member of the MGRA Royalty program and was on the IGRA Royalty Team in the early 1990s.
Funeral services are pending. We believe the services will be held near her home in Kansas on Friday afternoon.
Miss Mae was extremely proud of two things (not counting her vodka): that she had attended each and every IGRA Convention AND that she had never done drag for anything OTHER than a fundraiser.
Miss Mae's family did not know about her involvement in gay rodeo. In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a donation, please send it to MGRA. We will be planning a huge fundraiser in her honor this winter. Any monies sent by her rodeo friends and family, as well as money raised at the fundraiser, will be donated Passages in Miss Mae's honor.
Passages is an organization in Kansas City that provides a safe place for gay and questioning teens. She always said, "I wish there had been a place like Passages for me when I was younger."
I know many of you knew and loved Miss Mae, but she would want the "show to go on". She was THRILLED with she heard the IGRA Archives were being shared with the Autry Museum. She only wanted the best for gay rodeo, and she was proud to see so many positive changes happen within the organization over the years.
Thank you for your calls and prayers.
Andrew GoodmanIGRA Vice President(aka Mandy Barbarell)
We have updated the website with pictures from the 2009 Meet Me In Montana. Don't forget to check them out. Click Here www.meetmeinmontana.org
We would like to thank all of you folks who made it to the Cowboy Up Montana Ranch this year and had fun in the hot weather! What great food, great fun, great rafting and great camaraderie! We are sure you will savor your memories of the Meet Me In Montana for years to come. A special thanks goes out to our sponsors and patrons ... Joe D. of Louisiana for his wonderful financial support PWNGRA Trustee Tam for his great gift packages Keith P. of Greenacres, Washington Spirts and Wine shop Terry Cyr Of Cyr Photography of Missoula, Montana Pendleton Whiskey Budweiser URM/Western Family Foods of Spokane Valley, Washington Attorney Shane Venetta of Missoula, Montana Arbor Crest Winery of Spokane, Washington
Join Jeff & John as they host a PNWGRA get together. October 10, 2009.
Once again they invite members and friends to come on out and sit by the fire and enjoy other cowboys & cowgirls as we chow down on some home made grub and drink a few brews. Throw some horseshoes around or just sit and take in the surround colors of the Bitteroot Mountains.
You are more than welcome to spend the night. Remember it's Byob.
For more info contact Jeff at Treasurer@pacificnwgra.org or register on line through the events page.
Chris M. is putting together a trail ride for Labor weekend. Below is some information regarding this.
Terry Cyr Of Cyr Photo will be working on a special photographic portfolio of the western gay cowboy.
"I am interested in exploring and creating images of homosexual attraction, longing, desire for that forbidden love in the cowboy community. What could these mythic images be, how would they arise, and what would they look like? I am interested in creating my own mythology of what I felt and desired growing up on a cattle ranch in the mountains of Montana".
More details..HERE
June 2009 Newsletter is up and ready to read.
What is the must have fashion this year.Well it's the 2009 PNWGRA membership t-shirt.
How do I receive one for FREE? It's easy, just renew your membership or become a member and it's your.
For our friends of the PNWGRA who wish to purchase a t-shirt they are $15.00 each (includes shipping).
Contact Jeff T. at membership@pacificnwgra.org for more information.
Thanks to everyone for their continued support of the PNWGRA