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AVA President,
David Bonewitz
AVA: America’s
Walking Club
I was honored to
have been asked by a
number of people to
run for president of
AVA.
I provided some of
my background in the
article in the
February/March 2017
issue of TAW.
This web page is
intended to provide
those interested
with a bit more of
my background and
philosophy.
AVA and
Volksmarching
Background
Began volksmarching
with my family in
1988.
Just completed my
425th
event (including
events in Canada,
Australia, England,
Scotland, and
Germany),
Walked 4,460+ km,
and
Completed the 50
State program and
working on the 51
Capitols.
Life Member of AVA
Certified Trail
Master
Southeast Region
Director
2013-Present
Led the highly
successful “Time to
Walk” National
Event,
Chaired Strategic
Planning Committee,
and
In both cases, took
a program from
nothing to success
in a timely and
efficient manner.
One of the four
founders of East
Tennessee Wanderers
Club President and
Trail Master for 7
years,
Conducted two
activities a month
including 2 -3
Traditional Events
per year,
Started 12 YREs
during that 7 years,
and
Contributed to
growth of the club
from the original 4
to around 90 today.
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Education
Bachelor of
Aerospace
Engineering, Georgia
Institute of
Technology, 1972
Masters of Science
in Meteorology,
University of
Oklahoma, 1978
Masters of Science
(Computer Science),
Johns Hopkins
University, 1983
PhD, Texas A&M, 1986
Professional
Certifications
USAF Certified
Acquisition
Professional,
Program Management, Level I, 1995
USAF Certified
Acquisition
Professional,
Systems Planning,
Research,
Development, and
Engineering, Level
I, 1995
Homebuyer Education
Trainer, Tennessee
Housing Development
Agency
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Professional
Background Summary
United States Air
Force
Retired as a Colonel
following a 26-year
career,
Commanded two
squadrons,
DoD Representative
to the Joint System
Program Office that
developed the
national Doppler
Weather Radar
network,
Military Advisor for
Aviation Weather
(FAA), and
Chief, Plans
Division,
Directorate of
Weather, Deputy
Chief of Staff (Air
& Space Operations),
Headquarters USAF.
Adjunct Professor,
Department of
Mathematics and
Computer Science,
Maryville College,
Maryville, TN,
2000-2003
Employed as Family
Services Director,
Blount County
Habitat for
Humanity, for 12
years.
Experience in the
non-profit world
including
participating in
monthly board
meetings.
Served on the Board
of Directors of a
small national
non-profit,
including one term
as board president.
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Philosophy on
Leadership
Leadership is not
about having all the
answers.
The truth is I know
that I don’t have
all the answers to
what AVA needs to do
to have a bright
future.
Leadership is having
a vision, then
inspiring a team to
work together to
achieve that vision. During my time in
the Air Force and
with Habitat I have
been able to hone my
leadership skills.
We achieve the
desired result by
communicating,
providing support to
the folks who are
working the issues,
and providing needed
motivation.
All this is coupled
with the need for a
true leader to
accept
responsibility to
make ethical
decisions while
being results
oriented.
The best example of
my leadership skills
in the context of
AVA has been my work
on the NEC and, in
particular, the
success of the
Strategic Planning
Committee.
The Committee was
able to develop a
strong plan which we
were able to sell to
the National
Executive Council.
We are now making
great progress in
implementing
portions of the
Strategic Plan.
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Focus on AVA Issues
I am not going to
try and make a list
of all the things
that need to be done
to put AVA on track
for a bright future.
As I have indicated,
the role of a leader
is not to be
dictating the
details, but to
encourage those with
good ideas to work
together to
implement those
ideas.
However, there are
some areas (not in
any particular
priority order) that
I think we certainly
need to address.
First, we
are an association
of clubs.
We cannot forget
that fact.
We are not like the
typical non-profit
corporation.
However, like any
successful
non-profit, it is
critical that we
focus the NEC
(likely with the new
identification as
Board of Directors)
to the strategic
level and allow the
Executive Director
(who we pay) to
oversee the
day-to-day
“tactical” issues.
Today the NEC spends
too much time
discussing details
about how something
should work (the
implementation
details) rather than
focusing on the
program or policy
(the big picture or
strategic focus).
We have started
changing our focus
as we work to
implement the
Strategic Plan, but
more can be done
with careful
leadership.
Second, I
believe that
everyone who is a
member of a local
club (chartered by
AVA) is a “member”
of AVA.
We need to develop
that into a system
of tiered membership
with appropriate
benefits based on
level of membership.
This will require
some changes, but
will go a long way
to providing a
better picture of
the impact AVA has
on the local
community.
Third, I
believe that we need
to look at a tiered
level of clubs.
We have some very
big clubs, some not
so big, and some
with only a couple
of members.
How we support these
clubs and how these
clubs function under
the big tent known
as AVA is something
that we need to
examine.
Our founding fathers
had to address a
similar problem with
states of differing
populations.
While I don’t think
what we are dealing
with is as complex
as getting a
Constitution
approved, I do think
it is an area that
we need to examine
and address.
Fourth,
we need to focus
on gathering the
data that is
essential to be
able to
successfully
compete for
grants and
donations from
the public.
We will need to
mine the data
that we do
have. Then
going forward,
we must ensure
that we obtain
data that
demonstrates our
value to both
individuals and
our community.
Both of these
areas will
require a team
effort with
support from the
clubs and work
at the national
headquarters.
Fifth, we
must continue to
work on how to deal
with the “free
walker” issue.
Frankly, I come down
strongly on both
sides of this fence,
which is rather
painful.
I know there must be
a solution that
allows us to fulfill
our mandate as a
501(c)3 while still
bringing balance
into the
“free/credit” walker
dilemma , and I will
be open to
discussion and
generation of a
solution that is
acceptable to all.
Here is a case where
there will likely
not be a perfect
solution, but we
don’t need it to be
perfect if we can
find an approach
that is “good
enough.”
Sixth, we
must increase
support for our
clubs from the
national level.
The clubs are the
foundation of AVA.
They are AVA.
From the national
level, we must find
ways that we can
help the current
clubs grow as well
as develop new
clubs.
We have made a good
start with the
implementation of
the Strategic Plan.
The national
committees
(Publicity,
Membership, National
Programs, and
Programs) are all a
step in the right
direction.
It is essential that
we continue to move
in this direction.
OK, there are six
areas or issues
where I believe we
need to put our
energy.
You will note that I
didn’t indicate how
we should execute a
solution to these
areas.
In my mind that
would potentially
block out the better
solutions that
someone out there in
AVA land might have.
We have a Vision.
We can find answers
to our “problems.”
I
value your ideas and
encourage you to
communicate with me
(spc4ava@gmail.com)
to discuss these
(and other) issues.
We
are America’s
Walking Club, and
working together we
will have a bright
future.
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Supporters
I have stated a
number of times that
I am not a
politician.
However, I do
recognize that
running for office
is a political
process.
I value the
expressions of
support from those
who pushed me to run
and for those who
have expressed
support following
the announcement of
my candidacy.
I recognize that
there are expenses
involved in running
for office.
I am willing to
absorb those
expenses the best I
can, but am willing
to accept any
donations that clubs
or state
organizations might
be willing to make.
The following is
what is stated in
the AVA ByLaws.
“5.6(h)
Contributions from a
member club or state
organization to a
candidate for
National Office
shall be limited to
$200.00 or ten
percent of the
club’s gross income
for the year,
whichever is less.
Monies contributed
to an individual’s
campaign for
election may be used
only for that
purpose once the
campaign is
completed all
remaining campaign
funds must be
returned to the
contributing club or
clubs or given to an
organization that
has IRS 501(c)(3)
status.”
Any donations under
these rules should
be sent to the
following address:
Campaign Treasurer
(David won! Address
removed.)
We will be sure that
you receive
acknowledgment of
your donation.
Following the
campaign, we will
provide an
accounting of all
funds received and
expended.
Unless otherwise
requested, any
excess funds will be
donated to AVA.
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Thanks for
your votes for
David Bonewitz!!!
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UPDATE:
David served as AVA
President for four
years until the
summer of 2021.
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