Author: pagodapacers

General Meeting Minutes

Date: July 8, 2021

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Tino’s Restaurant, Wyomissing

Treasury Report – Shaun Luther—we are 124% of target. Blues Cruise expenses are starting. The Charlie Horse race is cleared. Run for the Ages race is just about done. The scholarships are paid.

Races:

• Charlie Horse Half Marathon (completed for 2021)—Shaun Luther—The income received this year was about half the amount as usual. Shaun made a motion to contribute a $1600 donation to Special Olympics, which includes the $575 direct donations. The motion was seconded and approved. For next year’s event, the directors will decide between the typical point-to-point or the same course as this year. They are considering moving the race to an earlier weekend, due to the potential conflict with Maple Grove Raceway events and other running races on that weekend.
• Run for the Ages 10K Trail Run (completed for 2021) –Donna Hey—The race had 117 finishers, and has 3 registrations for next year so far. The race will make about $3000. The amount of donation to Nolde will be $1500 from the race. The motion was made, seconded, and approved. June 26, 2022 is reserved for the next race. Thank you especially to Charlie Crowell for taking on the parking challenge at Nolde, which has a lot of parking rules.
• Grings Mill 5K and 10K (Sunday, August 1)—Caroline Hill—109 entrants registered so far. The directors sent an email blast and opened same-day registration. They are doing chip-timing this year; individual snacks for the runners. They are setting up Saturday, 7/31, about 2 p.m., and volunteers are needed. The shirt is long-sleeve this year and has a new logo. The award this year are not as deep. There won’t be the 5-year increments, just 10-year increments to lessen the crowding with the award ceremony
• Blues Cruise 50K (Sunday, October 3)—Stephan Weiss—registration going strong, 246 runners. Expect to have largest BC event ever. Up to 450 runners, and may sell out by mid-September. The hats and gloves are ordered. The shirt is from RUseeN. The donation funds that have been reserved from previous years are planned for use to replace the bridge in the Pacer maintenance area. Funds will be combined with donations from Stephan’s Naked-series races to make a large donation. The plan is to get this bridge repaired by the race. Aid station news: Matt Brophy will work with the local Fleet Feet personnel who want to host a station.
• Oley Valley Country Classic (Saturday, October 9)—Lenny Burton— The race will be apple-themed this year (the fruit, not the tech company) to coincide with the Oley Apple Fest. Each entrant will receive a $5.00 food ticket for the Fest. Donations this year are going to Oley Ambulance. The start and finish will be at Oley Fairgrounds (note the change from previous years). Lenny and Barry will need a lot of volunteers.
• Kris Kringle 5 Miler (date for 2021 to be announced)—Polly Corvaia—The directors will start planning next month, same race as usual is planned. Gnomes will be back. Door prize suggestions are welcomed. John Thompson is postponing being a race director this year, due to his wife’s baby due date.
• Shiver by the River 5K and 10K—Sue Jackson – planning like pre-COVID times, the second Sunday of the months, to be officially announced soon.
• Jr. High Cross Country Fall Invitational—no update

Committee Reports

Social Committee:

• Wine and Cheese Party—Karin Long—Sept 18 or 25, depending on date confirmation, at Lily’s Vineyard on Skyline Drive. Has an outdoor and indoor venue.

Communications Committee: no report

Community Service:

• Weekly runs—first gathering post-run hosted event by Lenny Burton.
• Race Mate events—Dale Weiss—2 races with 5 adaptive athletes. Currently have 4 chariots owned by IAM Able. Running the races: Jingle in July 5K (7/24, Grings Mill), and the Bradley Mayer Memorial Running Man 5K on August 14 at the Wyo Quarry Soccer Field. The athletes really enjoy it. They try to have 2 guides per chariot—one to push and one to interact with the athlete. Interested Pacers who want to push the chariots should contact Mike Whalen (michaelwhalen102@gmail.com). Dale is working with IAM Able. They are opening this adaptive athlete opportunity up to the Berks County vicinity residents. Kris Jacoby is also involved in the organization of these events. The chariots are very maneuverable, and a safety orientation given prior to the race—the adaptive athletes and supporters start at the back of the race. IAM Able is getting new vests for the volunteers, and getting finishers medals for the athletes.
• Trail Maintenance

Charity Committee

• The scholarships were paid out.

Membership committee: no report

Old business – none

New business

• Jim Blandford was written up in Runner’s World magazine for running 1,000,000 feet of elevation.
• Got the Nerve Triathlon, Lewisberry, PA, on 9/18—volunteer opportunities to race with an adaptive athlete, and the other is to do a leg of a relay race. Grants available to support this on September 18.
• Mike Whalen suggested a trip to the Velodrome as a night out.