Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 19, 1995 TAG: 9510190032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Junior League of Roanoke Valley gave the Roanoke Valley Horse Show the proverbial 11th hour reprieve Tuesday night.
The rank and file of the league repudiated its board of directors by voting to continue sponsorship of the largest multi-breed show in the state. The board, which comprises the chairmen of all 25 of the league's committees, had voted in closed session last week to recommend the league sever ties with the show and end an association that has stood since the show's inception.
Should that have happened, the future of the show would have been in jeopardy.
``We are ecstatic,'' said show co-chairman June Camper, a member of both the league and co-sponsor the Roanoke Valley Horsemen's Association. ``When you work on building something for 25 years and then you have to consider that it might have to go in an entirely new direction, then that gives you some anxiety.''
The horsemen's association was expected follow the league and vote its continued support of the show Wednesday.
Reaction to the vote of the members was strong.
``I'm shocked,'' said one well-placed member. ``It was second in shock only to the O.J. [Simpson] decision.''
The board had argued that the profits generated by the show did not justify the amount of work the league membership put into the annual affair.
``For the membership to vote against what the board recommended is very surprising,'' Camper said. ``Usually, membership goes along with what the board says. And usually, the board is in touch with what the membership wants.''
The horse show is one of the league's big money makers along with the Stocked Market retail exposition and the Horizon fashion show. However, since philanthropist Marion Via, a major underwriter of the horse show, died three years ago, contributions from her estate have declined. So have the show's profits.
Part of the gap in sponsorship was made up by Rolex, a watch manufacturer that has sponsored the show's signature event, the Grand Prix of Roanoke, the past two years.
Still, the show started last June with a $55,000 shortfall. Not only was the shortfall made up during the week of the show, but the league ended showing a $30,000 profit. Maybe not what the league would have expected when the living was easy, but still ...
``It's pretty good,'' co-chairman Mary McBurney said. ``I look at it not like a $30,000 profit, but an $85,000 one counting the $55,000 we had to make up.''
The renewed sponsorship carries through the 1997 show.
by CNB