"Take your turn at the front"

[Don Youngdahl]

For those who read my post on my leaving the MORC Board, I hope that got you to thinking a bit, and if not, I hope this post will spur some serious thought.

I'm sure it's accurate to say that virtually all of the present MORC Board members would prefer riding their bikes or working on trails to attending board meetings or doing the many other organizational things necessary for MORC to exist. They're not on the board to be "big shots" or part of the "clique" that runs things. They haven't stated there reasons in detail, but I'm sure it's because mountain biking is important to them, they want it to continue and thrive, and they feel they have some talents or time to offer to further these goals.

They have also accepted the fact that their riding time will suffer to varying degrees as they perform the public service of serving on the MORC Board. In the words of one board member, an experienced road and mountain bike racer, "It's time to take my turn at the front". Road racers may more fully appreciate this statement, but I'm sure everyone understands what he means.

If you're serious about mountain biking, in it for the long term, and want to have places for your kids and grandkids to ride, think about the leadership, organizational, or professional skills you possess, and ask yourself when you're going to "take your turn at the front". Not necessarily this year or next, but if you're smart and capable in your chosen profession, and know how to work in an organizational setting where you take real responsibility and interact with other people, you really should give it some serious thought.

This message is not intended to imply any lack of appreciation for the time commitments and tremendous job our trail workers have done. But the fact is that a strong and active MORC Board is the reason we have all this trail work to do, and without a strong Board, MORC's growth and mission to "gain and maintain trails" is sure to suffer.

Don Youngdahl

Outgoing MORC Board member

[EmL34]

I agree that pretty much everyone would like to ride a few more laps, but as Don says, I'd like to make sure that there are a lot of trails for my little girl some day. I can't wait!

I would add a couple things on the side of reasons to get more involved:

1. This is an opportunity to develop skills and experience that you may not have the opportunity to develop in your professional career. This is an opportunity to be in a leadership role, to create, influence and execute strategy. This is a pretty safe environment in which to try some new things, without having to fear failure...and these skills are transferable to your future career - either within MORC, or elsewhere.
2. This is an opportunity to influence the direction of your community. Do you want your area to have more opportunities for recreation, specifically MTB, or do you want to see fewer? In some ways this is the beginning of Gen X taking the reigns. So much of what happens in the world has nothing to do with government (Fed, State or local) regulations and dollars, and so much has everything to do with people who simply decide they want to do something.

Look at events like the 24 hours of Afton - if you didn't know who and how it was put on, you'd think it was a bunch of pros, with a huge budget. Look at Lebanon Hills - when I first rode there I didn't have a clue what was possible. The amazing thing is there is more to come! Here's your chance to be a part of it.

[syntaxjunkie]

There are two really good reasons to get involved with a group like MORC:

1. Because it's doing something that you believe needs to be done.

2. Because it isn't doing something you believe needs to be done.

My original involvement with MORC began with reason #1. But in the past year, I've gotten more involved with the MORC board for the second reason. Not because I disagreed with what MORC was doing, but because I saw an opportunity to use the (few) things I'm good at to help them do a better job of it.

I went into my first MORC board meeting with a lot of trepidation: Would they be open to new ideas? Would they be offended by the fact that I wanted to change things? Would they even care? In short order, I found the answers to be yes, no and yes.

In sum, if you like what we're doing, join (as a member or board member) to help us do more of it. If you think we could do better, join to bring the new ideas that are the lifeblood of any successful organization.

It's like voting: Doing it may not always guarantee that you'll get what you want, but not doing it pretty much guarantees that you won't (and forfeits your right to complain).

[Trevize1138]

I thought people became MORC board members so they could get all those chix and money? :confused:

[EmL34]

I thought people became MORC board members so they could get all those chix and money? :confused:
Umm, I wish you had posted this on the secret thread. Now everyone will want in.

I will resist showing the 2nd set of books until the very end!