The Southern Four Wheel Drive Association Board of Directors continues its hard work to refocus our association and our efforts for 2015. As most of you are aware, the association is implementing sweeping changes to the membership structure. Additionally we introduced the SFWDA Grant program to allow each of our member clubs to directly address the needs of your local area and communities with this tool. The key to our grant program is that we embrace our core missions of Conservation, Recreation and Education.
The next critical element is our building of a Leadership Council with two representatives from each club or group. We have built a SFWDA 2014-2015 Leadership Directory that includes the current Board of Directors, Past Presidents, TrailFest and Dixie Run Coordinators, UFWDA Delegate, Land Use Representatives and Club Leadership. Additionally we will add our new SFWDA Premium Members to our communications as we go forward.
The overall plan for 2015 will be presented for approval at our Annual Meeting on December 6, 2014. This meeting will be at 9 AM EST, Double Tree Hotel, Oak Ridge, TN. We will provide a webinar link to the meeting to allow all our clubs, leadership and members to participate. As previously communicated, the plan proposes combining the Annual Meeting with our 2015 Leadership Meeting. Further we will introduce the Leadership Council concept. We will also have 2015 elections for the positions of Vice President, Secretary and Land Use and Conservation.
The leadership plan for 2015 includes the following:
Plan combined Board of Directors and Leadership Council meetings and update sessions in February, April, June, September and December (Annual Meeting)
Plan working Board of Directors meetings as required in January, March, May, July, October and November.
All meetings will offer simulcast electronic internet access.
Oversight and coordination of TrailFest 2015 and Dixie Run 29
3 SFWDA Meet and Ride events in February, June and November
Support of member club events including St. Jude’s 4 Wheeling for the Cure; GBR Mud 4 Blood; STLCA GSMTR; Damn Locals Memorial Day Bash; KOR Wounded Warriors; Carolina Trail Blazers Fun Caravan; and others throughout the year
Educational interaction and support in regional Jeep Jamboree USA events
Support of other regional events including Helen, GA JeepFest; UOTRC Jamborees; Pickens County, GA Crawl for the Kids JeepFest, and UORE, Unlimited Off Road Expo; Louisville, KY
Updating the association by-laws to reflect the proposed operating structure.
As we wind up a very busy 2014, we look forward to planning for 2015. Your support and commitments to refocus our association are much appreciated and we all look forward to the New Year. We will be providing additional details on the Annual Meeting and look forward to your participation.