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| Faces of ERRI - Debbie Frank |
You are here: Newsletters > July 2001 > Faces of ERRI - Debbie Frank
ERRI's Heart and Soul - by Helene Roehm
"Excuuuuuse you!" resounds once more in the barn or ring and everyone knows Debbie Frank is again holding forth to someone about something, and all continues to be going according to schedule at ERRI and the Farm.
And that schedule holds a wide variety of activities, more than the average person of half her age would even attempt. From spearheading grant money requests to repairing fences, organizing the annual ERRI dance to planting trees, painting barns, gardening and instructing, she is always in the thick of events with her underlying motive being the welfare of horses in general and ERRI horses in particular.
President of the Board of Directors of ERRI, the non-profit Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc., and owner with daughter Rhonda Rollins of Rendez Vous Farm, Debbie was practically born horsey.
Starting in boarding school on the Eastern Shore at age eight through graduation from Hanna Moore Academy, she was always taking care of horses and even taught riding lessons while in her teens. Debbie married a military man and moved all over the place, finally returning to Maryland from Texas with newborn baby Rhonda.
The family lived in Ruxton, gradually adding to their stable and boarding and giving lessons until they had 20 or so horses on just three acres. This necessitated the move to their present home "up 83." And Rendez Vous Farm's equine complement continued expanding because of Debbie's soft heart and her personal commitment to stopping horse abuse and neglect.
Thus ERRI was born. At first Debbie ran ERRI for-profit and when they were able to, changed to non-profit profit status. (That 501(c)(3) really makes a big difference at tax time!) And Debbie has never looked back either.
Debbie's typical day often starts with a "whine" or "woof woof" as one of the dogs wants outside for a nature call and to make sure there are no monsters or hungry beasties ready to invade the farm. Of course the second "woof" means "ok let me back in now, all is safe and protected."
Officially the day starts around 9 a.m. with Rhonda orchestrating feed time for all of the 50 some horses on the property. Debbie comes out soon after to lead the mares, and whatever mothers and babies or other assorted horses need escorting to various pastures for the day. Woe betide the wayward animal who tries to act up while the master is leading! They usually get a swift scolding of "Who pays your bills?!!"
Usually the phone calls wait until after the morning feeding but not always. These calls come from people who want to find out more about ERRI in general, or to inquire about starting a rescue themselves. The most important of the calls concern horses that need what ERRI is all about, that is, rescue from an abusive or neglectful situation, or because an owner cannot keep them any longer.
This is where Debbie's skill at networking really shines - she is masterful at placing some of these animals with other farms or individual owners. And she knows how to explain to someone when the said horse is too sick or too old and needs to be saved from pain and suffering.
Then there's the administrative part - organizing, facilitating and leading all the fundraising efforts on behalf of ERRI. She motivates and encourages farm boarders, riding students and ERRI Board members alike, and participates as a member of community boards and committees like PAWS and the Maryland Horse Council.
In addition, she's now working on plans for the second annual Jousting Tournament at Rendez Vous Farm held by the Amateur Jousting Club of Maryland, Inc. on Sunday, July 22, and the ERRI benefit dance being planned for the beginning of November.
She throws a mean party too!
Where does she get the energy and drive for all this? Perhaps it's from the air at the farm. Maybe she absorbs it from the grateful horses she has helped rescue? Who knows. But have it she does and those rescued horses give her a loud and resounding whinny of thanks! As do we all!!
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