RIDGE ROUTE PRESERVATION ORGANIZATION
The Ridge Route Preservation Organization (RRPO) is a 501(c)(3) California non-profit corporation committed to educating the public to the importance of California’s historic 1915 Ridge Route Highway, an engineering marvel that prevented California from separating into two separate states. Seventeen point six miles of the original road were recorded onto the National Register of Historic Places on September 25, 1997.
Our intent is to solicit federal, state, and private support to restore the road that has been almost completely void of maintenance since 1933. Some of this maintenance is being done by the RRPO through our CUTRR events. We also are working toward getting the road back open to regular vehicular travel from near Templin Highway to the Tumble Inn site.
We will accomplish these goals through advocacy, public relations, legislation, fund raising events, and our web site.
Principle Officers:
Michael F Ballard, President
Evan Decker, Treasurer
Evan Decker is a lifelong resident of the Santa Clarita Valley, just south of the Ridge Route. He is a local Historian that has served on the Board for the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society, as well as President of Mentryville, California Inc. He is honored to serve on the Board of the Ridge Route Preservation Organization!
Secretary
Open Position, please contact scroasmun@ridgeroute.org if interested
Samantha Babroff, Volunteer Coordinator
Samantha has been a resident of Santa Clarita since 2022 and brings a deep passion for community service and historic preservation. She has over two decades of experience working with volunteers through her involvement with the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association, where she has been an active member for 21 years and served on the Board of Directors for 9 years. As an avid off-road enthusiast, Samantha is a strong advocate for keeping public lands accessible for recreational use. She is honored to support the Ridge Route Preservation Organization in its mission to reopen the historic Ridge Route for both recreational and educational opportunities.
Sydney Croasmun, Public Relations Director
Sydney is a professional photographer and amateur historian. She is passionate about the Old Ridge Route and sharing it’s history. If you’ve been on a tour or ran into someone on the road, chances are it’s her!
Scott Leland, Director
I worked at JPL for 33 years. I was in the Army between 1968 to 1970. Love to ride motorcycles. Love wine tasting. I have traveled to Europe. Love photography. I remodeled my home so I’m a DIYer. I use to drive up the Ridge Route when I was in high school
Harrison I. Scott, Director
Founder of the Ridge Route Preservation Organization, the man who literally rote the book on the Old Ridge Route. His endless work resulted in the Old Ridge Route being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. His passion for the road brought his on the journey of a lifetime tracking down the history and campaigning for the repair and protection of the road.
BY-LAWS
THE RIDGE ROUTE PRESERVATION ORGANIZATION
Updated 5/15/2025
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. Name
The name of this organization shall be The Ridge Route Preservation Organization, a non-profit public benefit Corporation organized under Article 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 2. Purpose
It is the purpose of this organization to coordinate public and private activities that promote the preservation and restoration of the historic 1915 Ridge Route Highway, an engineering marvel that prevented California from separating into two separate states. Seventeen point six (17.6) miles of the original highway are recorded on the National Register. The intent of this corporation is to acquire federal, state, and private support to preserve this historic engineering landmark. This corporation will accomplish these goals through advocacy, public relations, fund raising events, and a World Wide Web site.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Powers
Subject to the limitations of the by-laws, a Board of Directors shall control the business and affairs of this organization. The Board is responsible for establishing policies necessary to achieve the purpose of the organization. Specific duties are:
A. Establish policies for the management of the organization.
B. Approve nominations of committee functions and committee chairs.
C. Review and act upon committee recommendations.
D. Be responsible for the collection, custody and expenditure of funds.
E. Elect directors to fill vacancies on the Board between regular elections.
Section 2. Number of Directors
The authorized number of directors of the organization shall be no more than nine (9).
Section 3. Term of Directors
Directors shall serve a term of four (4) years and may be re-appointed. The Executive Officers will be elected yearly.
Section 4. Termination of Office of Directors
A Director who fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings of the board without good and sufficient cause may be removed from the board. After three such absences, the executive committee will examine the reason for the absences, and if it can find no good cause, the board of directors may declare the position vacant, and notify the person.
Section 5. Resignations
Any director may resign effective upon giving written notice to the President, Secretary or the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Filling Vacancies
Vacancies in officer or board positions may be filled at any meeting of the board.
Section 7. Place and Manner of Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such time and place within or outside the Sate of California as designated from time to time by the Board.
Section 8. Special Meetings – Notices – Waivers
Meetings of the board may be called at any time by the President or, if he/she is absent or unable or refuses to act, or by any two directors. At least forty-eight (48) hours notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered personally to the directors or personally communicated to them by an organization officer by telephone or by e-mail. Such e-mailing, telephoning, or delivery as above provided shall be due, legal, and personal notice to such director.
Section 9. Quorum
Four (4) directors, three of which must be Officers, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the action of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum, when duly assembled, is valid as an organizational act. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by a majority of the required quorum for such meeting.
Section 10. Board Action Without a Meeting
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors under any provision of the organization or any successor statute applicable to this organization, may be taken without a meeting, if two-thirds of the members of the board shall individually or collectively consent in writing to such action. Such action shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of such directors.
Section 11. Compensation of Directors
Directors shall not receive any salary for their services. By resolution of the Board, expenses incurred on behalf of the organization may be reimbursed; provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the organization in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 12. Committees
Standing Committees of the Board may be appointed by resolution passed by a majority of the entire Board. Committees shall be composed of two or more persons and shall have such power as may be expressly delegated to them by such resolution. Ad-hoc Committees may be appointed by the President. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Secretary and Treasurer.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS & DUTIES
Section 1. Officers
The officers of the organization shall be a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The organization may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, various other officers as shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of the by-laws.
Section 2. Duties of the Officers
A. President – The President shall be the chief administrative officer of the organization and shall preside at all meetings of the organization; shall be an ex-officio member of all committees established by the Board; and shall have such powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.
B. Secretary – The Secretary shall be responsible for the records of the organization and shall keep or cause to be kept a book of minutes of all meetings of directors with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and if special, how authorized, the notice therefor given, the names of those present at the meeting of directors, the numbers present and the proceedings thereof.
C. Treasurer – The Treasurer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate books and records of account of the properties and business transactions of the organization, including accounts of the assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital and retained earnings. The books of accounts shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any director and subject to audit as may be designated by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
FINANCE
Section 1. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the organization shall be January 1 to December 31.
Section 2. Contributions
Any contributions, bequests and gifts made to the organization shall be accepted or collected only as authorized by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Depositories
All funds of the corporation shall be deposited to the credit of the organization under such conditions and in such banks as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Approved Signatures
All contracts, checks and orders for payment receipt, or deposit of money and access to securities of the organization shall be as provided by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Indemnification
The Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may determine whether or not to indemnity any officer, employee, director of the organization against all or any part of expenses, judgments, decrees, fines, penalties or all or any part of amounts paid in settlement in connection with defense or any pending or threatened action suit, or proceeding, criminal or civil, to which any of the above named individuals is or may be made party of by reason of being or having been such officer, employee or director. The extent and amount of indemnification shall be in the sole discretion of the Board.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
Section 1. By Directors
These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the directors at any regular meeting of the Board, provided that the amendments have been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting; or by a two-thirds vote of the directors at a regularly scheduled board meeting, provided that the proposed amendment(s) have been mailed to directors at least 15 days prior to the meeting or read at two (2) previous meetings.
Section 2. Record of Amendments
Whenever an amendment or new by-law is adopted, it shall be copied in the book of by-laws in the appropriate place. If a by-law is repealed, the fact of repeal with the date of the meeting at which the repeal was enacted or written assent was filed shall be stated in said book.
ARTICLE VII
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Section 1. Rules of Order
“Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised” shall be used as authority in the conduct of all meetings of the organization, except when in conflict with the specific provisions in these by-laws.
