Greetings, again! This is the second in a series of campaign e-mails that I am sending to AVA clubs to both introduce myself as a candidate for AVA President and hopefully prompt thought and discussion.
As I mentioned in my first campaign e-mail, I have a web page that gives a pretty good summary of my professional and volkssporting experience. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take a look at http://www.easttennesseewanderers.org/David.html
As clubs consider who they want to lead AVA into the future, it is important that they get to know the candidates’ personality and leadership style.
As I write this, my wife, Mindy, and I have just returned from an 18-mile hike in the Smoky Mountains National Park. During the 10-hour hike, it occurred to me that some of the lessons I’ve learned while hiking are applicable to AVA.
Lesson 1: Never head out into the backcountry without a map.
Application to AVA: I am proud of the work done by the Strategic Planning Committee under my leadership. We have established a map to help guide AVA into the future.
Lesson 2: Momentum is your friend when hiking up a mountain, but speed needs to be controlled when hiking down.
Application to AVA: Now that we are implementing elements of the Strategic Plan, we need to keep moving. Just as in hiking up hill, stopping and restarting takes more time and energy than just keeping moving forward, However, we can’t afford to go so fast such that we are no longer in control. Better to ease into some things rather than plummet off the mountain.
Lesson 3: When crossing a stream, study it to find the best way to cross, keep moving, but be sure to check the bottom as you go, and don’t be afraid to change your course to keep from being washed away.
Application to AVA: As we work to implement portions of the Strategic Plan, we need to ensure that we understand the implications of our actions, and do our best to avoid unintended consequences. I believe this is why the NEC is not recommending some of the ByLaws changes that have been proposed. While the concepts are good, the ultimate impacts are just not clear enough to proceed without more work.
AVA is a unique non-profit organization, unlike other non-profits. While we need to make changes, I do not want to see us lose the special character that we have. As I have said before, I don’t have all the answers. However, I am able to let everyone get their ideas in play and guide our organization to the best decisions that we can make. Folks who encouraged me to run for AVA president seem to think that I am the kind of leader that AVA needs. While I hope you will agree, more earnestly I hope that we can work together to ensure AVA has a bright future.
Don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] with questions, comments, ideas, or other input.
Happy trails,
David Bonewitz
Southeast Region Director
Candidate for AVA President
AVA: America’s Walking Club
As I mentioned in my first campaign e-mail, I have a web page that gives a pretty good summary of my professional and volkssporting experience. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take a look at http://www.easttennesseewanderers.org/David.html
As clubs consider who they want to lead AVA into the future, it is important that they get to know the candidates’ personality and leadership style.
As I write this, my wife, Mindy, and I have just returned from an 18-mile hike in the Smoky Mountains National Park. During the 10-hour hike, it occurred to me that some of the lessons I’ve learned while hiking are applicable to AVA.
Lesson 1: Never head out into the backcountry without a map.
Application to AVA: I am proud of the work done by the Strategic Planning Committee under my leadership. We have established a map to help guide AVA into the future.
Lesson 2: Momentum is your friend when hiking up a mountain, but speed needs to be controlled when hiking down.
Application to AVA: Now that we are implementing elements of the Strategic Plan, we need to keep moving. Just as in hiking up hill, stopping and restarting takes more time and energy than just keeping moving forward, However, we can’t afford to go so fast such that we are no longer in control. Better to ease into some things rather than plummet off the mountain.
Lesson 3: When crossing a stream, study it to find the best way to cross, keep moving, but be sure to check the bottom as you go, and don’t be afraid to change your course to keep from being washed away.
Application to AVA: As we work to implement portions of the Strategic Plan, we need to ensure that we understand the implications of our actions, and do our best to avoid unintended consequences. I believe this is why the NEC is not recommending some of the ByLaws changes that have been proposed. While the concepts are good, the ultimate impacts are just not clear enough to proceed without more work.
AVA is a unique non-profit organization, unlike other non-profits. While we need to make changes, I do not want to see us lose the special character that we have. As I have said before, I don’t have all the answers. However, I am able to let everyone get their ideas in play and guide our organization to the best decisions that we can make. Folks who encouraged me to run for AVA president seem to think that I am the kind of leader that AVA needs. While I hope you will agree, more earnestly I hope that we can work together to ensure AVA has a bright future.
Don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] with questions, comments, ideas, or other input.
Happy trails,
David Bonewitz
Southeast Region Director
Candidate for AVA President
AVA: America’s Walking Club
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