Why? Great question! Every element of Ladies Offroad Network has been built by answering ladies needs and questions. Charlene Bower listens to what is needed and wanted and has responded with Chapters to this set of statements:
- "I want to meet other offroad ladies that live near me."
- "I want to go out on the trails but I can't find anyone to go with me."
- "I want to learn how to __, but I don't know where to go."
"The launch of Chapters is the most exciting and scariest project that we have released yet. It is awesome that we can answer the need for local ladies to get together and have fun in the dirt ~ but now we increase our event work load to keep up with all these awesome ladies wanting to do awesome things...right now!! I think we are up for the challenge. I am personally challenged with leading the leadership group in a positive manner to ensure all ladies across the country receive a consistent Ladies Offroad Network experience. I think it is imperative that we all stick together on this journey and respect Ladies Offroad Network's purpose, vision and goals.
"Chapters have been on the docket since the inception, but it has taken time to get to this phase. A, then B, then C and this might be G or... We had to develop what Ladies Offroad Network's core is, what it's values are, what it's voice is. Then we had to experience different events and ladies across the country, including the first Ladies Offroad Trail Training Tour that brought girls together in their local area. We launched Network'ing events last summer to start the process of getting groups of local ladies together with a local leader. We moved into a new Member Management system so group communication could be seamless. And many other steps that seem small enough not to make the list, but matter in the big picture. Did you realize that? Or, can you see it now?
"Every step was done on purpose to get us to the launch of Chapters in April 2019. We gave it a solid try with the plan that we had and we learned, we failed, we succeeded, we shook our heads and came out realizing that there are still some key elements that need to be managed before we add more RPMs to this rocky climb. We had our first Leadership Summit that was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and we learned again. I saw the bigger picture and I walked away understanding what needed to happen.
"I realized quickly that I need to spend more time with our leadership group to help them understand what Ladies Offroad Network is from the core so they can represent it correctly and with the enthusiasm that they host for the opportunities that they have been given. I am excited about the 2020 plan where we will be focused on the Leadership Team and slowly building the Chapters across the country together. We must first put down the foundation and that is what I am excited to accomplish!
"Ladies Offroad Network is already International with members in Canada and I am hoping that the ability to have 'boots on the ground' in the local arena will help increase the opportunity for education and support for ladies globally. Only time will tell what is meant to be. Thank you for taking this journey with me!"
~ Charlene
