GREETINGS: The winter semiannual meeting of the TVA was a great
success. The hospitality provided by the Heartland Volkssporters and Charlene Forester
made everyone feel welcome. The meeting area was more than adequate and the extra effort
by Charlene to get a computer for the web page demo was outstanding. The walk on Sunday
morning was a very nice trail that showcased Huntsville. I know I can speak for the entire
organization in saying Thank You to the Heartland Volkssporters for all the hard work to
host the meeting and walk. Attached are the minutes from the meeting for your review and
acceptance. Please notify me or Charlie Wortz of any corrections.
We currently have 98 events sanctioned for 1999. As a reminder, the sanction must be in
my hands early enough to allow time to process the form and get it to the AVA office 90
days before the event. You do not have to wait for the deadline to submit your request.
The earlier you can do it the better.
If you change club officers, you are required to file AVA form 201U(February 1998) as
soon as possible after the change. The form is mailed to the TVA President. I will copy
and forward it to the appropriate locations. The form must be current as of June 1. The
information is used in delegate and proxy verification at Convention. Please be sure your
club’s records are current and correct in my and AVA’s files.
Another item of vital importance to Convention Delegates and voting is the on time
submission of the first quarter YRE after action reports. Failure to meet the deadline of
April 30 could result in your club being declared "not in good standing" and
ineligible to vote at Convention. Please be sure you submit your reports on time. We do
not want to loose any votes at Convention.
Thanks to all of you for the hard work you do to make Volkssporting a success in TEXAS.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR: We received notification in January of the resignation of Leslie
Forestier as the Southwest Regional Director effective when her replacement is named. The
announcement was made at the February TVA meeting. According to AVA guidelines an election
must be held to determine an interim RD. All clubs in the region, including New Mexico had
to vote on a replacement. Since we were seeking nominations for the term beginning June,
1999, and Lyn Ward was the only name submitted, Lyn agreed to accept the nomination for
interim RD. A vote was held at the TVA meeting and all present voted in favor of Lyn Ward.
I then contacted the clubs that were not represented at the meeting and the New Mexico
clubs. All were in favor of Lyn. I notified David Stewart at the National Office of the
vote and Lyn Ward will now represent the Southwest Region until the convention. The
nominating committee has not submitted any other names for the RD term beginning in June.
A mail in ballot is included with this letter to elect a Regional Director for
the1999-2001 term. Please be sure to return your ballot before May 1.
AVA CONVENTION: The TVA will have a booth at the AVA convention in Muncie, June
22-25, 1999. It will be adjacent to or part of the Southwest Region booth. We will be able
to display items from Texas, have salsa and chips for our visitors, etc. I heard some of
you say you wanted a place to display your club mascot. If you want to put something in
the booth to display in addition to the brochures, let me know. The booth size is 8 x 10
and will include 1 - 6 foot table. We can add more tables as long as we don’t
overcrowd the booth. I will need a booth chairperson to co-ordinate all of the materials.
Let me know if you want to be the booth chairperson. Some additional convention reminders:
April 10 is the last day to save on your convention registration fees. April 30 is the
deadline for submission of applications for the publicity or star club awards. Don’t
miss this opportunity to get recognition for your club’s achievements. As I stated in
a previous newsletter, it would be great to see a large number of TEXAS clubs get the Star
Award.
TIES NEEDED: Do you have an old or new necktie that is red, blue or gold.
Charlene Foerster has agreed to make a vest out of them for the Auction to be held during
the AVA convention. Those of you that attended the TVA meeting in Huntsville saw the vest
Charlene was wearing. It was made from neckties. Send your ties to Charlene Foerster, 235
Willowbend, Huntsville, TX 77340.
TVA REUNION WALKS: The 1999 TVA reunion walks are now a pleasant memory to those
attending. The unofficial records say 348 folks walked the trails at Lake Georgetown.
Twenty two clubs were represented. Dick Trautman put together 2 trails for our walking
pleasure. Several clubs provided workers for the events. I am sure Dick has thanked them
all personally. Many thanks to Dick and all the workers who made the weekend a great
success.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES: Publicity is one of the key items that determines the success
of an event. Each club is required to publish a brochure for their event. I have seen a
decline in the number of brochures available at start tables and also sent to clubs
through the mail. Please be sure to send a few brochures to the other clubs and a few to
the AVA National Office. Be sure there are adequate brochures available for the start
tables. The small cost will result in more participants at your events.
Ten Event in Texas patches and petals are available from Eveline Evans. Each club
received an order form for the patches and petals. We have the current year petals as well
as many previous years. You can order them from Eveline Evans, TVA Vice President, 1420
Ritchie Rd. Lorena, TX 76655 or e-mail her at Eee93@aol.com
There are still several TVA T shirts for sale. If you are going to convention, you will
want one to show your colors. Contact Karl Kittinger, 712 Ridge St. Copperas Cove, TX
76522 or e-mail Kittinger@prodigy.net
The walkTexas computer information exchange is up and running. If you want to get on
it, contact the TVA webmaster, Gary Whitford by e-mail at gwhit@airmail.net. There is also
information on the TVA web page for submitting your walk information to be posted on the
webpage. Check it out. Here is another opportunity for event publicity, and this one is
FREE!
Finally, Don’t wait until the last minute to send in your sanction requests for
the 2000 YRE’s. All forms must be in my hands by August 1 so I can get them processed
and to the AVA before the Sept. 1 deadline. Be sure to include an e-mail address on these
and all other sanction requests if one is available.
ATTACHMENTS: The latest revised sanction list is enclosed for your use in
scheduling future events. Use this schedule to help avoid conflicts in scheduling. Let me
know of any errors on the list.
Copies of the minutes from the winter TVA semiannual meeting are attached for your
information and approval.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR BALLOT: Enclosed is a postcard for each club to cast their vote
for the Southwest Regional Director for the term starting June 1999 and running for the
next 2 years. Please mark the ballot and return it by May 1. We must have all ballots
counted and the results reported by Convention. Lyn Ward is the only candidate running.
There is also a place for write in candidates. Thanks to the nominating committee, Frank
Demoli, Alan Bath, Elayne Barber, and Jan Wharer, for their work in finding a candidate to
run for Regional Director.
Texas Volkssport
Association 
