Happy NEW YEAR!

     No resolutions here; as I have done at this time for many past years, I wish all a Happy New Year, coupled with the Prayer that each of us is able to experience remarkable blessings in the year to come and for many years to follow!

     I hope to see each of you NEXT YEAR - in 2012!


   Ken

Its Beginning to Look Alot Like CHRISTMAS!

     That I've only begun to get into the Christmas Spirit and it is already December 22nd is probably not unusual; in 1976, I did all of my Christmas shopping after I got off work on Christmas Eve.  But this message isn't about old Scrooge, but about the wonderful gift that is Christmas, about the warm feeling with which I am always blessed by Christmas Day.  New arrivals to the cast of my Christmas Spirit have been each of you.  Having learned to better know each of you during 2011 has in itself been a wonderful gift.  I wish each of you a warm and wonderful Christmas Season filled with blessings in the nature of the First Christmas and the promise of the miracles in your life like those that were brought to us by the One whose birthday we now celebrate!



     GOD BLESS YOU one and all!


    Ken

Not Alot But Important for Planning 2012!

     The Chickasha, Oklahoma, Festival of Lights Walk was gorgeous; the weather was unseasonably mild and the lights were like every year - gorgeous!  Thanks to the Wandergruppe Walking Club for your fine hospitality and great chili and cornbread selection - Yummmm!



     Although it had rained Sunday afternoon, it stopped for the Christmas Lights Night Volksmarch in Wichita, Kansas.  It is easy to see why the venue for that walk has been selected - plenty of Christmas lights and other decorations in clean, well-maintained neighborhoods comprised of traditional two-story homes.  Couple all of that with the Christmas celebration activities at East Heights United Methodist Church and it resultd in an event one should not miss!



     Now start planning to attend these Christmas Lights Walks in 2012.  You might take a group from your Club and make it a weekend adventure.  One thing is certain - you will enjoy the spirit of the season.  MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

  
Ken

    

December and More!

     Back in Oklahoma and have been met with a mound of work, much of it quite disturbing.  Please forgive the lapse in reading "Great SC Blog."  This weekend I will be at the Chickasha, Oklahoma, Festival of Lights on Saturday evening and the Wichita, Kansas, Christmas Lights Night Volksmarch on Sunday evening.  I hope to see as many of you as possible there! 

Seasonal and Traditional Event Stamps -  If you do not receive your Event Stamps or have other issues regarding your Events email Events@ava.org with specific details of the YR number, Club, and/or the direct mailing address to the person who needs the stamp in hand. 

TAW Deadline - The February/March issue of The American Wanderer deadline is, December 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.

Headquarters Holiday Closings - Monday, December 26, 2011, and Monday, January 2, 2012, the AVA Headquarters will be closed. Wishing all AVA Clubs and fellow Volkssporters a Joyous and Happy Holiday Season from our AVA family to yours.

     Ken



Bye Bye November

MORE SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMS THAT WILL START ON JANUARY 1st,  2012  

Classic American Diners

Runs January 1, 2012, through Decmber 31, 2014. Classic American Diners. 20 walks fill the book. The book is $10, and will be available in December of 2011. Historically, a small restaurant owner had a prefab dining car type diner shipped to a site, set up, and went into business. Generally, if it calls itself a "diner" it qualifies. Restaurants without the word "diner" qualify if they are in a traditional diner building, OR serve diner style. Closed diners qualify. Old dining car style diners now used for something else also qualify. What doesn't qualify? Fast food chains, coffee shops, and donut shops are not diners. We will maintain a website with more information, and a Facebook page. The name and location of the diner is the only identification required. Award is a beautiful color patch. Send your check payable to "Twin State Volkssport"  to Carolyn Adams, P. O. Box 757, Wells River VT, 05081. Information available at carri@vtlink.net

Strolling Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Runs January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2014. Complete 20 different sanctioned events where the route is located in or in sight of a color-named place anywhere in the world: any city, county, country, area (like Black Hills), place (like Yellowstone Park), state (like Nevada - known as "The Silver State"), rivers or any body of water, or mountains with the name of a color in it.  Names for any and all shades of colors also qualify. Award is a patch and certificate. Cost is $10. POC: Lois Head, Central Minnesota Volkssports, PO Box 2162, St. Cloud, MN 56302-2162. Info: 320-252-7348 or LMHead@StCloudState.edu 

Struttin' Down Main Street

Runs January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2014. Complete 20 different sanctioned events where the route goes for at least one block on the main street of any town in the world. An event counts if, in any language, the word for "main" is in the name of the street, avenue, boulevard, lane, court, circle, row, etc. Participants will be awarded a "Strike up the Band" parade patch and whistle certificate. Books can be ordered now but they will be sent starting on December 10, 2011. Cost is $10. POC: Lois Head, Central Minnesota Volkssports, PO Box 2162, St. Cloud, MN 56302-2162. Info: 320-252-7348 or LMHead@StCloudState.edu

Walking America's Murals

Runs January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2014. Walk 20 qualifying events. A qualifying event is any sanctioned walk that passes a mural of at least 8' x 8' depicting any historical, cultural or local happening on a painted stationary wall or building. Award is a 3' x 4' patch. Books are $10 each: make checks payable to Illinois Trekkers. Send to Walking America's Murals, c/o Debbie Kruep, 220 Clearwater Drive, Belleville, Illinois 62220. For those ordering books before January 2012, the books will be sent out in December. Contact debmarkkruep@yahoo.com


 Ken

Black Friday!

YEAR ROUND EVENT WALK BOXES  -   Start everyone off on the right foot by taking the time to ensure that your Event Walk Boxes are fully stocked with updated maps, brochures and supplies.  You will no doubt leave a lasting impression of what a great organization we are.  Remember, of course, to replace the 2011 event stamp slug with a new 2012 slug.

E-POSTCARDS - Clubs that have been notified by the IRS that their Tax Exempt Status has or is in danger of being automatically been revoked have until December 31, 2011, to file for a Reinstatement of Tax Exemption with the IRS with a reduced filing fee. See IRS Newsletter at the "reinstatement" icon to the AVA December Checkpoint for further information.

CLUB INVENTORY ITEMS  -  Remember to remove outdated materials from your Club inventory of New Walker Packets or anything else that you have on hand for participants to purchase or look through.  Replace the old Starting Point order form with the new 2012 order form.  Remember to remove any mention of the old 1-800 number, old AVA logos and tag lines, also remember that Brazos Walking Sticks is no longer a sponsor. Update any information about the new Event and Distance Rules for stamping IVV Books.


GIFT GIVING – Consider giving Holiday gifts of AVA merchandise from the AVA Web Site Merchandise Store at your AVA events, to an AVA volunteer, or to family and friends. Don’t forget to refresh web pages 2, 3, or 4 if you happen to receive an error message.


A SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAM THAT WILL START ON JANUARY 1st, 2012  -

Works Projects Administration (WPA)

Runs January 1,  2012, through December 31, 2014.  The USA 1935-1943 WPA Award is a 3" x 4" embroidered patch.  Walk 20 YREs or scheduled events that pass anything to do with the WPA; art in a post office, dams, bridges, buildings, park entrances, swimming pools and even sidewalks. The program costs $10. Contact Sharon Snyder at walkingfan@aol.com or Suzi Bentley at schocksinews@aol.com You can also visit www.ava.org/clubs/holyfamilywalkers/wpa_special_program.htm  POC: Sharon Snyder, Holy Family Walkers Volksmarch Club, 1714 NW 49th St., Lawton, OK 73505.

   

Ken

AVA President's Thanksgiving Message

Greetings to All...

Priscilla and I send our warm Thanksgiving Greetings to you and your family on Thanksgiving 2011!

This is a wonderful time to unite with family and friends and to give thanks for the many, many blessings that have been showered upon us. The roots of Thanksgiving go back to the Pilgrims, who recognized that everything they had was a gift from God; thus, their Thanksgiving tradition was established to honor God and thank Him for His blessings and His grace. The first Thanksgiving celebration was wholly a religious experience and it was not until a few years later that it became a festival of food and friendship as the tradition we practice today.

As Americans, we have been blessed with an abundance of riches and opportunities and the unique rights and freedoms that are offered in this great country of ours.  We live in a nation where we can freely celebrate Thanksgiving.  It is appropriate that we take time to pause and give special thanks to the men and women of the armed forces for the extreme sacrifices that they have made to protect us and our way of life in war zones overseas...an immeasurable gift.

It’s a time to celebrate and eat a sumptuous meal (and maybe even overeat a wee bit) and perhaps enjoy some professional and college football. As Dallas Cowboys fans, we’ll be rooting for the “Boys” to stretch their win streak to four.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and cooperation over the past few months.

God bless you, God bless America, God bless the AVA, and Happy Thanksgiving!

heinz