If I were on the AERC board of directors I would . . ."

Sound familiar? Have you ever heard or read this remark or even thought it yourself? If you really think you can make a difference and you have the time and energy to serve on the AERC board of directors, now is the time to make your intentions known and nominate yourself for the position.

The regional elections are coming up in November so if you want the opportunity to serve do not hesitate to throw your hat into the ring. Each region has two directors. Both directors should make themselves available to the members and the sanctioning director will work with the ride managers in approving dates for each of the region's rides.

Though this organization is directed by the board, the different committees are the real "workhorses" in the organizational structure. If a person has an idea or issue, the proper committee will take it to study, work out the details and then present it as a written motion to the BOD for further discussion and hopefully approval. If the BOD feels it needs more details worked on before implementation, it will be sent back to committee for further modifications or sometimes the decision to drop the issue is made. Each idea must go through the proper steps, otherwise the BOD will be spending too much time discussing every little detail (which often will occur anyway). Committees are the channel to use in getting things accomplished.

The committee chairs are appointed by the AERC president -- with the exception of a few that are determined by position -- and then approved by the board of directors. The committee members are then chosen by the chair for most of the committees.

If you are energetic and have a passion for a particular committee's subject, please talk to the chair of the committee and ask if you could become a committee member. Sometimes the committee may be full but if you express an interest the chair may be able to make room for you in the committee or keep you in mind for the following year.

It can be very difficult for a committee chair to find good working members motivated to get the ideas pushed forward and most of the time would welcome the sight of a dedicated volunteer. If it is your desire to chair a committee and you think you have the proper qualifications, you should talk to AERC President Mike Maul and make him aware that you are willing to serve.

If you are not on a committee and don't really feel you can give the time to serve on one but have some great ideas, please give the chair of the committee a call or send an e-mail, sharing your ideas. We do not work in a vacuum but try to do what the membership wishes so we need to know how you feel about different ideas.

In other words, we need you!

AERC is an organization made up of many volunteers. Any one person can make a big difference by becoming a BOD member, a committee chair or a committee member. The pay is not so great -- well, non-existent -- but the satisfaction you will receive by giving back to the sport is a big reward.

As an AERC board of directors member, I welcome opinions that I receive from the membership. They are often very thought-provoking and let me know how you feel about the issues. The opinions that I admire most are ones that may be critical but at the some time offer reasonable solutions to the perceived problem. It is my hope that members feel free to approach BOD members at rides or give them a call to discuss items that they may have on their mind.