I been involved with the BWA since 1990/91. Not near as many members back then. Don or Mike may have been president? I attended what was the last meeting held at the OLD High on Rose. From the start people told me: “Your new, no one knows you, just show up, get involved because no one’s going to call you”. I remember Don Spangler encouraging me and helping me to get involved. I was new, I wanted to learn to paddle. I needed to get to know the members. At the time the only way to get involved was as to volunteer for the clinic or NPFF. It took some time but members like Chief, Gerry Hey not Jerry High, Chris Wilson, Sockeye, Molnar and others helped me and took me under their wing. Heck, Brent saved me on my first run on the Upper Gauley my first year. I learned something from all of them. I try and sort out the bad things I learned for the most part? It took me several years to work my way up and gain the respect of it’s members - and those who would teach me.

You say I’m too pushy for insisting people get involved and I shouldn’t care if they help or not, as long as they pay their dues. This is not the attitude the members had when I joined. Not caring or volunteering makes the BWA unsustainable. Having nonparticipating people is stagnant and boards on retarded. These people should look elsewhere.

Forgive me or not, but I’ll label people who don’t help and don’t paddle DUDS. I don’t need them and I don’t need their $25 bucks for the sake of a big bank account or increased volume of members. I certainly don’t want to have to make excuses for the DUDS. Bullshit! At times It has gotten so bad in the BWA that we have had elected officers that don’t paddle or volunteer, and these were the same people making our decisions. Bullshit! The few good experienced members who have stepped up are bombarded by the DUDS resentment, bullshit conspiracies and vote buy crap. Yes officers are volunteers, but they are also responsible to lead by example and support their fellow BWA'ers. That’s the reason they should be elected, not because they can hip-hop or have large breasts.

Someone suggested in order to vote you had to be a class II paddler. How about you have to be a class II paddle and volunteer to be a member and to vote? I would like to debate this problem at the next BWA meeting so everyone can express their position in person? Topic: “As a BWA member am I expected to volunteer/be involved?”

If you going to bitch about me expecting people to get involved maybe you need to ask the question, what the hell am I you doing here? I’ll take 7 committed people over 250 DUDS any day.

It was good to get the junk off the hill.

When I signed up last fall, I didn't see anything about volunteering being mandatory. I'm pretty sure the definition of volunteering doesn't have the word "mandatory" in there.

Class II paddler. So noobies that want to get into paddling can't join until they become better boaters? I'm enjoying boating with noobs, watching them progress from class I to class III pretty quickly. This is mostly because of the great paddling community...almost all of them members of the BWA. I've learned a lot from the people who have let me join them down the river, and enjoyed everyones company. Ive made some great new friends, and I've become a better boater. Flat water or class V, lets talk about the day on the water and enjoy a beer.

Dave, Ive met you, helped shovel some mud one day at the Elkhorn takeout until the crew showed up. I've been volunteering for years for other non-profits and political campaigns, and will continue to do so, on my time, when I feel like it. I look forward to boating with you someday. But, I can't believe how childish this has become. Im just a new guy, what do I know. I bailed on phase 1 of the Elkhorn cleanup to paddle. That makes me a dud, but I can boat class II. So make me a half-member?

I'm signed up for 2 more cleanups, and my conscience wont let me bail again. I'll put forth 110% effort, and smile while I do it. If someone told me I had to be there or I couldn't be a member I'd say see ya, good luck with your elite club of self-righteous super boaters.

If the BWA becomes some elite group of judgemental people, then Im out. I'll paddle with my new friends, and continue to do my part when I can. It's so sad to read this forum sometimes...the "I'm better than you, have more years under my belt, picked up more beer cans than the other guy so I rule".

Lots of history and personalities. I get that. But damn this is a bunch of immature BS. This is how things backfire and we lose all the momentum that has been generated over the years.

Happy time...hugs and bunnies and unicorns and ice cream. SYOTR...

Brandon

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Hey Brandon,
You have a bunch of really good points. I feel the need to straighten you out on one of them, though. Not everyone goes quickly from class I to class III, even with considerable instruction and advice from Hanley, Zina, Todd, Meagan, Tim W, Chris H, Will S, Lloyd, Brent, Dale, JBob, Dallas, Hadley, etc. Take for example, ME. And for another example...well, no. Just me :-)) But I still love it!

Chris Schardl

It took me 3 years of off and on boating just to get a combat roll!! What we have in common is the love for the rivers and paddling, but you're too nice and friendly. Knock it off, this is supposed to be a negative thread.

Lets hand paddle Elkhorn when it has some water!

B

Sorry about threadjacking. Thanks for calling me on it, Brandon
Ah, this is the conservation forum. I really went off topic talking about boating.
OK, I hope to be out there somewhere on May 10, picking up trash. One thing I learned, though -- unless you are really eager, you might not want to pick up much trash above the Elkhorn dam(n). I still remember portaging tires and sheet metal. Ugh! Any chance Jim Bean can help us with a drop-off point this year?

Chris Schardl

Brandon and Chris,

When I look at Dave I do see a guy who busts his butt out there, I really do. Dave cares for the environment where he plays. Through his actions, not necessarily his words, I see that I need to get involved in the care of the area also.

There is another hero out there, very much unspoken. When you have the pleasure to paddle with Tim Miller you may notice that he will often paddle to the bank, even exit his boat at times to collect an errant can or bottle that caught his eye. He never complains about it, he just collects the item and takes it away for proper disposal.

Actions, be they big or small all add up to hopefully a good thing happening. Maybe each of us can plan for a big day of a creek sweep, or maybe we can make a personal decision to chip in by following Tim's example of making a positive impact each time we go out. Anyway we do it, it is all good. Actions do speak louder than words.

I'll make a deal with both of you: hand paddle the Elkhorn with me and I will give each of you a pair of exclusive, handmade hand paddles from yours truly.

Dallas

Dallas

I consider myself lucky to have paddled with Tim, but whats up with that weird boat? Its so big and that paddle is so short.

Consider me in on that hand paddle offer. Say when. We'll make it a contest to see who can pick up the most trash. I'll bring the Pirouette for added volume.


B

Hey Dallas
I have always had a grand time paddling with Super Dave, and I absolutely agree that he busts his but for this org, the people in it, and our favorite spots.
And, I had a great time paddling with you. I look forward to doing that again. Indeed, I want to take you up on 2 offers: Handpaddling the elkhorn, and paddling the Noli gorge. After FB on clinic Sunday, I really think I could do the gorge without too much damage or embarrassment :-)
Chris S

Chris Schardl

Brandon your right - there's no mandatory volunteer requirement to be a member of the BWA. But SuperDave is spot on when he says; "Not caring or volunteering makes the BWA unsustainable." Without all the high energy volunteers of the BWA this outfit would just be another bunch of local club duds who happen to share a common interest.

Over the last 30+ years this loose association of boaters has done everything from introducing and nurturing legions of people to whitewater to raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for AW and river conservation. The committed folks of the BWA have secured access on the Elkhorn and put on the NPFF for 25 years and counting. We've explored, discovered, opened up and help to conserve new whitewater rivers and streams all over KY, the US and the world. The BWA is, without a doubt, one of the most dynamic and generous whitewater organizations in the country.

These accomplishments have not been easy or made by people who just don't feel like volunteering or committing themselves to change and new challenges. Rather they've been made by highly motivated and passionate people who often feel a strong need to give back to the river and the sport which has given so much to them.

Sometimes this passion causes clashes. And yes, sometimes things can get a bit childish or even downright ugly. That's occasionally the unfortunate price to be paid when a group of hard charging, highly opinionated people attempt to make things happen.

If all a person knew about the BWA was what they read posted on this forum recently it would not be unreasonable to dismiss some in the BWA as a just bunch of pissing match contestants. We're not. And I hope that after you've paddled and shared some quality river and volunteer time with the BWA you'll agree that it's entirely worth your while to hang out with this awesome group of paddlers.
barryg

I think what was lost in translation was that the level of committment wasn't questioned, it was the approach that really sucked.

As a 6 year veteran of working the front lines of the conservation movement in the non-profit sector, I understand as well as anyone the dynamics of highly motivated, passionate personalities.

Lets all do our part. Stop the pissing match and things might just fall into place.

B