Next week at the regular meeting, we will be nominating officers for the June election. We have a history and practice from our bylaws that limit officers to serving two terms in an office. New fresh faces and ideas are the result of this. We have some 290 members and it should not be hard to find available persons to volunteer for offices. Please think about nominees for next Tuesday's meeting. If you want to know what offices there are, simply look in the BWA Handbook. Every office is available for nominations by any BWA member.

I will not be accepting any nominations for President. I am resigning at the end of this term. I am tired of being attacked with the false and frivolous accusations thrown my way throughout this term by a few. Just tired of it. I hope that by withdrawing, we can start moving away from division amongst the personalities that are clearly in conflict in this great organization. I have been honored to serve the BWA as President and am greatly satisfied in our accomplishments this term and the direction we are heading. I will continue to serve to the best of my abilities, but, not as President. Not worth it for me to be subject to the never ending attacks against me personally and the effect that has on new .boaters that I meet who clearly have a skewed view of me without knowing me at all. I do want to thank the vast numbers of supporters that have been encouraging and have counseled me throughout the mayhem. I do not mean to let any of you down by not running and hope that everyone that wishes I do so respect my (and my family) personal decision to not do it again. But for the personal attacks and the direct and indirect snubbing by some, on and off the river, it has been a wonderful opportunity and experience. I love you BWA and expect a bright future for you. I will always be here to help.

Brent

Brent,
I have to admit, I wish you could stick with it, another year. I enjoy and support your vision of what the bwa could be. I'm sure everyone understands. I know, that I would not have the composure to withstand the constant verbal attacks. The accusation's of hidden agendum and conspiracy have been mildly entertaining, but appears to be just plain unproductive.

For a brief moment, i thought about getting involved in bwa activities, unfortunately the bwa involves politics as mush as it involves boating.

Anyway, thank you for your efforts and enthusiasm.
scott



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/2008 02:15PM by ScottB.

Brent I for one am deeply grateful for all that you have done for the club. I do very much wish you would run again, but totally understand your decision as you have had to face a lot of BS accusations. I think you have put us on the right track on the issues at hand.
Thanks again!
Wes

Oh man, Brent. It's indeed very sad and totally unnecessary that events ( and some people, I'll say that politely ) have conspired to bring you to this decision. It is also a sad indictment of those who have been so unthoughtful of other's feelings that this has come to pass. And over such minor things. Life is indeed short, way too short to have to deal with these kind of things - when there are so many that actually do need our attention.

Your leadership has bought a breath of fresh air to a club in danger of "middle-age" - ness. A club that was in desparate need of some new ideas and people. Thanks for bringing some other-wise non-club folks into the BWA group of ( mostly ) friends.

It's easy enough to have "enemies" today, in these trying times. We shouldn't have to expect to encounter them in a rec / soc club like the BWA. In my years of BWA invovlment ( maybe about 23 or so ), this has been the first time that I remember such ridiculous and unwarranted self-caused friction in the club. I recall that the BWA was a place where you could ALWAYS go to relax, leave your worries behind, and enjoy a trip to the Rio or a few beers on the patio. Trips were planned, carried on, and forever rehashed in the conversations that would follow. Volunteers were, and are, always plentiful for the varied events which the BWA has invented over the years. Clubs many times our size have not been so inventive and ambitious as to bring about the NPFF. Our clinic has introduced countless paddlers to whitewater, wilderness camping, the art of shuttle, and of course romantic involvment. It has been a great time.

I love you Brent. Always will. I will miss your energetic leadership as president, but am comforted to know that you'll still be there as a perpetual friend and boater-mate. Also, I know where you live ! In TN as well. . . .

Thanks for the memories.

Mike & Patty

Brent, I'm sad to hear that you will not be running for a second term as BWA President. Being prez has always been a thankless job and especially so for a strong, visionary volunteer leader like you.

I hope those vocal few who have made your year of service hell with their petty, personal attacks will now step up, stop their bitching and put their keyboards and mouths to better use by volunteering for a BWA office themselves. If they do, maybe these folks would gain a real appreciation of just how difficult dealing with unreasonable and relentless critics can be and just how wonderful and productive your volunteer service to the Bluegrass Wildwater Association has been.

Under your inspired leadership Brent, the BWA has attracted and retained more members, created more volunteers and raised more money than any time in it's history. You've initiated and enhanced this organization's long standing river conservation reputation and strong affiliation with AW and maintained the BWA as one of the most generous and committed paddling clubs in the nation.

Your steadfast personal courage, open leadership style, endurance and incredible restraint in the face of harsh, personal attacks has been the foundation that's helped to resolve 2 of the most contentious issues in the BWA; the establishment of the AW Council to manage the Elkhorn takeout and production of the first ever membership vote on amendments to the BWA Bylaws - a feat unprecedented since the founding of the club.

Well done my brother. You are a true hero of the BWA. While you may have only served one term - you've clearly attained enough accomplishments to fill two. Thanks for having the commitment, enthusiasm and courage to hang in there and lead us through some very big drops. We couldn't have done it without you.
barryg

Brent,
Thank you for your hard work. I have enjoyed working with you and getting to know you personally.

SYOTR
Allen

Thank you Brent for your service in the office of the president of the BWA. Thank you for demonstrating by example the dedication required to persevere through unnecessary obstacles and not abandon the post you (presumably) promised to serve whenever you were voted into the office. As a passive observer it personally helped me learn that people can and do have the fortitude to push on through the types of difficulties you've encountered especially in the past few months. I don't know that prior to witnessing these things I would have been able to do the same, but watching you follow through makes me believe I might should I find myself in a similiar situation. I can't imagine that I'd be paddling anything were it not for the support and encouragement I've received from the organization you served as president for this past year, so, one more time, Thanks Brent.

Brent,
I had a blast this year!! From Cheatfest and the UY, to getting kicked out of my own campsite at the Gauley, my first runs down the UG, to getting "smashed" at the Russell Fork and a great Club party and Rendezvous, it was an awesome year to be in the club with such a fearless, never beerless, leader. It makes all the dumb sh#t worth it to be around a good fire after a day on the river. There is really nothing that touches it. You are my brother and I know your heart is always in the right place. Thanks for all the cold beers at the takeout. SYOTR

NEVER SURRENDER

AMEN to that thought, Scott. The BWA should be a place where we can ALL get away from anything resembling political - ness.

This is a boating club, where internal ( and external as well ) politics and popularity contests need to be excluded from our agenda. . . . . . . . . . . .