ATC Board Minutes, Jan 13th, 2003
The meeting was held in the lobby of Darrell Redmond’s office building, 124 College Street, and began at 7:10 PM
In Attendance: Bob Galloway, Chuck Lee, Scott Bowers, Becky Upham, Bobby Miller, Will Harlen, Mark Lunblad, Thomas Cason, Trevor Wallis, George Statler, Wayne and Jan Stanko, Michael Murphey, Eric Hichman, Barbara Galloway, Garry Sherman, Darrell Redmond and Susan White.
Becky Upham’s Proposal
That the club provide $3,000.00 to $6,000.00 in funds for prize money at the Sunset Stampede Race she is organizing. For this contribution, the club would get to present the awards and have its name included in all advertising for the event. By sponsoring at this level, the club would be given the opportunity to operate the beer sales concession. She would also want the race to be described as an ATC event in order to use our insurance coverage.
Discussion: Concerns were raised over the club’s involvement in and the liability for beer sales, the use of our name for insurance purposes for an event that we were not involved in planning or executing. The general consensus of the board was that we were not interested in being a financial sponsor for a non ATC event.
Decision: The board declined to get involved in this event in the manner described in the proposal but left open the possibility of helping out with volunteer services, finish line, or some other aspect of the race, which has traditionally been the club’s function.
Chuck Lee’s Proposal
Chuck proposed that the ATC partner with the Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine by getting involved in their race bag program and advertising plan. They would provide goodie bags for our paces and we could have our race brochures inserted in bags for other races if we purchase a set amount of annual advertising in the magazine. He suggested that the ATC buy an advertising square (a 4-month block minimum) for $850.00. Blue Ridge Outdoors would provide the race bags (alone with some goodies such as lotion, bug repellant and Cliff Bars). Also, the ATC would be able to target specific communities with zone advertising.
Discussion: The Board shelved the proposal and will consider it at the annual board retreat. Board members did see the value in a planned annual advertising campaign.
Bobby Miller’s Proposal
Bobby has begun looking into making a cross-country course at the old landfill site on Riverside Drive. He believes that many members of the community would use the course: UNCA, high schools and people who’d like a place to jog or walk. He simply wanted the ATC’s response to his idea.
Response: Board members were very positive and encouraged him to continue looking into this possibility. It was suggested that he solicit the help of clubs as well as high schools who would want to use the facility.
Treasury Report: Garry Sherman passed around printouts of November’s and December’s reports. He pointed out that we are still missing the bill for the newsletter printing.
Membership
Bob Galloway reported, in John Ewing’s absence, that 155 members and families have renewed memberships for 2003 as of this date.
Wayne Stanko proposed that we charge $100 for rental of our equipment, but he also requested that we allow Don McMahill to use our equipment for free in the Valentine’s Day Race because he is putting our logo on his t-shirts, and he has assisted the club in many ways. The board supported this decision.
Susan White’s Report on the St. Patrick’s Day 10K and fun-run
The committee (consisting of Julia, Eric, Michael, Darrell and Susan) has solidified the sponsorship, the course will be the same as in the two previous St. Patrick’s Day 10K races, the T-shirt design (by Susan McBride, Michael’s wife) is complete, and arrangements have been made for the awards. The brochures will be printed early next week.
Garry raised concerns with the St. Patrick’s Day 10k Committee’s decision to give a portion of the race’s earnings to ARC (The Association for Retarded Citizens). Garry felt that this was a decision the board should have made. It was noted that the board was polled via email regarding the contribution to ARC and that there was only one dissenting vote. There was much discussion about what a committee should do when trying to make a decision that would concern all the members of the club.
Motion was made and seconded for the ATC to give at least 25% of the profits from this year’s St. Patrick’s Race to the ARC- motion passed.
Susan White proposed that the ATC give NCMAMA a $50 membership fee since the organization is helping the committee find music for the race—as well as advertising for the race.
Decision: a check will be made out to NCMAMA.
Trevor pointed out that the Running Journal has the race listed on March 16. The committee will have that corrected.
Thomas Cason’s Report on the Wolfe Laurel Run
He has not had an opportunity to travel there yet to work out a date for the event and details, but he knows that he can have the race and will likely have it in the fall.
Sponsorship Committee:
The committee distributed sheets with an outline of standards for primary sponsors for individual races. The board will discuss the suggestions and guidelines during the retreat.
RRCA/AARC:
Bob and Scott have researched the decline in the RRCA organization and discussed their findings with the board. It would cost the club nearly $800 more to remain with RRCA than to change to AARC and there is reason to question the stability of RRCA. The club can file for immediate insurance with AARC. There was a motion that the club change to AARC. The motion passed. The club will actively pursue our own 501-C-3 designation.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 PM