SUMMER 2024 | 13 SR: So, try to figure out how you can best contribute and do it! Has the question of increasing dues ever come up? LR: Yes, it has. Most organizations cost a lot more than $10. We want to be inclusive. Inclusivity means many things, and, in my mind, we can exclude people by asking for too much money. SR: And it's amazing what we are accomplishing with those funds. Does the organization feel comfortable today regarding a succession plan? Is the organization infrastructure discussed? LR: I would say the succession plan is discussed and I do think the way we are going about it has worked very well. There haven’t been too many blips. I like what I'm doing, but I'm also looking forward to my next role as a past president where I will provide guidance and consultation for the new president along with some historical duties. This new role is part of what's made the succession from year to year work well. SR: What competencies and skills do you think are necessary for a president? LR: I think a president must have thick skin because sometimes you must do things that are not popular with everyone. That was hard for me when I started as president. I was taking everything personally and tried to please everybody. I remember getting advice from a past president who helped me become more aware of the fact that I’m not going to please all the people all the time. I also think a president needs to have a passion for the organization's goals and mission and it’s important to remember that we work together as a team. There are some tough questions that come across my desk from time to time, but I don't have to take those on by myself. I always have a team around me that have the same goals as I do and that’s important to remember. SR: Good advice. Are you looking forward to the winter dinner next week (March 23)? Which dinner or 46er event is your favorite? LR: Yes, I am! There are certain experiences when you are out there in winter that are completely different from summertime hiking, and so I’m really looking forward to hearing from those hikers at the winter dinner and about their experiences. It’s also usually a much smaller and more intimate group and we can give them an opportunity to talk about their experiences, which we can’t do when we have so many finishers at the annual meeting. Regarding my favorite 46er event, well, it’s like my favorite mountain—it’s the last one I attended. I enjoy them all. SR: What is your vision for the 46ers organization? LR: One goal I have is to connect the correspondence program directly to our website. I envision that when an aspiring 46er signs up, they automatically get a correspondent assigned to them. However, right now we're having issues with the programming, and I’m not a big computer person, so others will continue to work toward this goal. In addition, I hope that we will get more volunteers and I hope those volunteers continue to be recognized for their unselfish giving. It humbles me all the time when I see a report come in that says 35 people showed up for a trail work weekend. It was a beautiful weekend. They could have been out hiking with their best buds. They could have been at a family gathering but instead they've decided to drive to the Adirondacks, which for many is a long distance, and carry buckets of gravel and get covered in mud. I think we always need to recognize that. SR: What advice would you have for the next president? LR: Just remember, you’re part of a team. Listen to what everybody has to say and let everybody work together to come to a consensus about something. Grandson Landon Asleep on Catskill 3500-Foot Peak Bearpen
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