It is the new year and exciting things are about to occur for the INVA and the FlyingFish. This newsletter will focus on four things. The upcoming national conference in Muncie and the associated walks in and around Indiana, local walks, a YRE and a special event, and membership in the FlyingFish. 
     Indiana has the honor of having the national AVA meeting here this summer. Several special walks have been set up. I am most excited about the opportunity to walk the track of the Indy 500. And there are other walks that are detailed elsewhere in this issue. As time gets closer, I will be contacting you to represent the FlyingFish and INVA at walks that need additional helpers. You will find info on how to volunteer later in this newsletter. I would also be interested in going to some of these walks as a group. If you are interested, please contact me. 
     I am in the process of sending in an application for a seasonal walk in Bloomington. If it works out, I hope it will turn into a YRE. The trail is close to the special event we had here last year with some modifications that were made based on suggestions from club members. I think it is a great walk; showing off the downtown, Bryan Park, the campus, and historical districts. More about our special event later in this issue. 
     It is time to renew your membership in the FlyingFish. There is a membership form in this issue. Please fill it out and renew your membership. Also, if you know of anyone else that might be interested in becoming a member let us know and we will contact them. We have INVA/FlyingFish membership cards this year. As soon as we receive your membership information we will send it out to you. 
     I am looking forward to a fun and walk filled year. If you have any questions about the FlyingFish or walking please feel free to contact me at brescia@indiana.edu or 339-9121.
 
 

Special Event

     We need to make a choice. When should we have the FlyingFish walk this year? Last year we had a successful walk in early November. The weather was wonderful and we had over 90 walkers. The previous Bloomington volksmarching club always had their walk in conjunction with Hoosier Fest and those were well attended. Being earlier in the fall, the weather is more dependable. 
     There is a problem with having the walk in conjunction with Hoosier Fest. The Columbus Club now reserves that Saturday. 
We could do two things. Have our walk on Sunday or work with the Columbus Club and have our starting time later in the day. That way walkers could do the Columbus walk then do ours.
     We need to make a decision soon. Please contact me with your ideas about what to do. I also need someone to work on the trail. If you are interested in laying out the trail, please contact me.

     The AVA 11th Biennial Convention is being held in Muncie, Indiana this year. In addition to several walks being held during the week there will be work shops. Tentative Workshop schedule includes: 
Health and Fitness 
     Selection of Walking Shoes 
     Proper Walking Technique 
     Keeping Your Feet Healthy 
     Water Aerobics 
     Nutrition 
     Walking Safety 
     Walking Off Weight 
     Healthy Lifestyle 
     Walking With Poles
Volkssporting 
     Club Financial Management 
     AVA Reports and Other Administrative Matters 
     Publicity/Marketing 
     The National Headquarters 
     Tax Exempt Status 
     Improving Your Newsletter 
     Club Membership Development 
     Photographing Your Event 
     The Importance of Event Awards 
     Sponsorships 
     Selecting a Volkssport Trail 
     Creating an Event Brochure 
     Making Your Own Volkssport Event Awards 
     Working with the Community 
General
     World Wide Web, Web Sites, Etc. 
     American Discovery Trail 
     National Park Services 
     National Forest Service 
     Rail-to-Trails Conservancy 
     Governor’s Councils on Physical Fitness & Sports 

     As you can see there will be a lot of information to obtain from the conference. There will also be a number of walks. Check out page 2 for a list of these events.

Saturday, June 19-11K walk, 8:00 a.m to 1 p.m.* 
Louisville Slugger Museum,Louisville KY 

Sunday June 20-10K walk, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.* 
Huseton Woods State Park, near Oxford Ohio 

Mon., June 21-10K walk, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.* 
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN 

Tuesday, June 22-10K walk, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.* 
Butler University/Indianapolis Museum of Art 

Tuesday, June 22-June 25, 25/35K bike 
daylight hours - finish by dusk 
Cardinal Greenway, Muncie, Indiana 

Wed., June 23-10K walk, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.* 
Mounds State Park, Anderson, Indiana

Wed., June 23-300M swim #1, 4:00 p.m. to 7:30*
Muncie YMCA, Muncie, Indiana 

Wed., June 23-300M swim #2, 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 * 
Muncie YMCA, Muncie, Indiana 

Thur., June 24-12K walk, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.* 
Cardinal Greenway, Muncie, Indiana

Friday, June 25-10K walk, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.* 
Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 

Sat., June 26-10K walk, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.* 
Marshall Michigan 

Sun., June 27-12K walk, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.* 
Starved Rock State Park, Utica, Illinois 

*These are the allowed start times. Finish time varies for each event.

Garfield the Cat is the mascot for this year’s convention. He will be depicted on all of the awards. If you are a Garfield lover, you won’t want to miss out on any of these special embroidered patches.

American Wanderer a Great Gift

Help promote walking in Monroe County. For a special rate of $15, AVA clubs can send an American Wanderer gift subscription to libraries. This discounted price applies to libraries only. If you are interested in supplying one of our local libraries with a subscription, contact Ronda Brown @ 876-6518 or via e-mail rondabr3@aol.com.

If you would like to volunteer to work an event, help with convention registration or in some other way, please send your name, address and phone number to Ginny Drumm 513-471-7029 or e-mal her at rdrumm@one.net. Be sure to indicate the days that you are available and what you would like to do. 

A convention of this size needs all of the support that it can get. Please help the AVA by donating some of your time.

AVA T-shirt Contest

Capture the spirit of Volkssporting! Design a T-shirt that displays the volkssporting spirit - and a holiday or seasonal theme. (Think 4th of July or Fall/Winter, etc.) Winning illustrations will be transferred onto a series of official AVA T-shirts - available for sale to volkssporters nationwide. Six first place artists will receive a 1-year Volkssports Associate membership and, of course, a T-shirt.

To enter send your signed illustration* to: 
     AVA "Design a T-shirt Contest" 
     1001 Pat Booker Road, Suite 101 
     Universal City, TX 78148 

The first T-shirt will be availabe at the AVA Convention in Muncie, Indiana. A new volkssporter-designed T-shirt will be issued every other month.

*Illustrations cannot be returned. However, high quality color copies are accepted. Any art medium or size is acceptable.

Rules:
     1. Anyone is eligible except employees of the AVA and members of their families 
     2. No entry fee is required for participation. 
     3. Entries must be received no later than 4/15/99. 
     4. Each contestant may submit as many illustrations as desired, but they must have been created by the contestant. 
     5. Illustrations may be in full-color or black and white. Contestant’s name, address, telephone number and the title of the illustration must be labeled clearly or affixed to the illustration. 
     6. All entries become the property of the AVA and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entry into this contest constitutes consent by the contestant to the use of their illustration(s) and name by the AVA for publishing, editorial, trade and advertising purposes.
     7. The AVA assumes no responsibility for the illustrations. Late or mutilated illustrations are not eligible and will not be considered. The decision of the Contest Director on late or mutilated entries is final. 
     8. Winners will be determined by a panel of judges, based on composition, originality, visual appeal and consistency with the theme. The judges decisions are final. 
     9. The contest void where prohibited.

Annual dues per individual are $10.00. We ask that you complete the following information. Enclose the form along with your check and mail to me at my address: Margaret Dalle-Ave, 3114 N RAMBLE RD W; BLOOMINGTON IN 47408-1079.
 

_____Yes, I'd like to support my local chapter and become a member of the Bloomington Flying Fish. 
 

Name: _______________________________________________

Phone: ____________________(day) ___________________(evening)

Address:_____________________________________

City/State/Zip:_________________________________

Family members:_____________________________________________

I am interested in: _____walking as a group; _____traveling with other club members to other walks,

_____working club events including checkpoints, start / finish table, _____other.