GET ACTIVE AND STAY INVOLVED!
There are lots of things I'd rather write about than the subject of
this column. However, there is probably nothing more important to
Oregon Bow Hunters' (OBH) future! If an organization, like OBH,
doesn't have active and involved members and leaders, the organization
is destined to become stagnant and ineffective. Eventually, the
organization will simply cease to exist for lack of relevancy and
interest from its constituency.
Based on my still somewhat short tenure as OBH President, I think
OBH is at a crossroads - we can either re-energize or we can wither
and eventually go away. The first option requires action - more
members who are willing to get active and stay involved in OBH and its
activities. The second only requires passive disinterest - a let
someone else do it attitude - on the part of OBH's members and
leaders. Unfortunately, being passive is always way easier than being
active!!
Recently, we scheduled an OBH Executive Board (E-Board) meeting in
conjunction with the State Field Championships being held at Sylvan
Archers' range near Sherwood. Only seven (7) of the eighteen (18)
E-Board members attended the meeting and, without enough E-Board
members for a quorum, no business could be conducted. Some absences
from E-Board meetings obviously can't be helped - work conflicts,
medical or family emergencies, transportation difficulties and many
other situations can crop up and prevent even the most dedicated among
us to have to miss a scheduled meeting on occasion.
On the other hand, we had new E-Board members from LaGrande and
Klamath Falls who traveled substantial distances to get to the recent
E-Board meeting that essentially never happened, officially at least.
We also have many other examples of individuals who have gone to great
lengths to serve OBH, sometimes for many years, and that's the kind of
dedication OBH needs. We need people who will do what it takes to make
OBH a vibrant and effective organization!
Elsewhere in this magazine, you will see an article by OBH
Secretary Micki Bradley reminding us all that we have several
leadership positions that will be up for election at our 2012
Convention. If you are interested in helping OBH improve and have some
time and energy to devote to making OBH a better organization, I urge
you to submit your name for one of the positions coming open for
nominees. If that doesn't describe you, but you know another OBH
member that it does describe, talk to them about running for a
position.
Way too often, OBH only has one candidate for a position and that
person may often be an incumbent officer or committeeman, sometimes
several times over. While we certainly appreciate an incumbent's
willingness to continue to serve OBH, the organization may well
benefit from some competition for open positions. New candidates for
open positions may bring new perspectives and energy to the OBH
E-Board. Even when incumbents are running for re-election, competition
allows a referendum on whether OBH's current leaders are effective and
moving OBH in the direction that the membership desires. Don't be shy
about running for a position even if you know that there is an
incumbent who will also run. Maybe it's time for a changing of the
guard!
OBH is a small organization and each member can make a real
difference in how effective and vital OBH is. Get active and stay
involved, and OBH will be effective and vital in representing the
interests of Oregon's bowhunters and other archers!
Craig Starr, President
Oregon Bow Hunters`
