2014 planning

[GJCruiser]

As Ace already mentioned, the final 2013 meeting was held (thanks to John for hosting) last week. The next meeting will be the first one of 2014 and will be held in January at a location TBD.

Please watch for the meeting announcement and begin thinking of agenda items you'd like added for discussion at that meeting. If you want, post up thoughts here and someone will accumulate them into an agenda. (I'm happy to do it, I just don't want to infringe on current club leadership.)

One of the things we discussed is the early announcement and schedule for club trail runs. Our thinking is with sometimes difficult schedules, it may be easier to plan to attend a run if it is scheduled long in advance.

So what do you think of starting with, say, at January's meeting we collectively schedule several runs YOU want to participate in. For example, one to the Mesa, somewhere in Utah, one of my favorites is the San Juan camping trip. July or August would be an outstanding time of year to make that trip. Shoulder seasons would be great for Utah.

Let's try to get three, four, or more on the calendar in January. Let's try to set them as standard trips the same weekend every year. Then everyone can schedule vacation, dog to the vet, etc. around these weekends. We can also minimize conflicts with anniversaries, birthdays, etc. We're still free to announce spontaneous trips- just want to carve a few in stone.

Besides setting long range appointments for trail runs, what else would you like to see from the club. Someone thought of a wrenching party. I could use that-I'm preparing to install a dual band radio in my "new" 80. I could use help removing panels and routing wires. Would could you use help with?

Toss up ideas here, shoot me a PM, or bring them to January's meeting! Look forward to seeing you there!

Happy Holidays

Gerry

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Thanks Gerry.

Please let's get some response flowing here. We really need feedback from the club. What do YOU want to see BCC doing in 2014 and beyond?

I believe our primary goal right now is recruiting new members to join BCC. We MUST get club business cards printed now and begin handing them out to prospective members we see anywhere and everywhere. We also need to get the club more exposure. I propose we make up a poster to be placed on every bulletin board in Grand Valley and beyond, that are possible markets for us, such as 4x4 shops, Toyota dealerships, outdoor retailers and more.

Also very time we do a run we need to announce it in every media outlet we can find, web and print.

Ace

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[jonharis]

Great work on this guys. Thanks for being so proactive. I received the following image from Ben with a front business card design idea. I like where it's going. Please provide input here and ideas for the reverse. The only think I would like to emphasize on the card is that we are open to ALL Toyota/Lexus 4x4 vehicles. The image of Ace's (albiet very handsome) FJC could confuse people slightly if they are driving other models.



I also would really like to encourage some new blood to step into leadership roles. The last couple years has been a great experience for me, I've met some of the best people I know and experienced countless moments that I otherwise would not have, and even learned a thing or two about non-profits. That said the club has been stagnant in it's growth, something I take 100% of the responsibility for, and new or renewed energy is a must. I feel we should hold nominations at the January meeting and Elections at February. My recollection is that we did it that way last year.

I'm happy to continue providing the support for financials of the club. I recently filed the periodic report with the SOS and payed the $10 fee from the club funds. We have a lot to discuss in January regarding membership dues, business memberships and advertising as well. I also intend to continue to be active in land use and trail leading, organization.

As for the calendar, My year is highly up in the air at this point and I don't want to make any commitments yet. I agree that in the past couple of years having firm dates on the calendar has worked well to get people motivated for trips, both the Kokopelli Prerun and Far Beyond Swell come to mind. I think throwing the calendar down on the table and penciling in dates would be a very good idea. I think we need to take it up a notch and do it twice yearly or quarterly.

Two trips that I would personally like to take the club on in spring time, April or so, are Sheep Creek and Calamity Mesa, both moderately technical day runs that are fun in early season.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

No way can we allow you to claim 100%. Every member should be pro-active in trying to recruit and retain new members. Along those lines I was feeling impatient about getting club cards in hand. When I brought this up at the last meeting Bill volunteered to run off more of the cards he and John designed when the club was formed. He has done that and has 250 (?) cards ready to be handed out. He will bring them to the January meeting or get them from him sooner. We must get these in circulation and start getting in that new blood that is so vital to any organization. Bens design looks great and we can either go ahead and use both or put his on hold.

John F. has agreed to host the January meeting in his shop. Hopefully we can make it standing room only. Plan to order in pizza.

Jonathan has done great job as president this past year. I for one would like him to stay on for another term but understand he is so busy with many other projects. If the support is there I would be willing to move up to president. But I won't be able to attend the important January meeting as I'll be in Baja for around two months. That being said I hope someone will volunteer as Vice President and really put a strong effort into all club functions for the first two months. Sounds like Jonathan is volunteering to keep the reins of secretary/treasurer which I applaud.

Let's really hit the media for announcements of the January meeting. John might have to move his toys out of his shop to make room for us all but that would be a good thing.

I am heading south in two weeks so Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my BCC friends.

Ace

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