Creative Fab
January 14th, 2005, 03:41 PM
The following is my "pres says" column for the winter 05 issue of our quarterly Boondocker. This issue never made it to print for reasons unanounced to the exec. board. See post in GL business section about needing an editor.
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As I write this I am sitting in our ( at this point a very small and getting smaller) recently aquired slide in pickup camper that I mentioned in my last ?Prez Says? column. My Father and I are trying to get in the last few days of rifle deer season in our beloved woods of northern MI. It is, as I eluded to, almost the end of November and I am trying to make the deadline for submissions to the Boondocker and keep Mr. Jacobs, the much appreciated, underpaid editor of this fine publication happy and on schedule.
Why do I always wait until the last possible minute I ask myself? Well, you see it is because I want to be able to fill you all in on everything that comes my way right up until that deadline. This way I do not have to give you old news in my report for the following issue. That and there is a good chance I might forget it if I don?t write it down.
So without further ado let me fill you in on some happenings since the October quarterly meeting. A lot of the hardworking volunteers that make GL function have been busy doing the everyday activities of the Assoc. and with daily conversations on the GL forums. If you haven?t been on the forums lately, or you haven?t even signed on as of yet, do yourself a favor and do it. There are a lot of ideas, and between quarterly meeting discussions that are going on within the forums, some of which are becoming building blocks for the very future of our organization.
There have been the occasional topics which have ruffled a few feathers, but in the end all they did was make us stronger. It is also where you will find out about my recent trip to the SEMA show in Las Vegas, and how, while I was there I got to attend a Craftsman Truck Series race in Phoenix AZ. complete with pit passes. SEMA (specialty equipment market assoc.) is a must attend event if you ever get the chance, plane fair from Lansing to Vegas is only $200 with no layovers. I met some movers and shakers from the automotive industry while I was there, along with several celebrities that you have all seen on your television set. I was able to speak with several of the celebs while wearing my GL attire, which led the conversation to who we are and what we do.
One of these folks, a celebrity in our circles at least, was Del Albright from the Blue Ribbon Coalition. He expressed interest in coming to MI and participating and even speaking at a GL event, about land issues of course. I also met Walker Evans and the well traveled duo from the Turtle Expedition, along with taking photos of their respective vehicles. Ken Brubaker from Fourwheeler magazine and Mark Nobles from 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility were both in attendance and I spoke with both, and they would really like to come to MI as well and do a photo shoot and story from one of our trail rides.
Kim says that I am to ?wordy? so I will give you some bullet points on some important goings on without a long story about it.
? The event insurance policy through Heritage Ins. Will probably be in place by the time you read this.
? Our trail maintenance insurance was renewed and then will be cancelled on Dec. 9th. I am working on a new policy with a new carrier and should have that in place by the time the prior expires.
? GL website and forums are constantly improving with new features and a lot more use. Thanks go out to Frank White for these improvements.
? Lots of individual members are volunteering and making things happen. And they have a new Director At Large to represent them, his name is Bruce Menning and if you?re an ?indy? he wants to hear from you!
? The ORV trails program is not headed in a healthy direction these days, however there is an ORV study that is underway that is supposed to address the issues and make improvements. Results from this will be available by May 2005.
? Gitchee Gumee was a success again this year. This was my 6th year as a trail leader and the first in that time that all groups were back in camp on the same day they left. The weather was also very cooperative with some color showing up in the tree?s. This is a fund raising event for GL so mark your calendars for the 2005 Canadian 4x4 Adventure. Next year the trail ride committee is considering moving the event to the last weekend in September, go to the event forum in the forums section of the GL web site to vote on this.
? The Northwood University International Auto Show in which GL had a booth went very well with some great contacts being made and some old GL members were found among the thousands in attendance. Kerry Ann Grifith, our marketing director manned the booth on Sunday during the 3 day show, as that was the day of our October quarterly. Joe and Maria Cefalli and myself also spent some quality time greeting guests as they entered our piece of this, the largest outdoor new car auto show in the country. We will be there again next year, so make plans to come out and shop for you next 4x4 or family sedan, or heavy equipment for that matter, and help us relay our message to the public and the many folks from the automotive industry.
I am sure there is something I am forgetting so keep an eye to the GL forums in case I remember it. In the meantime come on out and ride with us at the many upcoming outings, sanctioned and non sanctioned.
Looking forward to 2 more years as your president!
See you on the trail!
Pat Kinne
President GLFWDA
1-888-705-8683
ironamnent@hotmail.com
__________________________________________________ __________________
As I write this I am sitting in our ( at this point a very small and getting smaller) recently aquired slide in pickup camper that I mentioned in my last ?Prez Says? column. My Father and I are trying to get in the last few days of rifle deer season in our beloved woods of northern MI. It is, as I eluded to, almost the end of November and I am trying to make the deadline for submissions to the Boondocker and keep Mr. Jacobs, the much appreciated, underpaid editor of this fine publication happy and on schedule.
Why do I always wait until the last possible minute I ask myself? Well, you see it is because I want to be able to fill you all in on everything that comes my way right up until that deadline. This way I do not have to give you old news in my report for the following issue. That and there is a good chance I might forget it if I don?t write it down.
So without further ado let me fill you in on some happenings since the October quarterly meeting. A lot of the hardworking volunteers that make GL function have been busy doing the everyday activities of the Assoc. and with daily conversations on the GL forums. If you haven?t been on the forums lately, or you haven?t even signed on as of yet, do yourself a favor and do it. There are a lot of ideas, and between quarterly meeting discussions that are going on within the forums, some of which are becoming building blocks for the very future of our organization.
There have been the occasional topics which have ruffled a few feathers, but in the end all they did was make us stronger. It is also where you will find out about my recent trip to the SEMA show in Las Vegas, and how, while I was there I got to attend a Craftsman Truck Series race in Phoenix AZ. complete with pit passes. SEMA (specialty equipment market assoc.) is a must attend event if you ever get the chance, plane fair from Lansing to Vegas is only $200 with no layovers. I met some movers and shakers from the automotive industry while I was there, along with several celebrities that you have all seen on your television set. I was able to speak with several of the celebs while wearing my GL attire, which led the conversation to who we are and what we do.
One of these folks, a celebrity in our circles at least, was Del Albright from the Blue Ribbon Coalition. He expressed interest in coming to MI and participating and even speaking at a GL event, about land issues of course. I also met Walker Evans and the well traveled duo from the Turtle Expedition, along with taking photos of their respective vehicles. Ken Brubaker from Fourwheeler magazine and Mark Nobles from 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility were both in attendance and I spoke with both, and they would really like to come to MI as well and do a photo shoot and story from one of our trail rides.
Kim says that I am to ?wordy? so I will give you some bullet points on some important goings on without a long story about it.
? The event insurance policy through Heritage Ins. Will probably be in place by the time you read this.
? Our trail maintenance insurance was renewed and then will be cancelled on Dec. 9th. I am working on a new policy with a new carrier and should have that in place by the time the prior expires.
? GL website and forums are constantly improving with new features and a lot more use. Thanks go out to Frank White for these improvements.
? Lots of individual members are volunteering and making things happen. And they have a new Director At Large to represent them, his name is Bruce Menning and if you?re an ?indy? he wants to hear from you!
? The ORV trails program is not headed in a healthy direction these days, however there is an ORV study that is underway that is supposed to address the issues and make improvements. Results from this will be available by May 2005.
? Gitchee Gumee was a success again this year. This was my 6th year as a trail leader and the first in that time that all groups were back in camp on the same day they left. The weather was also very cooperative with some color showing up in the tree?s. This is a fund raising event for GL so mark your calendars for the 2005 Canadian 4x4 Adventure. Next year the trail ride committee is considering moving the event to the last weekend in September, go to the event forum in the forums section of the GL web site to vote on this.
? The Northwood University International Auto Show in which GL had a booth went very well with some great contacts being made and some old GL members were found among the thousands in attendance. Kerry Ann Grifith, our marketing director manned the booth on Sunday during the 3 day show, as that was the day of our October quarterly. Joe and Maria Cefalli and myself also spent some quality time greeting guests as they entered our piece of this, the largest outdoor new car auto show in the country. We will be there again next year, so make plans to come out and shop for you next 4x4 or family sedan, or heavy equipment for that matter, and help us relay our message to the public and the many folks from the automotive industry.
I am sure there is something I am forgetting so keep an eye to the GL forums in case I remember it. In the meantime come on out and ride with us at the many upcoming outings, sanctioned and non sanctioned.
Looking forward to 2 more years as your president!
See you on the trail!
Pat Kinne
President GLFWDA
1-888-705-8683
ironamnent@hotmail.com