London Marathon

Owing to a production error, the second page of my “Secretary’s Spot” in the latest Newsletter mailed out to members was missing. I don’t want members to miss out on any information contained in it, so I have arranged for the missing page to be added onto the online version on our website at http://www.midlandmasters.org.uk/newsletter%20september%202010.pdf and I have also reproduced it below.

Secretary’s Spot

I recently attended the EAMA Inter-Area Challenge at Solihull and I must congratulate Paul Tasker and all of the team for winning the overall match in what was a hotly contested competition with 10 area masters clubs taking part. Thanks must also go to Arthur Kimber who organised such a successful event. The results, no doubt, are reported elsewhere in this newsletter. One observation was that more of our athletes could have worn our official competition vest. Once purchased this vest makes a good training vest as well as one to wear at all the MMAC/BMAF Championships. Details on how to obtain one (a must have for our 1^st Claim Members) can be seen on our website at http://www.midlandmasters.org.uk

London Marathon Club Entries 2011

I shall be applying as usual for Club Entries to the London Marathon and the members chosen will have to get their entries in by the 8th January 2011. For those of you who are not lucky to get a place in the normal way, you will hear early in October, must get your evidence of “rejection” to me on or before the 1st November 2010. If I have more “rejections” than entries, I will arrange for an independent draw to choose the places as soon as I can after then.

Evidence of “rejection” must be sent to me, preferably by email (scanned copies) or through the post. My address appears on the front cover and my email is mmac.sec@blueyonder.co.uk

Membership Cards

I have thought for some time that a membership card would be a good idea but the thought and expense of sending out 700+ each year proved to be a block! Then I hit on the idea of “membership participation”. Obtaining a membership card will be voluntary and up to the individual member who may or may not think it a useful idea. After getting support from your committee, the scheme will work like this: –

Every member who wants a membership card should contact me by email, see above. I will then produce a personalised membership card and send it back as an attachment. Important: Please state file format e.g. “.docx”; “.doc”; “PDF”. The member is responsible for printing the attachment either on card or paper and preferably laminating it or covering it with transparent sticky plastic (available from stationers). This can be kept safely at home or in the wallet and can be referred to when necessary. If the scheme proves successful, it will be extended for 2011. For those NOT on the internet or on email then please ask friends who can do it for you. This way the administration of the scheme is kept to a minimum.

Yahoo e-Group

This is taking off very slowly with currently 134 joining out of a potential 450 or so. I am regularly posting information/news on all sorts of items of interest on both the blog and e-group and many of you are missing out with some not even reading the Newsletter online after opting out of receiving it! If you haven’t yet registered on the e-group, I urge you to do so. It’s free and easy to do. Please go to: –   http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmac/ If you have problems, let me know and I will send an invite to join.

Physio World

If you are suffering with niggling injuries, then Physio World may be able to help. They are offering a substantial discount on their normal charges for MMAC members and details can be found on their website at http://www.physioworld.net or please contact me. Another reason why a membership card will be useful!

Social Evening

Adrian Lloyd, who became a committee member at the AGM, is organising a social evening at the Solihull Indoor Bowls Centre on the 14^th January 2011. Further details are to be announced but please consider supporting Adrian in his first venture

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Many of our 1^st Claim members continue to compete regularly, some in the increasingly popular Park Runs around the country. I now get notification of all who compete under the MMAC name and post the results up on our Blog. Park Runs in the West Midlands take place every Saturday morning starting at 9.00 am at Coventry Memorial Park; Brueton Park, Solihull and Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham. They are free to enter, once registered online, just turn up and go!!

Thank you and congratulations to all of you who competed in the BMAF/MMAC 10k Road Championships at Wolverhampton. I haven’t yet obtained the exact figure but it was good to see so many there and prominent in the results.

Future events to look forward next year will be the cross country championships at Droitwich, our own relays and track 7 field championships and of course the National Masters Road Relays in Sutton Park. With all these events we can always use more help with marshalling/officiating. Don’t be afraid to volunteer your help.

Tom Morris – 13^th September 2010