The new Lake County Horse Council officers, from left to right, are Secretary Juliana Vidich, President Carol Biggs, Treasurer Maureen Brasier and Vice President Valarie Sullivan. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The newly formed Lake County Horse Council held its second public meeting on the evening of Oct. 19 at the Lake County Fairgrounds' Junior Livestock building.

Approximately 70 equine enthusiasts came to participate in adopting the council's bylaws, electing a board of directors and setting up committees.

Peter Windrem was a masterful meeting facilitator. he explained that the horse council will be a nonprofit public benefit corporation whose purpose is to promote and preserve the horse as agriculture, industry and recreation in Lake County, and to carry on educational activities.

Preserving the rural and agricultural character of Lake County will be one of its major benefits.

Fifteen people were elected to the new Lake County Horse Council Board of Directors: President Carol Biggs, Vice President Valarie Sullivan, Treasurer Maureen Brasier, Secretary Juliana Vidich, and Allen Bibbee, Marty Brookman, Alice Chevalier, John Gay, Donna Thornton, Jerri Waddington DVM, Paul Villanueva, Deb Baumann, Dave Claus, Bryce Hayes and Nicolette Kiethly.

Eager volunteers signed up to be on committees including membership, calendar, Web site and publicity, journal, finance, executive, education, governmental relations, trail development, permits and land use, special projects, stables and boarding facilities, equine driving, dressage, youth, disaster rescue, equine health, hospitality, Mendocino County liaison, historian and trail accident safety.

At the end of the meeting, Windrem turned over the gavel to Biggs, who graciously thanked everyone who was involved in creating the Lake County Horse Council.

She acknowledged Supervisor Rob Brown for introducing and the Lake County Board of Supervisors for adopting the “Proclamation Expressing Appreciation for the Agricultural Benefit of Equines and Recognizing the Newly Formed Lake County Horse Council” on that same day.

Charter memberships are still available, and regular memberships cost only $10.

Anyone interested in joining or in assisting on committees or in other ways is urged to contact the group.

The next public meeting of the Lake County Horse Council will be held on Jan. 18, 2011, in Clearlake Oaks.

For more information about the Lake County Horse Council, contact Marty Brookman at 707-275-9387.