Prospects for next year’s annual San Diego Rodeo look grim as the Greater San Diego Chapter (GSDC) of the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association (GSGRA) again faces inadequate financial resources. Earlier this month, the GSDC, the local group responsible for organizing the rodeo, sent a letter to its members and supporters urging them to attend an important general membership meeting at Twigg’s Coffee & Tea on Dec. 7. Angel Cordero, an active member of the GSDC, who attended the meeting, explained that the GSDC is required to raise a preliminary amount of money by Feb. 1, in order to secure a bid from the GSGRA. According to the letter signed by Jim Jennings and Steve Wollert, the organization must raise approximately $10,000 in order to save the San Diego Rodeo.

Cordero explained that some GSDC members have not been as involved, contributing to some of the issues facing the chapter, but inevitably it comes down to how much time they have and are willing to devote.

“Some people, when they volunteer a lot, they reach burnout…It’s just that maybe they have other things in their life that take precedence…They may be members where they pay their membership dues but maybe they don’t attend functions or are not at the meetings,” explained Cordero.

“The core people that we have…are willing to take on two to three tasks at a time to get things moving forward. Those are the motivators and the shakers.”

Brian Van de Mark, an active member in the rodeo community, who received and forwarded a copy of the letter to the Gay & Lesbian Times, said a series of situations dating back to 2001 have caused and are potentially the root of the financial problems the GSDC is facing today. A former member of the chapter, Van de Mark explains that in 2001, the San Diego Rodeo fell on the heels of 9/11. This resulted in lower attendance than promised by the GSDC to the Marriott Mission Valley. Following the rodeo, the president and vice president at the time resigned. A number of local sponsors then pulled their support and problems have since accumulated.

“They were trying to reduce their costs and at the same time their expenses were out of control. What they ended up doing was cutting a number of programs they would normally have at a rodeo,” explained Van de Mark.

He also claims the GSDC made promises to raise money for local charities and did not meet these expectations. One of these organizations was the Imperial Court de San Diego.

In the 2001 rodeo, The Imperial Court was named the beneficiary and was to receive all proceeds from an auction fundraiser. Nicole Murray-Ramirez, chair of the board of directors, maintains that the Imperial Court received only $800 to $1000 of the total amount of money raised that evening, which he believes amounted to approximately $6,000 to $7,000. Murray-Ramirez was told by the GSDC they could only give the Imperial Court part of the proceeds since their room guarantee was not met at the Marriott.

“As far as I’m concerned they took scholarships away from GLBT youth. That year we were short because we were counting on that money. It was very upsetting,” said Murray-Ramirez.

Van de Mark said he specifically shared the letter with the Gay & Lesbian Times because he thinks all nonprofit organizations should operate in a culture of transparency rather than be secretive. “This atmosphere or this culture of secrecy is not conducive to a nonprofit organization. In fact, it goes against the very charter of the organization.”

The GSDC is a nonprofit volunteer-based organization. Throughout the year they raise money to donate to other local nonprofit organizations, including HIV/AIDS organizations. Each year, over 200 volunteers are necessary to hold the San Diego Rodeo. The four-day event has been held each September for the past 16 consecutive years. If you are interested in volunteering, donating or becoming a member of the GSDC please leave a message at the rodeo hotline at (619) 298-4708.