The New Year is just six weeks away so it is not too early to start thinking about your New Year's resolutions. With that in mind, I would like to offer a few suggestions for your consideration --
- Make all of our events special events with great trails, a place to gather before and after the event, food for all to enjoy, a nice award and an overall good time for all.
- Encourage our individual club members to bring a newcomer to each of our walks.
- Encourage people to subscribe to THE AMERICAN WANDERER.
- Support the AVA through the purchase of merchandise from the AVA Specialties Store.
- Become the "walking expert" in the community who is called upon for support for developing healthier lifestyles for our neighbors.
- Become an active participant in ensuring the continued vitality of the AVA.
This should be enough to keep you busy in 2002. But, just remember, if we all work together to achieve these things, we can make the AVA and its events the place people will want to be. It is up to us to make it happen.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and thank you for helping us renew The Spirit of Walking across the United States.
2002 Starting Point - The 2002 Starting Point will be available after Christmas for $13.95. Please add $4.00 for shipping when ordering one copy. If your order is under ten copies but more than one copy you will be charged AVA specialty shipping rates. Any orders that exceed ten copies will be shipped directly from the publisher. Clubs will be billed separately for shipping. Orders will not be ready until after Christmas. Please allow at least two weeks for orders under ten copies to be filled.
AVA/NB Apparel - AVA and New Balance currently have an excellent promotion running. When you purchase a short or long sleeve Cool Max T-shirt you will receive a free cotton-poly blend T-shirt that reads "I trade my walking for nothing." This is a great addition to any volksporter's wardrobe. The T-shirt is only available while supplies last. It is a great holiday gift and if you order before December 25, 2001 you will receive a club discount. Please be sure to check with AVA Headquarters for available stock.
TAW - TAW will no longer be handled by AVA Headquarters, but will be published by Typesetting a la Macque. The deadline for TAW submissions will remain the same. Copy and advertising deadlines are: February issue - December 25; April issue - February 25; June issue - April 25; August issue - June 25; October issue - August 25 and December issue - October 25. Submitting articles by e-mail is strongly encouraged. All articles can be mailed to: The American Wanderer, Laurel Parrott, Editor, 3526 Humboldt Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55412. E-mail submissions can be made to Laurel Parrott at laurel@home-media.com. The phone number to reach Laurel is (612) 521-8650.
TAW Subscriptions - All TAW subscriptions must be renewed by the copy deadline in order to receive a paper. If you renew after that date your subscription will begin with the next issue.
Event Information - YRE stamps will be sent out soon. All stamps will be mailed to the official club address. Also please be sure to use the updated March 2001 forms. When filling out certificate of insurance applications please include event number. When you have different types of events, for example a bike and a walk, you must complete a separate form for each. Certificates for 2002 cannot be mailed until our policy is renewed sometime in December.
AVA/NB Marketing Kit - The AVA marketing kit has been sent! They include essential media materials as well as our new marketing video. However, the new booklet included with this Checkpoint should replace the booklet you received with your marketing kit since a few minor corrections were made. Please destroy the first booklet.
What Does this Policy Say? - Did you know that you must offer IVV Event and Distance Record Books and New Walker Packets for sale at all AVA sanctioned events except year-round and seasonal events. That's right! AVA Policy 1.11,II, B, 3 says "Every Member Club and State Organization must offer IVV Event and Distance Record Books and New Walker Packets for sale at all AVA/IVV sanctioned events, except year-round and seasonal events." Additionally, AVA Policy 4.01,II, 12 says "IVV Record Books and New Walkers Packets will be available for purchase at all regular events except year-round and seasonal events.
Functions of the Staff - We thought that it might be helpful to feature a different staff member with a short description of their duties in each Checkpoint. We will begin this Checkpoint with our newest addition! Many of you probably at one time or another have called with questions concerning your club accounts or customer orders. The person who most likely assisted you was Kevin Davis. Kevin is the Accounts Receivable Technician. He has been with the AVA since April 23, 2001. His primary function is to handle invoicing, customer accounts and customer orders. He assists his supervisor Candace Purcell with any other accounting functions as needed. Kevin is in his third year at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He joined the AVA staff in order to gain practical experience and put textbook theory to work. Kevin is part of a small accounting team, which includes his supervisor and accountant Candace Purcell. He has been a tremendous help to Candace as well as the rest of us.
I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and all the best in 2002.
Nancy
Last Updated: 1/17/02
© Copyright 1996 Wendy Bumgardner Clubs may reprint for club use.