| BCHC's historic focus is to find the best means of preserving and enjoying California's parks and wilderness heritage -- no matter the challenges. I am always proud of the way hundreds of BCHC Members are first in line to provide the experience, time and labor required in many troublesome spots around California. We set aside any emotions and hard feelings, and we do we are all about. As a service organization, we work hard at keeping California's parks and trails open and working.
2005 finds me taking my first steps as President of BCHC. Among these are several that will make our mutual transition work smoothly.
- The first is to study ways to grow our Membership. There can be no more important undertaking than to assure that BCHC will be here when our generation is past, and our kids are left to take over. The back country will still be there, but will we have generated in our kids the same enthusiasm and love for its care that we now have? I am eager to receive any ideas and input. I especially challenge all of us to look for innovative methods of gaining the new folks and not letting go of old hands.
- A second step for us to take is to explore whether BCHC can become a 501-C3 California Charitable Organization. This will hopefully shift some of the burden off our pocketbooks, making us more solvent in the process.
- There are significant Public Lands issues looming before us. We will be discussing these in detail at our Unit levels throughout the year. Be apprised that we are in for a long haul on several Public Lands issues.
- I am well aware that BCHC Members often have differing points of view about a number of our goals. We should welcome those differences, and whenever possible, turn them to our mutual benefit. They are the hallmark of a healthy, living entity. As President, it is good for me to know what our members are thinking in order to weigh each side, to assess the pros and cons, then to work out a resolution. I cannot promise that everyone will agree with all resolutions, but I hope to demonstrate that BCHC's best interests will always be our goal. I can only ask you to support the decisions that I and your Executive Board will need to make.
To our Members:
Now, my first "official act" as your new President is to ask that all of us renew our vows -- the vows that acknowledge who we are, what we do, and why we do what we do. If that sounds like a lot of double talk, really, it isn't. Just seek out any BCHC old timer. They'll fill your ears with the whys and the wherefores of BCHC. Then, get hold of our Bylaws (available at this web site) and READ THEM. I know, that may be about as much excitement as watching paint dry, but if you do not know the answers to the who we are, what we do and why we do what we do, then the BCHC Bylaws is where you need to begin.
Keep your pack string all pointed in the same direction, towards the beautiful back country.
Paul "Chip" Herzig,
Your President
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