CCR News July 2019 | Page 20

Board of Director Candidates Dave Weber William Cook I would like to thank the nominating committee for giving me the opportunity to run for a position on the CCR Board of Directors. My wife Sherry and I are from Ithaca, Michigan and are relatively new to Canada Creek Ranch as we became members in Aug. 2014. We have no family history at CCR, but was introduced to the Ranch during the 2013 elk hunt as a guest of a hunter. We came back for a visit and purchased a cabin the next summer. From the first visit on, the Ranch and the people here seemed to have something we wanted to be a part of. A club of members that had a desire to be outdoors, enjoy the outdoors and take care of the outdoors for future generations. Our family includes 4 adult children: Matt, Kristi, Mallory (and Jon) and Trevor (and Maddy) and 5 grandchildren: Kloee, Ryan, Leland, Marik and Aili. I grew up going to Houghton Lake every weekend to my folks’ cottage April though Nov. and sometimes during the winter. I swore I didn’t want to have to go to the same place every weekend when I grew up. Well, that was the way we were until coming to CCR and now I want to go almost no where else. We are year-round visitors after spending 25 years of camping and visiting other destinations for vacations. I joined the CCR Conservation Committee as soon as we became members and have learned to appreciate the incredible job our great volunteers do at the Ranch along with paid staff. I’ve been on the Nominating Committee and have been able to have input on other committees as well as picking up rocks and counting deer and elk in the summer. I believe my experience as a business owner for 36 years with multiple employees, a member of the Ithaca Fire Department for over 20 years with 10 years as an officer, 15 years as a flight instructor (PPC), 15 years on Ithaca Downtown Development Association, a member of the Ithaca Rotary Club and local Chamber of Commerce volunteer committee, would be a great asset to prepare me to be a Board Member at CCR so that I can do my part to keep CCR on the great path that current and previous members have put it on for our kids, grandkids and beyond. Being a member of the Ranch for all of my life except five years in my twenties, it is an honor to volunteer to be a Board member. Growing up, coming up to the ranch has be some of the best times in my life. In 1995, I purchased the cabin my great grandfather built in 1938, getting this back into my family. It has been a great joy to see my two sons, William and Duncan, explore the woods on the ranch like I did, my father and his father before him. My sons are fifth generation ranch members. With my love of hunting, I have been volunteering for the elk hunt for the last 13 years. Growing up coming to the ranch and the love of being at CCR, make me think it is my duty to use my skills to help preserve CCR for the future generations. Some of my beneficial skills: My credentials include more than 20 years of facility and maintenance management of corporate campuses, data centers and manufacturing plants. Starting from an entry level maintenance position, I moved up to supervisory positions, assuming more and more responsibility and am now responsible for multiple facilities and multi- million-dollar budgets. During the course of my career, I became knowledgeable about all aspects of facilities maintenance and construction, developing and implementing projects from start to finish. Currently a member of the Board of Directors, I offer the leadership skills of a strong performer in high-pressure situations who has well-developed organizational and problem-solving skills. I am also able to establish strong connections with staff, contractors and clients, working independently as well as part of a team. Past Member George Olds received this years Merritt Clark Award for his dediciation on the fields in the 1980's. Children Bill Olds, Pat Earl and Gil Olds accept the award on his behalf. 20 Thank you Marilyn & Margie for volunteering!