Pagoda Pacers News

General Meeting Minutes

Date: August 12, 2021

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Tino’s Restaurant, Wyomissing

Treasury Report – Shaun Luther—120% of target. A little less in the bank than last month due to Blues Cruise and Run for the Ages expenses, annual rent for the trailer at Storage World, and the donations to Berks Country cross country coaches from Kris Kringle, the Friends of Nolde, and the Special Olympics. 

Races:

• Charlie Horse Half Marathon, completed in May—Shaun Luther— At the meeting, the club had the presentation of the ‘big check’ for $1600 to the Special Olympics representatives. 
• Run for the Ages 10K Trail Run, completed in June—no report
• Grings Mill 5K and 10K, just completed—Jane Setley—237 registered and 41 day-of registrations. Total income was over $8700; a little less than half that will come back to the club. There is still an order of t-shirts to pay for. There was an issue of the ambulance not showing up (which also happened at Run for the Ages). Roger Stafford supplied the medals, and he was a good choice to replace Terry’s Trophies (now closed). RockHound Apparel (Robesonia) did the t-shirts. Next year’s date is Sunday, August 7, 2022. Jason Karpinski will be the new race director.
• Blues Cruise 50K, Sunday, October 3, 2021—Dan Govern—He has about $3000 of previous donations, Dan and Stephan Weiss, who will add money from his races, are talking to Nathan Freewall—they will organize some trail upgrades. Nathan will provide a supplier and organize a trail maintenance day. Dan is starting to spend money—medals and hats purchased. Waiting on shirts. Registrations, which we going very well, have slowed down – currently at 281 registrants, and the cap is 450. It was noted that many peoplewait to register until September. But the COVID variant could also be a deterrent to early registration. Asked for advice about how to approach this—Mike Whalen recommends that the club states, “We will follow CDC guidance and pursuant to local guidelines.” It was also recommended that the club publish a statement that “volunteers must be vaccinated or wear a mask.” Mike Gallen recommends a ‘bring your own water container’ to reduce the handling of the cups and transmission of the virus. As always, this race will require a ton of volunteers, which Dan is organizing a needs-statement.
• Oley Valley Apple Country Classic, 10-mile and 5K run, Saturday, October 9, 2021—Barry Goodhart—the races will be run in conjunction with the Apple Fest. The application is available on Facebook. They will need volunteers. Registration (and the bathrooms) will be indoors. Runners will receive a $5 coupon for food at the Apple Fest. The directors are still organizing the shirts. 
• Kris Kringle 5 Miler, Sunday, December 26, 2021—Lisa Domeshek—The directors are working on the hoodies, and one person is registered so far.
• Shiver by the River 5K and 10K, dates to be officially announced—Tiffany Pantoja—The directors are moving along with planning. They have the Temple fire company post event reserved, and they are looking for a new caterer due to retirement of previous one.
• Jr. High Cross Country Fall Invitational – no report

Committee Reports

Social Committee: Wine and Cheese Social—Karin Long—will happen in September, official date to be announced.

• Trip to the Veladrome: Mike Whalen will work on this for next year’s bike racing season

Communications Committee—no report

Community Service: Wednesday night runs—last night was bad weather, but still had a few runners.

Membership committee: no update

Old business

• “The grill that won’t go away”—Steve McGuire is using it on 8/25 for WNR at his house, then whoever wants it can have it.
• Race Mates – Mike Whalen—Christmas in July race was successful. Grings Mill race was successful, with many Pacers participating. Mike will talk to some of the athletes, and, if feasible, may give them the option to finish the final distance on their own. Running Man “5K” slow push on Saturday. 
• Steve states that the club will keep the meetings at Tino’s for the present.

New business

• Mike Whalen suggested contracting with one ambulance agency (such as Schuylkill Valley) to get a more consistent show rate of the ambulances at our races, rather than going to local companies in the race-event area.
• Reading Hospital Road Run: half marathon, 5-mile, and 1-mile events, will be on Oct 17, 2021, with same course as in 2019 (around the Reading Hospital area). Pacing groups by Fleet Feet will return. Pacers have volunteered in the past, and the request will be the same this year.