1998 Annual Meeting
Minutes
Orlando, Florida
December 3,
1998
Attending: Ruth
Anderson, Jakson Badenhoop, Dan Brannen, Mickey Dockwiller, Henley
Gabeau, Lorraine Gersitz (subcommittee co-chair), Dave Gwyn, David
Hatten, Doris Heritage, Nancy Hobbs (meeting chair, subcommittee budget
director), Jim Kaiser, Don Kardong, Nina Kuscsik, David Lawhorn, Geoff
Masanet, Scot Mellor, Ed Parrot, Ken Robichaud, Alan Roth, Jane Serues,
Kevin Setnes (member), Joy Smith, Donna Tutush. Subcommittee members
unable to attend the convention: Janice Anderson, Dave Dunham, Tom
Johnson (subcommittee co-chair), Doug Laufer, Roy Pirrung
Minutes: Since
there was not a quorum of the subcommittee members, no items were voted
on. The minutes will be distributed to the subcommittee for complete
review and discussion.
1) Title of
subcommittee Initially the subcommittee was proposed as the
"Extreme" subcommittee to encompass mountain, ultra, and trail
running. Many involved with these disciplines felt that the
"Extreme" title was not appropriate. It was suggested that the
name of the subcommittee be revised as "MUT"
Mountain/Ultra/Trail Subcommittee. The proposed title will be presented
to the subcommittee for consideration.
2) Committee Chair
appointments for '99 All committee members that have been
appointed by the respective chairs of the LDR committees mens,
womens, masters will be contacted to see if they will continue to
serve on the subcommittee through the next convention. If any appointee
is unable to continue on the subcommittee, the respective LDR chair will
appoint another representative with input from the subcommittee chairs.
Duties of committee members goals for the coming year will be
reviewed and each subcommittee member will be asked to assist in working
on one or more of the goals.
3) Goals of
subcommittee the following goals are to be reviewed by the
subcommittee members:
Budget: to include a
line item in the USATF budget as policy for World Mountain Running
Team and World 100K Team travel to international competitions. $5000
in the budget for 1999. Approved.
Championship
selection
Education, promotion,
and creating awareness of the subcommittee
4) Definition of the
subcommittee disciplines Hobbs distributed a draft document and
a chart defining the various elements in "off-road" running to
include: mountain running, trail running, ultra running, cross country,
skyrunning, burro racing, snowshoeing, orienteering, ride and ties, for
review. Hobbs and Kevin Cooney (multi-sport athlete and design engineer)
prepared the documents. It was suggested that only the disciplines
relating to USATF mountain, ultra, trail, cross country be defined
for review by the subcommittee.
5)
Marketing/Sponsorship seeking sponsorships from corporations
dealing with endurance products would be a great fit for our categories
of sport.
6) Law and
Legislation updates from Nina Kuscsik the rules items relating
to our subcommittee included Items 20, 21, 27, and 78. Please refer to
the respective items in the legislative handbook for more detail. A
brief report: trail championships to be awarded at any distance over
10K, trail and mountain running description to be included in the rule
book.
7) Interface with
LDR Committees subcommittee to continue working with the LDR
divisions within the proposed restructuring plan.
8) Athlete selection
for world teams and team staff selection Hobbs and Gersitz
discussed the qualification standards for selection. Two of the men and
one of the women selected to the Mountain Team qualify at the Mount
Stratton race in Vermont (1999 will be the second year for the selection
race), the additional 3 women and 4 men are selected based on their
running history/resume. The Ultra team is selected based on finish
position at national championships and ultra races to include the 50
mile and 100K and runners must meet specific time qualifications for
consideration. We need to continue promoting the teams in On The Roads
and in other ways to include information on websites relating to our
sport.
9) Awards
There are two existing awards for ultra running including the Ruth
Anderson and Ted Corbitt awards. Hobbs proposed that two awards be
generated for mountain running with one award for a male mountain runner
being named in memory of Lyndon Ellefson (who was an active promoter of
the sport and spearheaded the mountain running subcommittee within mens
LDR. Lyndon died in July 1998), to be entitled the Lyndon Ellefson
Spirit Award, the second award would be presented to a female mountain
runner. There was discussion that the award be presented to a trail or
mountain runner. Hobbs would rather see the awards be presented to
mountain runners at this time (who may also be trail runners), and that
a trail award be proposed at a later time.
10) Trail/Mtn/Ultra
Championships In the spirit of development, championships are
important. We need to get the word out about our sport and it was agreed
that championships would be a great way to do that. Since our running
community is not as large as the road running community, it was
suggested that championships be awarded at a minimum so that the
property was not cheapened. Discussion about whether to host more than
one championship distance on one day. A case in point was Sunmart which
has been awarded both the 50K and 50Miler on the same day. Some liked
the concept because it offered a choice and would better accommodate
ever changing training schedules, others thought that it diluted the
market. It was also discussed further that there would be separate bid
forms for mountain, trail and ultra championships. Ultras can be awarded
to trail events at the ultra distance but would fall under the ultra
heading, not trail. Trail championships can be awarded at any distance
over 10K and less than the ultra (26.2Mile) distance. It was suggested
that just one mountain running championship be awarded annually and
perhaps include some regional championships as well. It was also
suggested that mens, womens, and masters championships be
considered for award at the same event. The subcommittee will propose
standards for championships using the guidelines set forth by the LDR
committees. The subcommittee will review all bids and give a
recommendation to the championship LDR committee for final approval.
Status of current championship was presented by Gersitz. The GNC 50K has
been awarded and the Olander Park 24 Hour Run. Several other bids have
been received and are in the review process.
11) Budget for '98
and '99 Hobbs stated that the operating account for the
subcommittee started with $600, with a $200 donation from each of the
LDR committees. Funds are available for reimbursement of expenses
relating to the administration of the subcommittee to include postage,
phone calls, copies, etc. It was suggested that an incremental increase
be requested for 99.
12) Other Business
Brannen presented some ideas garnered from budget/finance committee
meetings during the convention which included the three Ms media,
marketability, and Masback. These three Ms would work together within
every division of USATF to make the organization think and work more
like a business.
13) Next meeting
Discussions through e-mail, conference calls within the
subcommittee, and faxes will continue throughout the year. The next
formal meeting will be in LA next December.
MUT Home
Last updated: 09/14/05
Web Author: Lorraine Gersitz
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Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council