Changing of the Guard

If you take a look at the masthead, you’ll notice that the gcrg officers and board members have changed once again. The new crew will officially take office on September 1st. The board make-up is fantastic; bringing so much varied experience to the table. Gcrg president Drifter Smith (Arizona Raft Adventures) will be at the helm, with Joe Pollock (Arizona River Runners) in the vp spot. The newly elected board members are: Bert Jones (Outdoors Unlimited), Marieke Taney (Canyon Explorations/Expeditions), and Tiffany George (Western River Expeditions). Welcome! The board members staying on for one more year are O’C Dale (Freelance), Jayne Lee (Canyon Explorations/Expeditions), and Jocelyn Gibbon (Arizona Raft Adventures). Overall, it will be an exceedingly well-rounded board, striking a necessary balance between motor/oar, north or south of the ditch, male and female guides. In fact, you could say that this is the living embodiment of “the unique spirit of the river community.” That balance will certainly be crucial as we move into the final phase of the Colorado River Management Plan. In all that we do, gcrg seeks to represent the views, concerns, and hopes of our membership to the best of our abilities.
I’d like to extend our deepest gratitude to our outgoing gcrg president, John O’Brien, and our outgoing board members, Jeri Ledbetter, Bob Dye, and Matt Kaplinski for their supreme dedication and hard work on behalf of gcrg this past year.

Their collective intelligence, expertise, and wit helped us to tackle complex issues with great aplomb. I simply cannot say enough kind words about these folks. It has been so much fun (and such an honor) to work with these good, caring people. I am certain that they’ll all find ways to remain involved. When you care about it that deeply, it’s hard to stay away.
As the board changes once again, it reminds us what all of these folks have in common (including all board nominees). These men and women put into action what they hold dear in their hearts—a passionate love for Grand Canyon and the Colorado River coupled with a deep desire to protect and preserve these treasures for future generations. Their commitment is humbling and an inspiration to us all. Thanks for keeping the spirit of volunteerism and advocacy alive and well!

Lynn Hamilton