BKVR Meeting 3/11/2025 – 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm via Zoom

 

Present: Judy Raffone, Ruth Jones, Jen Sharp, Suzy Nealon, Gail Wood, Kathy Zemianek

 

1. Review of Minutes: 12/10/24 – approved.

2. Membership Status: There have been 46 renewals. Jen will send out a reminder email and note that membership fees are due in January.

3. Financial Report: The account is currently at $13,368.94 plus the $5,000 CD. This is enough working capital for the scholarship. Only one application received to date. Suzy, Anita and Jen will continue serving as the Scholarship Committee. Will check with Elisa to see if she still wants to participate on that committee.

4. Race Updates:

   1. ROTT 2024: A donation has not yet been made to Fisher School for 2024. It was recommended that $500 be sent for the playground. Judy will get the details to Anita.

   2. ROTT 2025: 11/27/25. 1) Gail Wood will be co-race director. 2) Bob Underwood’s timing services are already in the pipeline. 3) Wait until school reopens in September to notify them. 4) Judy is starting to look for prizes. 5) 2026 will be the 30th year. Consider going back to shirts.

   3. ZemBenn:

      1. 9 registrants to date.

      2. Judy paid $35 to USA Running to help boost the number of participants.

      3. Kathy has been working with Crae on the logo. The shirts will be blue.

      4. Sponsors: there won’t be an aggressive campaign to get sponsors. Gail will send the form letter to previous sponsors. Suzy will contact a friend about providing maple syrup.

      5. Kathy will check with PMH about amount to reimburse them for use of the grounds.

      6. Judy has Star Wars decorations plus backdrop for picture taking.

      7. Food: Suzy will get water. Judy has electrolyte and Ruth has large water dispensers.

      8. Publicity: Information will be included in the school district newsletter. Information will be shared with running publications and Facebook, FPF, etc.

      9. Water stops: Kathy will check with track coach.

      10. Bib #s: Judy will check in a month.

      11. Judy found hip packs and will have generic BKVR logo added for age group prize.

      12. Timing: Tim Van Orden will provide timing.

5. Annual Dinner: The dinner was cancelled due to weather concerns. All prepaid members were reimbursed.

6. Informal Runs:

           Moonlight Runs: Next run will be on April 12 for the Pink Moon

           Thirsty Thursdays: 5:30 at Argyle Brewery, Greenwich

       These will be added back on to the calendar and website

  7.  Miscellaneous:

• Park Run: there has been a request for BKVR to help getting a parkrun group established in Manchester. Further information available at parkrun.us

• There have been requests to start regular group runs again. Ruth agreed to organize Sunday runs in North Bennington. Some consideration may be given to joining up with the Monumental Runners and a new group in Dorset.

• Newsletter: Suzy is going to start publishing a newsletter again.

• Officers 2025: The 2025 officers were elected:

            President: Judy Raffone

            Vice President: Suzy Nealon

            Secretary: Gail Wood

            Treasurer: Anita Gabalski

            Membership: Jen Sharpe

            Board:  Rob Raffone

                         Ruth Jones

                         Mark Kelsey

 

NEXT MEETING: April 15, 2025 6:30 pm at Ramunto’s in Arlington

 

Respectfully Submitted:

Gail Wood