This issue marks my the last column of my first term on the Highpointers Club Board of Directors – a time spent entirely as Club Chairman.
I have learned a lot in the three years on the board and am also happy that we have we worked together to complete the two plank platform I campaigned for – even though both items are significantly different than what I thought we were going to do.
The first plank was to file the paperwork to get proper IRS designation. I initially thought we should get 501-c-3 designation so people could get tax deductions for contributions to Club projects. After much work and debate, it turns out that the trade offs were just too great for this designation.
The magic of Jack Longacre's vision was that it united people with very diverse cultural, political and religious backgrounds in the common pursuit of climbing the highest points. If we started asking members for money or worrying about fundraising, the camaraderie would be lost. Consequently, to square us away with the IRS, we have filed for a 501-c-7 designation which notes that we gather for social purposes and so there's no tax deduction. But that's not even a simple process – especially since our club has grown and accounts handled in multiple states. We should all be very grateful to George Vandersluis who spent many, many, many hours organizing and analyzing the club's finances and filling out the forms to finally have them filed (signed by President Don Holmes). This is not a very exciting or high profile job. But it's a job we couldn't function without.
And of course we need to thank the other folks who handle club money and helped out – "membership guy" Craig Noland and Mother Merc and Convention Hostess Jean Trousdale.
The second plank of my "agenda" was that we should open the Highpointing museum in Missouri.
That sure seemed like a lost cause as we fretted over how to raise cash. Then Jean Trousdale and Tim Webb came up with a homerun idea to keep it simple – just put a marker there and see if the State of Missouri would be interested in owning and maintaining it.
It's not a done deal. Lorrie Krontz has been more than generous in offering to grant her father Jack Longacre's wishes to donate at least a portion of the property just south of the highway. Jerry Troop, the superintendent of the Johnson Shut In's/Taum Sauk complex has been very supportive in bringing it before the State of Missouri.
If it goes through this simple memorial will be a world class monument which will literally be visited from people from all over the world.
There's another homerun idea out there put forth by Bob Failing and Robert Hyman that might just knock your socks off. I can't tell what it is but I'll give you a hint – we'll have to wait seven years to implement it.
One of the perks of being chairman is that I get to take credit for the work of other people. As per usual, I continue to marvel at the job John Mitchler and Dave Covill do with the newsletter. It's hard to believe that our "dinky" little club could put out such an entertaining and scholarly publication.
There have of course been two spectacular initiatives in the past two years – the Fifty Flags Above America project and the Scattering project. I am amazed at the efforts of Charlie Winger's crew with the liaisons. We have some spectacular successes in Rhode Island, Florida and Louisiana. And of course we've had three terrific conventions on my watch – Maryland, Oklahoma and Illinois. The groundwork is set for a great fest in Washington.
I take it as a good sign that for the first time we have more candidates running for the board than we have seats. This year in particular though is going to pose a hard choice for me. All of the candidates are very visible in day to day club activities.
So now whatever the results, remember to
Keep Klimbin'