AVA Checkpoint

Official Voice of the American Volkssport Association

VOLUME 6, NUMBER 1 January 1998

We have begun a new year and it may be the most important year in the AVA's history. For the six plus years I have been Executive Director, we all have watched our participation decline, the quality of many of our events decline, and the number of IW Achievement Award participants decline. As we watched, we openly acknowledged that this was occurring, but we did little to change the trend. But, we are not dead yet.

As I review the statistics for last year, I do see some bright spots. While our participation continued to decline, there was a significant slowing of that decline. I think this indicates we have leveled off and are now ready to start a period of new growth. The statistics also show that the number of events for the year declined for the first time in our history. This, I believe, is an indication that we have realized that it is not the number of events we have that is important. Quality of our events is one of the hottest topics being discussed by volkssporters. And, the brightest spot of all is the number of 10-Event books processed by the Headquarters, which shows an increase over the previous year for the first time in ten years. All of this says to me that we are ready to turn the AVA around and move into the new millennium as an exciting and viable walking and fitness organization.

To make this turn, every one of us must reevaluate how we are doing in the volkssporting business and be willing to make the changes that are necessary for our future growth. We must look carefully at some of the very successful efforts that a number of our clubs have had, learn from them, and use those ideas that will work for our own volkssporting activities. We must all dream and turn those dreams into reality. We must not be afraid to shed the old ways for new ideas that make volkssporting more acceptable to the American public. We must be willing to listen to the new volkssporters as well as the old volkssporter. We must give every idea a fair chance in our decision making. We must make our decision based on the good of volkssporting and not on individual likes and dislikes. We must rediscover the enthusiasm and spirit of our founding clubs; the enthusiasm and spirit they used to make volkssporting a successful, growing program in those early years.

Is this going to be easy? Is this going to be comfortable all of the time? The answer to both is no! Success is never easy and getting there is never comfortable all of the time. The thought that excites me, however, is that I know we will accept the challenge and volkssporting will become an important part of the American way of life in the years to come. We have done it before and we will do it this time.

The Executive Council meeting site, originally scheduled in Ontario, CA, January 30 and 31, has been moved to San Antonio, TX. The Best Western Continental Motor Inn, 9735 IH 35 N, 210-655-3510, is the meeting hotel. The dates will remain January 30 and 31; volkssporters are invited to attend the general meeting on Saturday, January 31.

A Financial Statement for the period of July 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997, is enclosed.

Many individuals who donate funds to the AVA might be able to double their contribution by simply seeing if their company offers a matching donation program. For example, if you donate $25, your company might match your twenty-five dollar contribution, for a total donation to the AVA for $50. If you are interested in contributing, please inquire within your company to see if they offer such a program.

Clubs should not submit club officer or event changes directly to the AVA website. Changes should go through the appropriate regional director, state organization and AVA National Office, who will then submit to the website.

The IW Calendar of Events Book, which lists participating clubs and walks in all IVV countries, is a copyrighted book. AVA and its staff does not have permission to reprint (this includes faxing information) sections of the book. However, if you would like verbal information only on a point-of-contact in a particular country, we can provide you with a name, address and/or phone number. Please keep this information in mind when you plan international volkssport trips. AVA does stock the IVV Calendar if club members are interested in purchasing a copy. Books are available for $8, including shipping and handling. Similar restrictions apply to Starting Point 1998: The AVA Guide to 1,100 + Trails in America. Starting Point 1998 is a major source of revenue for the association, therefore, without purchasing the book, we reserve the right to release limited information when requested to include an event listing in a particular city, including the city name, type of event and point-of-contact information. -

According to a national analysis by Entertainment Marketing Letter in New York, a family outing for an average family of four is $140, an amount which has increased by almost 9% since 1995. Ticket prices to sporting events and music concerts have increased dramatically since the mid-90's. For example, tickets to classical music concerts have increased 26%. The average Broadway show ticket is $47; for a family of four that amounts to $188 in ticket costs alone. Promote the significantly lower costs of volkssporting to families in your community.

AVA will not be an official coordinator of club participaton in this year's March for Parks or National Trails Day activities. Therefore, no special award patches for these two events will be offered by AVA. Clubs are encouraged to continue to sanction and host events in conjunction with these programs. Clubs desiring to participate in March for Parks to raise money for their local park system, may contact Nancy McCabe at 1-800-NAT-PARK, ext. 291, to receive information on the program. Although there are no free awards for March For Parks this year, NPCA is offering our clubs the opportunity to purchase AT COST a multi-color 3" square March for Parks 1998 patch. Clubs may sell these patches at their March for Parks events as a fund-raiser for their park project. Cost is $1.70 per patch. Send check payable to NPCA for the correct amount (no shipping charges)to Nancy McCabe, March for Parks, NPCA, 1776 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036. Clubs who need to pay after the event may arrange to do so. For more information or to register your event for March for Parks, call Nancy at 1-800-NAT-PARK, Extension 291.
For more information on registering a National Trails Day event, call 1-800-972-8608. Ask for American Hiking Society's NTD coordinator, Brad Wilson. You can also e-mail him at AHSBrad@aol.com.
AVA will continue participation in National Physical Fitness & Sports Month (NPFSM) in May and National Volkssport Month in October. The NPFSM recognitionpatch and National Volkssport Month design should be available in the coming weeks.

Classified Advertising Coming Soon in The American Wanderer

Clubs and individuals may begin placing classified advertisements in The American Wanderer, beginning with the April 1998 issue. A special introductory offer of $1 0 per classified ad (approximate 20-40 words in length) is available now. See the enclosed flyer for details; some restrictions apply.

AVA will be announcing new shipping rates in the coming weeks to offset the rate increases made by UPS, effective February 1 st.

Remember, whenever you have a club officer change, you must submit the change to AVA Headquarters. However, keep in mind that a club officer change does not apply to individual changes needed for event sanction stamps. For example, if Club XYZ submitted a secretary's address change on the official Club Officer Update form, yet did not inform AVA that the secretary was the point-of-contact for three upcoming events, events will still be sent to the secretary's old address listed on the Event Sanction Request. Each "mail to stamp" POC & address change must be submitted in writing. Please be certain to mark change(s) on copy of ESR and submit through sanctioning channels.

Enclosed with this issue of Checkpoint, you will find a copy of the 1998 Event Certificate of Liability.

A reminder that the Awards department is up-to-date with achievement book processing. In most cases, individuals should have books returned within 30 days of sending them. If you have waited longer than 30 days, please inquire with your post office to determine if your mail was misdirected or if you can begin a tracing procedure.

Special introductory offer* - $1 0 for one classified advertisement (prepaid). One-size option only: one-column inch. See examples below for details on approximate word-length and display size.

Approximate word length is 20 - 40 words per ad. Longer word lengths will be edited per the Advertising Manager's discretion. Multiple one-size ads may be purchased for $1 0 each.

Advertising Deadlines: February issue- December 20; April issue - February 20; June issue - April 20; August issue - June 20; October issue - August 20 and December issue - October 20.

You may place a classified advertisement on your credit card by calling 210-659-2112. Please be prepared to dictate your advertisement and have your credit card number and expiration date available. Special note: The publisher will not be liable for errors in or omission of the advertising in the publication beyond the amount paid by the customer for the advertising omitted, or in which the errors occur, for the issue life of the publication, which is two (2) months. This note applies to all methods of payment.

Advertising Restrictions: All advertisements are strictly word ads and exclude graphics, logos and other special characters/fonts. The American Wanderer Classified Ads are not available to commercial vendors. The American Wanderer reserves the right to refuse to print any advertisement. No proof sheets will be provided for placing classified advertising. All advertisements must be prepaid.

* Classified advertisements will begin appearing in the April/May issue of The American Wanderer. The deadline for an April issue classified ad is February 20, 1998.

Send Classified advertisements (preferably typed) along with payment to:

1 001 Pat Booker Rd., Ste. 1 01

Universal City, TX 78148

November, 1997

September, 1997

July, 1997

April, 1997

January, 1997

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