TDR Central Chapter - The Road Ahead...

["Mad Max"]

Folks,

As Jeremy has stated, he is requesting to step down as Chapter President, and I am submitting a request to step up and take his place. I know many of you, and many of you know me. Contrary to my call sign I am actually a pretty rational guy, and I will try my best to continue the fun and excitement, tech and how-to articles, that the TDR Central Chapter has enjoyed. I also have a proposal that I want to offer to the Central Chapter membership, one that I feel will be of tremendous benefit and for sure increased Chapter activity,...and fun.

I have been thinking about the scope of the Central TDR area, and I feel the scope of the territory encompassed by the Central area is nearly impossible to manage just by virtue of the area one would have to travel to 'attend' single-location Central chapter activities. We have 9 states spanning 3 separate interstates and two time zones. It isn't a matter of not wanting to travel from Colorado to a local event in Iowa, just that I know I will most likely never be able to travel that kind of distance for any event with the exception of a national event requiring things like vacation time, lots of $ in fuel, and time away from family. I truly feel that because our Chapter spans such a large area it is virtually ineffective as an activity-generator, and management of such a large area is nearly impossible, at least by one person. Posting activities happening in Denver is great, but the folks in Missouri can't really participate other than knowing about it.
We have too much information, and Jeremy worked this issue as well, and I admire his efforts to bridge some of the local members together. While it worked to a degree I have a similar idea to help us have a better relationship with our local TDR comrades.

With the Central Chapter's blessing and the TDR administration's approval, I would like to submit that the TDR Central Chapter be redesignated into three smaller, tighter chapters, allowing for better event planning and localized, logical communication.

I would like to propose the activation of the TDR "Mountain" Chapter, the TDR "Northern Tier" Chapter, and the TDR "Heartland" Chapter.

I propose these new chapters be identified as follows:

TDR Mountain Chapter - Wyoming and Colorado
TDR Northern Tier Chapter - N. Dakota, S. Dakota, and Minnesota
TDR Heartland Chapter - Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa

Doing so would also bring on 3 Chapter leaders verses one, which I know will increase chapter participation and a more localized sense of involvement. It would also bring increased communication between the chapters, and would also bring new Chapter decals and patches.

I realize this all sounds like a bit much, too over the top, but it is very easy for me to visualize these upgrades to the chapter designations and I am comfortable managing such a transition and will ensure nothing happens without total review, insight, and approval fro the TDR administration, and more over, approval from you, the Central Chapter TDR Members.

Accomplishing these changes means I will be asking for volunteers for two ambitious future chapter leaders to both aid the transition and lead your new chapters. The three of us can work together to make our chapters tight and smooth, and when the timing is right, we can work towards joint central US chapter events and participation in national events.

I love all you guys, however I feel the area the Central Chapter encompasses is almost too large to be truly effective, and I feel that by activating new, regional TDR chapters we can get a better sense of the events going on in those areas closer to our own homes, and I feel doing so will bring those regions closer together and more of a team.

I know this is not a pefect solution and I know it will not appeal to everyone, and for sure I am not trying to push any unwanted policy, but I do feel I have responsibility to post my thoughts and ideas about the future of our Chapter.

Also, please understand I will still seek your vote for TDR Central Chapter President if there is no redesignation of chapters.

If our 9-state chapter branches into three tighter, more effective chapters I feel it will be much more effective and fun, and for sure much easier to manage. It's not that we don't love all nine states, we just can't get to all of you.

So, it's up for discussion. First, I would like to hear from the congregation on my accepting the post of Central Chapter President. Second, if I assume the post, I would like your thoughts on expanding our chapter into three. I will not proceed with anything until I get a good feel, yay or nay, from you, the members.

Meantime, I already have ideas from my previous experience in several other clubs as activities director and editor, for upcoming dates for fun and excitement. Some of the initial thoughts are: Multi-day camping trips to locals such as Moab Utah, Estes Park Colorado, Vedauwoo WY, road trips to places like the Mopar Nationals Ohio, Mile High Nationals Colorado, RamJam off-road events at Tellico Tennessee and Moab Utah, and chapter holiday events like Christmas and 4th of July Parties, plus, of course, dyno and power tuning events semi-annually at a minimum.

Did you notice a trend there? I only know of events and areas in the Rocky Mountain region, and I can only plan events for those areas I am familiar with. We would still need additional chapter leaders just to plan events for those areas I am not familiar with, but that becomes very difficult without a separation of the areas involved. Three chapters can work much more effectively than one, and then the posts within those new chapters would pertain to your localized areas, making understanding what is going on near our own ball park a lot easier and fun.

Please let me hear from you, my brothers and sisters, of the TDR Central Chapter.

Thanks for reading and your consideration. Keep the shiny side up (except where covered with soot!).

- Sam Ayars, a.k.a. "Mad Max"