Marty Hanson
Mazama Since (Join Year): 1994
Mazama Volunteer, Committee, or Related Activities
I’ve been on many committees in my 28 years of membership but I’ve lost track of dates: Trail Trips, Web, Strategic Planning, Finance, Publications, Nomination, Bylaws, Classics, Lodge, Trail Tending, and MMC property search. I’ve been chair of Trail Trips (2), Bylaws (3). Strategic Plan, and Web. I’ve volunteered for the Used Equipment Sale, BCEP training, and ICS training. I assisted on climbs and outings. I led rambles, hikes, and snowshoes for a total of 900 leads. I served on Executive Council and was a liaison to multiple committees. I was EC Treasurer for a year and Vice President for another year. I was the Mazama office accountant using QuickBooks during a transition period. My current committee memberships are Lodge, Finance, and Classics. Until the pandemic, I was at the MMC front desk most every Friday and edited the glaciated peak list.
Board and/or Committee Experience with other Organizations
I have not served on the Boards of other organizations. My only committee experience has been with the Mazamas.
Work/Professional Experience
I’ve worked for General Electric, Tektronix, Planar Systems, and FEI. Some of my job titles were Quality Control Engineer, Production Foreman, Quality Control Department Manager, Manufacturing Engineer Manager, Design Engineering Manager, and Division Engineering Manager. Technologies that I worked with were high-intensity discharge lighting, cathode ray tubes, flat panel displays (both EL and LCD), and electron beam devices. I’ve had training and experience in finance and budgeting, product design and manufacture, and customer liaison. I have a degree in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Washington.
Relevant Life & Leadership Experience
In my work life, I have managed groups of six to twenty people, mostly engineers. The work I managed included process control engineers, chemical lab technicians, draftsmen, documentation specialists, manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, and design engineers. I managed department budget planning, control, and implementation. I performed yearly performance reviews for the people I managed. I hired and terminated people due to business and personnel conditions.
I’ve been a Boy Scout Den Leader.
Personal Statement
I’d like to be part of the Mazamas getting back to a solid financial footing. I want us to regain our stature as the source for mountain training and activities for the community. Let’s get back the 1,000 members we lost during the pandemic and grow our membership to better serve the public. Let’s revisit the glaciated peak membership requirement and find a way to reduce that barrier while keeping the feeling that comes with the achievement.
As we’ve grown our membership, we’ve been struggling with how to staff the MMC office with the talent we need to run the Mazamas as an organization. What I don’t see is a plan that addresses the balance between volunteers and the help that volunteers need. I remember a time when the staff was the Executive Director and two or three part-time positions. Most work was done by the support furnished by volunteers. I think that many of us realized that this system burned out volunteers. I believe we need to better define what part the staff is responsible for while still letting committee volunteers “do their thing.”
I’d also like to review how our IT system is working for the membership. I think the system frustrates some members. I’m not sure it is user-friendly to some of our classic members who may not be as computer savvy as younger members. A survey or dialog could help answer this.
Please vote for me in the election.
Marty Hanson