Candidates for the 2024 CCC Board

The Nominating Committee is proud to present to the CCC membership the following candidates for the open positions on the 2024 Board: President, Conservation Chair and Membership Chair. Electronic voting begins on November 16. 

President

-President Candidate Michael Hazel

My name is Michael Hazel. I am on the ballot for President for the Club for 2024. I am extremely grateful and honored to have been nominated for the role this upcoming year! A little bit about me. I am 28 years old, born and raised around Mount Airy, North Carolina. I currently reside in Cana, Virginia, just north of Mount Airy. I got into this sport when my brother asked me if I wanted to go on a kayaking trip on the New River near Galax, Virginia in July of 2021 for my birthday. After a wonderful day on the river, we decided to look for bigger rapids and we ended up near Beckley, West Virginia, that evening. We had already booked our seats for a rafting trip on the New River Gorge the next day. That is when I saw the video boaters and I was astounded. It looked like a lot of fun. Two months later, we came back to West Virginia and rafted the Gauley. The next day, I took a clinic on the Upper New River with ACE Adventures in Oak Hill, West Virginia.

My whitewater career officially began in May of 2022. I attended Families Paddle Too as well as Week of Rivers. I never thought this sport would play such a major role in my life and take me to so many places. I have paddled in seven different states so far. I would say the most challenging river I have been on is the Numbers Section of the Arkansas River near Buena Vista, Colorado.

Some of my work experience: I was in the excavation business for myself from November of 2019 until January of 2023. I employed up to three people as I needed them. I mostly did land development work, some campgrounds, and residential work. It was a great experience for me. I learned a lot during that time. I currently work as a heavy equipment operator involving travel about 75% of the time. The other 25% I am off work and always trying to paddle during those times! I have recently started giving back to the community by organizing clinics, helping people with their rolls and basic paddling. I have found that I truly love seeing newer paddlers progress in their skills and I plan to start giving back more. I have a lifetime of learning ahead of me and I look forward to maintaining and building the CCC. I look forward to leading and learning from the CCC for years to come!

Candidacy Statement:  I have been a member of the CCC since July of 2022. I am a great choice for this role because of my leadership and people skills. These are skills that greatly improved while I was in business for myself as well as other leadership roles prior to then. I will be an effective leader of the CCC due to my exemplary communication skills. I am a confident and motivated person and I possess the skills to bring the CCC into a new Era of Greatness. My first major area of focus as President of the CCC will be to guarantee the future of the Week of Rivers for many years to come!

 

-President Candidate Johnson Rice

Twenty-five years ago, I came to love rivers. Someone stuck me in a raft on the Upper Gauley.  I saw all these idiots in tiny plastic boats with long paddles. Some in canoes. It looked a bit insane.  Of course, I was hooked immediately. Like the old expression “That’s a terrible idea!… what time?”

Being a little older and a bit fearful of this new thing, I wanted to focus initially on safety and excellent instruction. I sought these out. I needed kindred spirits as well. I quickly found it all in the CCC. This foundation has safely seen me through certifications, canyons, countries, creeks and close calls….and, most importantly, 25 years of great friendships and joy.

Some off my favorite runs have been on the Grand Canyon, Upper Gauley, Watauga, Chattooga IV and the creeks of the Smokies. Those are for adrenaline. I’m more drawn to joyful runs these days. My most recent joyful run was leading a “White Knuckle Nanty” trip at Week of Rivers (for people with some deep-rooted, genuine fear). I watched as very nervous people turn into absolute warriors (all with dry hair!) by the end of the run. Now, that’s joy. That’s the sanctuary and power of the river. It’s not about what river the boat is in. It’s about the people sitting or kneeling in the boat. The CCC engenders this experience for all of us at all levels of participation.

I’ve organized and led other Club events too: Joe Greiner’s roast/toast; A petition/application drive for a member’s nomination to the Southern Appalachian Whitewater Hall of Fame and, this past summer, the World-Famous Used Gear Auction which raised over $6000 for Need More Outdoors, an outreach program benefitting underprivileged kids in Western NC.

I care about people, and I care about paddling!

Candidacy Statement: Why I would be a suitable choice for President of CCC:

• 25 years’ experience in boating, instruction, safety, local community support and encouraging/teaching other boaters—see above. 24 years in CCC.
• Experience as board chair for several years with House of Hope North Carolina.
• Experience as prior board member– Paper Water Bottle Company—a startup.
• Experience as General Counsel and Vice President of Real Estate for a regional company for 16 years.
• Experience as President of real estate development company for many years.
• Previously engaged in private practice of law for eleven years.

I am a consensus builder and will work closely with the CCC Board on board matters and I’ll be forthright with the members on membership matters. I believe in communication, high integrity, humility, and wisdom-seeking as I endeavor to serve the CCC.

The CCC is a premier whitewater club. I will treat and lead it and its members as such – with courtesy respect and per the Golden Rule.

 

Membership Chair

-Membership Candidate Jeff Hatcher

I grew up canoeing around Kentucky as well as two formative trips to the Boundary Waters in high school and college. In medical school, I spent 10 days paddling in Quetico National Park. These trips gave me a taste of moving water and led me to canoe some sections of the Big South Fork. By the time I hit my 30’s, my curiosity about whitewater and the opportunity to take roll classes aligned in Nashville TN.

I started taking classes at NOC in 2000 and have had the opportunity to paddle whitewater ever since.

I am grateful for this potential opportunity to serve the CCC. I previously served as the CCC Conservation Chair.

Although I have heard it knocked, I love being a “club boater”! I have met and continue to meet great people through CCC and love being an advocate for the club. I value what I have received as a member of the club: WOR, great instruction, new friends. I am always looking for ways to pay this forward. It has even inspired me to become a L4 instructor.

Also, I have an above average love of spread sheets!

 

Conservation Chair

Conservation Candidate Morton Barlaz

I grew up in New Jersey and had no exposure to whitewater.  After graduating from the University of Michigan, I started my environmental engineering career at Union Carbide (now Dow chemical) in South Charleston, West Virginia.  I always loved the water and have been swimming for exercise since 1972.  In 1979, I was invited to a whitewater clinic sponsored by the West Virginia Whitewater Association.  It has been all down river from there.  I tried both an open canoe and a kayak and preferred a single blade.  I started in a 16-foot Blue Hole but transitioned to a C1.  My paddling frequency has varied over the years as I spent a year abroad, 5 years in graduate school Madison, Wisconsin, and a year in Ada, Oklahoma.  All were a long drive to whitewater.  I have been in Raleigh, NC since 1989 and paddle as much as I possibly can which amounts to 25 – 30 days a year, or never enough.  I get excited anytime that there is rain in the forecast. My favorite river is the Nolichucky because of the combination of rapids, scenery, and the fact that it is never crowded.  In addition to the rivers, I love the people.  Virtually everyone that I have ever paddled with has been great and nothing beats a day on the river with friends.

Candidate Statement

I have been a member of the club since 1989 and am looking forward to finally taking on a position where I can give back.  The responsibilities of the Conservation Chair are broad and include keeping up with ongoing conservation projects like the Haw River Trail, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission notices, dam removal efforts, local water quality concerns, and river access discussions, as well as organizing river cleanups.  Importantly, the Conservation Chair coordinates with American Whitewater to schedule Upper Nanny releases during Week of Rivers.  The chair makes sure that things happen that we all take for granted.  I know that some are interested in serving on a Conservation committee.  I very much need and welcome your participation!

 

The Nominating Committee encourages you to please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the candidates and the voting process.  Another announcement, closer to the start of voting on November 16, will review the process of voting. The most important thing to do is vote.

Nominating Committee,

Diana Haywood, Joe Berry, Alton Chewning, Chair