As of last Friday I am now the envy of many a boy (and probably a few girls) my age, which happens to be 53, because that's the day that my official Roy Rogers Riders Club card arrived in the mail. Yep, pardner, the Roy Rogers Riders Club has been revived by the good folks at RFD-TV. Most of the $10.00 membership fee goes toward youth agricultural programs such as Future Farmers of America, 4-H, the National High School Rodeo Association, the All American Cowgirl Chicks (just check out their website; seeing it is much better than me explaining it), and Little Britches, a youth rodeo association.
Membership in this club is quite a bargain, really. My money helps today's kids and touching that card with Roy Roger's and Trigger's picture brings out the kid in me. Of course, when the little boy in me comes out, I try to keep him from looking around too much. The condition of this present world is a sad thing indeed for him. Contrast our present culture's outlook with that represented by the Rider's Club Rules which are written on the back of the card:
- Be neat and clean.
- Be courteous and polite.
- Always obey your parents.
- Protect the weak and help them.
- Be brave but never take chances.
- Study hard and learn all you can.
- Be kind to animals and take care of them.
- Eat all your food and never waste any.
- Love God and go to Sunday school regularly.
- Always respect our flag and our country.
Yeah, these may seem old-fashioned and corny and I know that with our modern cynicism we can parse these words and make exceptions and qualify them. I also know that if you wait around for life's exceptions, you miss most of life. Would it be so tough for everyone to live by these rules? Would the world be a better place? As dumb as it sounds, we can improve the world, one Rider Club member at a time. We just need to believe that we can.
If you're interested in joining, click here where you will see footage of Roy inviting you to join.
Also the Happy Trails Theater is back on the air Saturdays at noon (of course) on RFD-TV, featuring Roy and Dale and Gabby Hayes and Trigger and Bullet. This gallant gang rides the range ridding the world of evil-doers wherever they appear. They also give lessons in believing.
Yep, for $10.00 I have a cardboard fountain of youth in my wallet. Happy trails.
Recent Comments