Hi Folks...well seems like a lot of changes have taken place since the winter gathering. Slyk Willy has announced that he was stepping down as our State Representative and he asked me to take over the job for him. I can assure you that this was a complete surprise and took me back for a while. I had to sit back and evaluate what this position would mean to Devon and I and how it would affect our relationships with the folks in the Michigan VRCC. Many of the chapter leaders had called and emailed me and with their support and that was a big help for me to make the decision to accept the position.
Now how will this affect the State club? We in Michigan have been lucky to have a very good group of members that all enjoy the experience of group riding. We have a strong base of folks that are friendly and enjoy each other’s company. We have been blessed with good leadership starting with Richard (Rude) Doner who established our Michigan club and brought about the Michigan Chapter system. When Bill took over from Richard he moved our club to new heights that other State clubs have yet to reach. He set up a system of management that allows our Chapters and chapter leaders to decide what works for them. We have a fair and open system with support from the National VRCC. Some folks have asked how our system is managed…well I will try to explain shortly the system we have in place.
1) The State Representative is an appointed position from the National VRCC Club. They take advice from the State leadership and decide on the information given to them.
2) The State Chapter leaders are appointed by the State Rep. The representative will take advice and counsel from each Chapter then appoint the chapter leader.
3) Each Chapter leader can then decide which system of leadership their chapter will follow. Such as chapter officers, road captains, treasure, secretary this is all decided by the chapter. Some chapters don’t have any officers, whatever works for them.
4) How are chapters formed? A new Chapter can be formed when groups of people decide they would like to ride together as a chapter. This could be 3-4 people with a set plan for a chapter. A proposed new chapter can petition the State Representative and set forth their intent and purpose for their chapter. The State representative will make a decision based on this and a new chapter can be formed.
The State Club does not allow any unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, racial and/or ethnic slurs or intimidation at any of our events or on our message boards and forums. The Chapter leaders and the State Representative will enforce this as they see fit.
There is one thing that I would like to stress as the State Rep. I want everyone to know that first and foremost I am a Michigan man. I will always be a Michigan man; the State club will always come first. You are the people that I have been riding with all these years, love me or hate me at least you know me.
Second in my position as Tri-City Chapter leader I organized events and rides aggressively when there was a need for an event. But as other chapters began to grow and organize I always supported to the best of my ability their events and rides. I have many friends in the Tri-City Chapter and I will continue to ride with them BUT I also have many friends in other chapters and will support and ride with them equally. You may ask where my loyalties are…well they are with everyone in this State that wants to ride and enjoy the company of fellow riders.
I fully intend to promote and grow our club; I plan on opening communications between chapters. I will strive to strengthen our State club through trust and example and build on the friendships we have formed over the years. I will openly welcome new members and you will see me in the wind from one end of this State to the other.
Michigan Chapter Leader