ach and every year the gcrg board of directors tackles new issues, wrestles with policy directions, and provides their invaluable input, all with aplomb, enthusiasm and a great deal of camaraderie. However, from time to time, a specific board is especially challenged—a situation we have certainly experienced this past year with our work on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (eis) of the Colorado River Management Plan. This was truly a task that brought home to all of us the important role gcrg plays in protecting Grand Canyon and the river experience. It also highlighted the exceptional nature of those who volunteer their efforts towards these worthy goals.
It is with this in mind that I feel compelled to acknowledge their hard work, considerable expertise and astounding perseverance as Drifter Smith (president), Jocelyn Gibbon (director) and Jayne Lee (director) leave office on September 1st. It is pure serendipity that Drifter served his term as president during our “final push” on gcrg’s comments for the Draft crmp. How many people can say that they actually read the park’s gargantuan, intimidating, and complex draft, much less understood it? Drifter managed to do just that while injecting our efforts with a strong historical perspective and attention to detail. For that matter, all of our board members rose to the occasion, participating fully with perspectives born of differing backgrounds, knowledge, and dedication to the mission and goals of Grand Canyon River Guides. And of course this was not the only issue we faced (albeit certainly the most daunting).

There were many other projects we worked on together during their tenure. Our deepest gratitude to these fine folk for all their hard work on behalf of this organization! Next time you run into them, please extend your thanks, pat them on the back, and maybe even buy them a cold beer or two. They really (and I mean really) deserve it.
And, I bet you are dying to know to know the results of the gcrg election? How I wish I could tell you. Unfortunately it remains a mystery as the polls for the gcrg election closed too late for us to publish the new directors and officers list on this issue’s masthead. However, if your curiosity has gotten the better of you all is not lost; simply look for that info on our website, www.gcrg.org. Election results will be posted by September 1st. The only obvious change is that Joe Pollock will take the helm, moving up from vice president to president-elect. Joe runs motors for Arizona River Runners and he has already done gcrg an enormous service by not only serving as Vice President (and now President), but also by investing a considerable amount of time and energy working on the Adopt-a-Beach Program. Joe is an intelligent and perceptive University of California Berkeley alum with great leadership qualities. You can expect him to bring sound ideas to the table.
Overall, we couldn’t be more thankful and honored to have such a fantastic slate of candidates this year. gcrg will come out a winner regardless of election results, and you can be certain that the gcrg officers and directors will be ready to tackle the tasks at hand. Clearly, it all boils down to passion—something all of our hardworking gcrg volunteers exhibit in copious quantities. How very lucky we are.

Lynn Hamilton