Annual MORC Board Elections, Sept. 10

[Burke]

Every year at the MORC annual meeting, elections take place to fill the positions on the MORC board of directors. This year, the annual meeting is part of the Minnesota Mountain Bike Summit. The Summit runs Sept 9-11, with the MORC annual meeting being in the early afternoon on Saturday the 10th at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center.

All board member terms are 1 year and are expiring. Those seeking to continue on for the coming year need to run for relection. I am aware that a few current board members are not seeking the position for the coming year, so at a minimum there will be a few uncontested spots.

Part of the election process is nominating yourself, or someone else to the position. Once nominated, your, or your nominee's (if they accept the nomination) name will be added to the ballot. In order to help inform current MORC members of their choices, we compose a brief bio of each nominee. Individuals eligible for nomination are current MORC members in good standing.

This thread will serve as a holding place for bios of nominees for the board of directors.

If you would like to nominate someone talk to that person and see if they're interested. If so, have them post a bio here so we get a better feel for who they are. If you are nominating yourself, post your own bio. Please only post in this thread if you are putting your name in for the 2005-2006 MORC board of directors election.

Once the board is elected, the first board meeting of the new board will be Tuesday Sept. 13. Officers (president, vp, treasurer, secretary) will be elected by the board at that meeting.

We are in the process of developing a position description for the at-large board member. Look for it to be posted in the next couple of days. It should answer some of the questions you might have. If there are other questions, feel free to ask. president@morcmtb.org

[Burke]

I'll start things off by nominating myself to the board for the coming year.

A little bit of background.
I'm originally from Michigan where I was active in building trail after I discovered two guys raking leaves off of the trail I was riding. The light bulb turned on and I realized that these trails didn't just happen by themselves... I got involved with MORC shortly after arriving here in June of 2000, as Dennis Porter kept pestering me to get involved. I've been on the board the past few years and have served as MORC's president this past year. I am currently working full time in the bike industry and have 3 semesters to go in the part-time MBA program and the Carlson school of business at the U of M.

This year, among other things, I've been active in developing the MORC chapter handbook and working with the Marshall group to bring them on board as a chapter. I have also been the race director for Erik's Spring Cup at Buck Hill, and will again coordinate volunteers and help run timing at the 24 Hours of Afton.

In tandem with my wife, I helped write the DNR grant that will provide half of the funding for the $154,000 Murphy-Hanrehan project, and secured $20,000 of the remaining $30,000 that MORC is on the hook for from a corporate sponsor.

If elected to serve on the board for the 2005-2006 year, I would like to see MORC continue its successes and grow its membership while strengthening its relationships with its stakeholders (riders, community, sponsors, land managers). I see potential for this through a few means: working to unite the state in its mtb advocacy efforts (strength through numbers and shared resources). I also would like to investigate how we can grow in size but develop a stronger sense of local connection and focus with the trails we maintain. Looking at MOCA's success with generating excitement around the Wirth project, we have things to learn about how to get grassroots support for local trail projects and develop a sense of ownership among the trail users. Another area that I am strongly advocating is that MORC goes pro and hires its first executive director. In talking with mountain bike groups that have done this, they say that getting beyond the 500-600 member mark without an ED is nearly impossible. With a part-time paid ED in place, we would be able to better execute the day-to-day operations and follow through on the initiatives that we undertake. Keeping tabs on everything with an all volunteer staff can be extremely taxing. The financial change in going to a paid ED position is that funding for trails shifts to being funded through sponsorship and grants, with membership dollars paying going to the ED position. To a point, the ED can generate enough revenue through grants and sponsorship to pay for his/her position.

I'm looking forward to the coming years as there are many exciting projects just around the corner. Looking at just the Three Rivers Park District projects and the DNR's State Park pilot project in Camden, we've got years of new trail development ahead of us. I believe that we've accomplished some amazing things since our beginning as an organization, but feel that our best work is still yet to come.

I hope to have that opportunity to be a part of that process in the coming year.

[Burke]

In the interim until we develop a formal position description, the following is a brief description of some of the responsibilities and expectations for directors on the MORC board.

The MORC board of directors provides guidance for MORC initiatives and projects. As necessary, directors act as liasons with outside contacts, representing the interests of MORC.

Each director is legally required to act in the best interest of MORC and its membership. This legal fiduciary responsibility stems from MORC being a non-profit corporation.

Directors are expected to be prepared in advance of board meetings, to think critically and to ask questions. This means reading all materials presented before meetings, and critically analyzing them. Blanket acceptance of what is presented and group think are highly discouraged.

Directors must be aware that their personal actions and opinions will often be interpreted as an official position of MORC. Because of this, MORC directors are strongly encouraged to remain neutral or reserved when it comes to highly opinionated topics that are unrelated to mountain biking (i.e. politics, religion).

Directors frequently take the lead in projects varying from drafting official MORC documents (chapter handbook, trail steward and dirt boss position descriptions, MORC by-laws) to coordinating activities (National Trail Day, 24 Hours of Afton volunteers, Erik's Spring Cup, MN MTB Summit).

Directors are encouraged to involve non-board members in projects and to actively develop the next round of leadership for the organization.

Directors are expected to read MORC related document drafts and proposals as they are presented and to provide honest critical feedback to help better the quality of the work.

Directors are also expected to attend the monthly board meetings (currently held at REI in Bloomington. 7-9pm on the second Tuesday of the month).

Directors are also expected to attend the annual late fall strategic planning session (a 7ish hour meeting at a location TBD, usually involves catered or potluck style lunch).

Directors are expected to participate in the annual budgeting process that allocates funds to various projects and programs for the coming year.

Directors elect the officers of the corporation (president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary).

Collectively, directors will hire the coming executive director and will oversee and guide the executive director.

There are no specific educational or experiential requirements for being on the board. All that is needed is a passion for mountain biking, a desire to better the mountain bike community through gaining and maintaining trails, a willingness to commit time and effort to the cause, and a commitment to act in a manner consistent with the MORC by-laws and 501(c)(3) non-profit requirements.

Per the MORC by-laws. MORC directors cannot be compensated for their role on the board. Any budgeted or previously approved expenses undertaken on behalf of MORC will be promptly reimbursed.


Questions or clarifications? president@morcmtb.org

[Burke]

The question came up, what should be in the bio...
A little about who you are, what your interest in joining the board is, and possibly any background or experience you have that might be pertinent.

In the forum, there's no bio word limit. On the ballots that are distributed at the annual meeting, bios longer than 150 words will be edited to that length. Yes, mine is going to get chopped.

[gopherhockey]

This year has been one of those years when reality strikes and one realizes that work can take up a lot of volunteer time. As such I was forced to debate whether or not to continue on the board for another year, or to step aside. I have thought for a long time and have decided to put my hat in for one more year - mostly because I have unfinished business that I would like to complete before giving someone else a chance. I think there will also be some turnover this year and want to contribute experience to a board possibly full of new and excited faces.

Many of you know me as the webmaster and dirt boss at Lebanon Hills. I got involved in MORC initially because of Lebanon Hills where I saw first hand what a club like MORC can do for mountain biking in this area. Since then I have helped see Lebanon through many major re-routes and trails and have been known to sneak out and assist the trail gnome in placing new obstacles and fixing trouble areas. I have also seen the web site through a number of major (and minor) revisions as one of my key roles with MORC.

My 05' major accomplishments:

o Served as MORC VP
o Helped author a new Trail Stewards / Dirt Boss guide to accompany the chapter handbook
o Performed maintenance and upgrades on the web site and forums including:
- New Classifieds Software
- Upgraded Forum Software
- Upgraded Gallery Software
o Aquire some greatly needed tools (McLeods)
o Working to inventory tools, develop took check-out system
o Generally did my best to help out all the other exciting efforts that have been taking place.

There are a few items that I would like to continue working on before I step off the board such as:

o Finding help in the webmaster area to get more people involved in this important aspect of the club. This includes more moderators in forums, or forum administrators as necessary.
o Upgrading our online membership system to provide real-time renewal information, an online membership database, and fix those MORC Member logos so they are all automatic (no more waiting!)
o Another major forum software upgrade due out this winter.
o Complete the tool inventory and check-out system.
o Complete the Trail Steward (and Dirt Boss) Guidebook.

These are just a few items I really want to see completed before I leave, but as mentioned earlier I also want to help transition new members into the board as some of our experienced board members (potentially) leave. MORC is doing so many wonderful things that I would like to spend just one more year being a part of it and helping see some of the things I started to completion in a non-officer capacity.

I hope that my efforts thus far will earn me the honor to serve MORC for one more year.

[syntaxjunkie]

Hi. I’m Charles Youel, MORC Board member and Stuff Maker-Upper.

My first projects were to help design a new logo and put it on a poster that we distributed to bike shops around town to tell bikers about MORC.

I've redesigned, edited and written for the MORC newsletter.

I helped create the MORC "Riders" t-shirt that we sold as a fundraiser this year.

Finally, I've helped organize the first Minnesota Mountain Bike Summit, to be held September 9-11 at Lebanon Hills. Which you should be at.

As proud as I am of this stuff, I know we can do better next year. Which is the main reason I’m up for doing this again.

One more thing: If you're actually reading this, you obviously care about this organization. Maybe more than most. As long as you're here, throw your hat in the ring for the Board. Whatever you're good at, chances are we need help with it.

[Buck]

Serious now,

How bout one of the people trying to get elected or all of you for that matter, explain your stance on aggressive trail riding and how you plan to implement things to get more demanding features on trails in the woods that people like Andrew, Pete, Dusty...etc...etc can ride and progress on? What do you personally feel about FR/DH/DJ/DS riding? What can we expect you to do if people come forward to you with oppurtunities?

Thanks
L8R
Buck

[KleinCrazy]

Hello,


I am James Ford, MORC Board Member and Salem Hills Trail Steward, among other things.

I have been active on the board for 6 or 7 years now and want to continue contributing what I can.

Most of my work for the board involves little pet projects that I think everyone has enjoyed,

- Setup the whole MORC Socks as Swag thing.
- Helped plan and put on the Annual Meeting last year at Buck Hill.
- Helped with the 24 Hours of Afton the past 4 years.
- Over my history of working with MORC I have been involved with trail planning and construction at Terrace Oaks, Lebanon Hills, MN River Bottoms, Theo Wirth, and Salem Hills.
- I have been a Member of the Mountain Bike Patrol and Hope to continue with this once I get some certifications taken care of.

- Just got done ordering some really cool AND USEFUL!!! new MORC Swag for those that attend the Summit next month. (might also be for sale at Afton)


As MORC goes forward I hope to be involved with the expansion to a more State Wide organization if for no other reason then to take some of the pressure off of the metro.

I also hope to continue to do alot of little things, I am not one for taking over huge projects, but I love to help out with them, and to take on the little ones.

James

[Tim Wegner]

OK, I know that last year I said this was my last year and so now I have changed my mind. I want to continue on the board for another year. Why you might ask? Because I have unfinished business that I want to see completed. Following is a list of trail projects I have worked on that I want to see completed:
1. Murphy Hanrehan
2. Roseville's reservoir woods
3. Lake Elmo
4. Camden State Park
5. Cuyuna Recreation Area
6. Steeplechase
7. Elm Creek
8. Lake Rebecca

These are all trail systems where discussion has begun but the trails are not complete or approved yet. I believe that I have greater credibilty when I speak to a land manager when I can add that I am on the board of directors of MORC.

I have committed to IMBA that I will continue to be one of the IMBA representatives for another 5 years. By that time I hope to have all of the systems mentioned above either completed or in the construction phase.

In the past I have worked on many projects that are either completed or in some stage of completion. Those projects include:
1. Lebanon Hills
2. Re-routes on the river bottoms
3. Re-Routes at Terrace Oaks
4. Helped design Theo
5. Negotiated with Minnesota State Parks to get permission to build trails in 2 state parks as a start.
6. Convinced MRTUA to include mountain bikers as user group on the committee that approves grants for the federal Recreation Trail Programs monies
7. Successfully petitioned for $700,000 to fund 40 miles of trails in the Cuyuna Recreation Area.
8 Successfully convinced Three Rivers Parks District to allow MORC to build new mountain bike trails in Murphy Hanrehan park
9. Worked with Inver Grove Heights to allow mountain bike trails to be constructed in Salem Hills Park.

I want to thank the MORC board for all the support they have given me in the past and especially the members of MORC for their financial contributions. Without the cash and support, none of the above items listed would be anything more than just a dream.

My position on all types of riding is: As long as the trails are sustainable and built with intelligence to limit the potential for litigation I support those efforts.
TW

[manual63]

Serious now,

How bout one of the people trying to get elected or all of you for that matter, explain your stance on aggressive trail riding and how you plan to implement things to get more demanding features on trails in the woods that people like Andrew, Pete, Dusty...etc...etc can ride and progress on? What do you personally feel about FR/DH/DJ/DS riding? What can we expect you to do if people come forward to you with oppurtunities?

Thanks
L8R
Buck

Please only post in this thread if you are putting your name in for the 2005-2006 MORC board of directors election.


Looks like you want to run for the board.....don't you???

Hmmm, this was/is not the place to post this.....didn't Scott specifically ask to only post if you want to be elected? You could have started a whole new thread on this issue.

Oh, and I am seriously thinking about running. Not sure what to type up yet or if I am going to want to be on both MOCA and MORC. I think most people who visit the forums enough know my stance on many issues. But if I decide to run, I will post something up. Decision to come soon.

[manual63]

No, I think this is the right forum. He has a valid question for those who want to be on the board. The only way we can vote for the person or persons is to have valid answers to the questions that are asked. You of all people should know this. I too am interested in the answer to this question. It's the next wave of cycling, and I would like to know MORC's stance on this issue. So I feel it is in the right forum for this discussion.

I disagree and started a new thread for people to post questions or concerns. Scott did specifically ask for us not to do what we are doing right now.

http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14327

Thank you.

[manual63]

I came to these forums about 2 years ago, maybe longer, and I had an attitude. I came from a hardcore BMX background and had the mentality of a BMXer on an XC mountain bike. BMX did help me have a lot of bicycle riding skills, but it certainly didn't prepare me for the variety and scope of the mountain bike community. Sure, I made/make fun of tights, but it's all in fun for me. I know why people wear them and that they are very functional. Same with helmets and so on. Over these two or so years I have learned a lot from all of you and have become more diplomatic and understanding than I used to be.

So here I am today. I have put in many hours at Theo this year and decided to run for and get on the MOCA board. Many people like my opinions and stance on things and they like it that I am not afraid to speak out if I have an opinion on something. I have learned to also take other peoples opinions seriously too. I have started many debates in here (exclude the political stuff) and most of them turned out quite well and with a common understanding. I learn a lot from the debates in here.

My goal for the future of mountain biking is to build trails everyone likes, to do this, you have to be a listener. I have a strong opinion on many things, but most of all, I want to listen to others and get their opinions also. MORC trails are and need to be designed for many different types and styles of riders and many different skill levels. I feel it is important to make the beginner comfortable on our trails while still maintaining a challange for the more advanced riders. This is not easy to do and lately there have been many debates about this very issue. Freeriding is still growing and has become a big part of mountain biking. There is a lot of freeriding that crosses over into XC riding now. XC bicycle designs have even become more aggresive as a result. I love skinny's, jumps, fast downhills, log crossings, and all that sort of stuff. I hope we can add a lot of these features to most trails, but I think it is very important that we keep the beginner in mind while doing so. The father who decides to take a ride with his wife and kids comes to mind. Or the older rider who just decides he/she wants to take up mountain biking as a hobby to stay healthy. We have a lot of women interested in the sport. Many of them are as good and hardcore as the men, but there are some that have no interest or are too scared to take a log roll or 2 ft drop. It is important MORC tries it's hardest to accomodate all skill levels. The hardcore freeride movement is going to probably need it's own separate space and trails. Hopefully the MPLS bmx/freeride park idea is still up in the air. Some of the stuff freeriders like to do just doesn't belong and isn't safe on a typical XC trail. This is why I am glad there are places like Steeplechase and Spirit who are willing to have downhill and freeride courses. That way, freeriders can have a place they can go all out. I am 100% in support of more stunts and advanced sections on MORC trails, but only if they can be approved and considered safe by MORC/MOCA and land managers and are up to IMBA standards. This process takes awhile.

So that being said, I am mostly interested in trail layout and design. I am moving in that direction with MOCA and would like to be involved with MORC too. Being on the board means I will be open minded and I will be a listener. Knowing what riders want and making enjoyable trails for everyone is my goal.

I have not officially decided to run for the board. But if I do, this is my stance and what I would be interested in doing.

[TML]

I’d like to remain on the board again this year. It has been a great experience since having been elected last year and I’d love to continue contributing to our great sport by serving the dirt riding populace for another year.

I began my serious off-road riding career on a borrowed Giant Iguana in early 1991. Got my first real Mt. Bike shortly after that and have been in love with the sport ever since.

After several years of riding, I quickly began to see how important it was that riders become involved in "gaining and maintaining" trails for us to ride on. I wanted to get my hands dirty and build trail so I became very involved with the BLAST crew and put in many, many hours on the Milaca, Monticello and Elk River trail systems. During this time I attended a few of the early MORC meetings and joined as a member in the spring of '98. Since then I've worked on trail crews at Battle Creek, Lebanon Hills, Salem Hills and Theodore Wirth.



Bits of info about me:

Riding since '91
IMBA member since '96
MORC member since May '98
Attended IMBA trail school at Terrace Oaks with Mike and Jan Riter
BLAST trail crew at Milaca, Monticello and Hillside
Actively race, and raced on a local shop team for 3 years
MORC trail crew at Battle Creek, Lebanon, Salem Hills and Theo
Attended Midwest Mtb Advocacy Summit in Kansas City in March of '04
Attended the Fruita Singletrack Trail Design and Advocacy Summit in May of ‘05

And whenever freetime allows, I love to travel and explore as many trails outside my local area, as possible.

While on the board this past year, I’ve served on the Chapter Planning Committee, the MN Singletrack Summit Committee and act as MORC’s merchandise distributor. I’ve also been active in trailwork at Theodore Wirth and Salem Hills.

The following are issues and topics that I feel are important for the upcoming year:

-Increasing trail opportunities in the north metro
-Increasing trail opportunities in greater Minnesota
-Building, continuing and growing relationships with non-metro clubs and riders.
-Group events and rides
-Continued involvement in trail work
-Maintaining a positive and encouraging outlook on our sport and our advocacy efforts, within our riding community and with those that we deal with outside of it.

Looking forward to serving another year,

--Troy Lawrence

[Buck]

I disagree and started a new thread for people to post questions or concerns. Scott did specifically ask for us not to do what we are doing right now.

http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14327

Thank you.

I had a question that I wanted to ask, the people running for the positions will be reading this thread, it is the perfect spot you don't like it, don't read it just keep on scrollin'...

Am I running for the Board...hmmm, maybe I should but I am still debating if I will even become a return member to this club.

*Edit*You know what on second thought I will run for the board. I would recommend that the board create a new position for a FRer to fill, there job would simply be consulting and taking on FR/DH specific projects brought to them by other memebers of MORC. That is a pretty simplified descripition of the position but I think there is a need. I will gladly go after such a position if it were to be created. You all know my stance on most subjects. If you have any questions for me post them up or PM and I will answer the the best I can.

Projects I have worked on that qualify for me such a tasks:

Great leadways into the DH/FR group.
Worked with Spirit to create a permanent DH course, with a FR trail on the drawing board(slight hiccup of managment change has slowed this down some)
With a few dedicated individuals we then built said DH course.
Helped to design, build and open the trail at Steeple Chase Ski Area
Ran the Greenman DH
Am currently working with an un named city in the Metro area to create a permanent FR area(details soon)
Will be doing an as yet un named FR event that will be drawing in riders from across the country. (details soon)
Have worked hard to get FR rolling in MN.
promoted FR/DHing through all types of media
am in the progress of organizing a mini winter DH series at Ski Resorts.
I am not the only one here that could go for a position like this, others I could see filling it would be Pete, David, Beau...etc...etc...

L8R
Buck

[jeffgude]

Sorry to interrupt you guys...

I would like to be re-elected to the MORC board one final time for the 2005-2006 term. If elected I will once again offer my services to MORC as secretary and membership database guy. During the coming winter we hope to transition to software that will allow quicker acknowledgement of new members, and prompt renewal reminders for expiring members. This will greatly reduce the amount of manual data entry required to maintain the membership database.

I have been involved with MORC from the very beginning in early 1998, when we voted to change the name from Gary Sjoquist's "North Central Mountain Bike Group", to MORC. As Secretary I 've maintained the database and taken meeting minutes since early 2000, when we had a whopping 68 members. Now there are nearly 1100 names in our database, with 600 active members.

I've done a little trail work, and helped at some MORC events, but most of my time is spent behind the scenes.

Oh, and I ride XC....

[nigel]

I would like to run again for the 2006 season as well.

I have a background in bike shops and know my way around anything bike related. I ride (when i ride) a fair amount of road and mtn mixed.

This last year with the MORC board was my first, and I had a great time!
Some of the things I've done with MORC are
--Loads of trail work
--Currently the Trail Steward for Terrace Oaks and established a better MORC relationship with the surrounding community
--Helped out with the last 2 REI National Trail Days
--"Special projects director" even though we've only had one come through,
Nate B who is working towards the rank of Eagle
--Worked to help create the MORC Chapter handbook
--Attended the Afton trail school


Things I would like to do in 2006
--Coninue to work on the Chapters
--Try and get more "special projects"
--Establish accurate topo maps for all the trails
--Help Jeff with his tasks (Jeff I'm willing to takeover for you when you wish!)
--With Scott, work on getting corporate sponsors
--Work on the events
--team/club?

Douglas Holtz

[gopherhockey]

I don't want to get into any issues with questions or groups or anything like that, but I think it would be good to keep this thread to nominees and move questions to the other thread that Shad started.

Could people please delete their own posts if you feel your point has been made?

Again, I don't mean to stop discussions etc. but each year we try keep this thread to just nominations. We should have been more clear about that from the start.

Thanks all!

[manual63]

Just to make it official. I have decided to run for the MORC board. My Bio is down a few posts....check it out if you are interested.

[Burke]

If you're thinking of throwing your hat in the ring, check out the post earlier in this thread outlining the director responsibilities and expectations.

I will need to have your bio by the 3rd in order to compile the ballots for the annual meeting on the 10th. Day-of nominations are accepted, but those will be handled as write in candidates.

[Burke]

Mara Larson
Shad Holland
Doug Holtz - current board member
Jeff Gude - current board member
Troy Lawrence - current board member
Tim Wegner - current board member
James Ford - current board member
Charles Youel - current board member
John Lundell - current board member
Scott Thayer - current board member

[mara]

I didn’t know mountain biking existed until I was in my early twenties and got a job in the bike industry. Yes, I got a job in a bike shop before I became interested in biking. Weird, huh?

Shortly thereafter, I caved to peer pressure. My boss bought me an old Rockhopper so I could ride with the warehouse boys after work. Wow. One River Bottoms ride, much crashing, walking, and "eek" later, I was hooked. I joined MORC the next spring at the Spring Cup race and haven’t looked back.

One of the things I would like to do, should you give me the opportunity as a board member, is find ways of increasing awareness and accessibility of mountain biking, not just to people who have been biking forever, but kids and women and grandparents and all the folks who just have no idea that this experience is out there.

While I don’t have the resume to rival some of our current board, I have been accused of being the most rabid cyclist people know. I’ve been a MORC member since the mid nineties. I’m a three ( plus ) season bike commuter. I’ve been working with MOCA since shovel first hit dirt, climbing my way up from grunt to grunt with orange shirt to grunt with title. If you’ve worked at Theo, chances are I’ve come after you with a notebook. I’ve done trailwork at Salem, pulled the raft at the river bottoms, sat behind many a table extolling the virtues of MORCism, and have written down 432 while calling out "432, thanks!" at the 24 hours of Afton.

I would like to further contribute to knobbies taking over the world by becoming a member of the MORC board. Vote for me -- I have a Pulaski. :D

[Burke]

Bump

Tomorrow is the last day to get your bio on the official board election ballot.
Nominations will be accepted in person at the annual meeting Saturday the 10th, but will be treated as a write in candidate.

[Kosk]

Cold hard truth:
- MORC is percieved by most of the "Freeride" community as a group of and for XC riders.

My name is Pete Koski and I would like to be elected to the Board so that, in addition to traditional duties, I could change this perception. I would like to be seen as someone who is "in" the MORC organization, at the top, who represents their views and ideas, and has the ability to make a difference. Freeriders are here, they are a growing body, and are not going away. Their cries for places to ride are only going to get louder. Bottom line, they are just another species of off-road cyclists in Minnesota, and by definition, MORC represents them. I want to make sure that they know MORC does represent them, and that it is an avenue through which they can effectively express their desires and concerns.

In conclusion, vote for Pedro.

[syntaxjunkie]

Cold hard truth:
- MORC is percieved by most of the "Freeride" community as a group of and for XC riders. in the all-volunteer, nonprofit advocacy biz, it is indeed the finest of lines between "of" and "for." glad to see your hat deftly executing a superman seat-grab into a no-handed lander as it arcs into the ring. ;-)

[seberly]

Cold hard truth:
- MORC is percieved by most of the "Freeride" community as a group of and for XC riders.

My name is Pete Koski and I would like to be elected to the Board so that, in addition to traditional duties, I could change this perception. I would like to be seen as someone who is "in" the MORC organization, at the top, who represents their views and ideas, and has the ability to make a difference. Freeriders are here, they are a growing body, and are not going away. Their cries for places to ride are only going to get louder. Bottom line, they are just another species of off-road cyclists in Minnesota, and by definition, MORC represents them. I want to make sure that they know MORC does represent them, and that it is an avenue through which they can effectively express their desires and concerns.

In conclusion, vote for Pedro.

Hi Pete, as a member that will be voting (and someone that could be labled as part of the problem) can you give us some background that would help me vote for you on how you could fulfill the "traditional duties" part of the job?

Thanks for putting your hat in.

[Burke]

Pete Koski
Mara Larson
Shad Holland
Doug Holtz - current board member
Jeff Gude - current board member
Troy Lawrence - current board member
Tim Wegner - current board member
James Ford - current board member
Charles Youel - current board member
John Lundell - current board member
Scott Thayer - current board member

Buck, Last post I saw had you passing on this year's election. Is that still your thought?

[Burke]

Cold hard truth:
- MORC is percieved by most of the "Freeride" community as a group of and for XC riders.

My name is Pete Koski and I would like to be elected to the Board so that, in addition to traditional duties, I could change this perception. I would like to be seen as someone who is "in" the MORC organization, at the top, who represents their views and ideas, and has the ability to make a difference. Freeriders are here, they are a growing body, and are not going away. Their cries for places to ride are only going to get louder. Bottom line, they are just another species of off-road cyclists in Minnesota, and by definition, MORC represents them. I want to make sure that they know MORC does represent them, and that it is an avenue through which they can effectively express their desires and concerns.

In conclusion, vote for Pedro.

Pete,
Glad to see you're interested.

[Tim Wegner]

Steve

I do not see on your information that you are a member or MORC. If that information is wrong I apologize. I believe that if you are going to be on the board of directors of MORC you must be a member. Maybe it would be a good idea to join before you run for election to the post.
TW

[Burke]

Steve

TW

You mean Pete?

Thanks for pointing this out Tim. To be eligible for election to the board, you must be a current member in good standing. I'm having a hard time thinking of any members that aren't currently in good standing.

I re-upped my membership yesterday after I realized it had lapsed 7/31.

[Burke]

Nominees must be current members in good standing to be eligible for the board.

I will begin making the ballot tomorrow morning, so you've got until midnight to get your nomination and bio in.

Here's who I have currently

Adam Buck
Pete Koski
Mara Larson
Shad Holland
Doug Holtz - current board member
Jeff Gude - current board member
Troy Lawrence - current board member
Tim Wegner - current board member
James Ford - current board member
Charles Youel - current board member
John Lundell - current board member
Scott Thayer - current board member

[Tim Wegner]

yup, i meant pete. Sorry, my oldsheimer kicked in big time on the name.

Tim

[Buck]

Buck, Last post I saw had you passing on this year's election. Is that still your thought?

No throw my hat in as well, everyone here knows my views and how active I am. Vote for Pedro
L8R
Buck

[Burke]

No throw my hat in as well, everyone here knows my views and how active I am. Vote for Pedro
L8R
Buck

Got it.

Do your plans for next weekend still involve goose hunting, or are you going to be able to make it to the Summit?

[Buck]

Got it.

Do your plans for next weekend still involve goose hunting, or are you going to be able to make it to the Summit?

Still involve goose hunting at this point...mmm, do I need to be present? If so take me off that is cool. VOTE FOR PEDRO!!! :crazy2: But if plans change I plan on being there.
L8R
Buck

[Burke]

Still involve goose hunting at this point...mmm, do I need to be present? If so take me off that is cool. VOTE FOR PEDRO!!! :crazy2: But if plans change I plan on being there.
L8R
Buck

Need not be present to win!

[gopherhockey]

I hope I have this right:

Adam Buck - new
Pete Koski - new
Mara Larson - new
Shad Holland - new
Erik Gerrits - new
Doug Holtz
Jeff Gude
Troy Lawrence
Tim Wegner
Charles Youel
John Lundell
Scott Thayer

[FSSS]

Congrats everyone!!!! :banana:


This is an awesome group...

a LOT of different perspectives, skills and backgrounds!!


MORC should have another great year!