HEAT monthly meeting and yearly review
Tuesday Nov 20th 6:00 @Hooker Brewery
On November 20th, 2007 we had a HEAT monthly meeting which will serve as the start of the determination of where we can take this club next. The last two years have been more about building the foundation which will facilitate our ability to share our love for multi-sports, socialize and increase our knowledge of each discipline. We now have a fabulous website with an increasingly active forum. We have uniforms that allow us to recognize other members as we race and train which are so well designed that they are used on the Louis Garneau website to show the custom Delfino racer top. Check it out at: www.louisgarneau.com/cata...&website=1
We have a growing group of leaders taking responsibility for making this a dynamic, responsive and fun club. We have planned more club events such as the spin classes and swim sessions with new training plans for next season.
So, what are we missing? Over the last year I have spoken to lots of folks in the Triathlon community about the club and I have gotten a mixture of reactions:
The HEAT Club is too intimidating and only for good racers.
There are no benefits for my $25.
The club is great and has helped me improve a lot.
The club doesnt seem to do anything.
Where are the organized rides/runs/swims?
When is the party?
These are good questions and we are now at the point where we need to move from a club under development to one that can start to become what the members want it to be. Too intimidating? We need to find ways to be inclusive. No benefits? We need to provide clearer benefits for our members. The club is great? We need to expand those activities that work. No organized events? We need to engage the membership to initiate activities or let us know about activities they want. When is the party? We expect to have a season kick-off party in January after all the Holidays.
As your current leader, I envision us as a club for any level athlete. I feel more excited about a person finishing their first race than having club member win the race. I take the greatest pride in getting new people involved and excited with the sport. In other sports, we can look up to better athletes to inspire us, but in this club you have the opportunity to get one on one coaching from some of the best triathletes in the area. When HEAT has 4 of the top 5 swimmers out of the water at a race this season it is intimidating. It also means that we have a great resource to help new swimmers get comfortable in the water or experienced swimmers get faster or more efficient. (More efficient is better for the overall race) I recognize that not everyone is expecting or aiming to become fast. Many just want to get more comfortable or just stay in shape. We can help you and guide you. We are hoping to get Lynn Tapper to help us design and kick off activities for new and early Triathletes. We are also hoping that our middle of the pack (as described by folks I interviewed) members can help us design the type of programs they would like to see, or tell us how we can adapt our training to include them.
What do we provide now? To quote from MasterCard: t-shirt - $12, shipping it and your card - $5, 50-60% discount on high end competition clothing - $40-80 per uniform, 60% discount on socks - $4.25, the friendship of other members Priceless! So what more value can we add to membership? How about, more club activities for social networking, better on-line training and insights, more preferential goods and services access and clinics with coaching?
Our first step in this direction will be an agreement with Rudy Project for sponsorship. This will mean we get a large discount on Rudy Project helmets and glasses. Next, we are looking at Zipp wheels through Pig Iron at a very attractive discount. We will be making another order for uniforms which we have been providing at almost 60% off retail. As these and other programs become available we will let you know.
With these new deals and plans, I can say with assurance that we are a club that is well worth the dues paid. We are also a club which will be looking at plans for next year and the cost of these efforts (swim access and coaching, web site, HEAT tent and banners, subsidized uniforms, etc.) and deciding on what level of dues is necessary to improve what we offer. I would expect some increase depending on how the books balance at the year end.
The final question that came up at the meeting concerned the leadership of the club. We have most of the same leaders who helped start the club at this point. I did not enter this with a desire to be president for life and I recognize the problems created when the same people are always in charge. New ideas and energy keep the club invigorated and in touch. Accordingly, I suggest that we take steps to bring in new blood on the board. Over the next month, we will initiate a process to nominate candidates for the various positions and have an election through the membership. Anyone with interest is encouraged to let us know. Thanks again to everyone for making this club such a success! Have a great and relaxing Holiday Season!
Dean Bolt aka Trlrnmn or President
Tuesday Nov 20th 6:00 @Hooker Brewery
On November 20th, 2007 we had a HEAT monthly meeting which will serve as the start of the determination of where we can take this club next. The last two years have been more about building the foundation which will facilitate our ability to share our love for multi-sports, socialize and increase our knowledge of each discipline. We now have a fabulous website with an increasingly active forum. We have uniforms that allow us to recognize other members as we race and train which are so well designed that they are used on the Louis Garneau website to show the custom Delfino racer top. Check it out at: www.louisgarneau.com/cata...&website=1
We have a growing group of leaders taking responsibility for making this a dynamic, responsive and fun club. We have planned more club events such as the spin classes and swim sessions with new training plans for next season.
So, what are we missing? Over the last year I have spoken to lots of folks in the Triathlon community about the club and I have gotten a mixture of reactions:
The HEAT Club is too intimidating and only for good racers.
There are no benefits for my $25.
The club is great and has helped me improve a lot.
The club doesnt seem to do anything.
Where are the organized rides/runs/swims?
When is the party?
These are good questions and we are now at the point where we need to move from a club under development to one that can start to become what the members want it to be. Too intimidating? We need to find ways to be inclusive. No benefits? We need to provide clearer benefits for our members. The club is great? We need to expand those activities that work. No organized events? We need to engage the membership to initiate activities or let us know about activities they want. When is the party? We expect to have a season kick-off party in January after all the Holidays.
As your current leader, I envision us as a club for any level athlete. I feel more excited about a person finishing their first race than having club member win the race. I take the greatest pride in getting new people involved and excited with the sport. In other sports, we can look up to better athletes to inspire us, but in this club you have the opportunity to get one on one coaching from some of the best triathletes in the area. When HEAT has 4 of the top 5 swimmers out of the water at a race this season it is intimidating. It also means that we have a great resource to help new swimmers get comfortable in the water or experienced swimmers get faster or more efficient. (More efficient is better for the overall race) I recognize that not everyone is expecting or aiming to become fast. Many just want to get more comfortable or just stay in shape. We can help you and guide you. We are hoping to get Lynn Tapper to help us design and kick off activities for new and early Triathletes. We are also hoping that our middle of the pack (as described by folks I interviewed) members can help us design the type of programs they would like to see, or tell us how we can adapt our training to include them.
What do we provide now? To quote from MasterCard: t-shirt - $12, shipping it and your card - $5, 50-60% discount on high end competition clothing - $40-80 per uniform, 60% discount on socks - $4.25, the friendship of other members Priceless! So what more value can we add to membership? How about, more club activities for social networking, better on-line training and insights, more preferential goods and services access and clinics with coaching?
Our first step in this direction will be an agreement with Rudy Project for sponsorship. This will mean we get a large discount on Rudy Project helmets and glasses. Next, we are looking at Zipp wheels through Pig Iron at a very attractive discount. We will be making another order for uniforms which we have been providing at almost 60% off retail. As these and other programs become available we will let you know.
With these new deals and plans, I can say with assurance that we are a club that is well worth the dues paid. We are also a club which will be looking at plans for next year and the cost of these efforts (swim access and coaching, web site, HEAT tent and banners, subsidized uniforms, etc.) and deciding on what level of dues is necessary to improve what we offer. I would expect some increase depending on how the books balance at the year end.
The final question that came up at the meeting concerned the leadership of the club. We have most of the same leaders who helped start the club at this point. I did not enter this with a desire to be president for life and I recognize the problems created when the same people are always in charge. New ideas and energy keep the club invigorated and in touch. Accordingly, I suggest that we take steps to bring in new blood on the board. Over the next month, we will initiate a process to nominate candidates for the various positions and have an election through the membership. Anyone with interest is encouraged to let us know. Thanks again to everyone for making this club such a success! Have a great and relaxing Holiday Season!
Dean Bolt aka Trlrnmn or President
