The core and strength of the Skagit Bicycle Club is its members. It’s more than obvious to say that without members there is no club. However, not quite so obvious but just as true, without members volunteering to help and to lead there is no club either. Now is the time of year when we have to plan for next year’s leadership. There are two board members whose term will be up in December, and we have officer positions that need to be filled as well.
A board term is for three (3) years and would begin in January. It’s a responsibility, but not a huge time commitment. The board meets once per month for about an hour, via Zoom, to do what a board normally does – review financial performance, develop policies as necessary, plan club events such as the picnic and annual meeting, address member and club needs, etc. You can make more of it if you choose to (and I hope that you will), but you don’t have to. If you are interested in being a candidate, please let me know. If you are considering it and would like to know more, please contact me or talk to any of the current board members or officers.
Officer positions coming open are: Secretary, Vice-president and President. The roles are pretty straightforward. The secretary attends the monthly board meetings and takes the minutes. The secretary also picks up the club mail at the Burlington Post Office (twice a month is sufficient) and distributes the mail as appropriate. It’s a one-year term, with the option for re-election. That’s pretty much it.
The Vice-president acts for the President when he/she cannot such as chairing the monthly board meeting if the President is absent. The Vice-president serves a one-year term and is expected to move up to the President’s role the following year.
The President’s job is, admittedly, a bit more involved, but is by no means something that will consume all your free time. It mainly involves organizing and running the monthly board meetings – do the agenda, track upcoming events like the annual meeting, picnic and Spring Classic, make sure things like the insurance get paid, answer the occasional email from members and, of course, run the board meetings. There’s a bit more, perhaps, but that’s the essence of it. It’s also a one-year term although some of us, myself included, have done a second consecutive year.
Yes, it’s time for change but, more importantly, it’s an opportunity for new people. New people becoming involved means new ideas, new thoughts on past and current practices and new ways of doing things going forward.
As I said above, if you are interested in being a candidate for any of these positions, let me know. More likely, it’s possible that you are interested but have questions. In that case, please call or email. Invite me to coffee (actually, I drink tea). If you are more comfortable talking to one of the other board members or officers, by all means call them. You can help your club by helping to lead it – that’s the bottom line.
Warren Tessler WTessler48@gmail.com 360.941.3014