I recieved an email today about board elections. I don't know any of these people.
What are your thoughts.

I do not know any of the people but the following history and position of nominees may help in making a decision.

BRC Board Elections

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The following is a list of new and renewing nominees for BRC's Board of Directors. In this year's election, there are six candidates running for four seats on the Board.

In order to vote in the upcoming Board election, you must be a current member of the BlueRibbon Coalition on the date of the September 23rd ballot deadline. Each membership, whether it be Individual, Lifetime, Associate, Business, or Organization has only one vote. An Organization member's vote must reflect the will of the majority of the members of that organization. Business member votes should be cast by the owner of the business, or their designated replacement, unless the owner wishes to allow the employees the option of input, in which case that vote should also reflect the will of the majority of the employees.

The election for new and renewing members of the BlueRibbon Coalition Board of Directors will be held in Florida on September 26th, 2008, at the BRC Fall General Membership Meeting (for more details on the meeting, contact Mary Jo Foster, 1-208-237-1008, ext. 105).

If you are a BRC member, but will not be able to attend the Fall General Membership Meeting, you may send in your vote by mail, using the ballot form on page 14 from the July 2008 hardcopy of BlueRibbon Magazine. Alternatively, you may cast your vote online (www.sharetrails.org/ballot). All ballots must be postmarked by no later than September 23rd, 2008


Board Member Candidates


Pat Harris
AFFILIATIONS: Member of the Pacific Northwest 4WD Association since 1976 (Oregon State Director for 12 years) and the California 4WD Association since 1969; member of the Oregon State ATV Account Allocation Committee for 19 years and served as Chair for 16; member of the Oregon Federal RTP Committee for 17 years; currently serving as a board member for the Klamath Basin OHV Club; served as Chair for numerous committees related to four-wheel drive events.
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: Four-wheel drive events and exploring new areas.
HOME STATE: Oregon
FAVORITE TRAIL/AREA: High desert Oregon and Nevada. Enjoy exploring new trails at any time.
HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED WITH BRC: Introduced to the organization by a member 14 years ago and immediately became involved because of access issues.
COMMENTS/GOALS FOR BRC: BRC, with its diverse representation, provides 'one-stop shopping' for public land managers. It is fitting that BRC is a leader in applying practical environmentalism across our recreational landscape. This will secure a legacy of motorized access for future generations.


Maureen Healey
AFFILIATIONS: Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) - Executive Director; American Recreation Coalition; Americans for Responsible Recreation Access; American Watercraft Association; National Association of State Boating Law Administrators; National Marine Manufacturers Association; National Safe Boating Council; National Board Member, Water Safety Congress.
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: Boating, Golf, Cycling
HOME STATE: Virginia
FAVORITE TRAIL/AREA: Lake Mead National Recreation Area
HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED WITH BRC: PWIA has worked with BRC on personal watercraft issues at Lake Powell and in Biscayne National Park.
COMMENTS/GOALS FOR BRC: I look forward to working with the board to promote a fully integrated offensive strategy that reaches every public sector affecting, or related to, access issues in our federal park system.


Sandra Mitchell
AFFILIATIONS: Northwest River Runners, Cougar Mountain Snowmobile Club, Idaho State Snowmobile Association, Hells Canyon Alliance, Owyhee County Ridge Runners, Americans for Responsible Recreation, South West Idaho RAC, South West Idaho Basin Advisory Group, NAMRC, Idaho State Snowmobile Association and Idaho Recreation Council.
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: Snowmobiling, horseback riding, tennis, boating.
HOME STATE: Idaho
FAVORITE TRAIL/AREA: Idaho trails.
HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED WITH BRC: My first involvement with BRC was while I was working for Senator Steve Symms. BRC was actively involved in lobbying for the National Recreation Trails Fund Act. Over the years, our paths have crossed often because our interests and goals are the same—responsible shared-use of the public lands.
COMMENTS/GOALS FOR BRC: I believe that the primary responsibility of any board is fiduciary. If an organization is not financially sound, it has no future. I intend to do everything possible to see that BRC is effective, respected by most and feared by others.


Craig Osterman
AFFILIATIONS: Treasure State Alliance, Executive Director; Montana Snowmobile Association; Great Falls Snowmobile Club, Board Member; Meagher County Little Belters; Montana Trail Vehicle Riders Association; Great Falls Trail Bike Riders; Montanans for Multiple Use; National Off-Highway Conservation Council; Montana Alternate Partner; Snowmobile Alliance of Western States, Charter Member and past Board Member for Montana; Safari Club International Great Falls Chapter; National Rifle Association.
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: Anything outdoors to include motorized and non-motorized.
HOME STATE: Montana
FAVORITE TRAIL/AREA: For snowmobiling it is the Gravelly's in the Gallatin National Forest; for 4x4 it is in the Whitehall area; for motorcycle/ATV it is in the Little Belts on the Lewis and Clark National Forest; for camping, hunting and fishing, wherever the animals and fish are.
HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN BRC: That is too long of a story to really tell here, really. But in short, the massive proposed closures through planning processes and NGO's propaganda for more Wilderness in Montana led me to the doors of BRC and the Public Lands office.
COMMENTS/GOALS FOR BRC: To more effectively promote the concept of the OHV community recognizing BRC as our "National" organization for participating in agency processes, frompre-scoping to litigation. To work with the board in strengthening the state networks and creating new ones, state-by-state, to make the recreationist voice larger.


John Parrinello
AFFILIATIONS: NOHVCC-State Partner, New Jersey Off Highway Vehicle Association- VP, Advocacy Director, NJ Trail Council- Motorized Rep.,NJ Trails Plan Steering Committee, NJ Trails Council ORV Sub-Committee, AMA, ATVA, NRA ASI Safety Instructor, Tread Lightly Tread Trainer.
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: 4 Wheeling, ATV/Motorcycle riding, Softball, Target Shooting.
HOME STATE: New Jersey
FAVORITE TRAIL/AREA: Too many to mention. The one I have not gotten to yet in New Jersey.
HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN BRC: I have been riding for about 36 years and have been involved with access issues for a good part of them. As such I have had the pleasure to talk with Del Albright (BRC Ambassador) many times. Also, after fighting the good fight for many years by myself, I reached out to BRC, NOHVCC, AMA and other groups for help and they all came up big for us in New Jersey.
COMMENTS/GOALS FOR BRC: BRC has done so much over the years, and I would like to help that continue and to help integrate the access issues we suffer on the east coast.


Jack Sheets
AFFILIATIONS: Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Association (COHVCO), Colorado Snowmobile Association (CSA), member and active in several local Snowmobile Clubs active in Western Chapter ISC (International Snowmobile Council).
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: Snowmobiling
HOME STATE: Colorado
FAVORITE TRAIL/AREA: Wyoming - Wyoming Mountain Range, Colorado - Taylor Park area.
HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN BRC: In the early years of BRC, I was involved at the national level of snowmobiling. I attended some meetings for snowmobiling held in Island Park, Idaho, many years back. The BlueRibbon Coalition was holding their meeting at the same time and location. I spent some time talking with some of the leaders at that time (Clark Collins, Darryl Harris., etc.). I felt that there was a need to have a national organization that represented all of motorized access. In my opinion, that organization was BlueRibbon. I have served on the board of BRC for many years, and have seen a lot of changes and a growing maturity on the part of the organization. Since those early days, we have become a respected name in recreation access.
COMMENTS/GOALS FOR BRC: 1) continued growth, 2) continue to keep public lands open to the public, 3) continuing to become a "respected" national presence on land access issues.

Craig Osterman from Montana would be a good choice. I don't know him but have heard of him through out the State. Treasure State Alliance (TSA) is a strong group here in Montana.

Just my .02 cents worth.

Tom

Thanks T Wolf.

thanks

I know Pat Harris. Hard working well informed and well spoken. Also a member of Oregon Recreation Coalition. As am I.