The Road to 2012

Okay, all, It’s that time of year again… though again doesn’t really apply, since this is really our first Winter election…

I seem to have blown the suspense. USACK Elections are here! We had a bit of a hiccup last time, what with the whole restructuring of the national board, but we’re back in business. All of you readers who are paying members of USA Canoe Kayak should have received ballots via e-mail over the past few days. If not, make sure to send a note to the fantastic Gerald Babao (gerald@usack.org) and make it known that need some assistance.

I’m running for the Sprint Athlete Director position, and would love all of your support. I’ll end with a copy of the letter I’ve just sent out the the Yahoo “Kayak” group.

(On the horizon, a week away: Sam Goes West to Chula Vista, for a spring break voyage rivaled by no other. Seriously, comment if you have a better idea than two weeks at the Olympic Training Center.)

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Hello all,

my name is Sam Ritchie–I’m writing to ask for your support in USACK’s current election of a new Sprint Athlete Director to the Board.

I’ve been kayaking competitively for 12 years, and have represented the US on three US Junior National Teams, and one Pan American Team, traveling to Brazil in 2007. I’m currently finishing my final year here at college, after which I’ll be moving out to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA, to start seriously training for the 2012 Olympics in London.

I’ve put in many hours over the past few months as a volunteer, working with Brett Heyl and other members of the USACK staff on various outreach initiatives to the membership. I’ll be co-authoring a column in the upcoming USACK monthly newsletter, assisting in website development, and keeping you all up to date on the goings-on of the national team through my website, www.kayak2012.com.

I’ve also created a web portal–usack.slinkset.com–to allow you all to speak directly to the USACK board, and offer the membership the chance to hear back on any and every issue it deems important. (Keep contributing to this, please! The Board will be responding to the most interesting ideas in the newsletter each and every month.)

Whatever the outcome of the election, I’ll be working hard as a representative for the athletes and members across the country–your vote, and my spot on the Board, would bring you one step closer to the heart of USA Canoe Kayak, and allow all of us a bit more faith in the organization we’ve believed in for so many years.

Make sure to vote, using the ballots you should have received via e-mail over the last week! If you have any questions, or problems with the ballot, get in touch at sritchie09@gmail.com.

~Sam Ritchie