Dear Members of MN USA Powerlifting,

As you all know, I will not be running for re-election as the MN State Chair when my term ends on December 31 of this year. My hope was that two qualified and interested people would step forward to take over as co-state chairs. I had a short list of people who I thought would do a great job but I did not reveal that list to anyone because it is important that the people who take over do it because they want to, not because they feel obligated because I think they would do a great job. Nothing brought me greater pleasure than when I was approached by Shannon Murphy and Ken Graack a month ago to inform me that they are interested in the job. I gave it a month to see if they wanted to change their minds after the enormity of what they were volunteering for sunk in. We all drove out to Fargo-Moorhead together this past weekend and had a lot of time to talk about the job. I am happy to say they are still interested and I believe now is the time to make this known to the MN membership.

Shannon and Ken were at the top of my list. Ken has been a member of MN ADFPA/USA Powerlifting since 1983 – 36 years! He first joined the organization when it was two years old. I am not sure how many active members can say that. He has been a lifter, coach, and meet director for many years. He is the owner and proprietor of American Strength Training Center in Maplewood – a Silver Level USA Powerlifting Regional Training Center. He knows the MN members, the networks, the organization, and the history. Shannon has been involved with MN USA Powerlifting for several years as a lifter and meet director. I have never seen a team like Shannon and Ken – they complement each other very well. They impressed me like few have from the very first time I met them – their personalities, temperaments, organization, desire for the highest meet standards and an absolute and unwavering belief in, and support for, the drug-free founding mission of USA Powerlifting. If MN is to continue on this unbelievable trajectory we have been on, I am 100% confident that Shannon and Ken are THE two people to take us into the next chapter of this incredible story. The dynamic between Shannon and Ken, in addition to their work ethic and service-oriented approach, is precisely what is required to manage a growing state like MN. Between them, they have invested in quite a bit of equipment to run meets. While owning the equipment to run meets is not required of state chairs, it is extremely helpful and takes pressure off meet directors and makes the entry into meet directing much easier for those interested in getting started. They will also be great mentors to the next generation of MN meet directors and referees.

Anyone can run for the state chair position and a vote from the MN membership will determine who takes over when my term is done. I cannot choose my successor but I can put my strongest endorsement behind those who I think will do the best job at continuing the culture I have tried very hard to instill in our state organization over the past 10 years. It is my great honor and privilege to hereby nominate Shannon Murphy and Ken Graack for the position of co-state chairs of MN USA Powerlifting beginning in 2020. Anyone who knows Shannon and Ken knows they are the obvious choice. Let’s all be thankful that they are willing to step up to take on what is a huge responsibility and a LOT of work. I hope you will join me in supporting Shannon and Ken.

Sincerely,

Joe Warpeha

MN USA Powerlifting State Chair