HARRA Leadership Team Meeting Minutes
March 21, 2005
Meeting began 6:02pm
Attendance: Roger Boak, Camille Yarborough, Tom Stilwell, Audrey Christiansen, E T McBrayer, Noah Matthews, Bob Hoekman, Steve Shepard, Barbara Shepard, Lisa Ruthven, Sadie Greenman, Lou Wilson, Jim Braden, Randy Carlson, Doug Spence
Bayou Bash Relay Review
Sadie ran through the HARRA Race Requirements as apply to the Bayou Bash Relay. The course has not as yet been certified but that will be attended to prior to the race. Race management has given considerable consideration to HARRA recommendations to ensure course integrity and will be implementing several additional steps to help ensure the course is clearly marked and accurate. Roger reminded all that for HARRA scoring purposes the race will be considered to be run by individuals and that split times will be needed for all runners. See December 2004 minutes for background. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this, including chip timing, and Bayou Bash race management will select the one they deem most appropriate.
LP Run Review
Bob quickly ran through the HARRA Race Requirements as apply to the LP Run. No issues or followups uncovered.
Woodlands Area Running Trail Proposal
See note from Jim Braden at the end of these minutes. Jim and Lou indicated plans and negotiations are proceeding well and are optimistic that a running trail will be approved and budgeted in 2005 in The Woodlands. Steve indicated he has emailed all HARRA members residing in The Woodlands encouraging them to express their support, and has been in contact with Richard Phillips, the new organizer of USA Fit in The Woodlands, encouraging him to do the same. Steve and Randy will complete a template provided by Jim expressing HARRA's support for the initiative and return it to Jim.
Roger presented a sample of the new Ironfoot Award, a pair of socks with the HARRA logo done in brown (ground), green (grass) and blue (sky). The Leadership Team was delighted! Roger has ordered 300 pairs and is hopeful they will be available in time for the Fall 2004 Ironfoot Awards presentation at the Bellaire Trolley Run 5k on April 2nd.
HARRA Above and Beyond Award
See March minutes for background. Randy Carlson presented a draft proposal for what will be HARRA's highest honor. The Board recommended up to three recipients be selected in 2005, the first year of the award, then not more than one per year thereafter. Carried unanimously. Steve will update the documentation and put the wheels in motion to present the first-ever honorees at the HARRA Summer Celebration in June.
"Unless a club wants to rank their team members in a specific order or division"
See March minutes for background. Roger has received feedback from a number of clubs on this issue but is awaiting responses from several additional clubs that are active in the HARRA Series competitions. No consensus achieved as yet. Roger will complete collecting input and make his recommendation for Leadership Team consideration at the April meeting.
HARRA Series Race Selection Guidelines
See March minutes for background. Annie Hadow unavailable to attend the meeting, this item will be reraised in April.
HARRA Summer Celebration
Doug Spence has assembled a HARRA Summer Celebration Committee of Marian Bell, Carol Cain, Carole Flad, Margo Fusselman, Noah Matthews, Cynthia Moreno, Jack Rubalcava, Barbara Shepard, Steve Shepard, and Doug Spence. The Committee has met at each of the finalist venues, Spaghetti Warehouse and Fu Kim. Spaghetti Warehouse was chosen due to cost and flexibility. Doug reviewed parameters of the Committee's proposal:
· Saturday, June 4th, Spaghetti Warehouse
· Social Time, Dinner, Awards, Guest Speaker
· $15 online registration for HARRA members (plus online service charge), $25 walkup and guests
· 250 attendees maximum
· Bart Yasso as the guest speaker (Steve has contacted Bart and confirmed his fee; final availability confirmation should be available shortly)
The submitted budget will require HARRA to subsidize the evening by about $6/head. Carried unanimously.
RRCA Convention Attendees
Steve proposed that Noah Matthews and Doug Spence receive travel, hotel and registration reimbursement from HARRA for the forthcoming RRCA National Convention in New Orleans May 13th-15th. The proposal was based on Noah's and Doug's interest and availability, but also on the significant contributions both have made to HARRA plus the opportunity to make further contributions based on their RRCA Convention experience. Carried unanimously. It was also noted that Steve is the winner of the 2004 RRCA Rod Steele Award for Volunteering and as such will have his expenses paid by the RRCA to attend the convention and accept his award.
2005/2006 HARRA Leadership Team
The Leadership Team made a preliminary assessment of how many incumbents would be returning and how many positions would need to be filled. The number of positions needing to be filled appears manageable.
When should 2005/2006 memberships start?
After discussion, the Leadership Team agreed that memberships received after April 15th will apply through June 30, 2006. All memberships received from Spring 2005 Power In Motion participants will also apply through June 30, 2006.
Membership - Barb
1,495 members total. Individual: 787. Household: 262. Membership increased by 26 since the last Leadership Team Meeting.
Treasury
Audrey indicated a small surplus is still forecast for the 2004/2005 year. Unfortunately, Memorial Herman Hospital has chosen not to sponsor Try Andy's Tri in 2005, which suggests they might chose to not sponsor the HARRA Kid's Run as well.
Web Site
Up to date, no issues to report.
Footprints
Doug advised that April Footprints material had been send to Inside Texas Running on time at the beginning of March, but that photos and additional material from the Bayou City Classic 10k had been solicited and received from HARRA members in case space is available. Doug also advised he has solicited Roger Boak to write a series on trail running and Bob Hoekman to write a series on running-related medical issues.
Member Discount Program
One new vendor, a masseuse, had contacted Doug about participating in the Member Discount Program.
HEB Bayou City Classic 10k
The race was a tremendous success. Entries were up 16% from 2004 (but still down overall from 2003). The race received a boost in visibility from multiple live shots during the Fox 26 Morning News of centipedes gathered at Memorial Park the Tuesday before the race. Camille also advised she has nominated the HEB Bayou City Classic 10k as the RRCA 10k National Championship for 2006.
VVIP - Camille
The HEB Bayou City 10k has submitted their volunteer list. Awaiting word from Brian Smyth on the Buffalo Wallow 6k. Randy will follow up.
Power In Motion
Power In Motion Spring 2005 has 296 participants and after two weeks is off to a great start. The program got a big boost in visibility in a spread on the Houston running community in the February 27th Sunday Houston Chronicle, and again on March 6th when a public service radio show on HARRA featuring Roger Boak and Steve Shepard was run on both FM106.9 The Point and 93 QCountry. A replay of the show is available on www.harra.org.
Meeting closed 8:20pm.
Note from Jim Braden
Steve:
I would like to get 15-20 minutes of the Board’s time at the March 21 meeting. I would like to apprise the Board of recent activities which could lead to a major new area running trail in The Woodlands. A few of us have been pushing this, but acting as individuals. We would like to have HARRA agree to support us, and give us cover in our continuing activities. Specifically, while we would be open to other suggestions by the Board, we propose that an ad hoc committee of HARRA be formed, called something like ‘The Woodlands Area Trail Committee’. Members would include the three of us who have been leading the effort, anyone else we select to add (probably people who could influence the outcome, locally), and a HARRA board member – whom we would keep in the loop, could participate in our activities, and who would liaise with the Board.
The last section of The Woodlands, Creekside Park, is now in the planning stage. It will be on the south side of Spring Creek. Along Spring Creek will be a recreational corridor, eventually linking on both sides of The Woodlands into a 33 mile Greenway from Burroughs Park on the west to Kingwood on the east, crossing through The Woodlands along Spring Creek.
We have proposed, to The Woodlands Development Company, that a Memorial Park like trail be included in the Creekside Park plan. The distance between Kuykendahl and Gosling Roads along Spring Creek is approximately 3 miles. We have proposed trail access points off both roads, with paved parking, a pavilion, restrooms, and drinking fountains at both trailheads.
We have spoken with representatives of the Woodlands Community Association, Parks and Recreation, and, at their suggestion, representatives of Montgomery Co. Commissioner Ed Chance’s office. Chance is coordinating planning for the Greenway with Harris Co. Commissioner Jerry Eversol. There are several management organizations in The Woodlands with whom we have corresponded. A key decision-maker, Joel Deretchin, VP of community operations for TWDC, has sent us email indicating that they are proceeding with a conceptual layout for the Spring Creek. After its completion, with the help of a consultant, they would be willing to hear from us – and other special interest groups. We do not want to wait.
We propose to broaden our dialogue with people who could influence the outcome, but need to elevate our profile. Having the Houston Area Road Runner’s Association behind us would be of great assistance.
Jim Braden, 281-367-6826, j-k@houston.rr.com