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Brief recap of meeting 8/19

John Hebert presented several business items for the club members to consider:

* In an effort to get provide for additional club leadership opportunities and shared decision making, I have begun the process of forming a club advisory board to whom I can refer these kinds of issue in the future. I have approached a few members who have agreed to help in this regard, and would like to extend the invitation to all members. Anyone interested in serving in this capacity please let me know. I don't see it as having a whole lot of time requirements, maybe a meeting every other month, the rest of the discussion and decision-making to be done via email. The idea is to draft a set of by-laws in the very short interim and have this advisory board evolve into a more formal elected board to administer the club going forward.

* Time to order new training shirts. Looking to get dri-fit Zorrell brand shirts, similar to what CajunMan gave away last year, with the TriCajuns logo on the front. Last time we obtained sponsors to help offset the costs, it would help if we could get 10 sponsors at $100 each, that way we can provide the shirts to members for free.

* Speaking of sponsors, it's not too early to start seeking commitments from sponsors for next year. We will have sponsorships available from $100 up to $1,000, and can offer exposure for their organization on our racing uniforms, training shirts, web sites, and press releases. I'll prepare a more formal packet and send it out next week, and will also contact our current sponsors to see if they are willing to continue. In the meantime, give some thought to any potential sponsors you may know.

* For consideration of the club members, a proposal to provide a $25 incentive to any member finishing the Meat Pie Triathlon September 27 in Nachitoches. Reasons for this incentive is that this is the Louisiana State Championship, there is a club competition with in that race, and points earned toward the regional club competition are doubled at this race. It is a relatively long distance to travel, and the incentive is to help offset some of those travel costs.

Following the brief business meeting, Scott Schilling gave a presentation of TRAILS, an organization that is planning and developing a series of multi-use recreational trails in our area. Scott told of the background of the organization, the groups with whom they are working, and the plans and routes that they have so far. He also described the potential funding sources, and told of the progress he has made to get very close to winning a substantial grant to move the project a big step closer to reality.

We then heard from several race directors on their upcoming triathlons in our are:

Annette Besse talked about our upcoming club-sponsored triathlon at Rip van Winkle Gardens, August 9. The race will include a 600-yard swim, 18-mile bike, and a 2.5-mile run, making it a good warm-up for upcoming, longer races like CajunMan and Meat Pie. Annette said registration is going well, she has about 50 registered now and expects to sell out. She asked for club members to volunteer the day before to help set up the course, as well as the day off the race. Do what you can to make this race a success.

Jordan Perret then spoke of the Games of Acadiana Triathlon scheduled for August 15. Jordan outlined several changes for the race this year. Transition will be on the right of Bourgeois Hall. The swim will be reversed from previous years, starting where the exit was then exiting on the other end. The bike will be mostly the same, but the run will be go in the opposite direction through the subdivision behind Bourgeois Hall, offering more shade than the barren desolation behind Fraternity Row. The race will finish at the oak tree across from the baseball field. This is a good, short fast race for a great cause.

Miles Thomas, transition coordinator for the brand new Snakebite Triathlon, gave the presentation for their race. The inaugural Snakebite will be held on Lake Palourde in Morgan City, August 23, and will be a 400M/13-mi/2mi race at an excellent venue. Though this is their first directed tri, RD Lisa Parsiola and her husband Brad are seasoned triathletes and have been organizing the race and asking questions of the right people for nearly a year now.

Club member Keith Hebert gave a presentation on his race, Yam City, to be held in Opelousas August 30 for the benefit of Boy Scout Troops in the area. Keith still hasn't gotten the state to pave the I-49 service road, but he has noted the resemblance of his T-shirt mascots to Mr. Hankey (the Christmas poo) on Southpark, and promises to not change them a bit.

Rusty Bex wasn't able to make the meeting but did ask me to say that CajunMan (September 13) is over 70% full and he expects it to be sold out in the next two weeks. Register now or be willing to watch from the sidelines.

In an impromptu maneuver, Robin Laboeuf gave a brief presentation on the inaugural Sugar Mill Pond Triathlon, scheduled for October 4 out in Youngsville. Robin also gave details of the new chip timing system that she and Ferrell have available for use at local races.The first time I raced on it was this past Sunday at T-Gator #2, it seemed to work flawlessly. Results, even Age Group results, were available immediately.

After the speakers, Angel and the brothers gave away dozens of door prizes. I think everyone there got one, some maybe even got two!

I also want to introduce four new members who signed up at the meeting: Brent and Kristie Benoit and Andy and Alexa Todd.

Finally I also want to thank Scott Schilling for hosting the meeting and giving the main talk, Matthew Massey of Raising Canes for donating the food, Lisa Menard of Capitol Cyclery, Ana Butts of Tri-Running, and Rusty Bex of The Smoothie factory for donation doorprizes, all our speakers, and all the members who showed up.

PLEASE let John Hebert know if you have any input, feedback, ideas, potential sponsors, or anything of interest to the club.