The Stryders Fall General Membership Meeting was held at the YMCA on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1999 at 7:00 pm. Election of Executives was held and all three positions are the same. Dennis Stortini as President, Grady Hess as Treasurer and Marg Meincke as Secretary.

28 memberships were renewed at the meeting. The benefits of membership were discussed. The Athletes Foot offers discounts to club members that "show the card". Stryders sponsored road races held in 2000 will be discounted for club members. Raija Gordon won the door prize for membership renewals. If you have not renewed your membership take the time to fill out the appended application and send it in to Grady.

Three members were honoured for their contribution to the club and presented with Club jackets. Trish Cameron of the Y, Mike Walz and Ray Stortini. Trish is my proverbial right hand man (not politically correct, sorry) and her help in organizing events is paramount to the success of our club activities. Mike Walz undertook the challenge of being the Race director of the inaugural Great Lakes Half Marathon in June and is staying on for the 2000 event to be held on Saturday, June 10. Of course, Ray Stortini was honored for his long time membership and big supporter of the club. Ray's St. Joseph Island Run/Walk and post race activities at his home is one event all members look forward to yearly.

Other issues discussed at the meeting included the decision of the Club to undertake a more active role in the Terry Fox Run in 2000 and will again be involved in the Canadian Breast Cancer Research "Run for the Cure". Raija Gordon and Cheryl Palazzi are two members involved and we need others to help out. Please let me know if you wish to help out with these two events. The club will provide the club clock, road markers, and water-stations. Members will be asked to volunteer at one of our races or will be assigned to work one race as our club rules outlines for each member to help out at race sponsored events if not participating in the race.

Boxing Day Run: Sunday, Dec 26 at 9:00 am at Algoma's Watertower Inn. Cost is $10 per person. Cost enables participants to use hotel facilities iincluding outdoor hot-tub. Brunch to follow run. Prizes and awards. Sault Stryders sponsored event. Come out and wear off that Christmas Turkey Dinner.

New Year's Day Run at the YMCA. Cost is $20 per person and includes longsleeve T-shirt. $35 for family and includes 2 shirts. Janet Davidson at YMCA has the details. Applications will be out shortly at the Y. The run starts at at 12 noon. Welcome the New Year and millennium in a cool healthy way.

2000 Area Runs and those of interest to members:

Peterborough YMCA Gatorade Half Marathon & 5 K, Sunday, Feb 27, 2000

Great Lakes Half Marathon, 10 K &5 K Road Race, Saturday, June 10, 2000

St. Joseph Island 10 K,5 K Run/Walk, Saturday, August 19, 2000

Athletes Foot Fit Fest, Saturday, September 23, 2000

Other runs the Club supports and hopes to either assist with organizing or participating in are:

CIBC "RUN FOR THE CURE", Oct 2000

Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club Trail Trot, Fall 2000

Thanksgiving Monday Turkey Trot

Terry Fox Annual Run/Walk, Fall 2000

Details of all the above runs will be provided when known. Hopefully in the Spring Newsletter there will be applications and more information.

Anyone interested in running with others is invited to meet at the YMCA. Trish and I hope anyone wanting to meet and socialize afterwards can join us as follows at the Y lobby area:

Sundays at NOON
Wednesdays at 5:30 PM
Thursdays at 9:00am

We will see how this goes and if other times are better we can decide as a group. Also planned are stretch clinics. There are great Yoga classes offered at the Y and elsewhere in town. Check them out. Yoga is a great way to keep you limber and prevent injuries.

Mario Festival has informed me that our correct Internet web address is:
www3.sympatico.ca/soo/stryders
Another way to easily find us is to go to www.Canada.com and search for Sault Stryders.

If anyone has any information, ideas, or interesting articles to put on the web or newsletter, email them to me, drop off at the YMCA (we have a mailslot at the Y, or give to Trish at the Y. You can also phone me.

Lastly, this club is only as good as what the members are willing to do, get involved in and help out. I have no time for those who sit back, complain and have nothing to offer. If you were not happy with the Club, you had your chance to elect new directors. Get involved ! Let's make some good things happen! I am excited about the running group and upcoming runs. Have a safe holiday and happy trails in your training for the 2000 season.

Dennis Stortini
President
240-0742 or stortid@hotmail.com