From Existing CGKA Leadership

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

Dear CGKA Members & NWKite community-

2007 was an interesting and productive year for CGKA. We started off with a lot of questions on our minds. First, we were happy that Mother Nature had given us this wonderful gift of 8 feet in height of additional sand that came down the Hood River during the flood of November 2006. We now had this huge sandbar with great Kiteboarding potential - but it was riddled with hundreds of dangerous logs. The Port of Hood River and the windsurfers were concerned that their beloved Eventsite's access to the river was almost completely choked off by this huge mass of sand - so what were we going to do? The Port of Hood River suggested the Columbia Gorge Windsurf Association (CGWA) get together with CGKA to develop a plan to ensure safety and attempt to keep conflicts to a minimum. At first CGWA wanted almost the entire western edge of the sandbar for windsurf access only - i.e. no kites. Cory Roeseler (the other Co-Spokesperson) and I said no; we could never sell that to our kite community and we settled with the no-fly zone of 100 yards that ended up working out beautifully. During this timeframe of debate, which included meetings with the Hood River Waterfront Recreation Committee (comprised of mostly windsurfers), we kept bringing up the point of “what are we going to do with all the wood on the sandbar?". There was much debate that no one believed we could get the permits from the powers that be to take pickup trucks and chainsaws out on the sandbar to clean it up - and that was if the Army Corps of Engineers would lower the river for us. Under much skepticism and with perseverance, we did get the permits, held two cleanups with over 200 volunteers in attendance and made a beautifully clean sandbar safe for all. These efforts, in combination with our ability to “self police” the no-fly zone, gave the Kiteboarding community the goodwill and much improved reputation which now enables us to kiteboard at the Eventsite seven months of the year during the off-season (October 1st – April 30th) We also had a hugely successful Blowout – a 20 mile race from Stevenson to Hood River with 62 entrants and 52 people finishing - a fun and safe event for all.

For 2008, since we now have the sandbar under control we plan to broaden our horizons to neighboring launch sites in Lyle and Stevenson and have appointed Launch Project managers. We have already met with the Commissioners of the Port of Skamania and are working on a plan for Lyle in hope of developing the same strong relationship CGKA now has with the Port of Hood River. We will be planning smaller but similar CGKA driven volunteer efforts for launch improvement and routine maintenance. We also have attended meetings representing the Kiteboarding community with the Broughton Lumber Project management. Jim Grady has been chosen by the Port of Hood River to be one of nine representatives mainly consisting of city and/or county managers on a Stakeholder Working Group for the Port of Hood River's Frontage Road Crossing Feasibility Study. This study of paramount importance will determine if a frontage road and bridge crossing the Hood River should be built on the northern side of I-84 to alleviate traffic back ups for the Hood River Bridge exit, often a dangerous occurrence during the summer.

We will be holding elections on Saturday March 8th at the Port of Hood River Offices boardroom (the building just west of the Hood River Bridge toll booth). If you cannot make it to Hood River to vote or simply wish to vote via email, please do so by sending a completed ballot to admin [at] CGKA.net by 2pm March 8th. The ballot can be downloaded from http://www.columbiagorgekiteboardingassociation.org/cgka_2008_ballot.doc. The current CGKA leadership feels we have accomplished a lot in the past few years and we acknowledge there is much more to be done. Thanks to all who have contributed to the CGKA mission, to protect and enhance water access for kiters.

Good winds,

Jim Grady - Current Co-Spokesperson
Cory Roeseler - Current Co-Spokesperson
Adam Monaghan - Current Secretary

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

If you are not currently a member of the CGKA and wish to join which will allow you to vote please mail your membership dues of 10 dollars to

CGKA
PO 856
Hood River, OR 97031

please write your email address on your check as it will help me keep track of things.

tonia · Since 15 Jun 2005 209 Posts The Gorge Stoked

For those who can't attend on Saturday.... Would it be possible to set up a more neutral party for people to send in their ballots than the current admin at cgka.net email address? That is the same email address from which we all receive emails from the current leadership. Maybe the Puget Sound KA or even the CGWA? I wouldn't send my November '08 ballot to the White House... would you? Just an idea.

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

Tonia-

Thanks for your concern, as it stands right now i am the only one that has access to the admin [at] cgka.net email box. i changed the password after the letter to the membership went out.

Furthermore, i am printing up everyones emailed ballot to bring to the meeting, so if anyone wants to verify or do a recount they can from the emailed ballots i will have printed out. Lastly, after all the ballots are in, i will release the password to the email account to any second and third neutral parties if someone so wishes so that the ballots can be verified electronically.

Adam

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Mar 05, 08 1:02 pm

Is there someplace that we can read about the people that are running for office? It would be nice to know their stance on things and what their ideas for the upcoming year are?

This would also help alleviate the notion that the GCKA is the HRKA. It seems to me that everyone probably knows everyone else in HR but not all of us can live in HR.

Thanks,
PDXMB

mystrygrl · Since 07 Sep 2006 95 Posts PDX/HR - What day is it? Â

shredjim · Since 07 Jun 2006 188 Posts Stoked

To the Northwest Kiteboarding Community:

This is what you can expect if you elect me for President.

I have been kiteboarding for four years, I am an IKO Instructor, and I manage Hood River Waterplay's Kiteboarding School. I am a Hood River local, semi-retired from a long career in software sales, with plenty of time to go to all the various meetings throughout the Gorge - one of the most important duties of an effective CGKA President.

The CGKA has not had a President for the past two seasons. During the spring of 2006, I volunteered as Co-Spokesperson with Cory Roeseler. I had no idea it would turn into a position of such responsibility. I wrote the letter we sent out to the membership and posted above here on the Forum titled "From Existing CGKA Leadership." I have been an instrumental person behind a lot of the CGKA's recent accomplishments with my trusted advisor Cory to help strategize and to formulate our positions.

We receive positive comments all the time from fellow kiteboarders and even windsurfers about how the CGKA's efforts have brought the kiteboarding community together into a much tighter and more productive group. The relationship we now have with the Port of Hood River, the Oregon State Department of Lands, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the local Marine Board enable us to get the permits for work sessions without all the red tape typically involved.

The bottom line is this: I really want to devote another year to continue to take the CGKA to new heights both inside and outside of Hood River. I have already delegated the following projects: Mark Barnes, Project Manager for the Stevenson Launch, has accomplished a ton in only one month. Forrest Rae, Lyle Project Manager, has been contacting the various landowners in an attempt to determine the "lay of the land" and how we can make Lyle a safe and respected kiteboard launch. Lloyd Nickson, Slider Coordinator, has been coordinating the "slider group" to be more organized this year and has already filed a proposal with the Port of Hood River and the Marine Board Sheriff, who are both pleased to see the CGKA's involvement to insure safety. And Steve Fisher, Events Coordinator, is eagerly awaiting the first opportunity to begin coordination of an event to give the CGKA the recognition it deserves.

I hope the northwest kiteboarding community shares my vision and wants keep moving forward in the same positive direction. Keeping the organization focused on our mission is key - to preserve, protect, enhance and increase kiteboarding access throughout the Columbia River Gorge!

Thank you for your consideration....

Jim Grady

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Mar 07, 08 3:49 pm

Jim,
If you have the time, I have a question or two for you.

I was wondering if you have any specific goals or accomplishments that you hope to achieve this year?

What do you presently see as the biggest issues to the kiteboard community.

Do you have any ideas on how to keep CGKA members more informed of the goings ons of the CGKA?

Thanks for your time and best of luck in the election!!

shredjim · Since 07 Jun 2006 188 Posts Stoked

No problem PDXMB

Q. I was wondering if you have any specific goals or accomplishments that you hope to achieve this year?

A. I think I have hit the highlights fairly well in the above posts, but again one goal would be to broaden our horizon outside of Hood River this year - that we have already begun. I would like to see other launch sites get similiar treatment as the HR Sandbar receives. Mark's organization of a Stevenson Cleanup on March 22nd is a great start in the right direction. Another goal is to gain a full understanding of the kiteboarder's and windsurfer's opinion on IF A FRONTAGE ROAD SHOULD BE BUILT to the north of I 84 that includes a bridge that will cross the Hood River. I have been chosen by the Port of Hood River to represent ALL waterfront users, not just kiteboarders as one of 9 representatives (mostly city and county managers) in a Stakeholders Working Group to help make this paramount decision. The first meeting was March 20th at 3:00 PM, and the rest of the upcomming meetings this spring and summer will be midweek at 2:00 PM. Good thing I don't have a full time business career in Portland like I did until 2005. I would also like to see the Lyle Launch become more easy to access and have the railroad bless our existance there. The Slider situation is also a great example of how we can find a happy medium between the slider user's needs and the governmental agency's desires. One launch that has not yet been mentioned, but is getting consideration for a project manager is Sauvies Island - I think it is a great idea, but the new BOD will need to decide if it is a 2008 or 2009 project start timeframe. If we continue our track record over the past two years - quality of work is as important as quantity, meaning I would not like to see CGKA attempt to do too many projects so we don't accomplish the level of quality we are now known for achieving.

I have much else to write but don't want to put people to sleep Smile

Q. What do you presently see as the biggest issues to the kiteboard community.

A. Due to the infancy of the sport and its inherent danger, kiteboarding is treated as the dangerous sport that takes second priority to windsurfing by the governing agencies and recreation committees. I don't like this, but understand that we can't change this perception overnight. We need to take little steps at a time. The fact that we can now kite at the Eventsite 7 months a year is a small step in the right direction. I dream of the day where I get a windsurfer to launch my kite on July 4th right smack in the middle of the grass on the Eventsite lawn Thumb's Up

Q. Do you have any ideas on how to keep CGKA members more informed of the goings ons of the CGKA?

A. We have been taking measures to let the members be aware of our goings on and decisions proactively. The new BOD will have 11 people on it, and a person primarily dedicated to communications.

I do have a request - can we please try to take the emotion out of this election and focus on having a fantastic summer for all!

Thank you,

Jim

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

mystrygrl · Since 07 Sep 2006 95 Posts PDX/HR - What day is it? Â