COP Newsletter Article

2003 Annual COP Election Ballot

Your vote counts! Please take a few minutes to review the slate of 2003 candidates and issues up for your vote in this month's election. Additional Board nominees will be accepted from the floor at the Election Meeting. However, you may only vote for up to 5 candidates. The term for elected member is 2 years.

The Election Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 21 at 7PM. It will be held at the Everal Barn in Westerville. The barn is located at 60 N. Cleveland Ave. in Heritage Park. Enter Heritage Park via Cleveland Ave. Everal Barn faces Cleveland Ave. and is located between I-270 and Polaris Parkway (see map).

This page is official absentee ballot for this election. If you cannot attend the Election Meeting, but would still like to vote, you must use this page to submit your vote. Check up to 5 candidates for the next term and whether or not you approve of the proposed amendment to the COP constitution. Family memberships are allowed 2 votes. Mail this ballot, entire page, to the COP office:

Attn: Ballots, Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, P.O. Box 14384, Columbus, OH 43214-0384.

Note that you must have your name and membership number marked on the outside of the envelope. All mail-in ballots must be received in the COP office by 5PM on October 20th. Please contact the COP office, 614/447-1006, if you have any questions.

DEB EVANS has been a member of COP for 3 years and has served as an elected official on the COP Board for 2 years. She is an active participant in a number of committees, and volunteers to help out when needed. Deb is a Columbus city girl who enjoys cycling and meeting others. She is looking forward to serving another term.

KEITH FINN has been annoying fellow Board members since the time he had hair. He has spent the last 2 years as COP President _ thus proving that ANYONE can grow up to be President! He tries to be an active boater and biker, and has lead trips to many diverse places. His interest in risk management techniques has lead to a 100% survival rate for trip participants. Keith is also an occasional caver and cavorts in the snow when possible, but has retired his backpack due to a bum foot. It can truly be said that few COP members are of his caliber! On the more serious side, he thinks serving on the Board is a cheap price for all that he has received from COP.

BRADLEY LUTZ has a Bachelors degree in Accounting and Business Pre-Law. He is currently a Collections Specialist at BMW Financial Services and has been involved with COP since GOBA in 1996 when he began volunteering as a SAG driver. The last four years, he has been Service Director for GOBA. He has also worked on XOBA for the first three years of the tour and is now Coordinator of the Circleville food stop on TOSRV.

PETE ROGERS has been very active in many COP activities, primarily hiking, caving and backpacking. He has also participated in cross-country skiing, canoeing, wilderness first class and bicycling. Pete has led many hikes and has taught the Fall Backpacking class for a number of years. He also helps with caving classes and trips and is the current Hiking Chair, as well as an elected board member. Pete also serves on the Volunteer Recognition Committee. He attends the Board Meetings on a regular basis and gets involved in the discussion of COP issues. He really enjoys teaching classes and believes that serving on the Board is a way of giving forward for the opportunities COP has provided.

BARB RENICK retired from General Electric after 16 years as a manager. She received her Master's degree in computer science from Purdue University. Barb has been a Board member since 2000 and is currently Chairman of Bicycle Development Committee. She has also held other COP positions: bicycle tour coordinator, day ride leader, volunteer for CFC and other COP events.

DAVE SESLAR has been a member of COP since 1985, participating in most all programs at one point or another. He currently serves on the COP Risk Management Committee. Dave is and has been a trip leader and instructor in the whitewater kayaking, canoeing, and sea kayaking programs. He has also been active as a ride leader in the bicycling program and is a trip leader and past vertical training instructor in the caving program.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE COP CONSTITUTION

Adopt the following statement as COP's Mission, thereby replacing Article II Purpose, paragraph 1 of our constitution and Article Three Purposes, Paragraph A of our amended articles of incorporation. This will require a 2/3 majority of voting members for the October 2003 Election.

"Columbus Outdoor Pursuits is a volunteer-based, participatory organization created to provide opportunities and education for outdoor recreation and activities and thereby aid in acquisition of a greater knowledge and appreciation of the out-of-doors and to develop self-reliant, community minded citizens. We:

Provide outdoor recreation education to the public, including safety and technique

Organize and lead outdoor trips

Train our own outdoor leaders

Purchase and maintain a limited amount of equipment for use in our programs and activities

Define outdoor recreation as being primarily non-competitive, self-propelled activities such as backpacking, bicycling, kayaking, etc.

Approve - Reject

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	DEB EVANS has been a member of COP for 3 years and has served as an elected official on the COP Board for 2 years. She is an active participant in a number of committees, and volunteers to help out when needed. Deb is a Columbus city girl who enjoys cycling and meeting others. She is looking forward to serving another term.
	KEITH FINN has been annoying fellow Board members since the time he had hair. He has spent the last 2 years as COP President _ thus proving that ANYONE can grow up to be President! He tries to be an active boater and biker, and has lead trips to many diverse places. His interest in risk management techniques has lead to a 100% survival rate for trip participants. Keith is also an occasional caver and cavorts in the snow when possible, but has retired his backpack due to a bum foot. It can truly be said that few COP members are of his caliber! On the more serious side, he thinks serving on the Board is a cheap price for all that he has received from COP.
	BRADLEY LUTZ has a Bachelors degree in Accounting and Business Pre-Law. He is currently a Collections Specialist at BMW Financial Services and has been involved with COP since GOBA in 1996 when he began volunteering as a SAG driver. The last four years, he has been Service Director for GOBA. He has also worked on XOBA for the first three years of the tour and is now Coordinator of the Circleville food stop on TOSRV.
	PETE ROGERS has been very active in many COP activities, primarily hiking, caving and backpacking. He has also participated in cross-country skiing, canoeing, wilderness first class and bicycling. Pete has led many hikes and has taught the Fall Backpacking class for a number of years. He also helps with caving classes and trips and is the current Hiking Chair, as well as an elected board member. Pete also serves on the Volunteer Recognition Committee. He attends the Board Meetings on a regular basis and gets involved in the discussion of COP issues. He really enjoys teaching classes and believes that serving on the Board is a way of giving forward for the opportunities COP has provided.
	BARB RENICK retired from General Electric after 16 years as a manager. She received her Master's degree in computer science from Purdue University. Barb has been a Board member since 2000 and is currently Chairman of Bicycle Development Committee. She has also held other COP positions: bicycle tour coordinator, day ride leader, volunteer for CFC and other COP events.
	DAVE SESLAR has been a member of COP since 1985, participating in most all programs at one point or another. He currently serves on the COP Risk Management Committee. Dave is and has been a trip leader and instructor in the whitewater kayaking, canoeing, and sea kayaking programs. He has also been active as a ride leader in the bicycling program and is a trip leader and past vertical training instructor in the caving program.