As you probably noticed, the WiSport Handbook was really late this year.  Putting the Handbook together is a very big job.  I got off to a late start, and it became just unmanageable, even with the help I had  from Andy Tautges who contacted the majority of sponsors this year.  Andy now lives in California, but WiSport still means enough to him that he was willing to help out!  We now need someone who is actively enjoying the benefits of WiSport to step forward and take on the task of the Handbook. 

In fact, WiSport needs a number of talented people who can help the organization improve services to members, events, and sponsors.    Please read the job descriptions below to see if there is some way you can help.  I think  there are many WiSporters who would enjoy doing one of these jobs, and, possibly gain some valuable experience yourself.  Other ideas about ways to help are welcome, too.

With the help of members, WiSport can grow, and continue for another 20 years or more.  The blunt truth, though, is that a lot of help is going to be needed to keep this good thing going.  If you can’t help due to other responsibilities, maybe you know someone who can.  Please don’t volunteer out of a sense of obligation unless you can commit to completing the responsibilities you take on!  If all you can do right now is to train, be a member, and participate in races, then definitely keep doing that.  Maybe when the kids are older, when you’re not traveling for work, or volunteering for another cause, that may be when you can do more for WiSport.

The biggest need is for one or more people to take on the following jobs:

1. Sponsor Relations:   Contact current and potential sponsors with regard to Handbook advertisements.  Follow through to obtain or help create print ready ad copy artwork, etc.   Determine how WiSport can provide additional advertisement value to sponsors, and  make advertisement with WiSport an even greater value.   With a dedicated Handbook “staff”, the Handbook can grow into an income producing publication with some compensation for being responsible for its growth.  Note that low cost color printing is now available with our current printer, Waupaca Publishing.

2. Handbook Production Manager: Collect print ready ad copy as it comes in from events, and advertisers.  Determine additional material that can be added to the handbook for added interest (e.g. articles and up to date descriptive information about WiSport.)

3. Prize management / logistics:  Plan the distribution and transportation of prizes to events for WiSport only door prizes.  Work with WiSport event coverage volunteers to transport prizes for door prize raffles.  The trick is to work with members and plan ways to transfer the prizes by car so they don’t have to be shipped by UPS, etc.  You also need to pick up or otherwise get the prizes from the sponsors who supply them.

Ideally, one person would do all three of these jobs.  Most of the work is done from November to April, so your warm weather riding time does not need not suffer.   The Sponsor Relations job requires some continuity and takes some time to learn.  So, please have a multiple year commitment in mind.

Here's the thing.  Without someone to take over these jobs, there will be no 2009 WiSport Road Racers Handbook, and few, if any sponsors or after race door prizes.  So, you say you could live without the Handbook and prizes?  Well, we don’t absolutely need a printed race schedule book in order to have a series of bike races, but the Handbook is a great promotional tool, and it helps to support membership level, and race turnout.  It is an important part of how WiSport works, and I think we should try to save it.  I would continue to handle the sponsors and the Handbook myself if I could, but I really just can not do it anymore.  Also, without the time required to do this, I can do other things for WiSport that I think I would be better at doing. 

If you would like to help, but your other commitments prevent you from taking on the Handbook job, here is a list of jobs that I think would also be a huge help, would require less of a commitment, and I would hope that many members would find to be fun and rewarding.

1. Interview sponsors and write articles about the "Sponsor of the Month" for the website.   The format is up to you, but would probably be similar to the way local companies are highlighted in the business section of local newspapers.  Adding value to sponsorship in this way would be a huge help to WiSport.  (Limited commitment required)

2. Event coverage Coordinator:  A WiSport representative should be present at every event.  The event Coverage manager will work with WiSport Race Officials to make sure every race and tour is covered.  I did a terrible job of this in 2007, so we have to do better.  (1 year commitment requested)

3. WiSport Race Officials (or “event coverage volunteers”):  As a race official, you would arrive at an event by the start of registration, and make contact with the race director.   Then, set up to register WiSport members and hand out WiSport Handbooks.   (You would still have time to participate in the race yourself, and WiSport will pay your pre-registration entry fee.)  That may be all that is required, but in many cases the job would include helping with rule enforcement decisions and prize drawings.  Requires a knowledge of WiSport rules.  Volunteers are needed for the Tour Series too.  (Limited commitment required)

4. Race Report contributors: For every race, the website should feature a brief report on the race and how it unfolded.  Put your interest and talent in sports reporting to work to help those who couldn’t attend find out how things worked out. (Limited  commitment required)

5. WiSport News Journalist:  If your talent is more along the lines of journalism, help out by writing up stories of general interest about WiSport.  Photojournalism would be a plus!  The home page of the website needs to be updated more often so people will go there to see what's up.  (Limited commitment required)

6. Graphics artist: Work with the Handbook manager to help improve the printed handbook,  create or update ads for sponsors, and races and the website with your aesthetic skills.  This is a big need.  (Limited commitment required)

7. Professionals willing to offer accounting, legal, and insurance advice would be invaluable to the club.  (No commitment required)

8. A person is needed to print out and mail race results to members that do not have access to the Internet.  You would go to a special page on the WiSport website where you can print address labels, and a compact form of the results for mailing.  You just do this from your own computer and printer.   You would be reimbursed for postage, paper, etc.  According to the poll question on the application form, there are at least a dozen people who would really enjoy this kind of service.  (Limited commitment required)

If you have any questions, please call or email me (Ken Thomson). 

One more thing,  I kind of like being the WiSport Director, it's great being involved with WiSport, but obviously, I won't be doing this forever.  I can tell you that it is a bit of work, and it tends to cut into training time, but it is very rewarding at a personal level.  If you would like to talk about taking the Director position (either now, or in a few years), please get in touch.  Maybe you have some ideas about a new direction, or a new way of organizing the workload.  As long as the membership and WiSport events are well served, I would be glad to talk about a transition.  I'm sure the Board would approve a candidate who will work to sustain WiSport and citizens' racing.

Many thanks!

2008 WiSport Director