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+-- Forum: Official (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: Officer Elections '15-'16 (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=21)
+--- Thread: Sam Spicer - President (/showthread.php?tid=10951)
Sam Spicer - President - nismosam - 04-20-2015
Hey everyone,
I'm sure you all know me by now, so I suppose I'll skip the regular bio.
Being President this last year certainly had a learning curve, but there was definitely some things we worked on from the previous year. The biggest thing we struggled with, was the car show. Which while it isn't an excuse, none of the officers had any experience with getting done, and the fact that it was just 3 of us to get everything done with (oh and also Dr. Borg was on leave for spring semester, which also didn't help). However, with all that being said, now I know exactly what to do, and when to get it done. Having me be president a second year in a row would drastically cut down on the learning what to do, who to call/talk to, and when to do it. That alone will fix 80% of what was we struggled with this year, and yes I know about Jake's "How to" document but if I'm not mistake only like 1 of the JMU employee's on the list is still relevant and in that position, plus all of offices have been moved around with the creation of the Student Success Center. Overall I'd be able to make the car show much more professional next year, real prizes, bigger attendance, more sponsors and bringing back things like the truck ramp and the sound lab which were unable to make it due to scheduling conflicts.
Another point I'd like to touch on is finances. Starting this year the MM account balance was nearly $0, and with the choices we've made as officers with events, sales, apparel, etc.. we should be leaving the MM account with almost $600. So I believe that would make us the most profitable officers in quite a few years, when you also consider we still ran the MM garage this year which cost $700~ish. So I'd say that is a huge win for us, making it drastically easier on the next group of officers, and with me leading the team I would expect to only finish even stronger. So basically what this means is, possibly cheaper karting, possibly karting twice!? and other events in general along with more apparel, etc.
For events, if I'm not mistake I believe Ray informed me that this past College solo was the largest ever for registered drivers, so while back in MM prime we may have had more bystanders, but this past year we had the most DRIVERS! Which of course I plan on only continue to grow upon. Also I'd really like to get attendance up to track days, and I felt like we had a pretty strong presence at the fall VIR event, but then after that it fell apart due to everyone being busy for the weekends of NASA days. I was also really busy this past year with going through COB 300(well actually all 3 of the officers did). So I plan on being more free this coming year, and with a full set of 4 officers we should be able to make a stronger presence and also rent buses again as Taylor has volunteered to be the DD bus driver for next year. For meetings I'm a huge proponent for parking lot meets more often instead of classroom meets, as no one is ever a fan of classroom meets (except alumni who randomly drop in, because then it's easy to know where we are) but classroom meets have always been a necessary evil. So cutting those meets in half with parking lot meets is a great idea.
Also I'd just like to note that I originally had no intentions of running for president again this year, although having been asked by several current students to run again as they felt it would be best for MM, I agreed to run. I'm only running to do what's best for MM, so if the general consensus is for someone else to be president then that's fine by me. I'm just trying to lend my time (only 6 classes from graduation and splitting them up for 3/3) and my extensive knowledge of MM as I've been very active since my very first klines meet as a freshmen and have been in the club as long as one can practically be for an undergrad.
P.S. You know you'd miss my emails :wink:
If you guys have any questions for me, feel free to ask on here through post or PM.
Thanks,
Sam Spcier
Sam Spicer - President - *insertusernamehere* - 04-20-2015
Heell yeeaah man! Glad to see you're running. Just like working on cars doing something the first time usually ends up in curse words and more broken parts than when you started, but the second time? You can do it almost like a pro! I'm sure you'll be a great president the second time around! Good luck man!
The one thing you just gotta work on next year if you win is forum presence though... Kinda missed ya here, boy
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Re: Sam Spicer - President - Jake - 04-20-2015
Can you please explain more about how the "MM Garage" works with regards to use by members, shared tools, etc? I know students appreciate having it available, but I've also heard allegations (from several people) that favorites have been played regarding access or storage in the garage. Just wanted to see if that could be expanded upon since I don't think it's ever been brought up in a somewhat formal capacity.
Re: Sam Spicer - President - nismosam - 04-20-2015
Pretty much how the MM garage has worked is that me and previously Garrett just leaves there personal tool box in there and if anyone needs to use the garage for whatever reason, they just have to text/call me to use said garage. I also kept the garage supplied with things such as hand cleaner, shop towels, PB blaster, basically just garage consumables (on my own dime). Basically was a first come first serve basis on who ask to use it first. The only issue on someone not getting to use it to my knowledge has been (I can recall 2 times) that around 4-5 different people asked to use the garage on the exact same day/night, so obviously only the first person to ask could use it. However we are not going to continue the MM garage after this year I believe as I don't feel like it was utilized enough this year for the spring semester (I believe twice). However in defense of it being used, it was being used off the hook in the fall. Probably 15-20 times and I stopped counting hours after I had logged 100 hours of helping members with their cars in the fall alone.
-edit Also there's that alumni donated tool box in the garage, and all the different MM items stored in there, leftover T-shirts, stickers, apparel not picked up, posters, the big MM box with a bunch of binders and papers, MM's plastic table... etc.
Re: Sam Spicer - President - Senor_Taylor - 04-20-2015
I fully support Sam being president. Everyone I've talked to has expressed this as well. My only concern is this "Bus rental". Sorry man, I can't drive a bus; I don't have my air brake license yet
I'm behind van rental, though.
Re: Sam Spicer - President - nismosam - 04-20-2015
Also, just got the word that our ending balance should be $559 accounting for all the expenses left, not including pizza for the last meeting.
Re: Sam Spicer - President - nismosam - 04-20-2015
haha you know what I mean Taylor. "Van Rental"
Re: Sam Spicer - President - Senor_Taylor - 04-20-2015
Also, I like the idea of ending the MM Garage. Sure, it's a good thing, but there's nothing wrong with working on your car in the parking lot.
Re: Sam Spicer - President - *insertusernamehere* - 04-20-2015
I'm okay with this as well. Lets all continue to be generous with our tools though.
Speaking of, i'll get your torque wrench back to you asap taylor haha
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Re: Sam Spicer - President - 95SVTCobra - 04-20-2015
*insertusernamehere* Wrote:I'm okay with this as well. Lets all continue to be generous with our tools though.This. We all should be willing to borrow/loan the tools from friends, members, and alumni as a club and be respectful of these said tools. I know it sure helped me out when we tried to get the thermostat off Friday night before the car show :lol:.
Re: Sam Spicer - President - Senor_Taylor - 04-20-2015
My toolbox of wonders is always open to MM.
Re: Sam Spicer - President - Ken - 04-24-2015
nismosam Wrote:, and yes I know about Jake's "How to" document but if I'm not mistake only like 1 of the JMU employee's on the list is still relevant and in that position, plus all of offices have been moved around with the creation of the Student Success Center.
So... has this document been updated or did we just kind of let it slide and let it be a problem for the future versions of ourselves? If it's completely out of date, that's one thing. However, if the core instructions are still valid and they just need to be updated with correct contacts and locations, that should be done. Just my two cents.
Re: Sam Spicer - President - nismosam - 04-25-2015
I'm pretty sure the document hasn't been updated since Jake wrote it himself, so it's quite out of date. I suppose the concepts of to get things done are still there, although many steps have been changed/added/taken away. Even some of the other schools car clubs have ceased to exist, let alone have relevant contact info. Updating the document is still possible, though it would really be more like mostly just rewritten. Which is something I could do next year as President.