It's hard to believe the 2004 running season is in the books. I hope your 2004 goals have been fulfilled, and even bigger ones have been set for 2005. On behalf of the entire Board, we hope that you felt some sort of benefit or special accomplishment with your Strider membership that will compel you to renew for 2005. Promoting health and fitness within our running community is part of our mission, and we invite you back to help us in that regard.

Membership: Single membership rate will not change. $15.00 for the first member, and $7.50 for each family member thereafter. OE again offers to pay your membership if you were an OE team member as an additional thank you for raising funds, but does not include the GC Series. OE team members should return their registration forms marked "OE".

Jim Cox Memorial Scholarship Fund, Bob Stevens Disabled Runners Funds. It is that time of year to be giving and contribution to one or both of our memorial funds is certainly optional and accepted any time of the year. We sincerely hope you will consider contribution when opting to renew membership. See membership application for contribution designation.

Gold Cup Series: Entry in the GC Series will be $21.00 and remains optional. Age group status for the Series is determined by birth date on July 1, 2005. All participants will receive an official GC premium, a $l or more discount with pre-registration, a participation award if the required amount of races are completed, and a complimentary dinner at the awards banquet in January regardless whether the required amount of races was completed.

What's new for 2005:

1. Clydesdale and Athena divisions will require mandatory weigh-in by July 4, 2005 otherwise all points within that class are forfeited. One would be allowed to start over in their individual age division, but not be allowed to carry over any points from prior races.
2. Transferring from one division to another will not be allowed after completion of your first race.
3. Transferring finish time using another participant's bib number for points will not be allowed.
4. Ties will be broken using this criteria. Most wins in head-to-head competition, one race has to be of 10K distance or longer, and total distance of top 10 finishes. For Junior Striders age14 and under, the tie breaking criteria used will be most wins in head-to-head competition, and total distance of top 5 finishes, if necessary.
5. All 5K races in the Gold Cup Series will be required to have the Junior Strider age divisions.
6. All Gold Cup race directors to provide coupon code for online registration, where necessary.
7. Welcome back Spring Fling 5K, and Buckley Five Miler under new direction of OE team member Adam Hudak of Lowell. Welcome LaPorte YMCA 10K which will complement training schedule building up to Taltree 10 and Indy Mini.

Help celebrate the 25th Anniversary GC Series with us on Saturday, January 22, 2004 at Villa Cesare, Schererville, IN. If you missed getting your invitation in last month's newsletter, you can print one from the website. The banquet will be family style dinner served with GC awards presentation to follow. If you participated in the series, your dinner is complimentary. Non-GC Strider members and/or guests may attend at ($18.50) per person. Reservation deadline January 8th. Because of the anniversary celebration, we have added entertainment. Plan to stay and have a great time dancing from 8-10:00 pm.

Thanks to all of the Board of Directors, support staff, volunteers and representatives who came forward to help in whatever capacity in an effort to meet the demands and interests of this club and its members. Without each of you, the success of this club is certainly diminished. Take time to reflect on this year's memories, individual accomplishments, and great friends made by virtue of this running circuit. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sue Brown, CRS President
219-364-9790
sue_brown@juno.com

Announcements:

Quilt Raffle - What better way to display your favorite running shirts. Tradition will continue with the sale of raffle tickets for $1.00 each, can be sold to anyone. Feel free to duplicate enclosed sheet of tickets. Winning ticket(s) to be drawn at the banquet. A quilt will be raffled for every 250 tickets sold. Winner need not be present. All proceeds to benefit the Bob Stevens Disabled Runners Fund. Bring money/raffle tickets to banquet, or mail to our Post Office Box 225, Griffith, IN 46319 in advance of the banquet if unable to attend in person. Last year we were just shy of giving away two quilts.

Jim Cox Award Winners: Congratulations to our seven members who completed all 24 races: Hank Aguilera, Sue Brown, Jose Garza, Pete Klaeser, David Myroup, Dennis Rotz, Mike Wilson.