Voting Members Present: Jerry McDaniel, Jeanne O’Kon, Peg Griffin, Hawthorne Hay, Debbie Peters, Mary Jean Yon, David Yon, Tom Perkins, Matt Vermeer, Jennifer Hay, Emily Webster. Voting Members Absent: Allen Blay, Herb Wills, Mark Priddy, Tina Bahmer. Non-Voting Members Present: Robert McNeal, Bill Lott, Lisa Unger, Carter Hay, Brittany Vermeer.

I. Opening and Introduction:

Jerry McDaniel opened the meeting at 7:06 p.m. A motion was made to approve the minutes of the December 11, 2024 meeting, Motion was seconded and passed.

II. Announcements from Officers:

Jerry recognized the new Board members and asked them to introduce themselves. Hawthorne Hay is 22, attended Rhodes College and FSU, and volunteers with SMIRFS and Summer Track. Matt Vermeer is from Clearwater and is president of the Tri Club. He is a primary care physician. Emily Webster has lived in Tallahassee for 18 years and works at DOE. She is the Training Groups Coordinator.

Jerry announced that Marathon traffic control volunteers are needed. Hawthorne will contact FSU Seminole Striders and there are other possible volunteer groups on the RunSignUp page.

III. Old Business/Race Closeouts:

a. Turkey Trot Closeout: Mary Jean reported that the beneficiary checks have been delivered to the three charity partners: Refuge House, Kearney Center, and Boys & Girls Club. They re-ordered finisher medals and notified runners that they can pick up their medals at Fleet Feet. Motion was made and seconded to approve the closeout. Motion passed.

b. Five/Ten Mile Challenge: Lisa Unger reported that the race was a small event with 71 finishers and netted $4.50. Online donations of $112. were made to the Chenoweth Fund. The bill from the traffic cone provider is still outstanding. Motion was made and seconded to approve the closeout. Motion passed.

c. Tannenbaum 6K Closeout: Peg Griffin reported that the total revenue was $4841.25 and the total expenses were $ 3237.37. The net proceeds of $ 1,603.88 remain with GWTC. Motion was made and seconded to approve the budget closeout. Motion passed.

d. 2024 Proceeds for Miccosukee Greenway Flooding: Jerry reported that previously the Board approved $3000 in proceeds to hire an engineer to look at the flooding issue. However, Eric Draper indicated that it is no longer needed. Motion was made and approved to move the $3000 into the GWTC Treasury.

III. New Business:

a. Palace Saloon 5K Budget Proposal: Bill Lott reported that 2025 is the 50th anniversary of this race. The race directors tried to think of something special to commemorate the event but haven’t decided yet. The budget is based on last year’s figures. There are two new charities: the Tom McHaffie Scholarship Fund and the Oasis Center for Women and Girls. Motion was made and seconded to approve the proposed budget. Motion passed.

b. Membership Coordinator: Jerry discussed the Bylaws Revision. There were previously 18 voting members on the Board and there are now 15. Two positions were merged: newsletter editor and membership coordinator under the Director of Communications. Education and Social Coordinator were merged under a single position. There are eight non-voting positions, with a volunteer coordinator and a technology coordinator.

c. Alford Greenway Citizen Advisory Committee: Jerry served as a member of the Miccosukee Greenway Management Plan Committee in 2024. The plan won’t be revised again for ten years. Now, the Alford Greenway Management Plan is being revised and a committee member is needed. Hawthorne Hay volunteered to serve and will send in an application.

V. Reports:

a. Treasurer’s Report: As of Dec. 31, 2024, the net revenue is $35,165.21. Current assets are $.$292,543.73 Peg stated that RunSignUp has completed the club audit and has caught up with payments.

b. Triathlete Club: Matt Vermeer stated that the Duathlon will be held on Feb. 23. Averi Lewis is heading it up. The Awards meeting is January 20. The Tri Club gives Grand Prix awards and special awards. There are about 257 members with only 50-60 being active.

c. Director of Race Directors: Another run was held on Jan. 5 at the Gadsden Correctional Facility. The race directors will meet on Jan. 12. Liz Gilliam at Cornerstone Learning Community would like some guidance in putting on a race on April 19 (same day as the Rose City Run). David Landis and Bill Lott will work on the timing.

d. Director of Communications: Jennifer Hay reported that the GWTC Strava account is working, and the group run coordinators are using it. Jennifer is working on Instagram. She is trying to find a tech person to help. Robert McNeal reported that there are currently 1275 individual members (1266 last year at this time) and 767 family memberships (716 last year).

e. Director of Education and Socials: Jerry announced that there will be an Education lecture with Abigail Crowe, . She will focus on strength training.

f. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Gabrielle sent in a report stating that Black Girls Run will have a good showing at the Tallahassee Marathon and Half Marathon.

g Chenoweth Fund: No report. David Yon mentioned that GWTC needs an RRCA liaison that merges the race calendars and other things that are required by the RRCA insurance. Peg will take a look at this.

h. Merchandise: Sherri Wise sent in a report stating that she recommends that the club change online vendors again. The platform she is exploring is called Print Your Cause, and it is at this link: https://printyourcause.com/how-it-works Monogram Art feels like it isn’t doing a good job getting the merchandise available for GWTC customers because they are so overloaded with much larger accounts that have a steady stream of orders.

i. Equipment: Bill Lott reported that three ten-gallon water coolers had broken handles and he received the replacement handles. Bill showed the two defibrillators that have been purchased by the club for CPR. Use of the defibrillators will be discussed at the next Race Directors meeting.

j. Chip Timing: In December 2024, three Club races (GWTC 10 Mile & 5 Mile Challenge; Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50 Mile/50K/Marathon; and Tannenbaum 6K) were chip timed. During January 2025, three Club races (Swamp Forest Trail Run; GWTC 30K/15K; and Bowlegs 5K Run for Scholarship) will be chip timed. Scheduled to be chip timed in February 2025 are three Club races (Tallahassee Marathon/Half Marathon/Marathon Relay; Flash 12K/6K; and St. Marks Duathlon) and one non-Club race (M.A.D. Dash 10K/5K/Fun Run). The revenue from chip timing non-Club races held since July 2024 totals $3,713.00.

k. Training Groups Coordinator: Emily reported that the Half-marathon training group attendance has been consistently 30 or more. The Strava group has grown at a fast rate. The January streak is in full swing with participation in both the Facebook group and new Strava group. Weekly run offerings continue with options almost every day of the week.

l. Grand Prix: Lisa Unger reported that the Grand Prix Committee members have been working diligently to prepare everything for the Annual Awards meeting on Jan. 26. The speakers for each honoree have been contacted, and the awards have been purchased for the overall and age group winners. Tina Bahmer will be assisting with the food from Moe’s. Bill McGuire will serve as the emcee as usual.

Meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanne O’Kon
GWTC Secretary