CCR News August 2021 | Page 15

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Cyrus Opfermann
Question 1 : a . Honesty – In dealing with people and building long term relationships it has always been my belief that no one benefits when you are less than truthful . My interactions with employees , customers , friends , or family have turned out best when I have approached them with the primary goal of being honest .
b . Friendliness and Approachability- I cannot say I have never met a person I did not like but I always strive to try and find the positive in people .
c . Empathy- A vital skill the world could use more of . It is the ability to see the suffering of others . This skill allows you to evaluate issues from a deeper perspective and ideally allows you to find a compassionate solution .
d . Conflict Resolution- When communicating with people who are angry or frustrated , I try to look at the situation with this analogy . I imagine they are climbing a mountain and if I interrupt their climb , they will fall back to the bottom and have to start up again . If I can let them get to the top before I talk , I have a much better chance of being heard and defusing the situation . I had operational responsibility of the Customer Support Department for a 9-store retail operation for several years which offered me a place to practice this .
e . Determination and Patience- I have a strong work ethic courtesy of my parents ’ example . I consider it my responsibility to fulfill my obligations and then some .
f . Unbiased and Open-minded- Once we form an opinion , we tend to prop it up in our mind so we can defend it . When we prop it up too strongly , we can become blind to any outside evidence . It can take courage to admit that you could be wrong , but it leads to better decisions in the long run .
Question 3 : a . I am currently working security at the gates this summer . This is my second year of doing this . I get an opportunity to meet members and learn some of the ranch policies by doing this .
b . I am an active participant in Conservation Committee meetings . I have learned much about the many activities this committee is involved in .
c . I am currently serving as facilitator of a subcommittee of the Conservation Committee . It is tasked with finding modifications to the current forestry plan which can reduce the divide among members regarding our forestry logging practices . It has afforded me a great opportunity to meet many people on both sides of these issues . As part of the subcommittee ’ s work , we have organized four ( 4 ) tours of the outback with various guest experts . I have summarized and disseminated information from these tours to the members of the subcommittee , the board of directors as well as other interested parties . I would like to invite anyone to contact me regarding their thoughts on the forestry cuttings . cyrus . opfermann @ gmail . com , or 734-323-1596 .
d . I also plan on attending the upcoming board meetings to become familiar with current discussions that result in policy and procedure .
e . I want to spend some time perusing the various documents , of which there are many on the CCR website under “ Member Items ”. I have spent considerable time already digesting the items in the “ Wildlife / Forestry ” section which is a subsection of “ Documents / Media ”. It is amazing the amount of information you can find in there .
f . Attend as many different committee meetings as possible to broaden my understanding of the issues being discussed and of concern in each group .
Gregory Skotzke
Question
2 :
It is apparent that the club did not get to be where it is overnight or by accident . It is the result of a vision and a lot of individual effort over many decades . My involvement in the Conservation Committee for example has put me in touch with people who have stayed involved and worked for decades to improve the forest and its wildlife for future generations . That same level of devotion can be found throughout the various ranch operations .
The campground of today is vastly improved from when my family used it in the 1960 ’ s and 70 ’ s and I ’ m sure that was the result of a long-term vision and effort . The office operations and updated technology is fascinating , and I can tell you from personal experience that didn ’ t happen without great thought and effort . These improvements and many others are the result of the concerted efforts of our current as well as past members , management , and employees .
Question
1 : To give you a few of my many strong areas would include my work ethics , collaborator , fairness , research an issue to find a resolution , and most important listening to others .
I am not afraid to admit I am wrong when unknown facts prove otherwise .
The skills I have acquired over my working career by trouble shooting computer system failures , software classes , and programs I have written taught me to take a logical approach to problem solving .
Leadership , Negotiations , and Project Manager experience has been beneficial for working with others .
The most Important skill of all , is listening to what a person has to say . When referring to Positive attributes , the one that sticks in my mind is the “ WIN-WIN ” concept .
Only when you , the member , and the Club Win , then I
Win .
The heritage that we need to honor in making decisions as board members is to continue to maintain and improve our natural resources and facilities . This will allow us to
Question
2 : The main reason I wanted to become a member was the great outdoor activities and getting back
honor our mission statement .
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