Hello all, and Happy New Year. I hope you are in the beginnings of a great New Year. Perhaps you are working on a winter project for your bike or making plans for a new riding season. Or if you're an Australian, you could be in the middle of the riding season. Either way, 2016 looks to be a great year with some new things happening.

As I look back on the past year we were able to get a lot of positive things accomplished. Many of the chapters are doing well and two new chapters were launched. We achieved our non profit status with the federal government and the sales tax license with the Commonwealth of PA. We revised the By-Laws and brought some new faces onto the Board.

This year will continue as last year with the same Operating Principles of Vision, Accountability, and Transparency. We as the Board commit to follow these and model them for you by being: Accountable- Our email addresses are up for you to access us when you need to do so. To call us out if you disagree with a decision or question our actions. Transparent: Whenever the Board meets or has a conference call, the Secretary will take minutes and after approval from the Board, they are posted in the Members Only Section of the forum, so you can see what is being discussed and decided. Any questions and concerns you have can be brought to the Board by your chapter leader for discussion at any of our meetings. We also invite chapter leaders to four conference calls each year. Vision- Each year I will try to put forth a vision for us and will post "updates" to that through the "Newsletter" portion of the CSBA website. As you see it and read over it, I would want you to also seek the Lord about how to go forth with this vision in your chapter or riding area. Now, about that Vision thing.....

Each year I pray and seek God about a word or sentence for the year. I look to the Lord for guidance and vision as to where this ministry should go. The word I have this year is Responsive. This year I feel that we need to be able to respond to needs as we see them. We may need to "step up" into a new mission or a new opportunity either as a ministry or at the chapter level. It may be that we need to devote more time to our CSBA ministry or other resources, or it may be that when or how we minister changes. Either way, as God directs we need to be able to respond. As I think of this I remember Hebrews 12:1-3 which says: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In the first verse, we can see how there is a "unloading" so you can run faster that we are encouraged to do. Ask those who race motorcycles how they remove everything they can on their bike to make it lighter so it can go faster or maneuver better. In the same way, as those reaching out to the lost through the CSBA, we may need to "unload" stuff in our lives that may be good but not what God wants us to concern ourselves with anymore. I would like to exhort all members of the CSBA to seek the Lord and ask what He would want you to do this year to help you be more responsive. Thank you all for your support and efforts in building the Kingdom of God. May God bless your efforts!