Just a few highlights on things that directly affect the clubs and volkssporters -
- The We continue to have a backlog of six weeks in the processing of IVV
Achievement Award books. Since we traditionally receive a large number of
books for processing in the Fall months, I do not see this backlog declining
during the next couple of months. We really appreciate your patience during
this high volume time.
- The The marketing packet containing the new promotional video and associated
marketing materials is nearing completion. We hope to have that in your
hands before Thanksgiving provided no unforseen disasters get in our way.
We hope this packet will help you promote walking and volkssporting in your
communities.
- The The first quarter financial report is included with this issue of
CHECKPOINT. There is some good news and some bad news in that report. The
good news is that overall we are doing better than we projected in our
budget. The bad news is that our income is almost 12% below what we
budgeted. This is an area that should be of concern to all of us. It is
going to take a major team effort to get more people involved in our sport.
Only with increased involvement will our income improve.
- The next Executive Council meeting will be held in Mesa, Arizona, on January 19. The Council will meet at the Best Western at 250 W Main Street in Mesa and the meeting will begin 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 19. The Best Western is also the start point for one of the Mesa YRE's. Everyone is welcome to join the Executive Council for this meeting. An agenda will be provided to the clubs in mid-December.
Thank you for helping us renew The Spirit of Walking across the United States.
ALONG THE TRAIL
Special Requests: The computers cannot track special requests that we get such as "I only want pins" or "I don't want any pins or patches." You will need to make these requests each time you send in your Award books for processing.
Sanction Payments: Please remember that AVA policies require that payment for sanctions be received at least 60 days prior to your event. If you are sending in an ESR that falls within that time frame, payment must accompany it. We continue to receive Sanction Requests that are within the 60 day timeline without the appropriate payment.
Web Pages: Remember to link your club web pages with the AVA web page.
Award Books: Please remind your club members that paste-ins are not acceptable in their award books. Per IVV Policies, we are to disallow those entries that are on labels, or other items glued in the books. Leave insert pages whole and use liquid paper or simply mark through the incorrect entry and stamp the correct entry somewhere else on the book. Even the cover is okay.
Also, the awards person is currently backlogged six weeks.
Membership Rates: Please note that the rates for Volkssports Associate membership for Canadian or Foreign members has increased. The constant increases in postage left us no choice. Canadians will need to add $10.00 to the regular Membership Prices. Other foreign memberships will now be $50.00.
New Walker Coupons: A reminder to all clubs that the New walker Coupons must come with your After Action Report if you are to receive credit. If you forget to enclose them, just include them with your next event.
Seasonal Stamps: All seasonal stamps need to be returned within 10 days after the event closes for the year. The only exception would be a seasonal that runs through the end of December that is becoming a Year Round the following year.
Proof Sheets: YRE/Seasonal proof sheets are out. Please make these a top priority. We must receive them back quickly if Starting Point is to be out on time.
Postage Increase: Due to the Post Office's ever increasing postage rates, we have had to raise ours as well. New rates are:
Up to $20.00 $4.00 $20.01 - $40.00 $5.00 $40.01 - $60.00 $6.00 $60.01 - $80.00 $7.00 $80.01-$100.00 $8.00 $100.01-$200.00 $12.00 $200.01-$300.00 $16.00 $300.01-$400.00 $20.00 $400.01+ $24.00 Next Day Air (add to regular rates) $25.00 Second Day Air (add to regular rates) $15.00 Single pin OR bar OR event/distance book $1.00 each
Web Updates: The new web address for clubs to enter additional event information is http://www.ava.org/walk/cal.htm Click on "Clubs: Add event details to your listings". This data entry will involve some cutting and pasting.
Club Officer Updates: If one of your club officers move, please remember to submit the Club Officer Update so that all mailings will continue to go to the correct place. Statements and other items are getting returned because we do not have the correct mailing information. These should be submitted through the sanctioning channels for your state.
Event Transfers: When you transfer an event from one hosting club to another (mainly Year Rounds/Seasonals), please remember to update the information on ALL forms. The reports are what we process from and clubs are not happy when they get billed for something that has been taken over by another club.
After Action Reporting: Remember that you do not pay for FREE walkers. You do, however, pay for NON-IVV participants. This category is for those clubs who do not allow free walkers but charge everyone a fee.
Event Changes: Remember to report changes to your events on a copy of the original ESR. This includes YRE/Seasonal events.
Enclosures [only in snail mail]: The IVV World Report, the AVA Financial Report for 7/1/01-9/30/01 and the club order form for the 2002 Starting Point are all enclosed.
WHAT DOES THAT POLICY SAY?
Did you know that regular event after-action reports and Year Round/Seasonal event quarterly participation reports must be received by the National Headquarters by the thirtieth day after the close of a regular event or the end of the reporting quarter for a Year Round or Seasonal event? This is not postmarked by - it is received by. That's right. AVA Policy 4.06, II, B says, "For regular events . . . an after action report must be completed and returned to the AVA National Headquarters. The AVA National Headquarters must receive this report by the thirtieth day after the last day of the event." AVA Policy 4.06, II, C says, "For Year Round and Seasonal Events, After Action Report will be made at the end of each calendar quarter . . . The AVA National Headquarters must receive these completed reports by the thirtieth day after the last day of the reporting quarter."
New Balance Sponsorship: Remember to send your New Balance Event Sponsorship Requests in early. At least eight weeks is requested.
Last Updated: 1/17/02
© Copyright 1996 Wendy Bumgardner Clubs may reprint for club use.