- Kids Running Program at MB Elementary update
- Little River Blue Crab 5K Run/Walk and Festival discussion
- Sponsorship Committee update on ideas for sponsors
- Scholarship Committee update on applicants received
- Nominations for 2009 GSRC Officers (extended until May 6, 2009)
The April 2009 meeting of the Grand Strand Running Club was held on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at the Grand Strand Senior Center on 21st avenue north in Myrtle Beach. Present: Terry Layton, President; Jim Troxell, Race Director; Pat Maccariella-Hafey, Secretary; Chris Castro, Membership Chair; Tom Flench, Scholarship Chair; and members Dave Hanson, Debra Peters, Karen D'Alessio, Murray Honick, Gregg Barnhill, John McHugh, Pat McHugh and Judi Perdue.
Terry Layton opened the meeting at 6:35 p.m.
Terry updated everyone on the Kids Running Program which has started at Myrtle Beach Middle School. There are 52 6th graders signed up. The shirts were distributed to the kids in the running program.. The goal will be for the kids to run in the Little River Blue Crab Festival 5K. Entry fee for the kids will be $5.00.
Catherine Siebert is working with a kids group at St. James Elementary School. They are fourth and fifth graders. She will update us on her endeavors.
The Little River Blue Crab 5K Run/Walk is Saturday, May 9 at 8 AM. Please note the time was moved up to 8 am this year to avoid the heat and the traffic. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. You can volunteer to help with registration, and then run the race. If interested in helping out, let me know. You can download an entry form here: http://grandstrandrunner.com/_wsn/page5.html
Also, the club will again man a gate at the Blue Crab Festival on May 16-17. you can volunteer to help out any time those two days but we do need someone to fill the slot on Saturday from 5 pm to 8 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. If you can help out please email Jim Troxell at jtroxell@sccoast.net
Murray Honick is Chair the Sponsorship Committee which exists to get sponsors for GSRC races to help offset costs. Paula Loehr also agreed to be on the committee. If you are interested in being on the committee contact Murray. Discussion regarding the best way to obtain sponsors and club exposure ensued. Bill Stanton of the Stanton Media Group can help us advertise and market the GSRC to obtain sponsors and increase membership. The group discussed the fee of $3500.00 to have Stanton Media Group put together a newsletter to be distributed by mass emailing six times year which would be similar to the MB Marathon newsletter. A copy was passed around to view at the meeting. Members felt the fee was high and that maybe we could start on a smaller scale with a quarterly newsletter to see how it goes. This would enable the club to see if sponsorship and membership increased as a result of the newsletters and marketing efforts by Stanton Media Group. Terry will be meeting with Bill Stanton to discuss. Levels of sponsorship were also discussed to allow different types of businesses to participate. The idea of a large sponsor having a logo on all GSRC race shirts was discussed. It was brought up that it may be difficult and time consuming to get new sponsors for every race event. More will be discussed at the next meeting.
Tom Flench reported that the scholarship committee has received 22 applicants from 9 area schools for the scholarships. As you know, the GSRC grants two scholarships each year, one male and one female recipient. Tom passed around a spreadsheet that depicted the aspects that are reviewed on each applicant. The committee will be meeting soon to start the selection process.
Finally, nominations for officers were discussed. Unfortunately after our last meeting, Paulette Flench had to step down as President Elect, which was the position to move into the President position. An emergency executive meeting was held to address the situation. Dan Monarch, who is in the Vice President position for 2008 was asked if he was willing to stand for the President position. Dan had to decline due to already scheduled personal items this year. No one else expressed interest in standing in the President position. Terry Layton agreed to continue to stand as President for the upcoming year. The open positions are below. Terry will be assembling a position description that will be sent out under separate cover. If you are interested in one of the below positions, please let me know and I will put you on the list. A vote will be conducted at our May meeting. You will be able to vote by email if you cannot attend the meeting. Just let me know of your decision.
Up for nominations are:
President Elect: Open
Vice President: Murray Honick nominated
Treasurer: Phyllis Monarch nominated
Secretary: Open
Membership Chairperson: An appointed post however if you are interested please let me know. Terry will also give a description of this position in a separate email.
The members also discussed obtaining running related speakers at our next meetings to help increase attendance. Several speakers are being contemplated at this time for future meetings. If you have any suggestions, let us know.
http://www.nmbrunninggroup.com/
Don't forget the NMB running group has runs on Tuesday evenings. They will have a group run before our next meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
The next meeting will be on May 19 2009 at 7:00 pm in North Myrtle Beach at the Grill House.
Happy running,
Pat Maccariella-Hafey
GSRC Secretary