Annual Banquet - 2003

The Howard County Striders held their Annual Awards Banquet on Tuesday, January 14, at the Oakland Mills Meeting Place. A pot-luck dinner, the banquet began around 6:30 pm and ended a little before 9. Attendees renewed their membership, voted for the 2003 Board of Directors, contributed used running items to charity, met some terrific runners, and ate a lot of good food.

A snowfree evening encouraged a large turnout. Runners and their families filled every round table in the meeting room, and the center tables overflowed with food. Among the abundant foods were 17 different salads, double that number of desserts, and an eclectic assortment of main dishes such as lasagna, fried and baked chicken, pasta, and beans. Based on how rapidly they dis-appeared, the best two dishes were the barbecued mandarin chicken from Chef Ronnie Wong, and the stuffed salmon roulades from Chef Daniel Jonas. The Striders provided all drinks, including free beer for the adults and soft drinks for all.

As members entered the meeting room, Jason Tripp accepted their renewals for 2003. Behind Jason, members deposited bags or boxes of used running gear, which would be donated to the Franciscans of Baltimore. After mingling, the Striders got down to business at 7 pm, forming two long lines along each side of the food tables along the center of the room. Most had two servings of main dishes, and some had three. They had settled down to desserts when, around 7:45 pm, the awards presentations commenced.

Before giving out the performance awards, President Mick Slonaker presented Strider donations to various charitable groups. PFC Joseph Gallina accepted a donation from the Striders for the Howard County Fraternal Order of Police Fund. Emily Parks received a donation for the Sexual Trauma and Recovery Room (STARR), which provides services for battered and abused women. Harvey Goss accepted a donation for the Health Alliance of Howard County, which provides health care for the underprivileged who would not otherwise receive such care. Steve Musselman accepted donations from the Striders and the Junior Striders for his running program at the Howard Community College. In addition, the Striders made a donation to the RRCA Roads Scholar Program, which provides assistance to promising young runners. Finally, Nadia Wasserman accepted a Strider donation for the Maryland Special Olympics.

Before going on to the 2002 awards, Mick reviewed the Striders’ status concerning the Road Runners Club of America, the parent organization of the Striders. Because of various financial and leadership issues of the RRCA, the Striders have joined a new national organization, the American Association of Running Clubs (AARC). The Striders will continue their nominal membership with RRCA, but will obtain insurance from AARC rather than from RRCA. To assist with the RRCA issues, Mick has been invited by its president, Freddi Carlip, to become the Eastern Representative and serve on the RRCA Board of Directors. This representation should give running clubs a stronger voice at the national level.

As I reviewed the accomplishment of our annual awardees,” said nominations chairman Tom Lewis, “I thought ‘Oh my gosh, they’re a lot faster than me!’” Tom reviewed the accomplishments of each of those receiving an annual award, and President Slonaker handed out the awards to each recipient. Mick shook hands with each male and hugged all the females (except for the Junior Strider female runner of the year). Each awardee received an engraved pewter plate.

All 2002 Board members were also recognized and earned long-sleeved blue button-down shirts from the Port Authority line. In addition to the board members, the following individuals also received blue button-downs: Jim DiScuillo, for software and data processing giving near-instantaneous results at major Strider races; Miles Weigold, for announcing at Strider races, for which he has earned the name “Voice of the Howard County Striders”; Terry Oxford, for his unwavering support at high school running events and various finish lines; Ken Dent, for organizing a multitude of volunteer efforts, not least of which is the Challenge 10 Miler; Charlie Brown, race director of Clyde’s 10k and the only Strider RD to use the Chip; John Worley, for directing the Metric Marathon and supporting various other Strider activities; Dave Tripp, for supporting various high school running events, for the wildly popular prediction events, and for finish line management (where’s your number?); Bob Burns, for working with Dave at the finish lines of all major Strider races; Tim Beaty, for course marshalling and water distribution at major Striderraces; and Ralph Masella, for volunteer activities as well as direction of Damien’s Run for Recovery 5k.

Also recognized for volunteer efforts were the Striderwomen: Nancy Burns, for her wrok with Females In Training and numerous volunteer services; Dorothy Beckett, for organizing water support for Bagel runs and various volunteer activities; Carrie Perfetto, for her work with the Women’s Committee, with Females In Training, and a co-director of the Women’s Distance Festival 5k; Diane Brandt, for her work with Females in Training and as co-director of the Women’s Distance Festival; and Jeannette Lampron, for volunteer work associated with the high school cross country races as well as other volunteer activities.

Weekly series director Len Guralnick put forward the following list of volunteers who were recognized as helping mark, re-mark, and otherwise maintain the weekly courses: Steve Zelenak, Bill Arbelaez, Eric Katkow, Denise Hyde, Sue Watson, and Melissa Simmens. These individuals received Strider sweatshirts.

After all the awards had been distributed and everyone had been recognized, Mick concluded the official ceremonies by saying, “I guess that’s the end of my speaking.” The audience applauded.

 -- by Jim Carbary