President's Address - June 2015

By: Alex Morrow

Hello, fellow BTC Members:

Every month as I sit down to write my President’s Address I think to myself, “Wow, the next couple of months are going to be busy with BTC events.” By now you would think I would realize that there are no slow times of year for the BTC! Our club is constantly hosting events, organizing races, socials, fundraisers, and performing community outreach, and I absolutely love it! The next couple of months will be no different.

Before we get to the upcoming events however, I want to thank everyone who came out to the BTC Saturday Run Social on May 16 at Church Street Coffee in Crestline Village. We had a fantastic turnout, Run Coordinators Monica Henley and Mark Criswell created fun and challenging routes, Finish Line Coordinators Tanya Sylvan and Darrell Gibson made sure everything was in place, and BTC Vice President Darnell Allen led the festivities. It was great day all around, and the food from Church Street was amazing!

Looking ahead, on Saturday June 13 I hope you and your family will join the BTC for our now annual BTC night at the Barons event. Your BTC membership has its perks! For just $15 you can purchase a ticket to the game, and included in that cost will be food, entry into the private BTC area above left field, and two drink tickets. You honestly cannot find a better deal than this. It will be another fun-filled evening as the Barons take on the Chattanooga Lookouts. I want to thank our friends at Good People Brewing for allowing us to use their venue across the street from the stadium for ticket pick-up pre-game and for their generous donation of beverages to our event. We only have an allotment of 130 tickets, and we have sold out the last two years, so don’t delay in purchasing yours. Click this link to do so: http://birminghamtrackclub.com/btc-social-at-the-birmingham-barons.php

The fun does not stop with baseball, however. On Saturday July 4, more than 500 runners will once again participate in the running of the 34th Annual Rick Melanson Peavine Falls Run. Make sure to check out this month’s cover story for more about the race and especially to learn about Rick Melanson, a good friend who made this beloved race what it is today. I know I say this about all of our races, but this is my favorite BTC race! ☺ There is something special about celebrating our Country’s Independence Day with a challenging, yet fun run. Not to mention, after an 8.2-mile race you can justify eating BBQ and hotdogs for the rest of the day! Make sure to register early to take advantage of the incredibly low $15 registration fee and to be guaranteed a shirt. You can register here: http://birminghamtrackclub.com/peavine-falls-run.php

Lastly I would like to mention a couple of changes and additions to the BTC Executive Committee.  After a long stint as our Membership Chair, Olivia Affuso will be stepping down. Olivia has been an integral member of our team and has helped streamline our membership process, including the transition into Runsignup, our new software platform. She will be missed, but she won’t be far away and you will still see her at all of our events. Olivia, thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to our club!

In that same vein, I am extremely pleased to announce that Lauren Weber will be stepping in as our new Membership Chair. Lauren currently serves as the BTC parliamentarian and she is excited about her new and expanded role in the BTC. I know many of you already know Lauren, so when you see her out on a run, congratulate her on her new position. 

Speaking of new positions, I am excited to announce that Lauren Floyd has graciously agreed to take over as chair of the BTC Marketing Committee and Social Media. Lauren approached me asking how she could become more involved in the BTC since she loves the club so much. Be careful what you ask for! Lauren works in the marketing field, and her expertise will be greatly appreciated as our club continues to grow. 

This summer is shaping up to be a fun-filled season, so get out and join your fellow BTC members at our local events! 

Kindest Regards,

Alex Morrow
BTC President