Vancouver Front Runners president's report 2006

Particular "thank-yous" for 2006 go to Stanley for his stunning work on the website, to Patrick for his assiduous work on the colourful, form-fitting shirts and many other formative tasks too numerous to mention, to David Webb for topping up the membership numbers, to Jag for introducing us to business cards, to the socialite Dean for his nocturnal entertainments, to Chris and Don Yapp for their industrious work on the newsletters and to Michael Wong for organizing the visits with Seattle Front Runners. A special thank you to Bob, our treasurer and to Bob and his partner Gary for hosting our year end neighborhood run, gourmet brunch and meeting.

I also want to thank our partners this year: Rackets and Runners for help with our shirts; Sandy and the staff of Wild Garlic for their charm, fine service and great hospitality Saturday mornings; and Team Vancouver – Dan Quon, Don Smith, Glenn, Pat, Richard and Eric – for their diligent work in organizing fund raisers, uniforms and events for two games this summer.

Vancouver Front Runners successfully took part again this year in the Sun Run and the ScotiaBank Half Marathon as well as organizing a dinner for out-of-town guests at the Vancouver Marathon. We added an out-of-town trip to Mission BC for Spring Ahead, as well as excursions to Chicago and Montreal for Gay Games VII and Outgames I. Vancouver Front Runners took home an impressive number of medals and memories from the Outgames in Montreal. Congratulations to all the medal winners and participants in the games of summer 2006.

We are at this moment the largest Front Runner club in Canada. At 78 members we are approximately 5 members larger than Toronto. The other Canadian clubs are in Calgary, Edmonton, Peterborough, Montreal, Halifax and the ubiquitous Running Moose Squad.

The challenge set for the new board is for Vancouver Front Runners to become the largest Front Runner club world wide outside the U.S. The largest club is likely London at about 170 members although Sydney, Australia is a contender.

On a personal note, it’s been a great four years – starting out with the Sydney Gay Games in 2002 and 14 members on our initial sign up day for Vancouver FR at Hon’s on Robson on Lunar New Year’s Day in 2003. Andrew and I have met many fabulous people in Front Runners. I’ve been able to represent Vancouver Front Runners at meetings or runs in Sydney, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, Paris, and with Michael Ross in Mission, BC, as well as taking part in the Haney to Harrison Relay, the Edge to Edge Relays in Tofino, the Whidbey Island Half Marathon and last but not least the Bowen Island Run for the Ferry.

Coming up are the Calgary North American Outgames in April 2007 and in May 2008 New York City FR is hosting the quadrennial International Front Runner Track and Field Meet where we can have a rematch with the New York FR Relay Team from the Seattle Meet of 2004.

Hope you will continue to come out en masse to our weekly runs Wednesday and Saturday.

Thank you

Ray