TLCA Elections are coming up. There are several positions open. For more information on each position check www.tlca.org under Bylaws and SOPs. Nominees need to be members of the TLCA. Here is what is open at this time.

Admin VP
Marketing Sales VP
Treasurer
President
Mountain IR

Send your nominees to

Erik A. Christiansen TLCA Secretary
mailto:echristiansen@carondelet.com

I think I might be a little scared to hold office there. From what I've seen on the LCML and other places, there seems to be alot of backstabbing and dirty politics going on, kinda like a dysfunctional family. :eek: Please correct me if I got the wrong impression of how it is.

Maybe Dr. Phil could help out???:flipoff2:

Like any large group of people you pack into one room you are going to get conflicts. Being the TLCA rep. for the Cascade Cruisers for this past year I have gotten a better inside look of the TLCA. The origination is getting bigger and bigger and growing pains are going to happen. So far I have not seen any TLCA officers backstabbing anyone; in fact I have seen many make a point to walk away from that kind of negative behavior. Overall the TLCA is a great origination and provides a tremendous amount of benefits to all the members and the four wheal drive community.

Originally posted by Mustard Dog
I think I might be a little scared to hold office there. From what I've seen on the LCML and other places, there seems to be alot of backstabbing and dirty politics going on, kinda like a dysfunctional family. :eek: Please correct me if I got the wrong impression of how it is.
Ha! Move over Ossie Osbourne, a new reality TV show is coming on the air soon! :rolleyes:

I'm was/am/was the rep for my club and had the mis-fortune of reading thru some scathing emails prior to ever having the opportunity to attend one of the phone-meetings. Honestly, I believe the vast majority of the board and membership has their schnizit together. However, there are a couple select individuals who do not have the political tact to constructively interact with the balance of the board/membership. Both the emails and the phone calls (YES, I was called more than once) left me with a sour taste and has turned me off from even considering future attendance.

TLCA is a growth-spurt mode, and a large part of that is dealing with the issue of 12,000 member numbers and only 4000 active. The Toyota Trails is the glue holding things together now, IMO. I've been a member since 1989-1990 and have watched the Trails develop into a first-class publication with first-rate articles and information. It has always amazed me that their membership retention rate is so low....I know some things have been brought up to address that, but I'm still surprised by it....

I cannot comment on how others feel. I believe that most of the conflicts arise out of people who are passionate about their hobby and organization and think that their way of dealing with the situation is best. Some of them do not know when to quit. As an organization we are trying to find some common ground and work through some tough decisions to try to make the organization stable. It is not always easy, especially after so many have lost interest. I can say that I honestly have never stabbed anyone in the back. If I commit to something I stick with it unless something better comes along. And I try to explain my reasons for changing my mind so whoever I committed to understands how I feel. I do occasionally change my mind. If I was out to get anybody, I'd do it right out in the open and tell everyone of my intentions. But that is just how I am. I'd really like to see some fresh blood help out with the organization. The organization is in the midst of some large changes and it is important to get input from those on the cutting edge of the sport/hobby. That is why I posted the information here. I think it would be good for the organization to have some diversity. What suits are little tiny club in Idaho isn't necessary what the folks in California, Texas, or the Wrong Coast need or want. But we need to bond together to do the best we can for the club as a whole. I value all of the input that I get, I'm not a mind reader. I'd sure like to see some other folks give it a try.

Here's my opinion on this, and it's worth nothing........It's just like any other volunteer orginization, 5% of the people wind up doing all of the work, 90% enjoy the benefits, and roll with the flow and the other 5% bitch and moan and cause trouble.
As far as the current leadership, having met and ran with a couple of them, Henry Brimmer, and Dave Brown, as far as I'm concerned I like them both and enjoyed being on the trail with them.
Most good leaders, did not seek out the office, it always throw my suspicions up when someone is seeking one of these jobs.
JMHO.
Butch
(totally unwilling president)
Lone Star Cruiser Club

I say keep Brimmer happy, without Toyota Trails you would not have much of an organization.

That is 90% of why I belong.....

Originally posted by wngrog
I say keep Brimmer happy, without Toyota Trails you would not have much of an organization.

That is 90% of why I belong.....

Nolen keeps it real here ;)

Originally posted by wngrog
I say keep Brimmer happy, without Toyota Trails you would not have much of an organization.

That is 90% of why I belong.....
About 99.9% why I belong. Trails is the one redeaming factor of TLCA membership for me in the last 4 or so years.

Member #4366

yep, what Butch said...

It's the one common theme every club seems to have.

keep up the good work lcsixty!

take care...

I would have to agree on the 'Trails being THE reason I joined and continue to still be a member... I finally begged Karr to let me pay for a few years membership to keep me from forgetting each year to renew, and then a few months later realize I had not gotten a Trails in a while.

I have a few tech writeups I would love to submit, but have got to finish the writeups. I like the tech writeups, and need to do my part to help out...

-Brett

Growing pains are going to happen, we just need to stick with it. I agree with Butch, unfortunately that is the nature of a volunteer organization. As long as they keep publishing trails I am in.

my take on it is that there are too many people higher up that have forgotten that the club is there to celebrate a way to have FUN...some people in the recent past have decided that it needs to be a business and to be run like a business...it's not a business, it's a club...just a very large club.

Growingpains ? TLCA has been experiencing those since I was on the BOD five years ago. Run like a business. Yes, it IS a business. Look at the financials. A club? Most certainly. All the ingredients for fire? That too. I agree that new blood is always good for an orginization to grow/prosper, but it can go the other way too. One would think that a BOD member would have an open mind and realise there are many different points of view and sometimes it is necessary to concede a point. Hopefully any nominees will display these qualities so we can vote the right person into office.

TTFN Scott

Originally posted by cruzila
TTFN Scott

OK, damn if that isn't confusing. The president of our local club in Idaho goes by Cruzilla on POR and his name is Scott. I had to double take after reading your post.

Well, that IS a coinkidink:D