December 2024 President’s Letter in PDF
Dear Members and GRRC Followers:
This letter recaps December club activity, highlights upcoming GRRC-related races, events, and volunteer opportunities, and provides a couple of reminders.
December Club Recap
- The board took a year-end break from meeting for December, but it continued work through committees and group email where needed. The Nominating Committee is in the final stages of setting the ballot for the 2025 Board of Directors election and updating our bylaws to ensure we’re in compliance with laws governing non-profits and additional modernization updates. We’ve also started work on RROY 2025 and the 2025 banquet.
- While details are still being fleshed out, we have had multiple parties express interest in continuing CanLake and are near an agreement.
- The 12th and final Rochester Runner of the Year race of 2024, Race with Grace 10K, was well received with even more people racing the 10K than the non-RROY 5K, a rare feat.
- MILEStone Patch Challenge Recap: More folks have entered the challenge! We’ve now got 47 registered, 39 of whom have input something to be on the board.
Top three: Jennifer Toti (1,529), Gary Thompson (831), and Theresa Puckett (565).
On the Board, but No Patch, Yet: 8
Bronze (50-99): 12
Silver (100-199): 9
Gold (200-299): 5
Platinum (300 and More): 5
Coming Events (December, January & Banquet)
December
12/14 – Don Curran Memorial 5K kicks off our Freezeroo Series! Register just for it or for the whole series at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/FreezerooSeriesIndividualRace. Race at least four to be in the series standings. There’s still a few Freezeroo Series 2024-25 totes to be claimed.
12/15 – Slate of board candidates to be announced for 2025 election
12/18 – GRRC Holiday Cookie Exchange and Lights Walk/Run for members and prospective members. Meeting at Bill Gray’s on N. Greece Rd. in a private room, we’ll head out across the street for holiday lights including a perennial “must see” on Celtic Ln. Sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterRunningClubHolidayCookieExchangeAndWalkRun so we (the club and the restaurant) know how many people to expect.
January (Freezeroo Link at 12/14 item)
1/1 – New Years Resolution, Freezeroo #2, 7.5-mile Race at Mendon Ponds Park
1/15 – BOD ballots due
1/18 – Pineway Ponds, Freezeroo #3, 5-mile race from Pineway Ponds Park in Spencerport
1/25 – Hearnish, Freezeroo #4, 5-mile race from Victor Municipal Park
Banquet
Save the date! The annual GRRC banquet is set for Saturday, March 1. Exact time TBA, but likely something like 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Registration will open in the near future.
Reminders
MILEStone Patch Challenge
Last month to log your in-person race miles this month. Put the name of your race in the log comments! (Don’t wait until the last minute. Tina Ruhland will be looking at this soon after the year ends! 😉) Sign up for free at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterRunningClubMILEStonePatchChallenge. This format saves volunteer time as the amount of work it takes to input data for numerous participants is much larger than for individual members to do it only for themselves. Emailed information will be accepted this year, but it is unlikely to be in the future. Details pending.
Discounts
See member discounts at https://runsignup.com/Club/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterTrackClub.
Volunteerism
Freezeroo Races – With six different races, we’re bound to need help! Please contact our Series Director, Doug Jones, Djones6703@aol.com.
GRRC – Want to be part of what keeps bringing people back to our events and attracting new members to our club? Let me know at president@grtconline.org. Expressing interest doesn’t oblige you, but it does give us a chance to share what’s involved. You do not have to be a board member to help with or do the following: race help, marketing, website posts, social media assistance, special events, or outreach.
Thank you for being a member or being interested enough to follow us in email and social media. Members can renew before their membership lapses and followers can become members by registering at https://runsignup.com/Club/NY/Rochester/GreaterRochesterTrackClub. Why be a member? One reason is for the connection being part of a growing community of runners provides.
See you out there!
Vickey Beaver