IGRA Contacts
President
Brian Helander AGRA(602) 320-7136
Executive Committee 12-31-08
Brian has been competing since 1995 in roping, speed, rough-stock and camp events. He is a three time international chute dogging champion (2000, 2004 and 2006) He is also the international goat dressing record holder with his rodeo partner Chuck Browning. Brian is currently serving his second two year term as IGRA president 2006-2008. By day he is a college instructor in emergency nursing, a trauma nurse specialist and CEO of a health care software development and consulting company based in Phoenix Az. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona and Santa Fe, NM with his partner Don and dog pal Jax.
Vice President
Andrew Goodman MGRAExecutive Committee 12-31-09
Andrew Goodman has been involved in gay rodeo for ten years. During this time, he has served as a rodeo timer, certified scorekeeper, and on the 2004 IGRA Royalty Team. Most recently, Andrew has been a rodeo announcer at several rodeos in Kansas City and throughout Texas. Andrew served as the MGRA Trustee from July 2004 until December 2007.
At the 23rd Annual IGRA Convention in Kansas City, Andrew was selected to serve a two-year term as IGRA Vice President beginning in January 2008.
Andrew remains involved in his home association, MGRA, having served on the royalty team and in various capacities at the chapter and association levels. Andrew resides in Kansas City and works in education.
Secretary
Larry Lindstrom CGRAExecutive Committee 12-31-09
Larry has been an active member for 21 years. He started competing in the camp events in the mid-80s winning his first buckle in Steer Decorating in 1988. From there he was elected to the CGRA board as secretary and then became their 5th president and presided for 3 years in the early 90s. He was also their rodeo director five times during this decade.
In 1987, Larry designed and wrote the computer program that audits each rodeo on the IGRA circuit. Even after countless modifications, the program is still being used today! In 1996, he registered www.igra.com and maintained the IGRA Web site for the next 9 years. He is also a certified auditor, secretary, and scorekeeper.
Larry is currently serving a five-year term as IGRA Secretary 2005-2009. By day he runs his own small business with nine employees and lives north of Denver with his life partner John, four horses, and two cats.
Treasurer
David G. Hill CGRAExecutive Committee 12-31-08
David began as a volunteer in the contestant's office for a professional rodeo in 1980 and he continues his involvement with that rodeo. He attended his first Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo in 1984 and moved to Denver later that year and immediately became involved with CGRA. The next year, he began as a dance chairperson and moved up to treasurer rodeo weekend. He has been on the CGRA board, as treasurer, for several years. He also is the treasurer for IGRA David became the first rodeo auditor when the position was created within IGRA and remains in that position.
Chair of the Trustees
Ray Ostmann GWGRA
Division 3 Trustee Executive Committee
Ray has been attending Gay Rodeos for approximately 15 years as a spectator. Three years ago he became involved with Gateway Gay Rodeo in St. Louis as a charter member, and was elected trustee nearly 2 years ago. Since becoming a trustee, Ray has been very involved, attending 15 rodeo's in 2005 and at the completion of the 2006 rodeo year he will have attended 11 rodeos in 2006. At Convention in Calgary last year Ray was elected Trustee Chairperson for 2006.
In 2005 Ray started competing in the rodeos, and if he wasn't competing you saw him working on the Arena crew or behind the chutes. Ray was also the Rodeo Director for the 1st Annual Gateway Regional Rodeo held in St. Louis in May, 2006, and was recently named as Rodeo Director for the 2nd Annual Gateway Rodeo, to be held in May of 2007.
Ernie Bowers LGRADivision 4 Trustee Executive Committee
Ernie Bowers had been a fan of gay rodeo since attending the first ASGRA rodeo in 1992, stemming from his involvement in the country dance community in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the past 18 years. Earnie begian competing in rodeo events 2 years prior, he became involved with establishing the Liberty Gay Rodeo Association in Philadelphia in 2006. Ernie Lives in Yardville, New Jersey, halfway between New York and Philadelphia.
Roger Coutemarche Division 2 Trustee Executive Committee
Roger is from New Hampshire, and moved to Denver to compete in IGRA Rodeos, KC 2000 was his first Rodeo. After moving to Colorado he was elected to the Board of Directors of CGRA, and was Assistant Rodeo Director for one year, then was Rodeo Director of RMRR for 2004 and 2005, and in 2006 was elected Trustee of CGRA.
Roger lives just West of Denver in Lakewood, Colorado, and works for County Government.
Brian Rogers NGRADivision 1 Trustee Executive Committee
Brian has been a member of NGRA since 1996, during which he has been very actively involved at many levels of NGRA leadership and the production of its rodeos. He has been involved with rodeo at the IGRA level for many years as well. Raised in Texas, he now calls fabulous Las Vegas home. His experiences learning to be a Rodeo Director lead to the production of the IGRA Rodeo Guidebook, a how-to guide he created for IGRA associations to use in producing their rodeos.
Parliamentarian
Benjamin Avant NGRAAccording to Robert's Rules of Order, "the parliamentarian. . . advises the president and other officers, committees, and members on matters of parliamentary procedure." Contact Benjamin with procedural questions or issues related to IGRA or member association business.
Benjamin joined the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association in 1996 and hit the ground running as a delegate in Omaha at his first IGRA convention. From 1996 to 2004, he had many roles in NGRA, including Mr. NGRA, state convention coordinator, parliamentarian, Vice President, President, and IGRA Trustee. In 2003, IGRA President Craig Rouse appointed Benjamin as Parliamentarian for the IGRA annual convention, a position he has held for the past three years. Benjamin also serves as the chairman of the IGRA Bylaws Committee.
Public Relations
"Public Relations" is the art of establishing and promoting a favorable relationship of an organization with its publics and helps them adapt mutually to each other.
Administrative Assistant
Tommy Channel CGRA
IGRA Archivist
Patrick Terry ILGRA
Patrick joined the CGRA in 1989 and began competing the following year. He became heavily involved, holding numerous positions including Trustee from 1990-1992. In November of 1992, Patrick was hired as the second IGRA Administrative Assistant, a position he held for the next 10 years. He served as IGRA Sponsorship Chair for two years, and sat on several committees. Patrick has belonged to HGRA and ILGRA before retruning to CGRA in 2000 where he became the Rodeo Director in 2003. Patrick has been a IGRA Certified Scorekeeper since 1994 and has filled that position at almost 100 rodeos across the circuit, including 9 finals rodeos. He has stood as Grand Marshal at 3 rodeos, Heartland, in 1998, IGRA Finals Rodeo in Tulsa, in 2003, and Windy City Rodeo in 2004. Patrick is currently the IGRA Archivist, compiling memorabilia from past events and rodeos. Patrick was very excited when he asked to co-chair University this year and will be running the testing center, for the degree qualifications that weekend.
Internet Technology (Webmaster)
Frank Harrell, ASGRA(703) 266-0447
The webmaster manages content on the IGRA website and is responsible for updating indexes and constructing html web pages. Additionally the webmaster works with other individuals in IGRA to integrate such things as shopping carts and databases with the website. This is the person to contact if you see something that's not working on our website.
Cowboy Frank is a member of ASGRA where he serves as their webmaster and secretary. Frank is a computer fanatic, and enjoys digital photography. He lives in Northern Virginia, near Washington DC with his life partner of 24 years.
| You can contact me for technical support via the e-mail listed above or for instant answers, phone (703) 266-0447. If I am not home and this is an emergency try my cell phone (202) 957-6187 |