HTC Executive Board Meeting –
Board Members Present: David
Purinton (President), David Cain (VP-Programs), Harold Tinsley
(VP-Communications), Anne Park (Secretary), Richard Rodenhausen (VP-Races &
Equipment), Jim Oaks (Appointed Member-Cotton Row Director), Malcolm Gillis
(Appointed Member-Rocket City Marathon Director).
Board
Members Absent: Kathy Youngren
(Treasurer) and John Roberts (Appointed Member)
Guests
Present:
Cindy Hallman, Carl Smith
Boeing Runner’s Club
Members Cindy Hallman and Carl Smith were present, and the meeting opened with
a discussion involving the possibility of the Boeing Runners Club and the
Huntsville Track Club either co-sponsoring the Spirit of Halloween Race
beginning in 2004, or of the race becoming a HTC race. Cindy gave the board a rundown of Boeing’s
fifteen years of hosting this race.
Monetarily the race is doing exceptionally well, however, the BRC has
diminished in membership and if there is a future decrease in member
participation in the race they will need another source for volunteers. Cindy is committed to continuing as race
director and the race is well attended and popular in the
There was a brief
discussion regarding the Ballpark 3K Run.
Since there will be no double header scheduled on race day 2004 we would
need to change the race time, probably having the race before the game, which
brings up scheduling problems and would negate some of the race’s favorable
characteristics. Jim is considering
discontinuing the Ballpark Run, and if you have any input regarding this he
would be glad to hear from you.
Preparations for the
Rocket City Marathon are coming along well, with a planning meeting scheduled
for 30 September. Course measurements
are being worked through, as they are still unresolved in relation to possible
downtown construction in the start area.
It was pointed out that the change in course would necessitate changes
in many printed course layouts. Malcolm
felt that a brief notice regarding changes at the marathon start would be
adequate, and present course maps and descriptions could then remain as they
are.
The Roads Scholar
Program was the next item of business.
After this program was discontinued because of RRCA budget problems, the
AARC and RRCA joined forces to rejuvenate the program. Several running clubs made donations via the
AARC to continue the awarding of scholarships to athletes that show running
potential. Jim moved that the HTC make a
$500 contribution for this year, which would be reevaluated each year. David seconded the motion, and it was passed.
A member had
suggested to David that in lieu of the present Message Board on the HTC web
site we should consider having an automated interactive message board where
members could more easily exchange ideas.
The pros and cons of this possibility were discussed, including the need
for someone to be in charge of constantly monitoring the site because of the
sometimes-objectionable communication that might appear on the message
board. Recognizing the possible benefits
of such a feature on our web site, it was nevertheless the general consensus of
the board that our present Message Board serves our purpose well, especially
since David has rearranged the web site to make Message Board access more convenient.
We again briefly
discussed the age group policy regarding our races. Jim made a motion, David seconded it, and the
motion passed that the following become the HTC handbook guideline on age group
award divisions:
3.5.11
Minimum Age Divisions
All
HTC races that give competitive awards will have, as a minimum, the following
male and female age divisions:
0-19,
20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
Additional
age divisions are encouraged and team or special category divisions may be
added. Race directors are encouraged on
a yearly basis to examine the age demographic of their event and determine if
modifications to age groups are necessary to fairly reward performance at
various age levels. An effort should be made
to ensure that competitive awards remain just that, rewards for performance in
relation to ones peers, and should not be given in such number as to become
participation awards. Additional
divisions must be added per section 3.4 of this policy manual.
Race directors have
the discretion to decide whether to further break down age groups and how deep
the awards should go, although normally races award three deep in each age
category.
Regarding the 2004
Race Director vacancy in the New York Life 15K, there have been several volunteers for this
position. The vacancy occurred because
Paul and Jennifer Bryant, who directed the New Years Fun Runs, are moving to
David reminded the
board members that it was close to the end of their two-year terms and they
should consider whether or not they will continue to serve. David will soon be forming a nominating
committee and some names were suggested.
Valerie Connaughton,
Race Director for the Rocket Run 10 Miler, would like to reinstate a 5K with
this race in 2004—an out-and-back trail run with awards similar to the 10
Miler. It would be held after the 10
Miler and would not be a Grand Prix race.
Jim moved and Harold seconded that we approve her proposal but suggest
to her that the 5K be held simultaneously with the 10 Miler to minimize the
overall time of the event. The motion
was passed.
The next order of
business was the nomination and selection of HTC award recipients, and the
board discussed and approved the recipients of the 2003 awards. The HTC Awards Banquet will be held on
Tuesday, November 4, at a location yet to be decided. The presentations and the names of the award
recipients will be included in the next edition of the newsletter.
Jim bought two more
timing machines for the Cotton Row Run, used models costing around $700
each. Malcolm suggested that he would
pay for one out of
There was no further
business, and the meeting was adjourned at