Official Voice of the American Volkssport Association

1001 Pat Booker Road * Universal City, TX 78148-4147

phone: 210-659-2112 fax: 210-659-1212

VOLUME 6, NUMBER 10 October 1998

I think we have provided you some good news in this issue of CHECKPOINT. Our summary financial reports for the last fiscal year and for the first quarter of this fiscal year are included with this issue, and they both show a positive net income. One of the things that has helped us here is the generosity of both the clubs and the volkssporting public that is shown through the many donations we receive each month. This is really helping us in the area of marketing where we have traditionally had little or no money to invest in marketing tools and materials that we can share with our clubs. Two of the projects in this area are the television spot advertisements that were produced and a new short promotional video, which is currently under production. In November, we will kickoff a new effort to get the television spots in the hands of our clubs. That information will come in the next CHECKPOINT. The promotional video should be completed no later than the end of next month. Our plan is to distribute this video to all of the clubs as the dollars become available through the Millennium Fund.

Our Eleventh Biennial Convention is only eight months away. Plans are going well and those who decide to come to Muncie in June will have a great time not only doing the wonderful volkssporting events, but renewing old friendships and enjoying the workshops. Registration packets will be available in mid-November. These packets will be mailed to all Volkssports Associate members and a bundle of the packets will be sent to each club. This is going to be a "do not miss" affair, so encourage everyone to register early. The convention is just like our volkssporting events, the volkssporters make it great, so let's all meet in Muncie in June.

From an astonishing list of more than 1,100 year-round/seasonal events nationwide, volkssporters selected Washington, DC's Monument Walk (YR231) as the best walking trail in the United States. The Monument Walk is sponsored by the Washington DC Area Volksmarching Club.

Ten other walks, 10th place resulted in a tie, joined the Washington, DC, walk as volkssporter favorites for 1998. The honored walks include:

2nd Place: YR037, West Point, NY

Sponsored by Volkssport Club of West Point

3rd Place: YR736, Princeton, NJ

Sponsored by Princeton Area Walkers

4th Place: YR1331, New York City, NY (Midtown Manhattan)

Sponsored by Seneca Valley Sugarloafers

5th Place: YR464, Colorado Springs, CO (Garden of the Gods)

Sponsored by Falcon Wanderers

6th Place: YR1366 Savannah, GA

Sponsored by The Happy Wanderers

7th Place: YR1128 St. Augustine, FL

Sponsored by The Happy Wanderers

8th Place: YR1330 New York City, NY (Central Park)

Sponsored by Seneca Valley Sugarloafers

9th Place: YR055 San Antonio, TX (Riverwalk)

Sponsored by Texas Wanderers

(tie) 10th Place: YR445 Carmel, CA

Sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Walking Club

YR171 Silverton, OR

Sponsored by Silverton Walk Abouts

Congratulations to the Top Ten YRE host clubs. Enjoy these walks again in 1999 along with a record 1200 + year-round and seasonal events.

Financial Reports Due for 501(c) (3) clubs. All clubs were sent reminders recently regarding the November 15th deadline for submitting 501 (c) (3) financial reports. The November 15th deadline is an absolute, in-hand deadline for your report.

1. Volkssports Associate Membership (10 pts)

{Award 1 point for each 10% of club members who are

Volkssports Associate members, e.g. 10% = 1 pt;

20% = 2 pts; 30% = 3 pts; etc.}

2. Club Membership (10 pts)

No loss in club membership during the award year (5 pts) Add 1 pt for each 1% growth in club membership as of

January 1 of the award year. (Max = 5 pts)

3. Participation in National Programs (10 pts)

Donations to AVA National Fund Raising Programs (Max 5 pts)

{Donations up to $25 = 1 pt; up to $50 = 2 pts; up to $75 = 3 pts; up to $100 = 4 pts; and over $100 = 5 pts}

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (2.5 pts)

National Volkssporting Month (2.5 pts)

4. Growth in Regular Walking Event Participation ( 10 pts)

No decrease in average participation in all regular club walking events as compared to previous year's average participation (5 pts)

Add 1 point for each 2% growth in average participation in all regular club walking events as compared to last year's average participation (Max= 5 pts)

5. Club Administration (10 pts)

Annual dues paid by July 1 (2 pts)

Event Sanction Requests Submitted on Time (2 pts)

Event Stamps Returned on Time (2 pts)

After Action Reports Submitted on Time (2 pts)

All Fees Paid on Time (2 pts)

6. Publicity/Promotion Program (10 pts)

Club had active program (10 pts)

Club did not have active program (0 pts)

7. Club Newsletter (10 pts)

Club had a newsletter that was published at least quarterly (10 pts)

Club did not have a newsletter that was published at least quarterly (0 pts)

8. Community Involvement (10 pts)

Club was actively involved in some type of community improvement activity (10 pts)

Club was not actively involved in some type of community improvement activity (0 pts)

9. Club Operations (10 pts)

Club held regular meetings (2 pts)

Club had funds in club bank account (2 pts)

Club had a Constitution and/or Bylaws (2 pts)

Club had at least three officers (2 pts)

Club had an active member recruitment program (2 pts)

10. Event Operations (10 pts)

Club advertised events other than in event flyers and/or state publications (2 pts)

Club had well marked start/finish areas (2 pts)

Club had IVV Record Books for sale at all events (2 pts)

Club had a new walker table at all events (2 pts)

Club had social activities at start/finish area for at least half of the regular events (2 pts)

Star club applications will be sent to clubs in January 1999. In the interim, review the Star Club criteria and evaluate your club's performance.

Many associates are not including their discount in their calculations when sending in payments resulting in a credit balance (money they have overpaid). Here is the simple formula to use to apply your discount:

Total all items you are purchasing, then deduct 10%. This is the discounted total. * Next, add your shipping and handling charges. This is the amount owed.

A Reminder about YRE Stamps. 1999 YRE stamps will be sent in December, approximately three weeks before the start of your club event (s). Stamps will be sent to the official club address not point-of-contact address.

AVA Headquarters Holiday Schedule. AVA Headquarters will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving, November 26 & 27. We will be open Veterans Day, November 11.