Walking MAY Help!

TAW DEADLINE  - The deadline for the August/September issue of The American Wanderer is June 25.  All articles and photographs should be submitted directly to Laurel Parrott, Editor taw@bhi.com or mailed to 3526 Humboldt Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412. Be sure to include "TAW" in the subject line if emailing.



CLUBS NOT UNDER AVA’S GROUP EXEMPTION - There are  many Clubs under a tax exempt organization's exemption or under their own that have not provided proof to the AVA from the parent organization of their exemption or provided their letter of determination from the IRS. This has been a one-time requirement to ensure that all Clubs are in compliance with AVA requirements; not providing this proof may keep the Club from voting at the convention and could cause a late fee for non-compliance with policy.  Should yours be a Club that meets this description of a "free-standing tax-exempt organization," please assure that a copy of the required documentation has been provided to AVA Headquarters and do so as soon as possible.

Ken

AVA 2013 Biennial Convention

IT IS OFFICIAL! - The 18th AVA Biennial Convention will be conducted during the period from Saturday, April 27, 2013, to Sunday, May 5, 2013 (the General Membership Meetings to be on Wednesday, May 1st, to Friday, May 3rd)(NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATES), at a Marriott Hotel Property in Orland, Florida.  The Convention Agenda is still under discussion and will likely be finalized during the NEC on July 6th and July 7th, 2012, which will, incidentally, be conducted at a Marriott Hotel Property in Orlando.  Upon the Convention Agenda being finalized, Event Brochures will likely be prepared quickly and hotel reservations, travel arrangements, and Convention Reservations will be in order.

ONCE AROUND THE WORLD - Bruce Kirk of the St. Louis - Stuttgart Volksmarch Club is a walker.  In fact, so great have Bruce's walking experiences been that he has rolled up over 24,950 miles.  Internet sources state that the circumference of the earth at the equator is 24,901.55 miles (40,075.16 kilometers).  Hence, Bruce has figuratively been "Once Around the World" at the Equator.  CONGRATULATIONS BRUCE!

 Ken

Weekend in Small Town Missouri

3 EVENTS IN AND AROUND SMALL MISSOURI TOWNS - The Missouri (U.S.) Highway 60 Multi-Event Weekend, sponsored by the Dogwood Trailblazers of Joplin, Missouri, promises to take us where we would rarely go, to three small (smaller and smallest) towns in rural Missouri. 

     Saturday morning, things kick off at 8:00 (Start Time open until 11:00 a.m.) at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 320 NW Washington, in the Christian County town of Billings.  An afternoon walk (Start Times from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) on Saturday will be at Ozark Methodist Manor, 205 So. College, Marionville, in Lawrence County and also on U.S. Highway 60.
     There will be a Meet & Greet at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Super 8 Motel, Monett, MO, 201 So. Hess Drive.
     On Sunday morning, April 22nd, at 8:00 to 11:00 a.m., you can start an 11km/7km/5km (rated 2A) walk from Monett City Park, U.S. 60 & Mo 37.
      Beautiful weather is forecast, so get out, join the walking Dogwood Trailblazers, and thank them for all of the work making your weekend much more pleasant!

CELEBRATE NATIONAL PARKS WEEK, FOR FREE - From April 21st to 29th, all 84 million acres of America's National Park System will be free to explore as parks around the country waive their entrance fees. What better way to celebrate Earth Day and the entire week that follows than to visit some of the most breathtaking and historically significant places in the country? Visit the National Park Service website for events and planning resources.


     Ken

Oklahoma's "Spring Fling"

10 EVENTS IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA - If you hadn't already been planning to attend the Oklahoma "Spring Fling" this coming weekend, you certainly should!  FOUR VMs are being offered, the first (on Saturday 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.) at the Strawberry Festival Gazebo, 2nd & Division Streets in Stilwell (Adair County), OK, the second (on Saturday Noon to 3:00 p.m.) at Tenkiller State Park at Gore (Sequoyah County), OK, the third (on Sunday 8:00 to 11 a.m.) at the Courthouse Gazebo, S.E. 2nd & Main Streets in Stigler (Haskell County), OK, and the fourth (on Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) in Chadick Park Shelter, 5th Street & Chadick Ave., McAlester, OK.  Additionally, SIX SWIMS are being offered, three on Friday evening from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. and three on Saturday from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the heated pool of the Blue Ribbon Inn (Magnuson Hotel), 706 South Kerr Blvd., Sallisaw, OK. 

     TEN EVENTS, over 25 Special Programs Credits and the Oklahoma Clubs are looking forward to welcoming a few Members of the AVA NEC as well, so don't forget your Special Programs and SNOB Books.

EVENT SANCTIONING - An  Event Sanctioning Request (ESR) is to be entered into the AVA Electronic Sanction System (ESS) no later than 90 days before the proposed event. The Sanctioning Authority (the RD) will review all Event Sanction Requests to ensure they are complete and correct. The Sanctioning Authority must approve an event no less than 60 days prior to the proposed event; before September 30 for Year Round Events (YREs). Sanctioning Authorities may approve Sanction Requests with less than 90 days lead-time on case-by-case basis to meet special circumstances/opportunities. Such deviation must be coordinated with the Events Coordinator at AVA Headquarters to ensure timely delivery of the IVV Certification Stamp(s). YRE and Seasonal Events must be sanctioned by August 31 midnight to be included in the IVV Calendar of Events book. September 30 is the deadline to be included in the Starting Point book for 2013.

Ken

Its April; Volkssporting Weather

PRESIDENTS' DAY WEEKEND 2013 - Feb 15-18, 2013, in Orange Beach, Alabama.  Sponsors:  Georgia Walkers AVA-0178 and Capital City Wanderers AVA-0261. 

    
     14 Events (7 walks, 4 swims, 3 bikes).  More information available at: http://georgiawalkers.homestead.com

   
       The Hampton Inn and Suites Orange Beach/Gulf Front is the new Presidents' Day Weekend headquarters. The rates start at $79.00 for a king or 2 queen bed inland, $89.00 for 2 queen bed sideview and $129.00 for a 2 queen bed beachfront plus taxes. This includes breakfast.

      You may reserve your rooms now. The Hampton Inn and Suites Orange Beach/Gulf Front has set up a web site for registrations for Presidents’ Day Weekend for Feb 2013. This must be done before Jan 24^th, 2013. You may click on this link:

http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/groups/personalized/M/MOBOBHX-GAW-20130212/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

Or call and ask for group code GAW for all these numbers: Hampton Inn Orange Beach: Direct Number 1-251-923-4400, toll free number 1-855-468-9884 or Central Reservation number 1-800-HAMPTON.

CALL FOR CLUB AGENDA ITEMS - AVA Clubs are called to submit to their Regional Directors agenda items for consideration at the July NEC meeting. Club agenda items are due to their Regional Directors by Monday, May 7th.

TAW DEADLINE -  The June/July issue of The American Wanderer deadline is April 25. All articles and photographs should be submitted directly to Laurel Parrott, Editor, taw@bhi.com or mail to: 3526 Humboldt Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412. Be sure to include "TAW" in the subject line if emailing.

     Ken