Letter to BGTRC… Just thought you all might like to know!

February 9, 2008

Dear BGTRC:

Please know this is not taken lightheartedly or without great thought, however I have tendered my resignation as the Executive Director of Bad Girls Trail Riding Club. I am not quitting the club, but have asked the Founders to be placed on the Executive Committee.

No one individual person in the Club has done anything to influence this decision; it is a decision that is being made with careful consideration for everyone involved.

I have finally arrived at the decision that I cannot do everything. While I know that many of our members do not know all that I do or have done for the club, something had to give.

For those that are newer members my paying job is the Lead Engineer for Stormwater Design for the City of Tulsa. I manage all the stormwater design projects for the City. We currently have approximately $50M in funded projects with about half of that total in construction and half in design. We also do emergency response to flooding as well as a variety of other duties. I cannot let my work slip. We are currently being pushed to do more with fewer workers as with most companies. I am down an engineer. And we are being pushed to get several more projects out in much less time. I have two relatively new engineers working for me. Losing our senior engineer to a different job has made it imperative for me to more carefully supervise each project design. Our family depends greatly on my salary and the benefits my job provides. I cannot put this job in jeopardy.

Allyson (Rick’s third daughter) is now a permanent member of our family. While this is a wonderful thing that we have been wanting for a very long time, she is so far behind in school that it is taking much of my attention after work to help her with homework. She is doing wonderfully at bringing up her grades and is adjusting well to living at our house.

In addition, for the next several weeks (and probably months) Rick will be out of town at a job site in Kansas. I need to be at home to help Allyson with things. The one night that I was not at home she didn’t get her homework done. We cannot let her get behind on her school work. Some nights we are up later than I want to be getting all her homework done.

Over the last several years we have been trying to make Sierra Ranch a viable business. This means I need to focus on our ranch websites, and promoting our ranch. It is a possibility that over the next year or so the ranch may become Rick’s full time job. I need to write a business plan and get several other things in order so this can come to fruition. In addition I keep the books which is challenging for an engineer never trained in management or accounting. So I have been trying to learn more in these areas.

Adding the job, BG work, Allyson and all the things that I need to do for our family and ranch leaves me no time to do any of it right – or well. I have been getting behind in billing at the ranch, in registering items in the checkbooks and messing up our accounts, general maintenance on our ranch and updating the ranch and Rick’s websites. This is like having four full time jobs!

And worst of all I want to RIDE!!! I need to ride or do some other physical activity to continue to lose weight and improve my health. This work load leaves no time for me to do any fun stuff! Without any fun one tends to get a bit cranky. But I am an odd bird. I cant’ have fun with so much stuff left to do before I go have fun. So having fun comes last.

I believe everyone in our club can understand my dilemma. I am not quitting the club and I would like to still help with various things. I just can not continue to do the everyday running of the club. And I don’t want my attitude about trying to get everything done to reflect badly on the Club.

I have learned a lot from my time as Executive Director and on the Board of Directors. I have become a better public speaker. I have gotten better at dealing with an unruly crowd. I have learned a great deal about leadership skills and management. These things I value and want to thank the Club for. I may be back sometime in the future; I just need to get Allyson raised and have a bit less stress.

Sincerely,

Deb Stowers