President’s Message – November 1991
Balance the Budget

I have just returned from our October meeting, which was hosted by Lee Consoletti. We were all treated to spectacular fall foliage, as Lee had chosen running routes that bordered on extensive woodlands in Bellingham and Franklin. In addition, Lee provided the usual magnificent GFTC buffet (eat your heart out Peter Wallen). There was plenty of leftover food, which I attribute to the curious absence of Bob Smith. Perhaps we should have a rule requiring Smitty to give advance notice when he is unable to attend meetings, so that his portion can be donated to some needy family of twelve. 

Congratulations to the new Newsletter Staff- Stan Gordon, Mike Wagoner, and the ever-modest Wayne Buckley- for the terrific job in continuing, and building upon, the tradition established by Lonny. The “Random Notes” column is already a bit hit, and Mike has requested his desire to have club members contribute items to it. So if you have any interesting anecdotes, amusing (or non-amusing) tidbits, juicy gossip, unsubstantiated allegations, or just plain outrageous lies, be sure to send them to Mike. He’ll handle them with the utmost confidentiality and discretion. 

As you know, the club has decided to adopt an annual budget in order to determine and approve major expenditures for the upcoming year. This will be the main business of our November meeting. Elsewhere in this Newsletter is the outline of the proposed budget, prepared by Barry Ostrow, which was distributed at the September meeting. Anyone wishing to present additions or deletions to this budget, or to propose changes in the funding level for any given item, should be prepared to do so at the November meeting. 

Jack O’Rourke is already distributing application forms for the Scott Bailey race on December 8th. This is our traditional December Grand Prix race and I urge you all to get out and support it. It raises money for a good cause, attracts the finest area runners, and has a “plethora of prizes”- and lots of them. 

I hope that by the time this Newsletter comes out, Charlotte Shane will be over her long ordeal with surgery. Charlotte’s warmth, humor, and perpetual helpfulness have been greatly missed at recent club gatherings. We all send her our wishes for a quick recovery, and look forward to having her back in our midst. 

Art