HTC Executive Board Meeting

17 November 2009

Board Members Present: David Purinton (President), Eric Charette (VP – Races and Equipment), Harold Tinsley (VP – Communications), Ashley Cain (VP – Programs), Kathy Youngren (Treasurer), Joey Butler (Secretary), Suzanne Taylor (Appointed Member – Co- Rocket City Marathon Director), Dink Taylor (Appointed Member – Co-Cotton Row Director), Craig Armstrong (Appointed Member – Past Board Member).

Others present: Dick and Wanda Franklin, Carl Smith, Mike O’Melia

The Huntsville Track Club met on November 17, 2009 in the Jones Valley Huntsville Hospital Wellness Center. David opened the meeting at 7:00.

The first topic tonight dealt with the Huntsville Half Marathon. Dick and Wanda, race directors for the Half Marathon, presented the board a summary of the half marathon and 5K race. In the half, there were 977 people registered with 826 finishers. In the 5K, there were 430 people registered with 368 finishers. This is a significant increase from last year. There was concern that the half marathon may have outgrown the current course. It was noted that even with the large number of runners, it only took 32 seconds for all runners to cross the start line. It was also noted that once the runners left the church parking lot, the field was able to spread out rapidly and congestion did not seem to be a major issue. The police reported no problems on the course. The big problem was parking. The race was delayed 15 minutes due to parking problems. Dick stated that in his opinion, the church facility (including parking area) was capable of handling a race of around 1000 people. The board discussed the possibility of cancelling the 5K. This would significantly help the parking issue. It was also noted that the Wounded Warriors have their own 5K the week preceding the half marathon. Craig motioned and Harold seconded a motion to cancel the 5K for 2010. The motion passed unanimously.

Dick and Wanda expressed to the board their desire to step down as race directors for the Half Marathon. A potential successor was named in the meeting, but the board did not take action at this time to vote on a successor.

The Board discussed with the race director the various problems that occurred at this year’s Monte Sano 15K race and the Board’s concern that they must not occur again next year. The race director was asked to give his input on how and why he thought the problems occurred. Together the Board and race director discussed how to solve the problems and how we could assure that would bring next year’s race back up to HTC race standards. The race director was directed to provide the Board a plan based on the input at the meeting for conducting the race next year. That plan will be discussed at a future Board meeting.

There was no more business and David adjourned the meeting.

The next scheduled meeting is the annual business meeting on January 12, 2010 at the Lodge at Monte Sano State Park.