Minutes, East Texas Triathletes Meeting, 05-03-2008

Meeting opened.

President Duke Gill noted that we have some seasoned triathletes and asked each person to think of a tri-tip to share with the beginners.  He gave the first as an example: Carlos Ruiz had told him about using talcum powder in his bike and running shoes so they are easier to slide on with wet feet. 

Next, Duke reported that Kahne could not attend the meeting because she works on Saturdays at Elite Cycles.  A copy of the last meeting’s minutes was attached to the material distributed at the meeting.  Tammy Rooney made a motion to accept the minutes. The motion was seconded and carried.

Duke noted that Kahne and he have been busy with work schedules and training. He collected money for the t-shirts and dues and also has been busy with the website, answering emails, and taking care of pictures from the triathlons.  He requested us to separate the jobs of secretary and treasurer.  He asked Alan Harris for help and Alan has been doing the job of treasurer.  Bonny Beebe made a motion to separate the two positions.  The motion was seconded and carried.  It was agreed that Alan would continue in the position. 

Next, Duke reported that the team has earned 117.5 points, which is probably more than at this time last year.  We earned 65 points at Athens, earned points at the Fast and Furious Duathlon, and William, Bonny and Paula earned points at Old College Tri.  Duke congratulated Tammy, who has won Grand Masters Overall in several events; William, who won the Old College Tri; and Chauncey, who won Athens and the Fast and Furious Duathlon.

Next, Duke explained that the dues for an individual member is $10.00, which includes $6.00 to cover the USAT group insurance.  He explained that dues for a family is the one $10.00 rate, plus $6 for each additional family member after the first member.  The $6 is for the USAT insurance.

Next Duke noted that at the Tyler Bike Club’s Thursday night meeting, the Ride of Silence was discussed, which will take place on Wednesday, May 21.  The ride honors those killed or injured while riding.  Duke quoted Kami as describing last year’s ride of silence as awesome and exciting, and encouraged everyone to participate.  The ride is to make motorists aware of cyclists.  Duke asked whether Longview has a bike club.  The response was “yes,” and he opined that all the East Texas Triathletes in Longview should join their local bike clubs.  Duke mentioned that the Tyler Bike Club members will be volunteering at our race and he mentioned upcoming Tyler Bike Club time trials, the next being May 18^th, on Eastside.  The time trial after that will be at Loop 49.

Next, Duke said that we can still order more t-shirts at the same price ($11) and that a couple of members have asked if we would consider a team cycling jersey.  The price is steep: ~$45.00 for a generic jersey, or Rick Uribe can get Louis Gameau jerseys for ~$70.  Rick did some designs, which Duke distributed at the meeting for viewing.  Anyone can email Duke to let him know if they are interested in a team cycle jersey.

Duke wrote a USAT grant at the club’s request and we received the full $1000.00, which pays for almost half the chip timing at our race.

Next, Vice President Steve Farris reported on the Rose City Triathlon.  He has submitted the USAT sanctioning form and therefore we will have insurance through USAT, for our race, but we must follow the USAT rules and will have USAT officials there.  USAT has not actually sanctioned us yet.  Steve has started building the bike racks.  Sponsors have been approached, without much luck as of yet.  Steve has made a list of everything he can think of that we need for the race.  If we know somebody who has contacts for these items, then we can call or email Steve and let him know.  Steve and Alan are making the transition barricade and bike racks.  Anything else on the list, we still need, so think about whether you know someone who can help or sponsor (e.g., megaphone, speakers, porta-pottiies, etc.).  Duke noted that he can put sponsor logos on the website and on the back of the race t-shirt.  Steve pointed out that the list of needed items is attached to the materials distributed for the meeting, and that some items have a specified value (e.g., swim caps $400.00).  The entry fees probably will cover the expenses if we can get about 200 people.  Tammy and hopefully others going to the Red River Triathlon can carry fliers, but it’s better to talk it up.  We can get a lot of people from Dallas.

• Clifford suggested that at the Komen Race for the Cure we might could get a lot of people.  We might put fliers in the goody bags.
   
• Steve said Alan called one of his landscape customers who is “high up” in Brookshires.  They’re talking to him on Monday and think he will come through.
   
• Brad said that he has administrative contacts who want information about the event.  It sounds like they want to sponsor.  Steve said we’re not having much luck with letters, and he’d rather meet with them, so he needs their names.
   
• Duke encouraged us to look at the Rose City Triathlon website.  He added Signmeup.com last Friday, and it’s working.  Two have signed up and paid.
   
• Steve said the entry is $60.  He hopes that all our members will compete and not have to volunteer.  We should sign up early so that we have cash flow.
   
• Duke asked, “What about committees?” Steve responded that it takes a lot of people and responsibilities.  He has assigned different people, all Tyler Bike Club members.  Kristen Blaise is in charge of the transition area--body making, etc.  Gerald Tucker, from Racquet & Jog, is the run coordinator.  Dave Sterrett is cycling coordinator because he has done so many bike races.
   
• Tammy noted that we will need a meeting to stuff packets.

Steve said that Elite will stay open Friday night late for packet pickup.  Steve talked to Rick the other day, and he wants the triathlon to be for kids also.  When Steve filled out the USAT papers, he did it for adults, sixteen years and older.  Steve suggested that we need to decide and asked, “have we seen this age in an open water swim?”  Steve said the insurance is higher with kids out there.  

• Bonny said she’s seen races for seven-year-olds.
   
• William said that 600 meters is a long swim for kids.
   
• Steve said he hasn’t seen kids in Jefferson, but that pool swims have kids.
   
• Duke added that he has been asked about relays.
   
• William said we ought to have a vote.
   
• Clifford asked about the cost.
   
• Steve said the issue is the Flanders have lots of kids.  He hates to say that they can’t participate.  He said that he doesn’t know 13-year-olds who can swim that far.  He pointed out that the idea is to bring in newcomers in the East Texas area to get into triathlon. What age would we include?  He wouldn’t want to see 6 or 7-year-olds.  The kids’ parents would know what the kids were doing and capable of
   
• Duke suggested that we could look at the minimum USAT age and then follow that.

 Tammy made a motion to do so.  The motion was seconded and carried to add youth to the triathlon

Steve said that the relay could bring in a lot more participants.  He thinks we should have relays.  For example, people at the Komen race might be interested.

• Duke asked if we want to have relays.

• Bonny said that lots are interested in the relay.
   
• Steve said that people with knee problems or who can’t swim might be interested.
   

• Steve asked if we want to have Athenas / Clydesdales.  Duke mentioned that they have already been included in the signup.com service. 
   

• Steve reported that we will have training days to actually try out the Rose City Tri courses, the dates of which are not yet posted. 

A motion was made, seconded, and carried to add relay teams to the Rose City Triathlon.

 Duke reported that USAT stressed that when clubs win the grants, their purpose is to promote multi-sports.  USAT emailed Duke and asked if the USAT logo will be on our website.  Duke mentioned to them  that we are interested in having a class for beginners or meetings with anyone interested. 

• Bonny said that her friend, manager at Parkway, says that we can do classes there, but Bonny says that she is not qualified.
   
• Duke noted that he also is not qualified to be a teacher but could organize.  Duke emphasized that the training is not an option but is part of the conditions of getting the grant.

 Duke then addressed the suggestion from the Forum that we have a Team Ironman event.  He said that Bonny volunteered.  Duke asked if a bunch of us will go. 

• Gina said, “Yes.  We’re going to Florida.”
   
• Duke mentioned there were about 10 people.
   
• Kami mentioned that some of our names were listed by other people rather than by us individually.
   
• Steve noted, “People throw around the Ironman word like . . .”  He said that if Carlos sigss up then Steve might do it with him.  They’ve done two together.

 Tammy reminded us that June 1 at 6:00 a.m., registration opens for River Cities Triathlon.

 Duke noted that a lot of us do River Cities, several do Four States, and a lot do Jefferson.  They’re kind of like team events.  He hopes a lot of club members will do them so we can have a terrific showing as we did at Athens.

Next, Duke said that Brad wanted to talk about first aid.

Brad said that he has been an ETMC paramedic for two to three years and is almost done with nursing school.  We need people interested in getting certified or recertified in CPR. Steve said that would help with our medical plan. Brad said that the Whitehouse Fire Department is two minutes from our triathlon and might provide an ambulance. Steve noted that we must have an ambulance.  Brad said that training will not take 4-5 hours on a Saturday.  His paramedic instructor Jason will do it cheaper and quicker.  It won’t take the whole day and will cost about $20 or less–we need to cover his gas expenses.  Brad opined that every triathlete should have this training.  He pointed out the marathoner who had been running marathons since age 10 and dropped dead at the Olympic qualifiers.  Commencing CPR within 3 to 5 minutes increases the chance of survival more than 50%.  The date has not yet been determined.  Those interested should write, on the paper circulated at the meeting, the names, emails, phone numbers, and whether they need certification or recertification Brad will contact them within 2 to 3 weeks.  We could do the training at his house, the Whitehouse Fire Department maybe, or a local center.  The training is very important and he would feel a lot better about running in a triathlon if we have people certified.

Next Duke said we need to discuss, and vote on, becoming a non-profit organization.  Some sponsors will only sponsor if we’re non-profit.  He doesn’t know a lot about it.  He’d like to know if other members know about it or can set one up.

• Dave Wilcox said we can get the paperwork and probably file it online. 
   
• Duke reiterated that we need to vote on it.  He pointed out that the club members can’t get paid.  Negatives include that we must file paperwork, lots of paperwork for taxes, but that should be simple.
   
• Steve pointed out that we may have a problem if we don’t get it.  We may have an $8,000 surplus.  How can it sit in the account?
   
• Duke said that no individual can get any of that money personally.
   
• Dave said that the IRS requires a lot of clubs to file a simple tax return, maybe May 15^th.
   
• Steve said he doesn’t know if we can deposit more than $10,000 without informing the IRS.

 Clifford made a motion that we become non-profit.  The motion was seconded and carried.

Duke reminded us that we’re supposed to have four meetings annually but made us aware that a good possibility exists that we may need one or two more before the race, probably in August. 

Duke offered up two door prizes to be drawn for by names of members attending.  Steve advised Duke that he cannot look at the names.  Door prizes were drawn by Bonny’s older son.  Kami won first and chose the Speedo swim goggles.  Paula won next and received a “Blinkie” blinking light for her bicycle.

 Duke then commenced asking for our tri tips: 

• Tammy:            Use shoe lace bungees so you can quickly slip on your running shoes
   
• Paula:               Don’t drown.
   
• Bonny:              Remember and know where your bike rack is in the transition area
   
• Clifford:            Don’t use electrical tape to hold your spare tube in summer (it melts).
   
• Clint:                Wear race belt under wetsuit. 

                                    Brad has heard that people don’t like it.

                                    Clifford: Roll it up then yank it.

• Gina:    Set my repeat count down timer so I remember to take my nutrition.  I don’t know any speed tips.
   
• Clint:    Clint uses a 1200 calorie bottle of  Perpetuam powder with protein and fat.  Otherwise you’re carrying around a lot for three hours. 
   
• Gina:    You can view their website.  You can make the Perpetuam weaker.  The other bottle is water.
   
• William:  Know which way to go in and out of the transition.  If you have no race belt, then stuff your number in your shorts and pull it out on the run.
   
• Steve:   When you pass on the bike, don’t move over early.  Ride right up on hat person and ride the draft as much as you can.  It’s 30 to 40% less effort for free.
   
• Clint:    If you know someone your close to on the bike, take turns drafting/leading.  You could draft legally the whole race.
   
• Bonny:    I don’t follow the 15 seconds.
   
• Steve:   I got a drafting penalty.
   
• Kami:   Keep moving toward the finish line no matter what happens.
   
• Tammy:  Don’t take things from the Harley Davidson group.

 With no further business, a motion was made to adjourn the meeting, seconded, and carried.

 Submitted 5-5-2008

 Kami Nedbalek