To answer Sandy’s question regarding, “why weren't volunteers solicited to help with the work being done in the SR?”
The decision to “open” the Pendergrass-Murray Recreartional Preserve, when, how, in what order, on what day, has been, and still is, an extremely delicate decision based not upon volunteers and trails, but our lawsuit, our legal strategy, and numerous logistical problems. We have not asked for volunteers because “preparations” have been intentionally been going on quietly behind the scenes while the board of directors have been reviewing the RRGCC’s legal options and strategy. The board has most recently hired an oil and gas expert who was finally able to visit the property last Monday and review the relevant legal documents just this Saturday, April 10 (I spent last week, making the three-hour round trip drive to obtain copies of them at the Beattyville courthouse and then took then to this gentleman’s house this past Saturday morning. The board has received a “briefing” email from me over the weekend and has not made a final decision.)
We have been pursuing a two-track plan; “quietly” (not publicly) preparing to reopen the Preserve to climbing while also working behind the scene to get all our legal “ducks in a row” with a watchful eye towards Charmane, the mediation date, and our lawsuit. Again, we cannot talk about everything that is going on in public. Information is still being gathered, decisions still have to be made, and at the same time a very small group of people have been working (doing small individual tasks, making signs, prepping trails, looking into the “red tape” for stream crossings, gravel, grading, etc.) getting the property ready to be opened as soon as the decision could be made to open it.
But the bottom line is this: There is nothing nefarious going on. There is no conspiracy. No wrongdoing. No exploitation, no “private playgrounds.” No one is trying to take advantage of anyone, or take anyone’s money under false pretentious. As John has said before, as I tried to tell Wes this past week at the crag, the RRGCC does not have a paid staff (Vic has only recently been hired part-time, even though he puts in over 40 hours). This is not like “on demand” TV. There is only a handful of extremely dedicated people who “loosely” (volunteer their time, call one another, share emails, consult, discuss, etc.) work very hard on behalf, and always for the benefit, of the larger climbing group. There is no office, there is no staff, we do the work in our spare time, when we can. Organizing volunteers and trail days takes time and man hours that, frankly, we just don’t have. It takes as much (sometimes more) time to organize a trail day as it does just to go do the work without volunteers. Volunteers are labor-intensive and high maintenance.
Of course, things could be better. Of course, we would love to “communicate” to everyone, all the time, answer everyone’s questions. Even taking the time to write this means several other tasks that desperately need to be done (printing thank-you postcards to renewing members, writing the latest announcement for the rrgcc.org website) are not being done. Mistakes are made, big and small. Phone calls don’t get returned right away, or at all, sometimes. Emails go unanswered. Not every time someone says “I would like to volunteer” is there anything that can be done about it. Mistakes will always be made. There will always fault to be found. But there is huge difference between sincere questions and constructive criticism meant to help and make things better, and questions and comments meant to hurt, stir up trouble, belittle, find fault, degrade, be spiteful, petty, and self-indulgent.
But “we” (anyone who works in the name of the RRGCC) are just human beings trying to do something helpful for others. This is not a fortune 500 company. We are basically just friends, or people who know one another, who love to climb and love the Red. We are not going to be perfect, maybe not even very good at it. But we are trying and we are making progress. We have accomplished in our spare time, with no staff, no salaries, no secretaries, no administrative assistants, no office, no weekly staff meetings, no committees, nothing more than a desire to help, a hell of lot that we can all be proud of. It is not about being a martyr, or trying to be “in charge,” or about having power. As fucked up as we may be, and misguided as we are, or hokey as it may sound, I and the rest of the “RRGCC members” really do just believe in the mission and vision of the organization.
I wish I had more time, for example, to answer the numerous (good) questions posted to this web site, but I don't. So, please know that if I don't post or respond it is because I am off doing something else.
Direct emails to me at:
rawkjock@qx.net and phone calls: 859-269-8796 help save me time and are always appreciated.
Thanks