Elections, the Board and You
(and thanks and adios)

   One of the comments we got back on a ballot under “worst thing GCRG is doing” was having votes on uncontested candidates…duhhh.

   Yeah, well, we’re a corporation, so we have to. But it’s not like we don’t want more candidates. The Board has an annual arm-twisting drive just to find enough nominees to fill all the spots. It’d be great, excellent, if we got a few willing nominees from the floor. But without more involvement and willingness to be on the Board, we end up “choosing” the next officers and board. Which makes us particularly vulnerable to the inbred, elite clique perception.

   But you know, it’s not like we go looking for people who agree with us so we can pull off power plays. It’s more of a search for someone to help with the workload. We search for folks with ideas, energy and follow-through. And we don’t all agree on a lot of things. We argue a lot. Sometimes we get mad and yell. Veins bulge.

   What are we for? We are, or should be, the people you elect to analyze and act on a myriad of issues. We should be representing your views and doing something about them. You should nominate and vote for people whose opinions and judgement you trust. Or jump in yourself. And you need to keep telling us what’s up. (If big bucks weren’t involved, that’s what national politics might be about too, but I’d better not get started…)

   What’s in it for us? Some praise, some criticism, a limited amount of (often imagined) glory, an occasional pizza, and hundreds of hours of hard, often very frustrating, work. And a good feeling that we’re trying to do something right for the Canyon.

   Why do we do it? It varies. Because it needs to be done. Because someone’s got to do it. A feeling of debt to the Canyon, guilt (the ultimate motivator) that my friends are working so hard and I’m slacking, peer group pressure… But mostly it’s that good feeling.

   So think about what you want from GCRG. Let us know. Or better yet, way better: come help us get it done. We’re pretty busy as it is.

   Oh yeah–the results. Taking office September 1 are:

   The bylaws are changed so that the vice president, after one year, will become president for one year. That’s plenty. Try it if you don’t believe me.

   So: in 68 days (not that I’m counting) Shane, Lew and the gang will take the reins. I’m ready. It’s been a lot of work, at least as much as I feared two years ago, but most definitely worth it. The education was better than a few years in college and it didn’t even cost me all that much. A couple years ago I was utterly computer illiterate––computer phobic, actually. I was a slow hunt-and-peck typist. I had never written much. I didn’t do well at meetings. I was terrified of people in uniforms. I dreaded responsibility. I didn’t know how to delegate. I lacked discipline.

   Now as I prepare to hand this off I find that not all that much has changed.

   No, really… I haven’t mastered many new skills, but I can sit down and talk to the Superintendent without throwing up or crying, I’ve learned that with the right words to the right people you can actually, sometimes, make pretty big things happen. I can say, “That’s a great idea. I think you should take charge of it.” I’ve gotten to work and laugh and shout with some of the most wonderful, amazing people in the business. I can stand up in front of a hundred and some-odd (some very odd) boatmen and tell them stuff. The darndest people come up to me and say we’re really doing great things. I’ve been offered a job in graphic design. I can put thoughts on a page, and I’m touch typing this on a big huge scary computer, will format it on a graphics program tomorrow and delegate it off to press and your mailbox and leave for Alaska on Friday. But I still dread reaponsibility and lack discipline.

   So yeah, It’s been a terrific education, and one that I hope a lot of you will take the initiative to cash in on yourselves. And no, it’s not like I’m really leaving or anything–I’ll still be kicking around like Moody and Kenton–I’ll just be, as Tom says, running sweep boat for a while.

   Thanks for everything, gang-

Brad Dimock