Elections

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Noah M
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Elections

Post by Noah M »

It’s that time again; chapter officer nominations and elections. Each chapter is required to have at minimum a President and a International Board Member. The President also has IB privileges, making two elected positions with IB privileges. There are many other positions available, including Vice President, Secretary, Conservation Officer, and Education Specialist.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me and I’ll do my best to answer them in a timely manner.
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Bryan Hamilton
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Re: Elections

Post by Bryan Hamilton »

Here are the current officers:

President: Bryan Hamilton
Vice President: Josh Emms (herpseeker1978)
Education Specialist: Jeremy Westerman
Conservation Officer: Jimi Gragg (Jimi)
International board member: Tim Warfel
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Bryan Hamilton
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Re: Elections

Post by Bryan Hamilton »

I'll get the nominations started:

President: Jeremy Westerman
Vice President: Josh Emms (herpseeker1978)
Education Specialist: Rancorrye
Conservation Officer: Jimi Gragg (Jimi)
International board member: simpleyork

Our chapter is getting a little stagnant, partially due to an ineffective president failing to to engage the constituency . I think Jeremy would do a great job as president.

I'm leaving out some worthy members. Mark Hazel, Jason Hull and gbeck. We've also sort of fallen out of touch with the Colorado folks and I would like to keep them involved.
Jimi
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Joined: December 3rd, 2010, 12:06 pm

Re: Elections

Post by Jimi »

Agreed on the stagnancy, but I have no hypotheses or assertions about causality. I certainly assign no blame. The way of most online forums seems to be a slow slide into oblivion; will this one keep to that pattern? Everyone off to their next crush? Probably, but I hope not.

I think a key to maintaining & growing our real - not virtual, or faux - friendships is to keep doing stuff together. I also appreciate the fact that we're able to avoid the stupid online pissing matches that plague certain other Chapters. So I think our "family fundamentals" are actually pretty good.

I also think we've done pretty good keeping UT, NM, and NV connected. I agree about CO - the connections we had a few years ago have faded some (and they seem to have lost quite a few former regulars). Communication between us in "the south", and ID, WY & MT has always been pretty minimal, largely I think due to small populations up there - but maybe that long-bandied field trip to the UT/NV/ID borderlands is in order. Or, we could do (another) one to the Dinosaur area, but maybe scootch it up & over to Daggett, Sweetwater, & Moffatt Counties (for example).

Finally, and this is not something we have yet discussed - I think a bunch of us going to the spring national outing in Arkansas would be pretty damn fun, and could charge up our friendships. That's probably worth its own new topic. Those of you who have never truly herped the south don't know what you're missing - diversity AND abundance. Think about it.

Last fall I indicated I didn't want to retain a Chapter post, that I thought it would be better for you guys to get some fresh blood as the liaison between our Chapter and the various natural resource agencies. On the other hand, the job doesn't seem to entail doing anything whatsoever, as the membership exhibits little to no interest in or curiosity about the agencies, so I guess it's no skin off my nose to stay right...wherever this is. It's a job in name only, unless you give me some work. Anybody else would probably have a similar experience, so don't be afraid to take the job if it's offered - there's literally nothing to it.

Fair warning all - this is what you get. Some ideas & energy on the one hand, some ambivalence & detachment on the other, and very little respect for sticking to the subject. Elections. Bah.

cheers
ThomWild
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Location: Utah

Re: Elections

Post by ThomWild »

Jimi I like your Arkansas idea, I will be back in school next semester in addition to teaching so it might not work, but I will certainly try if that is something others are interested in.

I think we need to get more areas involved so my nominations are as follow.

Pres: Steve Stocking
Vice Pres: Rye Jones
Education Specialist: Josh Emms
Conservation Officer: Chris York (simpleyork)
International board: Jeremy Westerman
s_stocking
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Location: Las Vegas, Nv

Re: Elections

Post by s_stocking »

Thom, I'm flattered that you nominated me, but I must decline......I don't feel I'm really qualified, having little understanding of what chapter officers really do, and my workload the next year is going to be rather busy so I don't believe I'll have the time available to do the job properly, to say nothing of my learning curve which would be steep....

Thanks for thinking of me-

Cheers,
Steve
Jimi
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Re: Elections

Post by Jimi »

don't be afraid to take the job if it's offered - there's literally nothing to it
I think this goes for all the positions. Herpers seem beyond organizing, so the positions required to operate an organization are pretty meaningless. I say this with no feeling, just cool detachment. Instead of work, we can just do annual rounds of shout-outs with our buddies, with everyone taking a turn at a label once in a while. It's alright, it's no problem. We can just go out in the desert now and then with each other. That's quite fun.
Pres: Steve Stocking
Vice Pres: Rye Jones
Education Specialist: Josh Emms
Conservation Officer: Chris York (simpleyork)
International board: Jeremy Westerman
I'd vote for all of 'em. Good guys, all.

Thomas - are you getting some additional teching certs or something, or going for another degree? When's your spring break(s)? Maybe the chapter could do a trip to someplace warmer for that time. I'm still kind of hot for the Chemehuevis. Also that canyon near Mecca we drove through a couple years ago coming back from Borrego, I think that spot needs it specks inspected.

Anyone else thinking of doing the Arkansas trip? Solo or just a couple guys would indicate a flight to and a rental car from e.g., Ft Smith, but there's a threshold (maybe 4 guys?) at which a road trip might make more sense. It's probably a 21-24 hour drive from SLC; with enough drivers we could just power through non-stop. Picking up some guys in Denver or Albuquerque could work too. Just a thought.

Can you tell I'm trying to avoid "herpers' seasonal affective disorder" by having something to look forward to in spring? Ha ha. Late November SUCKS...luckily I've got some good builds going in the workshop.

cheers
s_stocking
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Joined: October 11th, 2012, 7:37 pm
Location: Las Vegas, Nv

Re: Elections

Post by s_stocking »

Jimi- the Chemehuevis and Mena are both great ideas. Last week Jason and I also discussed spring field trip possibilities- a follow-up to the Virgin Mtns, and also the White Mtns on the CA-NV border was floated as a possibility- looking to confirm Panamint Alligator lizards on the NV side of the border, and stephensi and lutosus are supposed to be thick up there....as always the sooner we can get placeholders on the calendar for these events the better folks can do some long range planning....I believe there was a vote for Mena, did a date get decided on?

Also Chemehuevis and White Mtn events could be advertised jointly with the Cali chapter.....

Just spitballing....perhaps we can discuss further at the pickle party.....
TimCO
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Location: Colorado

Re: Elections

Post by TimCO »

I'd like to contribute to the chapter after taking a year off. The Colorado crew is alive and well, and still herping as a group, just not posting as much.
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Bryan Hamilton
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Re: Elections

Post by Bryan Hamilton »

We need more nominations.... So far Thom and I are the ones that have posted nominations.

Please make some nominations so we can hold elections and keep the chapter going.
TimCO
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Location: Colorado

Re: Elections

Post by TimCO »

In order to make some meaningful nominations we need to know who actually wants to be in a leadership role. All interested say aye.

Aye.
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Bryan Hamilton
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Re: Elections

Post by Bryan Hamilton »

Aye.
Jimi
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Re: Elections

Post by Jimi »

Not I. Ha ha. Really though, "rotate!"

Steve - Jason and I had also discussed the Whites and Panamint alligator lizard surveys. Not sure if he's thinking of it as a NAFHA-type activity, or something more intensive & sustained. Since there's a listing implication and not much time to get something accomplished. Anyway yes, this can be discussed more in person shortly.

Yep, they all but made a call on Mena. The vote indicated the weekend of 4/29-5/1 is preferred. Chapter leadership, or local volunteers, just need to announce it.

A Chemehuevi outing (more Gila-spotting in the Mojave?) could also be discussed with the AZ chapter. That area's so low and hot, we could easily squeeze in a trip there before Arkansas. Say 4/15-17/2016?

I too am a fan of the calendar.

cheers
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herpseeker1978
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Re: Elections

Post by herpseeker1978 »

aye
ThomWild
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Re: Elections

Post by ThomWild »

I will adjust my nominations to accommodate the developing information of those that would like to participate.

Pres: Joshua Emms
Vice Pres: Bryan Hamilton
IBM: Tim Warfel

That meets the minimum requirements, other nominations can be added if more people express interest. Thanks for being willing to help out.

-Thomas Wilder
simpleyork
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Location: utah

Re: Elections

Post by simpleyork »

I like Thom's nominations
TimCO
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Re: Elections

Post by TimCO »

Looks good to me.
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DennyZ
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Re: Elections

Post by DennyZ »

I'm still somewhat a newbie around here but from what I have read on the forum. I like Bryan's nominations.

That seems like an excellent group.
Jimi
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Re: Elections

Post by Jimi »

works for me - when do we move on to a vote?
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Bryan Hamilton
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Re: Elections

Post by Bryan Hamilton »

I'm checking with Noah on how to formalize officers. Right now the nominees that have accepted are:

Pres: Joshua Emms
Vice Pres: Bryan Hamilton
IBM: Tim Warfel

Steve declined and I haven't heard from Jeremy Westerman. I will e-mail him to check in. We can leave the nomination period up until Friday. If we don't have any more nominations, I move that we accept the nominations as posted above.
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herpseeker1978
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Re: Elections

Post by herpseeker1978 »

Bryan Hamilton wrote:I'm checking with Noah on how to formalize officers. Right now the nominees that have accepted are:

Pres: Joshua Emms
Vice Pres: Bryan Hamilton
IBM: Tim Warfel

Steve declined and I haven't heard from Jeremy Westerman. I will e-mail him to check in. We can leave the nomination period up until Friday. If we don't have any more nominations, I move that we accept the nominations as posted above.
agreed
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Noah M
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Re: Elections

Post by Noah M »

Just a friendly reminder that elections need to be held this month.
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