"A Whole New Year"

Greg Mumm 

Jan 2004

It’s the start of a whole new year and that always seems to be the time that we stop and decide what things we are going to do different and hopefully better. So, with land issues in mind, we come to the question, "So now what?"

Do we need to do things different? How about better?

Two basic things come to my mind; my part and your part, which ultimately makes; our part.

For my part, there are always things I have figured out I need to do different and some things I have been doing right that I can continue to build on. This year is no exception.

For example, I keep saying we need to be more proactive rather than reactive. That requires that I devote the time to build better relationships with key people in the various agencies we will be dealing with this year. Along with that, over the last year, I think I have done a good job keeping on top of and responding to the important local and national issues. I need to continue in that course of action and build on it. If you think of more that I need to be doing, I encourage you to get in touch with me and let me know.

As we continue to move in the direction of establishing an official trail system in the Black Hills, your part is going to become more and more important. It is also going to get more and more interesting. I am sure there are going to be all sorts of opportunities where you will need to pitch in and help. That might be in the form of taking a section of the Hills as your responsibility to be an expert on. That pitching in may well be in helping me to compile information and/or communicating that information in some form or another. That may even be you providing that extra seat for some official to see the trail we are proposing. Whatever the task, I’m looking forward to working side by side with you to a common goal.

I am also looking forward to our club working side by side with other clubs and organizations to that same end.

All in all, this is looking like it is going to be an interesting and productive year for those of us who live, recreate in and love the Black Hills.