Dan Blanton
Thank you to the Membership and the Board Nominating Committee for considering me for a position on the Board of Directors .
There are few things in life I love as much as Canada Creek Ranch . The sights , the sounds , the smells . I am a fourth-generation member and some of my fondest childhood memories include time at the Ranch with my grandparents , siblings and cousins . The Beach was my favorite place on Earth for many years of my young life . I have continued to make memories here with my wife , Cheryl , and two grown children , Laura and Greg .
Sentimentality aside , I believe I will , if elected , make a beneficial and productive addition to the Board and respectfully ask for your vote . I have my own mind but am a consensus builder , not a renegade . I currently serve as Chair of the CCR Investment Committee and have been a committee member for close to 10 years . The preservation and growth of the investment accounts are important to the financial stability of the Ranch , and , as stewards of these assets , we committee members take this responsibility seriously .
I am a lifelong outdoorsman who enjoys fishing , hunting , kayaking , and hiking . I ’ ve been a financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments in Grand Rapids for 22 years and will retire the end of this year . Prior to that I was a licensed engineer for 11 years in sales management . Other experience includes serving as President of the Alto Lions Club for three years and board member for several more . I grew up in Flushing and have a degree in geology from Michigan State University .
The health and wellbeing of the Ranch now and in the future are vital to me and also to you as a member , or you wouldn ’ t be taking the time to read these bios . If elected , I will help ensure the Ranch stays true to its vision : Hunting , Fishing , and Outdoor Recreation at its finest . Canada Creek Ranch has existed for nearly 90 years and , with proper guidance from members and management working together , will exist another 90 .
I welcome the opportunity to speak with you and can be reached at 616-644-2950 . Thank you for your consideration . I won ’ t let you down .
Dan Blanton .
REMEMBER !
Rule15.01 Members and guests are responsible for their pets at all times and must observe the following rules :
1 . Pets must be properly controlled so as not to cause a nuisance to other members .
2 . Only service dogs will be allowed in prohibited areas .
3 . Pets are not permitted on the beach , picnic areas , playgrounds , campground bathhouse , or in the
Ranch House or Rental Cabins .
Board of Director Candidates
15
Cyrus Opfermann
My name is Cyrus Opfermann . My wife and I have lived on the ranch year-round since Dec 2018 and have been a members off and on since the 1970s . The beauty of the ranch , the wildlife , plus some genuinely great friends make it a wonderful place to live . You may have met me at the front gate or Wilson ’ s bridge where I was a security person . You may remember me by the phrase I use to help people remember my name , “ Cy , Cy the good-looking guy !”. I have participated in the Conservation Committee and presently serve as the facilitator of a Conservation Subcommittee . I have one son who is also a member and another who is in the process of applying for membership . My work background was in retail furniture where I was store manager , warehouse manager , operations manager , and finally general manager for a large chain of stores . I would like to think that my experience would have application to the problems and opportunities that face the ranch . I am eager to become expert in the issues facing the ranch so I can speak with a clear and informed voice in helping address the daily operations and future planning decisions that will need to be addressed . I feel a responsibility to be a participant in the community which I live and have a home . I have no “ Hot Button ” or pressing issue behind my decision to run . My main concern is to see that objective reasoning drives the decisions that come before the board . I served for 15 years on a subdivision board of directors in South Lyon , MI . I was at various times President , Vice President , and Treasurer . I saw members choose to serve for assorted reasons . Some did it for the title , some for a single issue that they felt passionate about . Those who participated only for those reasons tended to participate less in the general ongoing issues and dispute resolutions that routinely came to the board . We need to keep faith with posterity . That means ensuring funds are available when needed for replacement of assets at the end of their useful life , in addition to funding current operations with current revenues . Maintaining efficiency in operations is another way of keeping costs down and helping to meet the financial challenge . One of my friends said that “ CCR is the best kept secret around .” If you look at all it offers to those who come here it seems to me , he makes a good point . Our membership is a changing commodity , and the challenge going forward is to make sure it continues to reflect what the membership in general expects or wants it to be yet still maintains that essential character that it started with . I want to believe that is possible and if elected that is what I hope to help accomplish .
REMINDER ! You can purchase your Michigan Hunting and Fishing Licenses at the Ranch House !