Candidates for Regional Executive

Chuck DeProw

Having been an SCCA member for 10 years, I am active in Solo, Road Racing, PDX, and the 100 Acre Wood events.  

While Chairman of the PDX program -- under my leadership, this program has been recognized by the SCCA National Office as the premier and role-model program for all the PDX programs across the country.

Some of the premier features that I implemented were the Instructors' School, the recruiting of Sponsors, and the program tech day.  

I have also been involved in the Solo Program's obtaining the Family Arena for the 2011 season.  

These skills and the ability to work with others, I would bring to the board. Based on this, I'm asking for your vote. I can be a positive force in helping the Region.

Cesare Venegoni

I have been a member of the St. Louis Region for 16 years. In that time I have been involved in just about every facet of the St. Louis Club. I have served on numerous committees, won several awards, and helped the Region and my fellow club members make St. Louis one of the best regions in the United States. My proudest achievements have been my years as Co-Chief of Grid/Pits for Club Racing, the six years that I spent on the Regional Board of Directors, and the close friendships that I have made with many of you. As a former Board member and Regional Executive, I earned the respect and trust of many of you because I have always been approachable, fair, and open minded. I always kept the club and its members' best interests in mind. If elected I promise not to change that. My goal always was and will always be to provide St. Louis with not only the best possible racing programs, leadership, and open administration of the region but to keep St. Louis a fun and enjoyable club for its members.

When I was first elected to the BoD as a Member At Large, the Region's major challenge was how to bring us together as a club. We had three loosely held together racing programs. Each did their own thing. The only met once a month at the monthly meetings. The Region needed more accountability for the moneys we handled and we needed to be more responsive to the overall general membership. We needed to "come together" as a Region and a club. In my six years on the Board I helped accomplished this. I helped take St. Louis to the next level. I helped make it the club that we are all enjoying today. The challenges that we face today are far different. They are impacted by outside forces more than ever before. The economy has impacted the Region's racing programs and we are faced with many new challenges because of it. With the loss of Gateway International the challenge facing the Region will need to be met with an experienced team of people and leadership. I believe that I have what it takes to do the job. I would like to step up again and help. That's why I am asking for your vote for Regional Executive.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at: vpeople@sbcglobal.net or come to the Open Houses held at Spazio's on the third Monday of each month.

Candidates for Assistant Regional Executive

Matt Osmoe

As a member of the SCCA, President of the Audi Club, member of the S2000 club, past member of the BMW club, part time mechanic, autocrosser, track day enthusiast, chump car chump, and overall anorak, my focus is on enjoying cars, the driving experience, and car culture in an inviting and safe environment. I want to join the BOD because I believe that creative initiatives can be put in place to foster the growth of the SCCA, include other car clubs, and expand club activities. I also have a good deal of web development experience and would like to help the SCCA where needed. See www.stlaudiclub.com for an example of my work. Lastly, I don't play politics. I think it just hurts the organization. I am happy to work with anyone and everyone. I invite you to bring your concerns, suggestions, and even mechanical questions to me. I would love to be the nice guy that helps facilitate club improvements and I hope for your support. Thanks!!

Dave Schnardthorst   

Tim Weatherford

Member since 2005. Have worked SCCA Club Racing Grid since 2005, Competed in Solo for 3 years, in Club Racing for 1 year, hold a Solo Safety Steward license, Club Racing Regional Competition License as well as Divisional Grid and Pit DA credential. Won Worker of the Year Award / StL Region in 2009.

Looking to contribute to the StL Region by bringing in new and fresh ideas. Use logic if it's not being used. Get the web sites unified and on the same servers with working links between each. Make sure we leverage our own internal strengths. Make sure we're using technology to its full capabilities to benefit the club in all areas.

One idea I have is to create a Jr. Board comprised of the youngest members who compete in CR, Solo, Rally Cross, Drift etc. I think the Club needs to be fostering and growing the membership from the ground up and giving the younger generation a voice will help spur that growth.

I think we need to do a better job of cross-promotion and communication within each discipline. I would also like to see each discipline experience the others so we can all have a better understanding of what's happening in the Club, not just our little piece of it. Everyone on the board should have at least a basic understanding of the overall Club so effective decisions can be made.

Candidates for Secretary

Susan Anderson

I am a 40-year member of SCCA, and I'm also a Solo National Championship "100%er" (this was year #39, with the first Solo National being held in 1973 at MAR in Wentzville, sponsored by Saint Louis Region).  Through the years, I have participated in almost all SCCA programs either as a worker or competitor, with rallycross the only venue I have not been involved in.

I have served on the Saint Louis Region Board of Directors (BoD) for the past two years and have learned a lot about the structure and inner workings of the Region and its programs.  Obviously, the BoD is very important to the success of the Region.  This year has been very challenging with the closing of Gateway International Raceway (GIR), which resulted in the suspension of our road racing and PDX programs.  We are anticipating being able to resume those programs in 2012 with the proposed reopening of GIR.  I look forward to continuing to serve on the BoD through this exciting time for the Region.

I am running for the position of Secretary.  I have served successfully as Secretary for other organizations and understand the importance of this position.  I have a long work history in middle management and human resources, and I was fortunate enough to be able to retire this summer which will give me more time to devote to the Region and SCCA.

As we move toward 2012, I want to continue to serve the Region on the Board of Directors, either as Secretary or as Member at Large.  We need continuity and expertise in leading the Region forward, now more than ever, and it is my desire to be a part of the leadership that handles the business of the Region so that our members can continue to have fun! 

Lynn Wilson

Hi, I'm Lynn Wilson.  For some strange reason, I have decided to run for Secretary for the third year.  I have been a member of the Region since 2004.  This is my second time in the SCCA.  I was a member of the Colorado Region for many years in the 70's and 80's.  I held a National Flagging and Communications license for several years until a new job which required me to travel most of the time prevented me from attending any races.  I also participated in autocross with a small and now defunct club in Southern Colorado.

In 2003, I changed to a position which no longer required me to travel.  I attended a couple of the Region's Solos that year and got hooked.  And not just on the Solos, but the people.  I started with a Mercedes coupe, and now have a Solo Vee, but in between I was fortunate to have Arshad Mohabatt and John Powell let me drive their Subarus.  I have been a member of the Solo Activities Committee for several years.  I am also a member of the PDX committee and work all of those events.  Unfortunately, I have to work half of the weekend days of the year, and that precludes my helping at the Club Races.  Thank you for your vote.

Candidates for Treasurer

Steven Burkett

I have been a St. Louis Region member since 1999 and have served as your 2011 Regional Executive.  In the past, I have also served as Assistant RE and as a member at large, as well as on the Solo and Club Racing committees.  I have participated in, and care deeply about all aspects of our club, and hope that my actions as RE in 2011 have reflected that.

My work and personal commitments won't allow me to run for RE again in 2012, but I still want to contribute as much as possible to our club. I feel that being your Treasurer is the best way that I can help.  I am highly motivated to do the research and analysis required to help your BOD make informed decisions, and will take an active role in overseeing the club's finances and contractual commitments.

I will set three main goals as Treasurer.  First, to be timely and efficient in dealing with the routine needs of the membership and programs.  Second, to take the necessary time to thoroughly understand our budgets, expenses and cash flows and to effectively communicate these to the membership, the programs, and the BOD.  Finally, I will work to maximize the return on our existing treasury and work toward a financial strategy that will help us grow our assets and investment income so we can reduce our reliance on dues and program profit to cover the club's core expenses.

William (Bill) Schnardthorst

I am currently finishing out the first of my two year term on the Board of Directors as a member at large. I am on the ballot for the Treasurer's position as I want to continue the good work that Lon has begun this year. Lon has declined to run so I felt we needed someone who could carry on his work.

I previously served as the Solo Chair and currently work as the Chief of Waivers for the Solo program. My primary focus is the Solo program but I have also participated in a PDX event and at some point hope to get my wife interested in being a navigator on a road rally with me. (Haven't been persuasive enough yet I guess.) I also hope that at some point at minimum go watch a Club race and maybe even begin helping out either as a crewman for a team or as some type of worker.

In my paying job I put together the technical teams needed to resolve customers' critical situations and complaints. I work with customers all over the world that either have very critical problems with their IBM Systems, or for some reason or other are extremely unhappy with the current level of technical support they are getting, so I am used to working under pressure.

Candidates for Member at Large  

(in alphabetical order)

Heath Harris (no statement submitted)

Chris Mertens

I am just finishing up my second season of SOLO in the St. Louis region. I have been the Chief of Equipment for most of last season and all of this season. I race along with my daughter Jen, son Donald, nephew Kyle, as well other family members. As we all plan to continue competing, I wanted to get more involved in the planning and operations in the St. Louis region. This is why I am looking to get elected as member of the board at large.

Jennifer Mertens (no statement submitted)

Robert (Bob) E. Rutkowski

SCCA Autocross past several years (race with Grandson Adam Shipley)

   WRC in STX

   S2000 B Stock

   C-4 Corvette SSM

Retired USAF/MO ANG Colonel, 31 years

Retired McDonnell Aircraft Co/Douglas/Boeing, 33 Years

Boeing Contract Work - Test Flying Apache Gunship Deployable Simulators, 8 years

Member Board of Directors - 1st Financial Federal Credit Union

FAA Flight Instructor Airplanes and Helicopters, 41 years

I have been into cars when I started driving at 14 (different world then 1954, you do the math) and have lost track of how many I have owned. In excess of 70 by now - a lot of them great handling cars. I bought a 91 Corvette about 10 years ago and started doing road course schools and track days. After my grandson Adam did so well in Street Survival with his instructor Luke Pritchard, Luke suggested I support him in SCCA Autocross. We started out in my daily driver Mazdaspeed 6, and moved to Dan Crank's 02 WRX until its tragic demise. We then got an S2000 to run in B Stock and last month rejuvenated the old Hoosiers on the C-4 and ran it two events, smoking the transmission on the last one.

I have enjoyed the last 5 years in the St Louis Region competing and driving with my grandson.   Both of us have gotten so much from the experience and have developed many long lasting friendships with officials and drivers.  I would like to pay back in a small way by contributing what I can by working with the team guiding the organization.

April Schnardthorst

April Schnardthorst has been hanging around the Solo scene since 2003 when her husband, David, began autocrossing with his father.  In between their two children, she began racing but after the birth of their second, she started racing in full force and never looked back.  She took on the role of Chief of Registration a few years ago and gradually worked into the Chair for the Solo Program.  She has been Chair for two years and enjoys working on improving the atmosphere and reputation of the St. Louis Region SCCA as a whole, always looking for promotional opportunities.  She is also a Street Survival School Instructor.  April looks forward to the opportunity to become more involved at a region level by joining the board of directors as a member at large.

 After a very successful Perryville Farm and Forest Rally we are getting ready for the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood.  The event will be headquartered in Salem, MO and held on February 24-25, 2012 (the last weekend of the month).  This year John Huebbe will be the Rallymaster.  Thanks to Doug and Abby Thomas for putting in all the time and effort the last many years as rallymaster.  The Thomas's will still be around doing stuff for the 100AW.  RallyCar has been sold and the name changed back to Rally America.  Follow all the updates at 100AW.org.