As you all know, I put out the call for a new Match Director back
in the October/November 2007 time frame alerting folks that given my retirement
travel plans on top of the fact that I had been the TG/MD going on 6 years, Hatbill deserved new full time leadership and not some kind
of absentee commander. Unfortunately, nobody has stepped forward. I
delayed those resignation plans because I didn’t want to let Hatbill operations go rudderless due to the lack of a MD
but such can’t go on indefinitely.
A change in leadership is needed every now and then to infuse new
enthusiasm, new ideas and take the organization further down the trail. I saw
and experienced that in the Army for about 24 years. I was never in
command of anything longer than 2 years and it’s that rotation which keeps the
juices fresh in any unit. The same goes for clubs like Hatbill. They all need an infusion of new blood every
so often.
Many folks might have assumed that when I did leave, Santa Fe
River Stan would be the natural follow-on commander having been my right hand
man and second in command for about as long as I was associated with Hatbill as TG/MD. And under normal circumstances,
given his unquestioned talent, extensive experience, total dedication and
unique leadership skills, I would have enthusiastically agreed. However,
Travis’ situation has changed in the last year significantly with his marriage
and assuming a new family, being promoted to general manager of his company
which brought with it much more responsibility, more required travel nationwide
and more corporate demands than he had before and as you all know, he and Erin
are expecting in October. Needless to say, Travis’ cup “runneth over” so he doesn’t need any additional
duties. Bottom line is that Stan will also be pulling back where his CAS
activities are concerned.
Given that background information, Stan and I have jointly decided
that July will be our last month riding at the head of the Hatbill
Gang. Unless someone steps up to assume the duties as Match Director, Hatbill cowboy operations will be suspended indefinitely
after our July match.
Thanks again for understanding and for all you have done to
support the Hatbill Gang all through the years.
Colonel Dan and