AVA CHECKPOINT

It is a time for review, reflection, and, most important, planning for the AVA. The future of our association is in our hands and now is the time to mold that future into the shape that we want to see during the next decade.

As we look at the past fiscal year, I think we can all feel comfortable but not really satisfied. Our financial report was good with some surplus in income over expenses. Our participation figures and the number of IVV books processed held steady over the year, hopefully indicating a resolution to our years of decline. We had forty-six Star Clubs last calendar year. This was a more than 30% increase over 1998. We are showing about a 9% increase in IVV 10-Event Books being processed. We have completed a strategic planning retreat and are on our way to the first draft of a new strategic plan. I believe the stage is set for us to grow and for our sport to prosper in the first decade of the new millennium. Our next important step is to get our strategic plan completed and into action. All of you will play a vital role in this step. You will have the opportunity to review the draft plan and provide comments and/or recommendations before the final plan is approved. This should happen in early November. The time for this review will be short, so I ask each of you to give the plan your number one priority once you receive it.

Congratulation to the forty-six clubs who achieved Star Club status for 1999. A special congratulation goes to the Asheville Amblers and the Princeton Area Walkers for being our only two Gold Star clubs. Letters have been sent to all of the clubs. The ribbons and certificates have been sent to the Regional Directors for presentation to the clubs.

The National Headquarters Staff is back to full strength again. Thanks for you patience during this period of transition.

And finally, on a sad note, the president of the Black Hills Volkssport Association, Reta Thovson, and her husband lost their home in the Flag Pole Mountain fire that raged through the Southern Black Hills of South Dakota. Our thoughts and prayers go out to these folks. Please remember them and, if you can, help them in some way.

Thank you for helping us renew The Spirit of Walking across the United States.

Due Date. Sanction fees are due 60 days prior to the event. If the ESR is submitted less than 60 days prior to the date of the event, the sanction fee should accompany it.

Officer Updates. Any changes to your club information (name, officers, phone, etc) requires a Club Officer Update form. Please submit promptly so that event stamps go to the correct address. Submit through the sanctioning channels for your state.

IVV Books. Remember that IVV/AVA policies require that your club have IVV books available for sale at your events.

Return of Stamps. Seasonal events should return their event stamp within 10 days of the end of the event EVEN if they are going to renew next year. The only exception would be an event that came onboard late as a seasonal this year that is going to be a year round next year.

New Staffers. We are training two new people. One in Membership/Specialties and one in Events. Please be patient with them. If they can’t help you, Jackie will be happy to assist.

Clipping Coupons. Remember, coupons MUST be attached to the after action report. They cannot come in later with the payment. The AAR is what generates the billing. If you forget to include them with the AAR, please hold them for your next event. We cannot go back and give credit when they come in separately.

Avoid the Rush. Please do not wait until the last minute to get your sanctions and reports in. Our cutoff date is the 25th. Everything received up to that date has to be entered in the computer and invoiced prior to the end of the month. If they all come in at the end of the month, it really hurts the one person responsible for all of the data entry and invoicing.

Do you walk for the cure, march for the dimes, or participate in other like charity walking events?

Every year hundreds of people do walk such events and help raise thousands of dollars for these very worthwhile causes. Why shouldn't the same support be given to AVA, the charitable organization that is committed to the promotion of health, fun, and fellowship?

During October, National Volkssport Month, let's walk together for AVA. Through a pledge program for kilometers walked during the month, let's raise the money to fund our fun. Let's renew our walking commitment and truly make AVA the walking organization for the 21st Century. All proceeds from this program will go to the office upgrade and equipment replacement project.

While we request that all volkswalkers participate in this program, just one dedicated walker per club with 25 supporters at 25 cents each would raise enough money, to complete the office upgrade project and have money left over to promote the future growth of AVA. Will you please do your part?

During August, all clubs will receive pledge forms to be circulated to club members at their August and September club meetings. The clubs will also receive one reporting form with instructions for remitting the pledge monies received. Members will then choose to support the program by asking their family, friends, and co-workers to pledge an amount of money per kilometer walked during the month of October. Your friends, family, and co-workers know you and know that you are a volkswalker. They will be happy to support you.

Enclosed are the Pledge form and the Reporting form for the October National Pledge Campaign. Please give a form to each of your club members who are unable to participate, suggest that they pledge for another club member. The pledged monies need to be turned into the club treasurer by November 15. Prior to December 10, the club treasurer will in turn, attach each individual’s pledge form and monies to the AVA pledge reporting form and mail it to the committee for final processing Please do not send cash

Other Checkpoint Enclosures. The October 26, Executive Council Agenda; AVA Financial Report for 07/01/99-06/30/99; 1999 National Star Club Awards ; the Executive Council Report from 04/21/00 and updated Leadership Roster.

New Walker Program

Starting Point USA Year-Round Event Book