Daniel Boone - Member since 1980. Current board member, past president and vice-president. Instructor, past canoe school chair, trip leader, river adopter. TSRA representative on the TN Conservation Voters board. Organizer of the Mill Creek clean-up for 23 years. Conservation Committee.
Goals as a board member: My goals as a TSRA Board Members would be to continue to make us the leading organization for improving paddling skills, promoting river safety and to maintain and improve our excellent group of instructors. I’d like to see that we focus our conservation efforts on protecting headwater areas and that we build strong relationships with other groups whose goals are to protect our streams. I want to make what we do FUN!
Sam Davis - My first involvement with TSRA was when I was five, twenty-seven years ago. I spent the greater part of a decade training for the Olympics in Whitewater Slalom. Some of my accomplishments include two-time national champion, multi-year national team member, and Olympic alternate. I have served on the board for the past two years and have really enjoyed the experience. I have helped in leading trips, planning Rendezvous, volunteering for TSRA in various capacities, and serving as the current Treasurer. As I have become involved with other non-profits, it has enhanced my appreciation for the strength of the TSRA board. I greatly value our drive to protect the streams, rivers, and waterways of Tennessee. However, what I am most passionate about is paddling.
Goals as a board member: As a TSRA board member, my primary goal will be to promote the paddle sport through our organization. I strongly believe that if we have a strong paddling organization with increasing membership, this will only prove advantageous in expanding the other initiatives of our great organization.
Eric Fisher – Over the past 4 years, I have been Chairperson for 2006 and 2007 Winter Paddling Clinics, 2008 Canoe and Kayak School, and 2009 Instructor Seminar. I am also an Instructor and Trip leader. I occasionally help out with various committees as I can. I have been a member since 1984.
Goals as a board member: The greatest asset that TSRA has is its membership. I think TSRA can be more effective than we are by mobilizing our membership to get more involved in all the things that we do. I think we can do a better job in recruiting new members that are interested in paddling and protecting rivers. I think the best way to do this is to have many fun and interesting activities for the membership to participate in. This is important in fostering those relationships that are necessary for an active and dynamic membership. We have made great improvements in this area in the last couple of years and have seen positive results. My focus will be to continue and improve TSRA in this area. Our rivers are under great pressure and we need to be in a position to do all that we can to protect them.
We have a really great selection of members for the board, please take the time to vote.
Trent Ganstine - I have instructed at many schools and helped at several river cleanups over the last 8 years. ACA Whitewater Kayak Instructor. My involvement in 2009 - instructed at Roll School, Canoe and Kayak School, and Hot Rolls; Participated in the Instructor Seminar, Rendezvous, and Mill Creek Cleanup; Organizer for Intro School, Basic River Rescue School, and Winter Paddling Clinic; Served as the volunteer coordinator for the Dragon Boat Races; currently serve as Vice President.
Goals as a board member: I want to attract and retain more members and younger members by increasing the number of schools and trips and making these events safe, fun, and inclusive. The more members we have, the greater our voice will be when we respond to conservation and access issues. I would also like to focus on elevating our level of instruction to add value to our schools.
Rob Karwedsky -TSRA member since 1984. OC1 instructor. 2009 Board member. Conservation Committee Chair. TSRA Conservationist of the Year in 2000.
Goals as a board member: My goals are to increase the involvement of TSRA membership in conservation issues in Tennessee.
Gene Levine - Two years volunteering at canoe and kayak school. Helped on clean-up of Duck River in 2007.
Goals as a board member: My goals include increasing membership—especially amongst young people—and looking for ways to make TSRA activities more environmentally friendly whenever possible.
Steve Logan - TSRA member for 11 years. Current Board Member & on the Access Committee and assisted in writing grants for access sites. Close working relationship with TDOT, Metro Nashville Greenways, TWRA, TDEC, State Parks, and Watershed Associations. Designed and constructed Hidden Lake, Hwy 100, Williamson Co. Rec Ctr., Gossett Track access sites on the Harpeth River. Will be designing and installing additional access site this fall. Assisted in the design of Harpeth River access site and directional signage and currently working with State & Local Agencies on State wide standard. TSRA Access Community Representative for the Harpeth River Blueway Project. I will be co-presenting with Tn. State Parks rep. this fall @ the Southeast Watershed Forum on Access Site design and construction and how to create a Blueway.
Goals as a board member: Particular areas of interest in TSRA programs: Paddling, expanding the number of participates in the schools, securing safe & user friendly access sites to rivers and creeks state wide, work with Tn. State Parks & National Parks on Access sites on the Cumberland Plateau. Increase TSRA membership and use technology to keep members informed. Encouraging the state to fund the Tennessee Scenic River Act and create a department with staff.
Jack Lyle - I've been in TSRA over 30 years. At one time or another, I've been involved with every school and event. I've been on the board for a number of years. I have taught kayaking for many years and lead many trips for TSRA.
Goals as a board member: We have fewer members now than in the past. I hope we can involve more young people in the club. We need to at least maintain the number of trips on our calendar and involve more folks in leading them.
Lisa McCarter - TSRA member since 1992; past instructor for intro to paddling schools, canoe & kayak schools; trip leader; newsletter editor 2000-2005; Board member since 2000; participate in stream clean-ups every year, including Mill Creek; helped lead Percy Priest Lake clean-up in 2008 with Nashville Clean Water Project; participated in access projects on Harpeth River; and currently acting as TSRA's liaison to Community Shares.
Goals as a board member: I believe the public perceives TSRA as a paddling club. I would like to change that perception and see TSRA enhance its conservation mission by having both our membership and our board become more pro-active in preserving and protecting streams and water bodies in Tennessee. This will require more than simply distributing grant money and donations to other worthy conservation efforts. I would explore methods for: 1) expanding our membership base; 2) raising its "consciousness"; 3) and raising more funds with the ultimate goal of supporting a salaried Executive Director to make TSRA a more visible and vocal voice on the TN conservation scene.
Jim McCool - TSRA Board Member - 4 Yrs, TSRA Treasurer - 4-1/2 years, TSRA Co-Chairman-Canoe & Kayak Clinic - 3yrs, TSRA Kayak Instructor - 8 years, TSRA Swift water Rescue Instructor or aide - 10 yrs, TSRA Wilderness First Aid Facilitator - 3 yrs, TSRA Winter Paddling Clinic Instructor, TSRA Intro School Instructor, TSRA Advanced Kayak Instructor, American Canoe Association Member since 2001, American Whitewater Member since 2001
Goals as a board member: My first goal as a TSRA Board Member is to balance the efforts & funds entrusted to the Board of TSRA to be spent equally on conservation & the promotion of the canoe & kayaking sport. My second goal is to assure that TSRA is once-again recognized as the source for highest quality canoe & kayak instruction in the Southeast. My third goal is to restore the popularity of TSRA as a group of paddlers whom are knowledgeable, well-trained, safety-minded, welcoming, FUN to be with, & from which to learn or improve canoe & kayaking skills. My fourth goal is to recruit, reward, & retain quality canoe & kayak instructors for TSRA.
David Pelren - TSRA board member two to three years. I've got more time with a 3-year-old future paddler than I had with the newborn.) Adopt-a-River coordinator since about 2003, Kayak school instructor since about 1995, Intro. school in 1997.
Goals as a board member: I'd like to improve TSRA's effectiveness within the stream conservation community. One area of focus that I see a need for is an update of TSRA's Conservation web page. I also believe that more frequent coordination between board members and myself would provide for opportunities to evaluate our Adopt-a-River program in terms of its current purpose and potential improvements.
Mark Quarles - I have been a member since 1993 and have taught Canoe / Kayak school every year but two years since I became a member. Teaching kayak school is the highlight of my paddling year. I have also taught roll-school several years. In the mid-'90s, I was involved as an instructor trainer to certify new TSRA paddling instructors. I was a fill-in TSRA board member in one past year.
Goals as a board member: From a conservation perspective, I am self-employed as a public interest environmental consultant and have worked locally on numerous pro-public environmental causes for such organizations as the Harpeth River Watershed Association and the Tennessee Clean Water Network. My goal is to be a spokesperson for what members want the organization to be. From my past experience, members have wanted a balance of high quality instruction (that produces revenue to support conservation efforts), river trips to improve skills, a continuation of conservation efforts that protect waterways, programs to enhance public visibility of the organization, and opportunities for more public river access areas in the state.
Patty Shultz - I'm active in the TSRA Access Committee and on the TSRA Board. I've also been involved as a volunteer in river cleanups and community projects.
Goals as a board member: To continue to secure and build Access Sites for paddlers.
Heather Stacey - Winter Paddling Clinic Co-Chair for 2 years, guest speaker at WPC for 2 years, Roll Clinic instructor.
Goals as a board member: I would like to see TSRA's membership diversify by involving members of all ages. I feel introducing people to paddle sports is a great way to expose them to nature while teaching them to respect our most valuable natural resource-water.
Scott Strausbaugh - Newsletter Layout & Design Since 2007, Instructor's Seminar Lead Instructor, Hotrolls Instructor, Skill builder Instructor,
Goals as a board member: My goals as a TSRA Board Member for the next election cycle are: To attend board meetings on a regular basis and support all TSRA approved activities, especially instruction activities through seminars and clinics. As an Olympic Gold Medalist in Whitewater Slalom, and with a background and degree in Environmental Science, I feel I am very qualified to give valuable TSRA Board input on many club issues. I am also a past member of the Board of Directors for the Nantahala Racing Club in Bryson City North Carolina.
Charlie Wilkerson - Current board member, ACA Certified WW Canoe Instructor, TSRA Instructor of Canoe, C-1, Eskimo Roll, and Rescue, Trip Leader, and River Adopter.
Goals as a board member: My priorities include safety and education, improving our instruction programs, and getting younger folks involved in TSRA's programs.
Barnett Williams - TSRA member since 1974...33 consecutive years a TSRA Instructor; President in 1985; Board member 20+ years; past Club Secretary and Treasurer. School Chair or Co-chair for Canoe School, Solo Schools, Trip Leader Seminars, Rescue Clinic, Roll Schools, Hot Rolls, (the 1st) Advanced Winter Paddling Clinics. Event organizer for Annual Meetings and Rendezvous. Dragon Boat Committee. Particular areas of interest are teaching, trip leading, and paddling.
Goals as a board member: My goals as a Board Members are to: Guide the Organization in directions that I believe the founders intended. Reverse the trend of the past 5+ years and Grow the organization. Pursue the organization's financially stability while maintaining its contributory viability. Support and Insure the Organization's positive Community Impact.
Fanci Worthington - Assisted with Roll School, Introduction to Paddling School, and Canoe and Kayak School. Attended Instructors Clinic and several other TSRA trips.
Goals as a board member: My goals as a TSRA Board Member are to perpetuate TSRA through increased participation in conservation of scenic rivers and increased interest of women in the paddling community. Also, I would like to develop networking between other paddling/river organizations and I’d like to find and encourage new members and leaders throughout the state. I believe in grassroots networking with new and existing political relationships.
