Our Members will Make It Happen (again) in 2012!
What a year we had in 2011! So, who do we have to thank for all the fun we had in 2011? Not me (but thanks!), not the board (but they deserve a bow!), it's YOU who should be patting yourselves all over the back.
Members are what matter; what makes this club so much fun; what makes it grow.
The more our members involve themselves with the club, the more fun everyone has, the more other friends and neighbors want to be part of it.
Some examples…
New member, Lisa Way, took it upon herself to organize a group of over 20 volunteers to work at our Chicago Marathon Aid Station in memory of her friend and running companion.
Nancy Rollins volunteered to be the Summervals coach, talked it up around town and we quickly went from 30-40 regulars (not bad) to 70, 80, even 90 on a regular basis - now that's fun! Keith Wiley volunteered to coach Wintervals, and we regularly get 30-40 folks at the fieldhouse. Will Van Dyke, Laura Moss, Nancy Owens, Kate Saccany and others stepped up to help as timers for Summervals… everyone had more fun; jobs well done!
Amarpal Matharu had the notion that we might want to do a little something for the Fall Marathoners in the Saturday Morning Long Runs… a little water, a little Gatorade, maybe some advice and help? Sure enough, a host of members too numerous to mention came out to manage our aid stations, Dr. Tony Breitbach chipped in for the fluids and Coach Keith Wiley became, our tactical, motivational and menu advisor… and 35+ turned out regularly on Saturday mornings!
Sue Hammerman has organized the Keep Evanston Green Perkins Woods Cleanup for several years running… we do some good, have some fun, find some very interesting stuff and spread the word about ERC… it's all good!
John Hennelly had the harebrained idea to invite a bunch of other running clubs, put on a cross-country race, and run in the cold, damp confines of Harms Woods… what was he thinking? Scott Ebeling, Erika Vazquez and Will Van Dyke were his hare-brain-trust and others pitched in on the day to course-marshal, do registration, take bib-tags… brilliant, is what it was!
Long way around saying: If it's fun, it's probably something you or some of the other members thought up and made happen… even little things like new ideas for our parties (thanks to our hosts, Vijay and Mary Sarthy, Alan and Lisa Fortini-Campbell, and Pam Rashid!), maybe new times/places to run (thanks, Nichelle, Chuck, Kate and Andrea!), maybe ways to communicate through Facebook or LinkedIn (thanks, Megan and Dr. Tony!)… the list goes on, AS IT SHOULD!
And it will, but only if you get involved… show up, offer up ideas, take the lead and try some stuff! A few play a Leading Role, on the Board or heading up an activity; Many play Supporting Roles, helping out here and there; There are plenty of ways to be involved… try it; we'll all like it!
Thanks, and have a wonderful 2012!
Al
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