Salem, Oregon's
Running & Walking Club Site
Home of
Willamette Valley Road Runners (WVRR)
www.WVRoadrunners.org.

PRWC President Re: Merger by Paul Bliss

     It all started in January. Pheidippides Running and walking club was holding it's annual awards banquet. Under the guidance of Barry Jahn it was one of the best awards banquets in many years. Barry had formally invited Willamette Valley Striders to join the banquet and asked them to present some of there own awards of recognition. What a success it was. With the banquet being such a success the old question resurfaced once again: Why are there two running clubs in Salem? Rather than answer that question the wheels were put into motion to eliminate that question. Really now, why have two running clubs with nearly identical goals and philosophies? Why have two newsletters, two web pages, two board meetings, two calendars and two separate groups of runners? The boards of both clubs met and unanimously agreed to take it to the memberships. The memberships voted in overwhelming favor of dissolving both clubs to create one new club. With loads of experience from both clubs, joining efforts can only be a rousing success!

     What an exciting time it is for our running community. To evaluate where we have been and to envision where we want to go. Whatever you do, don't miss our June 28th membership meeting. We will have a group run at 6 p.m. and a Naming Party at 7 p.m. with pizza for all members. The run and party are at Minto Brown Island Park at the gazebo.