An open letter to the TRC Board of Directors

[ke...@cableone.net]

The following letter has been posted and may be commented on, at the Post-a-Ride forum:

 

Dear TRC board members,

 

It has come to my attention that there has been some debate amongst board members over the use of SAG fees on the Joseph Ride. I was led to believe the Joseph Ride was a sanctioned club ride right up until 3 days ago. Why is it that no board member told me the Joseph Ride was not sanctioned, and therefore not eligible for Club Insurance, use of signs, use of water cooler, use of the website to collect SAG fees, etc? It was my understanding that the board gave their blessing for me to organize the ride. The only difference from the previous decade of Joseph Rides was that the board was going to let one person organize it without their assistance. Why did the TRC board president, ask me to give an overview of the plans for the 2012 Joseph Ride at the annual club membership meeting, when the ride was not a sanctioned event? If the ride was not sanctioned, my request for the reimbursement for expenditures and an unexpected banquet room fee at Eagle Cap Chalets, should have been denied.

 

 

Below is some excerpts from 5 board meetings from the past. None of these minutes suggest that the Joseph Ride was not sanctioned by the TRC board, other than when it was dropped from the calendar last November in favor of a “Tour de Lacs” ride that never came together:

 

 

TRC Board Meeting Minutes 11/10/2011

 

2012 Calendar:

• Huckleberry Ride 7/8/2012

• Bite the Bullet Day Tour: 6/24/2012

• Best of the White Pine 9/09/2012

• College Town Loop 7/14/2012

• Southfork Sashay 9/22/2012

• Joseph Ride: The board voted to drop this ride for 2012 in favor of either a Tour de Lacs or a

Kellogg overnighter.

 

TRC Board Meeting Minutes 1/10/2012

 

Tour de Lacs TRC

Gary will map a route and propose hotels in Spokane and Couer d’Alene.

Corrie asked if he could suggest Bill organize a Joseph ride with club

Gary also proposed a route for a Pullman to Spokane overnighter on the

Palouse Highway.

 

 

TRC Board Meeting Minutes 2/16/2012

 

Joseph Ride back on the calendar

• Sept. 15-16 organized by Bill Arnold. Luggage, but not SAG. Bill

wants to go to the Lake which makes it 101 miles. Questions about

accommodations were asked.

• Corrie pointed out that Bill was making the arrangements and

would keep us informed.

• Corrie noted that Bill is an example of a member stepping up to

lead a club event rather than the board having to do everything.

 

 

TRC Board Meeting Minutes 4/10/2012

 

• Report on Joseph Status: Bill reports that we need to make reservations at

Eagle Cap Chalets since another group may be competing with us for the

space.

 

TRC Board Meeting Minutes 5/17/2012

 

• Report on Joseph Status

• Bill doesn’t seem to be concerned about rooms at the Eagle Cap

Chalet.

• Corrie wants riders providing their own SAG to make commitments

and arrangements through Post-a-Ride.

• Eagle Cap Chalets charge your credit card now. Cancelling costs

$20.00. Jennifer Bloch and others objected to the pre-charge. She felt

riders should be able decide in the last week depending upon the

weather.

 

 

I would hate to see this issue tear apart the club membership. If the board would like me return the reimbursement I was given in September, that is fine. Perhaps we should examine all rides listed on the calendar and on Post-a-Ride to determine what is a “Sanctioned” ride and what is not. Fortunately nobody had an accident on the Joseph Ride and tried to file an insurance claim.

 

Bill Arnold