AVA Checkpoint

In September the National Executive Council spent four days together to train and to plan future programs. It was a long and tiresome process for all with much time for talking, thinking and brainstorming, leaving little time (EC members will say no time) to walk. When this four-day gathering ended, I left the hotel with a renewed feeling of enthusiasm and optimism. The new Executive Council displayed a willingness to tackle the Association's problems in a positive and open atmosphere. The new committee chairs were eager to take on their committee's tasks of identifying problems and needs and seeking solutions to move the AVA forward. Of special significance was the continual emphasis on the importance of ensuring the clubs and the volkssporters were involved in every phase of the decision making process. You, the members, have chosen a great leadership team. Congratulations to all of you. I know from my discussions with many of you that you will support them in their search for answers; this is what will ensure the future of the AVA. Each of you is an important part of that future.

Hundreds of volkssporters nationwide contributed votes for favorite year-round/seasonal events in this year's "Vote for the Top Ten YRE's/Seasonals."

1. San Antonio's Riverwalk (YR 055, TX), sponsored by the Texas Wanderers, received top distinction.

2. West Point, NY (YR 037), Volkssport Club of West Point

3. Devils Tower, WY (YR 497), Northern Hills Walking Club

4. New York Central Park (YR 1330), Seneca Valley Sugarloafers

5. Washington, DC (YR 231), Washington DC Area Volksmarching Club

6. Hot Springs, AR (YR 979), Arkansas Oktoberfest Volksmarch

7. Savannah, GA (YR 136~), The Happy Wanderers; Princeton, NJ (YR 730)

8. Delaware Valley Volksmarchers

9. New York Midtown (YR 1331), Seneca Valley Sugarfoafers

10. Colorado Springs, CO IYR 464), Falcon Wanderers.

Advance orders are now being taken for Starting Point 1998 scheduled for release in mid-December", Starting Point is the official guide to 1,100 + year-round and seasonal volkssport events in the United States. At the time of this printing, 1,164 YRE/Seasonals are scheduled in 1998.

Clubs can receive the same discounted rates as last year on orders of ten or more Starting Paints: $7.00 each plus a normal shipping and handling rate when ordering ten or more copies (e.g. , 10 copies x $7.00 + $6.00 shipping and handling = $76.00); $9.95 each shipping and handling included when ordering nine or fewer copies (e.g., 9 x $9.95 = $89.55)

To order, send your request and payment/billing instructions to: AVA Specialties, 1001 Pat Booker Rd., Ste. 101, Universal City, TX 78148 or call 210659-2112 with your credit card order. If your club is not interested in ordering bulk quantities, please distribute and make copies of the enclosed form for individual orders. Individual Starting Point price is $10.95 including shipping and handling; Volkssports Associate price is $9.95.

* Reminder, please allow a few weeks shipping and handling time after headquarters receives the books in mid-December.

AVA Headquarters will begin mailing all 1998 YRE stamps on December 1st. Clubs who do not receive their stamp(s) by December 15 should call headquarters as soon as possible to avoid delays and express mail fees for shipping.

A reminder to clubs sponsoring seasonal events: please ensure that you return your seasonal stamp within ten days of the conclusion of your event.

American Volkssport Association members can now give their health a boost and help the AVA at the same time. AVA members qualify for a special 10 percent discount on high quality vitamins, herbs and nutritional supplements. In addition, Pro Health, a leader in the nutrition industry, will donate 10 percent of every sale to the American Volkssport Association.

To order from Pro Health, or to simply receive a free catalog, call 1-800-366-5924 or see the October issue (back page) of The American Wanderer. Be sure to let Pro Health know you are an American Volkssport Association member.

Pro Health offers friendly, knowledgeable 24-hour telephone service. Pro Health also has frequent advertised specials. Also, with your first order you receive a free one-year subscription to Health & Longevity, the quarterly Pro Health newsletter.

Enclosed in this issue of Checkpoint are copies of the 1st Quarter financial report and the September EC Meeting Report. Also, you will find an updated AVA Leadership Roster and an important document on the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997.