2007 ECV General Meeting
17 January 2008
Acapulco's in Beverly, MA
6:30-9:00PM
Prepared by: Paul Boudreau
17 January 2008
Essex County Velo
Essex County Velo, Inc.
Improvements in the membership process are underway to ensure all new/renewing members are informed in a timely manner regarding their membership status. A membership drive is currently underway. After two years as Essex County Velo President, Dan Tieger is stepping down. ECV extends its thanks and gratitude for all that Dan has done for ECV and for cycling in general.
The 2008 Essex County Board of Directors:
President - Paul Boudreau
Vice President - Chris McKernan
Treasurer - Michele Harrison
Secretary - Zach Johnson
Legal - Tom Durkin
At Large - Ben Johnson
At Large - TBD
At Large - TBD
Michele Harrison will also assume the duties of Membership Coordinator. The board wishes to encourage other ECV members to take an active roll in the club and look to fill the two “At Large” roles in an effort to bring in new blood.
This is Essex County Velo’s second full year as a non-profit entity. Incorporation makes sponsorship of ECV or its activities more attractive to potential sponsors. Incorporation also provides a layer of liability protection to ECV officers. ECV will hold Quarterly Meetings in 2008. ECV Members are welcome to attend. Members will be notified of date/time/place through email.
Membership
Improvements in the membership process are underway to ensure all new/renewing members are informed in a timely manner regarding their membership status. A membership drive is currently underway.
The ECV email list will be updated shortly to purge all lapsed members from the list.
ECV is also inviting current and lapsed members to take part in a poll to better understand what ECV is doing right, what we’re doing wrong and how to better serve our members. Invite to partake in poll goes out this week.
2008 Clothing Order
Clothing order kicks off at the 17 January 2008 Annual Meeting/Bash. Orders can also be made on BikeReg.com. Orders will be accepted until 31 January 2008. The expected delivery date for clothing is early April 2008. Order forms are available at this meeting or from ecvcycling.org.
Time Trial Series
ECV has been running the Time Trial Series since 1996, taking it over from CCB. Ron Hartfelder was the Time Trial Coordinator for several years and streamlined the process delivering quick and accurate timing and results.
In 2007, the TT series was reduced to a 5-race series and was run “by committee” with Ron acting as TT Coordinator.
For 2008, ECV wishes to go back to a 7-race series but needs to help of ECV members to run individual races. Ron will resume the role of the TT Coordinator to work with individual race leaders.
Kids Races
After several years. Joe Anthony is stepping down as the ECV Kids Race Director. ECV would like to extend its thanks to Joe for the dedication to kids racing these past several years. We also would like to thank Joe for grooming his replacement Stu Dalzell. A schedule for 2008 will be posted on the ECV website as dates become available.
Tour de Essex County
After a one year hiatus the Tour of Essex County is back for 2008. Last year we had issues with scheduling and volunteers. The route will take riders throughout the North Shore stopping at all four sponsoring shops. Tentative date: 31 May 2008.
Davis Phinney Charity Ride
This year ECV would like to begin an annual ride in support of the Davis Phinney Foundation. Many of us have family or friends close to us that are affected by Parkinson’s disease. We want to do as much as we can to fight the devastating effects of this chronic disease. We are planning a ride to raise money for curative Parkinson’s Research through the Davis Phinney Foundation (DPF). This being our first year fundraising we are planning on starting small.
Currently scheduled for early July, we plan on meeting at Bay Road Bikes in Hamilton at 8am. The ride will leave at 8:30 on a scenic 60 miles ride through the area. This will be a self supported ride, so come prepared. We will ask riders for a contribution to the Davis Phinney Foundation. Further donations will also be accepted via the web.
Weekly Group Rides
Zach Johnson’s SPanK’oM Thursday ride very successful. Considering a switch to Tuesdays as it seems to fit into everyone’s training plans better.
Dan Tieger considering a dirt road ride ala Paris Roubaix which would be a road or cross bike ride consisting of pavement between several of Essex County’s dirt roads.
Other rides expected to continue (not complete - waiting on Seaside & Harborside schedule):
Monday: Bay Road Bikes easy/moderate ride
Tuesday: Emily Thorne’s Bay Road women’s ride, Riverside Cycles MTB ride
Wednesday: Riverside Cycles road ride
Thursday: Seaside Women’s Ride
Friday: Riverside Cycles road ride
Saturday: Riverside Cycles road ride
Sponsor Shop Group Rides
Dave Bertoni started these rides and will help ECV to lead these rides for 2008. Goal is to have one group ride per shop. Routes will start/end at the sponsor shop. Food drink will be available at the end of each ride. Specific dates TBD but will likely be held in May/June.
Cyclocross Race
The Gran Prix of Gloucester was another success for ECV in 2007. We were not part of the USGP series which reduced our budget as well as the additional stress for the organizers. We instead were part of the New England Series and still exceeded expectations for rider turnout.
The 2008 dates are 11 & 12 October.
Despite the perception of some members, the Gran Prix of Gloucester *is* an ECV event. ECV racers are given preferential start positions (most other races do not do this for their members). ECV members are invited to watch the race and enjoy free food & drink at the hospitality tent and to attend the race party.
Cyclocross Practice
ECV has hosted a cross practice for about 10 years - one of the first clubs in New England to do so. ECV Cross Practice is likely the only one in North America that has three National Champions attending, doing drills and helping other riders. Cross practice has been attended by ECV members and non-members alike. This year he cross practice season was shortened due to a permit issue at Bradley Palmer State Park. We are working on fixing this issue for the 2008 season.
Race Reimbursement Program
Many of ECV’s members race road and cross and as such we are re-introducing the race reimbursement program. Details will be published on ecvcycling.org.
Open Discussion
Discussion focused on ways to enhance member-to-member communication. Various methods were discussed and the Board will look into ways to facilitate.
We touched briefly about mountian bike rides and there is interest in the membership for regular mtb rides.
