Sierra Chapter Days of our lives...

M

Matt S.

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Fresno, CA
I am just curious to know whats going on around here? Arnt we the most badasses wheelers around? Arnt we the ones who have kick ass runs every month? Didn't the rest of NAXJA want to be like us?



I honestly would like to know if B.C., Phil, and I can do anything to help get back to doing what we(the three of us) love? I am sad that the SierraFest has been cancelled, even more sad that the great "Swamp" Run was a duff. We (the BOD) have lots of good ideas for runs and M&Gs, but no one shows up.

How can I help you? No excuses about stuff, its OK. Its only a Jeep Club. I am just wondering if the BOD has the wrong format, idea, or direction in where you all want to go.

BTW, I haven't done ANY back channel work with this. This is just ME asking YOU. I am willing to help anyway I can. I know I am headed over to ChuckDs this week to get his hunk-o-junk running so he can enjoy it!! Do I need to drive all over the state getting your rigs finished or kids babysitted?

:confused1


Yours Truly,

Matt Strmiska
 
Scrappy said:
I know I am headed over to ChuckDs this week to get his hunk-o-junk running so he can enjoy it!!
Click to expand...

Thanks Matt, I appreciate the help. Hopefully I can find some time for you this week. :D

I think SC is just in a slump. Many of the regulars have had some major Family additions and other events lately and I think some of our priorities have changed. It doesn't help when the trails are not open yet.

I think we can support the G-man on his Swamp Run in August, raise some money for a good cause and get back into the groove. I think the dates are good for me, I just hope Terrie doesn't POP until Sept.

Remember we did have a lot of fun on the Farm lately!

Goatman said:
BTW, the Bakersfield Trailblazers are planning a run to Swamp Lake and Bald Mtn trails as a fund raiser for Surprise Canyon/Friends of Panamint Valley on the weekend of Aug 25-27. This is a simple run, we'll camp along the road to Swamp Lake, and make day runs on the Swamp Lake trail and Bald Mtn trail. Camping will be $20 donation per night per family/rig and dinner Sat night will be $10 per person. All proceeds will go directly to FOPV.

Just a note in case any of you might like to join us for this run
Click to expand...
 
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I'll take some babysitting time :)

I think you guys are doing a great job btw. All you can do is plan good events (which you have done) and hope for a good turn out.

Sorry for not making this weekend, I really wanted to go.
 
Gary E said:
I'll take some babysitting time :)
Click to expand...

x2 haha

Anyway, as long as there are places I can go with what I have, I'm down. I really want to get out more with my jeep and my family and meet some people. I'm finnaly set up enough (CB, skids, rocker guards) to get around. I'm just learning and I really dont want to break my junk so nothing too crazy, but I definitely want to get out more too. (Ive only been on one run with NAXJA to Frank Raines).

Honestly though, I'm scared to go on most runs, you guys have WAY better rigs than me. :shocked:
 
I think it is the New BOD for the Sierra Chapter! :shocked:

Well, let me re-think that. I have to say that Phil did a great job on his Rubicon Run. Phil and Bryan lead in 10 rigs and most had never run that trail before, this is not encluding Doug (left on Friday, or even any of the group that Matt was with) Bryan and Phil raised $55 for NAXJA. Bryan and phil led everyone on that run, got everyone that was there home with none or very little damage.

IMG_0441.jpg



FarmerMatt had a M&G at his place over 10 members showed up to that.

standard.jpg


I also think Bryan needs a thanks for all of his work on the SierraFest even if it failed dude to lack of intrest, not from lack of work on his part.

I think if you look on the positive side we have a great group here. Yes some run's and M&G's don't have big numbers because people can't make it out everytime, but we do have some great people. I think if you want to get more people, you need to plan more runs, events and be a little more forgiving of some of the people you like to call tards, not all of them are.

My ¢.02
 
Your right Dave. We have great people. The Rubicon run was a great sucsess, I wish I could have been there longer. The Farmerboys M&Gs are always great fun. We still have a TON great things going on.

Maybe yall are just getting to old:shocked:

:sunshine:
 
Well for myself, I would like to wheel more often, but this summer is being quickly sucked up with unexpected family obligations. Tom and I have been trying to plan a run out to the Bourland Trestle for months and it keeps getting pushed back week after week after week.

I was wondering if the higher gas prices is keeping some people from going?

Mary
 
Scrappy said:
...This is just ME asking YOU....Do I need to drive all over the state getting your rigs finished or kids babysitted?

:confused1

Yours Truly,
Matt Strmiska
Click to expand...

Be carefull with that, I just might catch you on word on both counts.
 
Im in so*cal for another month...

after that - ill be on every run I can afford to make it to...
 
Interestingly enough... I was kinda thinking about the same thing.

I lurked in this chapter for YEARS and saw how active and fun it appeared to be. I finally got my POS in shape to run with the big boys and it seems as if things have really died down over the last 9 months.

I had a BLAST on the rubicon run... but I think it showed the current state of the Chapter. Most of us on the run had never been on the 'con... That, with the discussion (or lack thereof) on the board showed that the "old guys" that used to be the life of the chapter have moved on. And by moved on, it seems as if everyone has more commitments (family, work, etc) than ever.

Myself included, I finally got my jeep "done" and now I have a house that needs work every weekend... I was hoping to wheel non-stop this summer. I will be LUCKY if I get to fordyce once, and the rubicon twice.

Im not the most active guy on here, so its tough for me to comment in detail... but suffice it to say that I have recognized a change in the general mood, attitude (or whatever it's called) around here. I dont think its the BOD... you guys are doing a fine job as far as im concerned.

-justin
 
I have been watching this thread and I was waiting to comment until I saw some of the replies. I think that heading into January, the BOD, (myself, Phil, and Scrappy) wanted to bring back the old time feel of the Sierra Chapter. We were ambitious in our run schedule for the year, and we knew that at least 1 or 2 runs weren't going to work out. We've had snow runs, A Frank Raines run, a Rubicon run, as well as 4 meet and greets. So far it seems to be working out fairly well. The 2 most recent runs were cancelled due to lack of interest. Summer is hard to get the free time to hit the trail, no big deal, let's move forward. If we can't make it out to the trail, then let's have some more meet and greets. If we spent more time getting to know each other off the trail, we will be more likely to show up at runs because now we know some people and will feel more comfortable. Wheeling is fun, but what the Sierra Chapter should really be about is helping each other. Helping each other fix their junk, finish projects, and give them the kick in the butt they need when they try to bail out 4 times the same night on a midnight Rubicon run. We all have other priorities in life, families, careers, and other obligations seem to come before wheeling, that is a fact of life. All we can do is keep trying.

Thanks for your support of the Sierra Chapter and your chapter BOD.

Bryan C.
Sierra Chapter President
 
I think it's right to be concerned, but things do seem to go in cycles and there's nothing we can do about it. We learn, and adjust, and keep going. I know a number of people who were regulars on the annual Swamp run that just could not make this years trip for a variety of reasons. Nothing wrong with that. We've been doing that run for 10 years, and the last two years we scheduled it too early for the amount of snow that we had and that affected the run. Next year more of the regulars will be able to go, we'll schedule it a little latter in the summer, and I'm sure we'll be full on again.

I'm going to bet that if the chapter put on a Rubicon trip on a long weekend there would be a real good response. I have no idea what happened this year, but nothing works out 100% of the time. It looks to me like not enough people had the vacation time to do the whole week. Maybe next time try doing the 'Con on the weekend and then Fordyce and Barrett during the week for those who can take the vacation time.

I concur whole heartedly with the comments that Bryan made above. Also, it's important that new people get involved, so I hope you newer folks don't back off. It's impossible for the old regulars to stay active at the same level as things in their lives change........like babies, houses, jobs, and even their wheeling interests can change.

Still hope to see some you later this summer,
 
Something else to consider is having runs on easier trails (Gold Lakes Basin, Hell Hole, Strawberry Creek, ect....) Not everyone is on 35's with lockers at each end.
New members would tell Lisa and I they didn't want to do the hard trails until they had more seat time and a more capable rig.
My $.02
 
WesternXJ said:
Something else to consider is having runs on easier trails (Gold Lakes Basin, Hell Hole, Strawberry Creek, ect....) Not everyone is on 35's with lockers at each end.
New members would tell Lisa and I they didn't want to do the hard trails until they had more seat time and a more capable rig.
My $.02
Click to expand...

All very good points!
A great spot for the new driver and the old timers is Bald Mt. If you have never run that one try to get on a run with Scrappy. He is a great guide, he knows the area well and most rigs will have fun on the short trail, most of the trail can be run in a close to stock rig, but there is some really nasty spots on the side of the trail for the more built rigs.

47947548-L.jpg


one comming up this weekend:
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=90388
 
Just a lull in the action, it'll get better. I've been so damn busy getting my roof re-built, I haven't even finished my Jeep. It should be running in 3 weeks, and then it's on in September!
 
Next Summer WILL ROCK!!!!

Personally, the birth of my son in March has taken priority and my weekends away are VERY limited. Next year I will be able to hit more trails.
 
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