During those "lost" 20 years, I would get out for a trail run or mountain bike ride whenever I possibly could. One day in late 2005 I had this epiphany; "Damn. If I would just slow down, I might actually see and hear how beautiful this trail is. Not only that, Jan (my wife) might enjoy being here too." At the Banff Mountain Film Festival in March of 2006 I saw the SOLAR table. That's where this all started. "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."

I joined SOLAR to meet people who are active and enjoy the outdoors, to learn new skills and participate in new activities and adventures. I have been fortunate to do all of these and more. Many of my very good friends are now people I met through SOLAR. I love that this organization offers so much - no matter your skill level or interest, there really is something for everyone.

Since joining SOLAR in 2005, I've served on steering committee as the secretary and public relations chair. I also help teach the spring backpacking class and assist with other activities within the club. I've taken many classes, tried lots of new things, and laughed until I cried on activities and trips. I am very pleased to serve as the vice president of SOLAR - this organization offers so much to our members and I want to share SOLAR with as many others as possible.

During the last two years I have shared over 300 backpacking miles with a lot of interesting and fun people on the Isle Royale Minong Trail, the John Muir Trail, the Adirondacks, the Jordan Pathway, the North Manistee Trail loop, and on numerous practice hikes. I like to white water raft, kayak, canoe, archery target shoot, and want to increase my novice experience in rock climbing and rappelling.

Since the time that I learned to walk I have been fortunate to have car camped all over the United States and western Canada. I have been as far north and west as Barrow Alaska, as far east as Moscow Russia and as high as Mt. Elbert Colorado. I was raised in central Illinois and have lived in Austin, Dallas, and Colorado Springs. Growing up I was in 4H for eight years and a cub scout for a few. I have been active with the Salem High School wrestling booster club for the past twelve years with three sons. My wife Jana is a life time SOLAR member.

I have enjoyed numerous SOLAR classes encompassing Basic Backpacking, Basic Land Navigation, Search And Rescue, CPR, Knots, Enjoying Michigan Winters and I look forward to Mountaineering this winter. I am currently participating in the intermediate backpacking class. I assist with Wilderness First Aid and Search & Rescue and as an instructor with the Spring Backpacking Class.

I enjoy contributing to the Ray. It is the zest and fun that I like to share from the experiences and people that I spend time with. I relish the journey as much as the destination.

I passed the CPA exam in 1980 and work for a Detroit based commercial construction company. Our purpose is to "construct one's vision" I believe that this applies to all facets of one's life.

I am flattered that "gunghoglenn" became my trail name on my first SOLAR trip, the JMT. I use it now as an email surname. Gung-ho means enthusiastic, eager, and dedicated. Also gung-ho comes from Mandarin Chinese, "to work together", which I will strive for while on the Steering Committee.

I am a transplant to Michigan from Connecticut and came here almost 20 years ago. I have degrees in Physical Education and Physical Therapy. I am also a certified Athletic Trainer and am certified as a personal trainer. Currently, I supervise one of the sport medicine PT clinics at Henry Ford Health System. My home is Grosse Pointe Park and I share it with my dog, Cinnamon.

My family spent many days hiking throughout New England and I started car camping when I was in college. I have been to all 50 states - mostly hiking and camping, and now my goal is to spend time on all continents. I still have to visit Africa, South America and Antarctica. This year I had the opportunity to hike to Everest Base Camp. I am looking forward to going back to Nepal and maybe taking a few of you with me!

I loved being with active, fun people and feel a draw to expand my knowledge in the many classes which Solar offers, including land navigation and wilderness first aid. I hope to serve you well as the new treasurer and to eventually assist classes by teaching fitness components.

I spent 6 days on Isle Royale last summer with my husband and four other friends. All of us had taken basic backpacking together in 2008 and remain great friends. The information that was provided to us during the Basic Backpacking class made this trip much more enjoyable than the previous trip my husband and I had taken to Manitou Island. We were certainly better prepared this time.

It never ceases to amaze me how many wonderful people belong to SOLAR. I feel very blessed to now be able to act as Activities Chairperson this year.

A good friend of ours from Scouting, Steve Marlar, had joined the club and was sure we would enjoy the club also. On his recommendation we came to our first meeting and were hooked. Finally we had found a place that was putting together great outdoor activities and we just had to show up with our gear and we weren't "in charge." That didn't last too long though when we both joined the Steering Committee in May 1995, Harry as the Bylaws chairman and myself as Membership Committee.

Harry and I have five children (four sons, and one daughter) ranging in age from 25 to 30, and two granddaughters, Katelyn (5) and Alexandra (4). My favorite activities include hiking, backpacking, canoeing, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Unfortunately, due to Scouting commitments and scheduling conflicts, I have not been able to participate in as many SOLAR activities as I would like to, Over the past six years, through the classes and activities, I have met so many great people and have made many lifetime friendships.

SOLAR seems to attract people who are fun loving, caring, and always ready to try new things. There is always a sense of family when we are together, whether at meetings or in the great outdoors.

Thanks to SOLAR, backpacking opportunities, as well as other outdoor adventures, are much more frequent now! Since joining SOLAR, I've taken most of the basic classes, and helped teach several of them. I've participated in many SOLAR events, and met a lot of great people. I've attended Steering Committee meetings regularly since 2007, and have served on the Education committee, been an assistant editor of the SOLAR Ray, and helped with surveys of SOLAR members. After three years of that, I've taken on the elected role of Bylaws chairperson.

One of the jobs of the Bylaws chairperson is to help translate the needs of SOLAR into sound, consistent policies, and I welcome your suggestions.

I've always been active in the outdoors. I've hiked in China, Japan, Mexico, Italy, and much of the USA. I am an active kayak builder & user, SCUBA diver in the Great Lakes & beyond, rock climbing novice, former Windsurfing instructor, lived out of my tent for 3 months, and have had to chase everything from ground squirrels to bears out of my camp.

I've taken as many SOLAR classes and trips/activities as my schedule allows. I never fail to learn something (or a lot of things!), and have a great time in the process. My favorite class and favorite trip are both the same: The next one.

I grew up camping with my family and had the opportunity to get into backpacking when I was in college. I like both car camping and backpacking for different reasons and what they have to offer. I did move up north my junior year to finish high school and now regret that I never took advantage of what the north had to offer before I moved back to the city.

I joined the SOLAR steering committee to get more involved, meet new people and give back to the group. I am so thankful to have found SOLAR and to have met so many nice people. In the future, I look forward to taking more of the classes that are offered through SOLAR and even helping with the beginner backpacking class.

In addition to editing the SOLAR Ray, I've helped teach the winter camping class, served as survey administrator and actively participated on the Education Committee. I have made a lot of good friends through SOLAR, and gained a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities. I enjoy volunteering for the club, and find that I gain more than I give in time and energy.

For the last two seasons, I have been an assistant instructor for Enjoying Michigan Winters and Spring Backpacking. This is my first position on the Steering Committee and I am looking forward to giving back to SOLAR in this capacity.

My work life has consisted of 25+ years in audit, finance and accounting at various levels including Chief Financial Officer of a public company. I am currently working in a consulting capacity.

I am married to a fellow hiker—Matt and am the proud servant of two American Shorthairs—Pearl and Starr.

My wife, Jennifer, and I enjoy SOLAR immensely. We value the friends we've made and the things we've learned via the classes we've taken. Our biggest passion at the moment is Adventure Racing.

I also enjoy backpacking, mountain biking, and paddling. When I'm not doing one of these activities or sitting in front of a computer, you might find me gazing at the stars with my telescope.