COP Annual Election Ballot

The future of this organization is in your hands! Please take a few minutes to review the slate of candidates listed on page 11 to help you cast your vote. Ten members are elected at-large, for two year terms with one-half elected each year. Additional nominees will be accepted from the floor at the meeting. Vote for no more the five persons.

Mail in ballots will be accepted, but only on actual Columbus Outdoors newsletter pages (no photocopied ballots or ballots printed from the website).  All mail-in ballots must be received by the COP office by Tuesday, October 15. When mailing your ballot, please sign the envelope and include printed name and member number on the return address so that we can confirm valid membership without disclosing how you voted. This year the election will be on Tuesday, October 15. The Annual Membership Meeting begins promptly at 6:30 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church at 93 W. Weisheimer Rd. At 6:30 there will be a baked potato and dessert buffet.

The introduction of the candidates and election will start at 7:30 pm. While the votes are being tabulated, there will be an auction of items left over from TOSRV, GOBA and other trips. If you have stuff to be auctioned off, for the good of the organization, please bring it. Results of the election will be announced shortly after the auction. The newly-elected Board will meet briefly following the adjournment of the Annual Meeting. Mail you ballot to: COP BOARD ELECTION PO BOX 14384 COLUMBUS OH 43214.

2002 Candidates
For Election to COP Board

Bob Allen has a lifetime membership in COP and has been active in the organization since 1991, has participated in TOSRV since ‘90, has been a TOSRV volunteer since ‘91 and has been its Packet Stuffing Coordinator since 1997. He also has a lifetime membership in Adventure Cycling and Michigan Bicycle League and is a member of Westerville Bicycle Club. Bob has participated in over twenty week-long bicycle tours all over the US. Bob also has served on the Management Accountants for over 10 years last serving as a vice president. Bob has agreed to serve as the organization’s treasurer. Bob is married and lives in Reynoldsburg.

Glenn Beachy has been a member of COP for over twenty years and has been involved in cycling, backpacking, hiking, cross-country skiing, ice skating and in-line skating. He has been in charge of Winter Activities and In-line Skating since 1993. Man does he feel old. He has overseen the expansion of the cross-country skiing program with the purchase of new rental equipment. He is currently filling and unexpired term as vice president and would be pleased to continue serving in that capacity if needed.

Tom Lester has been the Rock Climbing chairman for several years. He has also been an elected board member for the past 3 years, serving as vice president for one year. He is retired after 32 years as an engineer for Lucent Technologies. He is married, with two grown children and lives in the Granville area. He would like to continue to serve the needs of COP as an elected board member.

John Lunn has been on the COP board for 4 years is an active hiker and backpacker who has taken outdoor leadership and SOLO Wilderness first aid courses. He has volunteered at the Chillicothe TOSRV lunch stop, and has assisted in many hiking and backpacking trips. Prior to retiring, he worked for the state as a staff attorney practicing public benefits, health care and administrative law. He has served as the president of the Fairfield Co. Board of Health. Active in Emergency medical services work he spent 9 years as an auxiliary fireman / EMS officer with the Upper Arlington Fire Dept., and is currently a member of the Amanda Township Volunteer Fire Dept. For the past 14 years, he has taught a course on EMS law at Columbus State Community College. He chairs COP’s Insurance, Risk Management and Safety Committee.

Jennifer Thurmond will be finishing her first term on the board where she was a member of the board reorganization committee. Through the committee’s efforts and a vote of the organization, the size of the elected board will be reduced by 3 members this year and an additional 3 members next year. She has been an active volunteer with the canoeing / rafting trips and has instructed at several of COP’s canoe schools. She is also a bicyclist who enjoys the evening rides and the week long rides like GOBA. Recently, she has joined the risk management committee. She has also volunteered with the Girl Scouts for over 9 years, and believes that this foundation of working with volunteers has served her well as a member of the board. She feels strongly about the organization and looks forward to seeing it grow and evolve through the next two years if she is elected to serve another term on the board.

Cheri Thrash Worsley has been an active COP member for about 8 years leading hiking and backpack trips and has been on the Board for the last 4 years. She spends a lot of time throughout the year helping to plan TOSRV and manages the Chillicothe food stop plus volunteers on GOBA for the entire tour. Cheri truly enjoys using her organizational skills to expedite board activities. She also helps in the office, serves on several committees and has been Board Secretary for the last 3 years. Your vote will allow her to continue to help where best needed.

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