Standing Rules | Colorado Gay Rodeo Association

Rule 1. Contestant Growth, Education, and Finals Appreciation Fund.

A. The purpose of this fund shall be to foster growth, participation, and education CGRA members and to further the sport of Rodeo. The funds will be maintained by the CGRA Treasurer.
B. Funds are collected during the year by various means for distribution according to this Rule.
C. All CGRA Contestants are eligible for funds. Out of State Contestants, who are members of CGRA are also eligible so long as they had been members in good standing for at least one (1) year prior to the beginning of the Rodeo year, and are riding for CGRA.
E. CGRA members who are 1st time participants in RMRR and who are riding for CGRA may have one (1) event paid from this Fund providing they apply for the funds no later than the General Membership Meeting of CGRA immediately preceding RMRR. Unused funds will be returned to the general Contestant Growth, Education, and Finals Appreciation Fund.
F. Distribution of these funds for Finals Rodeo will be limited to those individual contestants who are officially invited by IGRA and have accepted the invitation by the IGRA established cut-off deadline.
G. All available funds will be distributed to eligible Finals Contestants according to number of events per go round per Contestant except that 25% of said funds will be kept in reserve for the following year’s RMRR.
H. The CGRA Treasurer and the Rodeo Events Chair will ensure that the appropriate funds are sent to the Finals Hosting Association along with a list showing how funds are to be distributed. Any unused funds will be returned to CGRA by the Hosting Association and will be applied to the following year’s Contestant Growth, Education, and Finals Appreciation Fund. The distribution list shall be made available to all CGRA Rodeo Contestants.
I. Any exception to these rules may be appealed to the CGRA Board of Directors for final resolution. At the discretion of the affected Contestant, this appeal may be made in writing or in person, but no later than the Board meeting preceding the deadline as provided in paragraph F. Contestants wishing to appeal must make their intent known at least two weeks prior to that Board meeting so that other Contestants may have the opportunity to be notified of the appeal and be able to make their opinions known at the same meeting.

Rule 2. Gymkhana and Play Day Standing Rules

A. Approval – The Board of Directors must approve dates, locations and times.
B. Responsibilities
1. Rodeo and Gymkhana Events Committee
a. Primary responsibility for planning, prep and set-up of Gymkhanas and play day(s).
1) Equipment
a) Provide all necessary arena equipment
b) Provide all necessary rodeo equipment and flags
2) Personnel:
a) Provide arena crew
3) Coordinates with the Fundraising Committee for food and refreshment sales
4) Coordinates with the Entertainment Committee for people events

2. Entertainment Committee
a. Coordinates with the Rodeo and Gymkhana Events Committee to organize/provide for people events
b. Further supports the Rodeo and Gymkhana Events Committee by providing:
1) Announcer
2) Public address system and related electronic equipment
3) Appropriate music (optional)
a) National Anthem
b) CGRA Theme Song (Colorado by Up With People)
c) Other music and/or entertainment

3. Recording Secretary
a. Coordinates with the Rodeo and Gymkhana Events Committee to provide the following:
1) Secretary
2) Timers
3) Scorekeepers
4) Score sheet and stopwatches
5) All awards (ribbons and trophies)
b. Further supports the Rodeo and Gymkhana Events Committee by:
1) Maintaining all gymkhana records for CGRA files
2) Publishing monthly results in either the newsletter or on the web site

C. Gymkhana Guidelines
1. Gymkhanas are held to:
a. Provide competitive training for contestants in preparation for rodeo
and/or related competitions.
b. Provide a structured and safe environment for novice riders and horses
to learn, practice and improve skills.

2. Events:
a. Standard
1) Barrel Race
2) Pole Bending
3) Flag Race
b. Jackpot
1) Barrel Race
2) Pole Bending
3) Flag Race
c. Novelty
1) Keyhole
2) Quad Stakes
3) Figure 8 Barrels, Flying ‘W’, Ring Toss, Mailbox, etc.

3. Entry Fees:
a. $5.00 per horse/rider combination per run for Standard or Jackpot Event for CGRA Members.
b. $7.00 per horse/rider combination per run for Standard or Jackpot Event for non-CGRA Members.
c. $3.00 per horse/rider combination per run for Exhibition only. Exhibition runs will not count toward awards or points and must be designated at time of registration.

4. Event Classifications:
a. All event classes will be run with points tallied under each of the following classifications. Classifications shall be determined by both horse and rider, meeting said qualifications.
b. If necessary a judge, the Rodeo Events Chair or a designee of the Rodeo Events Chair, and a panel of two competitors appointed by the judge shall resolve any disputes pertaining to a horse or rider combination and their stated qualifications.
1) Novice – combines both Men and Women. Novice is someone who is new to a field or activity.
a.) Points will be scored and tracked for the rider on a given horse/rider team.
b.) A rider may have more than one scoring run per this class per gymkhana, but it shall be on different horses and the points from the different horse/rider combinations cannot be combined for year-end award consideration.
c.) Defined as any horse or rider who has not competed previously in CGRA gymkhanas or who has competed but not placed in the top
three of any Standard Event.
d.) Once a horse or rider has competed in the Novice Event and exceeds article ‘c’, above, they will no longer be eligible for the Novice Classification as of the next calendar year.
2) Intermediate – combines both Men and Women. Intermediate is someone who is at halfway point, centermost of a field or activity.
a.) Points will be scored and tracked for the rider on a given horse/rider team.
b.) Defined as any horse or rider who does not fall into the Novice or Advanced Classifications.
3) Advanced – combines both Men and Women. Advanced is someone who is ahead in position, time results and ability of a field or activity.
a.) Points will be scored and tracked for the rider on a given horse/rider team.
b.) Defined as any horse or rider who has competed and placed in the top three, during a previous year, of any Standard Event.

5. Event Classes to be offered – both horse and rider must fall into the following qualifications to compete in Event Classes.
a. Novice/Novice
b. Novice/Intermediate/Advanced
1) Novice/Intermediate
2) Novice/Advanced
3) Intermediate/Intermediate
4) Intermediate/Advanced
c. Advanced/Advanced

D. People Events Guidelines
1. Entertainment Committee coordinates with the Rodeo and Gymkhana Events Committee to organize/provide for people events
a. Coordinates with related committees to supply all necessary equipment and personnel for any people event(s) at a gymkhana or play day.
b. Arrange for and secure all other required equipment and/or supplies not provided by a related committee
c. Arrange for clean-up after the event(s) and the return of all equipment
2. Plan five (5) ribbon awards for the first five places (as above for horse events)
3. Entry fee is $3.00 per person per People event
4. Rules for each event will be supplied by the Entertainment Committee.
5. Participation and Placing points will be awarded for People Events as described in Article C. Gymkhana Guidelines, section 5. Point System.
6. Year-end awards may be presented to the All Around high point winner(s) for the People Events; and, may be presented to the second and third place finishers as well.

E. Play Day Guidelines
1. Play Days (or Cattle Days, Buck Outs, etc.) include rough stock and/or roping stock for practicing and/or teaching roping, rough stock and/or drag events.
a. Date, time, location and all associated expenses must be approved by the Board of Directors
b. May be held in conjunction with a regular Gymkhana
c. Must have appropriate Insurance in place
2. Pertinent responsibilities for all parties involved shall be the same as noted above in Rule 2, Section B – Responsibilities.
3. Entry fees for any gymkhana or people events shall be applied as noted in Rule 2, Article C, section 3 and Article D, section 3. Entry fees for rough stock, roping and/or drag events will be recommended by the Rodeo and Gymkhana Events Committee for approval by the Board of Directors.
4. Ribbons may be awarded for places one (1) through five (5).
5. Points will not be awarded for any rough stock, roping or drag events.

Rule 3. CGRA/Wayne Jakino – Educational Scholarship Guidelines

These guidelines are developed to aid the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association with the awarding of scholarship funds out of the CGRA/Wayne Jakino – Educational Scholarship Fund.
A. A minimum of $1,000 must be maintained in the fund.
B. Preference may be given to members of CGRA but anyone may apply.
C. The committee will actively solicit applications beginning in February with a May 1st deadline. Applications for the scholarship funds shall be submitted by U.S. Mail, postmarked no later than May 1st.
D. The Scholarship Selection Committee should be made up of the Special Committee Chair appointed by the President, the Treasurer, the Community Outreach Chair, the Public Relations (PR) Chair and anyone else designated by the President.
E. Applicant may apply as many times as they wish, but will not be given preferential consideration in the selection process..
F. Applicants must be attending an institution of higher or professional education based in the State of Colorado (e.g. University of Colorado, Metro State College, University of Denver, Regis University, Community College of Aurora, etc.) Applicant may also be taking courses via the internet (on-line) or in other correspondence fashion, as long as the institution is based in Colorado and appropriately accredited.
G. Scholarship award amount shall be determined by the committee based on the applicant’s application, essay, and financial requirement. Committee is reminded not to discriminate based on age, sex, race, national origin, religion, marital status, or personal bias.
H. The Selection Committee may award as many or as few scholarships as they see fit, providing the necessary funds are available. If the fund is $1,000 or less no Scholarships will be awarded that year.
I. Criteria for selection should be based on, but not limited to:
1. Demonstrated sincerity for learning
2. Persuasiveness of application and other required documents (letters, essays, references, etc)
3. Personal letters of reference
4. Current Grade point average
5. Demonstrated financial need
J. Scholarship will be awarded for tuition, books and/or student fees only. Monies from the scholarship may not be applied to such items as room and board or other ancillary expenses that may relate to the higher education experience. Checks shall be made payable to the recipient and the institution only.
K. Applicant is not limited to any specific field of study. Awards should be based on the strength and need of the applicants alone.

Rule 4. CGRA Competitive Dance Committee

This is a special committee. The chairperson of this committee is appointed by the President. This committee is open to all CGRA members. This committee shall:
A. Meet regularly as determined by the Committee Chair, the Board of Directors, or the President.
Produce a competitive dance program for CGRA which complies with the IGRA Dance Competition General Rules, except Section 3, Awards, which shall be determined by the Board of Directors of CGRA.