AVA CHECKPOINT

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 7, NUMBER 7 August 1999

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR=S DESK

August is a big month for the AVA Headquarters. Our offices are filled with boxes containing trail marking signs, start cards, new brochures, shipping boxes and auditors. To add to the action, the new Executive Council will be in San Antonio/Universal City from August 11 to 15 for their formal training and their first meeting. We all hope that this large amount of activity is an indicator of the exciting things that will be happening in the AVA over the next few years. The time has come for us to take a serious look at our sport, where we are, and where we need to go. As I visit with people who come the National Headquarters, read club newsletters, and read letters and e-mail, I feel that many of us have realized that we must change course if we are going to continue to be a viable organization. There will be many hard decisions in the coming year. These decisions are going to be made by dedicated volkssporters that the membership has elected to serve as the AVA=s board of directors. These members of the Executive Council can only be informed voters if the membership talks to them and shares ideas and problems with them. Neither the National Headquarters nor the Executive Council can answer the challenges we face. These must be answered by the entire Association working as a team. During the August training, the EC members will be schooled in the importance of two-way communications if they are to be good leaders. These EC members, however, only represent one-way, and without your - the membership=s - active participation in this process, we cannot succeed. I hope each of us can be open, honest and positive as we work toward the future. All of us will make mistakes that will aggravate others. We must accept that and move on without hostile criticism. Only through positive dialogue will we do what has to be done. To paraphrase something I was told by one of my old bosses - The AVA has a lot of warts, but it also has a lot of beauty marks. If we acknowledge the warts, and improve upon the beauty marks, we will become something everyone wants to be a part of. Let=s give it a try and become a team of positive volkssporters who want more people to enjoy the excitement and fun that have brought us to be volkssporters and love our sport. Let=s all work together to renew the Spirit of Walking across the United States.

ALONG THE TRAIL

Event Kits. The Club Event Kits, courtesy of New Balance Athletic Shoes, are currently being assembled. The kit will feature just about everything you need for a walk except great publicity and the walkers. The kit has a handle on the top, to make carrying easy. We hope to have the kits shipped by the first part of September. Remember, that the banner and gift certificates will be shipped under separate cover.

Start Cards. Through the generosity of New Balance, we are now able to furnish start cards at no charge to clubs. If you order more start cards than can be historically supported, which reflects an average of past-event participation, an explanation must accompany the request.

Event Sponsorship Requests. We are still receiving a large number of event requests outside our stated four to six week deadline. Please make an effort to follow the deadline. The question of multiple events by the same club has arisen. New Balance will sponsor as many walking events as each club hosts. This policy will be in effect for at least a year. Form

AVA Staff. A new roster for the national headquarters staff is enclosed.

Events Manager. Janet Coleman has been hired to fill the Events Manager position. The next time you see her or speak to her, give her a warm welcome.

Specialties. Look for a new specialties price list and order form enclosed. It will also be in the next issue of TAW.

Leadership Roster. The Executive Council XI Leadership Roster is enclosed. Please note the change to Debbie Miller=s phone number.

Bylaws. The new set of bylaws, replacing the constitution and old bylaws is enclosed.

Start Boxes. A suggestion from the trail: Perhaps it would be a good idea to place an AVA sticker on the YRE start boxes. Also if permitted, placing one on the window or door of the starting point, would help walkers find the start.

World Report. The July IVV World Report is enclosed.

Forms. Director of Operations, Jackie Wilson asks that when you are sending forms to headquarters, to please check to see if you are using the proper one. She also asks that each form be completed. Use of an improper form, or an incomplete one, could result in the return of such forms and cause much delay. Please print or type when filling out forms.

Report. The report from the last meeting of Executive Council X is enclosed.

Club Event Sanction Fee Billing. URGENT! URGENT! To have better control of AVA assets, we are now invoicing for all event sanction requests when received. These will appear on your club statement when invoiced. The invoice will show a due date that is 60 days before the event. These fees will not be due until that date and will not reflect as past due on your account until after the date. The due date will not ever appear on your statement. However, you may pay them earlier if you wish.

Publicity Materials. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced they will provide publicity materials for groups organizing walks to celebrate active aging on October 2nd and 3rd. Contact WHO at activeageing@who.com for more information.

Convention. Minutes from the Muncie convention are enclosed.

E-Mail. Correspondence for Rob Gale can now go to AVAPR@aol.com; Jackie and Candy will receive mail at AVAHQ@aol.com; David Stewart=s address is AVAED@aol.com

TAW. Remember that The American Wanderer belongs to the walkers. Encourage your members to submit articles and photos. A sixty-page- plus issue is an obtainable goal every time.

New Walker Program

Starting Point USA Year-Round Event Book

Last Updated: 8-19-99