Albany Fitwalkers, a member of the American Volkssporting Association, is a non-competitive group meeting the second Wednesday of each month at Brookdale Villas Courtyard , 1929 Grand Prairie Rd. SE, Craft Room A, Albany OR. Visitors are welcome. Dues are $10.00.

MEETING Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, 7:00 at Villa Courtyard & Brookdale Senior Living . Pre-

meeting Eating a.k.a. The Workers Wok – 5:15 at Izzy’s, Albany. Please order when you arrive, instead of waiting for everyone. This gives us plenty of time to arrive at the meeting by 7pm. To walk before the meeting,

meet at 5:00pm at Brookdale Start Box

NW Regional Conference, June 23-27

Register Now

www.walkoregon.org

FITNESS FUN FRIENDSHIP FOOD

.

ALBANY FITWALKERS NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER WALK ALBANY 2014

WALKER WEBSITES FITWALKERS www.albanyfitwalkers.org OTSVA www.walkoregon.org AVA www.ava.org

www.ava.org

ALBANY FITWALKERS SUNDAY STROLL

November 30, North Albany Walk at 2 PM

Starting from the Gibson Hill Rd Fire Station at Grand View.

(not Starbucks)

5/10K Rated 1B

Albany Fitwalkers News

2014 A lbany F itw alkers Officers President– Rozy, Vice President – K aren W,

Secretary – Bev, Treasurer – Jan

The  Prez  Sez  Time travels on and so will this presidency. It has been an eventful year for the club and our members. The November meeting is the last one for me as president as I will be in Texas and other points south for the rest of the year. Many thanks for all of your help during the year, especially from our officers and committee people. There are two big opportunities to participate in walking in the time ahead. One is “Time To Walk” and it happens about once in a century. This December 13th it will be 10:11:12:13:14 time and date. AVA is encouraging folks to have their picture taken as they start a volkswalk at 10:11AM. The Vancouver USA Volksport Club is hosting a traditional walk called Christmas at Fort Vancouver. The first 40 people will receive something. The Eugene-Springfield Mossbacks will walk the Delta Ponds YRE beginning at 10:11 am Meet at the Valley River Inn at 9:45 am on December 13 to sign in. The stamp is a special slug to commemorate the event. Also the Cedar Milers, Yachats Coastal Gems (Depoe Bay) and Rogue Valley Walkers host year rounds at that time. The Second one is Jan-Feb Walk Challenge sponsored by OTSVA. Keep track of all volkssport walks you do in Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Idaho, whether for credit or free. The 3 people with the most walks win a REI gift certificates for $50, $25 or $10.

Even if you do not walk the most, your name will be listed in the Northwest Pathfinder. For more details, contact Ed Hainline, edhainline@comcast.net. Happy walking! Rozy Elections in December The Nominating Committee presents the following slate: President - Don with Rozy backing him. VP - Will Karen W take the office again? Secretary Bev volunteered to continue in the office and Connie volunteered to be substitute secretary. Treasurer - Nancy offered to take Jan’s place with Mary taking over for Nancy collecting money at the start boxes.

Periwinkle Path Repairs on SE Albany YRE The Periwinkle bicycle and pedestrian path was closed from Kinder Park on Oak Street to Queen Avenue SE through November 6, 2014, for concrete repair work. Trench Line Excavation of Corvallis did the repairs.

Lolly Gibbs A-Z Memorial Walk Lolly’s Walk has moved forward a week to April 11, 2015 due to a conflict with long standing walks in Victoria at the BC Phoenix Festival Karen and Bev are the base of the committee for the Lolly walk. Others are welcome to join in. Bev arranged with Ron, manager at the Eagles, for us to use their organization as headquarters for our start and finish. Bev will ask the Albany Regional Museum if we can put our checkpoint there again. A big draw is always the number of challenges offered, and this walk should have many. The newest State challenge for 2015 is “e”: Eyes, Emergency, Entertainment and Engines, (like engine repairs.)

In the past we have talked about a bench at the Carousel to honor Lolly. The Carousel is holding out for a big corporation to donate $20,000, give or take, for a bench. They suggested we could sponsor a table and chairs from recycled wood for the area they are creating, at a more reasonable $1,000? We wouldn’t have to come up with all of the money. We could solicit donations from Lolly’s family, from the City Council on which she served, from the philanthropic organization POE of which she was a part, and from her former employer.

Winner of Golden Shoe Award OCT 2014

Nancy Hamby This award is being presented to Nancy Hamby for several reasons. She was the main contact for the Art and Air Festival and went beyond the call of duty in finding the route and measuring it accurately. When conflicts arose before the event, she handled them competently. She is also responsible for several of our walk boxes, and has been giving detailed reports about the results. She works tirelessly for this club, most recently doing an outstanding job developing the Art and Air walk which will be added as a year-round walk for 2015. She is very deserving.

COME WORK WITH US Albany Fitwalkers Workers

Secretary Backup - Connie, Committees (The more help the merrier):

Membership - Lois Newsletter – Sandy, Julia, Bev, Lolly

Year Rounds – Nancy, Historian – Sandra

Website - Facebook - Meet-Up – Karen W and Nancy Publicity - Everyone

Thursday Walks – Julia, Dorothy and Bill Sunday Strolls – Rozy, Karen W and Nancy

Bike/Pedestrian – Nita, Regional Trails, Lebanon BLT - Shirley

Walk Developer – Julia, Beth, Karens, Nancy, Helen, Sheena, Carol and Bob

Traditional Events: Apr. 5, Millersburg Walk – Karen W

May 31, Peony & Hosta Walk – Phoebe Aug 22. Fri.Night, Art & Air Walk – Nancy and Karen W.

2015 YREs

Julia is the for the YRE contact person for the North Albany Walk and the Parks andLakes, and Historic walk. Nancy is the contact for the new Timber Linn Walk and Jefferson Walk. Connie is the contact for the SE Albany walk

Nancy reported on the YRE walks and the number of walkers. Don walked 41 walks in the second quarter, with a total of 54 to date. Lead on!

Christmas Party December 10, at 6:00 pm, not the usual 7:00. Fitwalkers provide turkey and ham, the rest is a pot luck. The gift exchange, if you choose to participate, is a suggested $15 gift.

Oregon Trails State Volkssporting Association OTSVA

otsva@walkoregon.org

Closing of several walks in Eastern OR in 2015 mean some counties will have no walks available for the OTSVA Counties Challenge.

19th AVA Biennial Convention

June 13 - 21, 2015 Salem, Oregon

Karen W is in charge of the Silent Auction at the Convention. She encourages each of us to be on the lookout for items representing Oregon, with emphasis on light weight and ease of shipping. In the past Damon Struble has donated a fishing trip. This was a big hit and we hope he will repeat his gift to the silent auction. Donations collected at the convention auction go a worthy cause.

2015 OTSVA Walk Challenge Hello Walkers, Oregon Trail State Volkssport Association (OTSVA) has a Walking Challenge for all Volkswalkers. This Challenge is available to Credit and Non-Credit Walkers (Free) and Available to Any Walker, whether they are a Member of a Walking Club or

Not!! It is Open to Anyone Who Walks!!. From January 1 through and including February 28, 2015, the Challenge is to walk as many walks as possible during this two (2) month period in our North West Region (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.) All Walkers keep track of All the Walks they do. We need your name, address then the walk name, walk number (YRE or Event Stamp) and date walked for each walk done. The Challenge Prizes are: 1st Place - Most Walks 2nd Place - Second Most Walks 3rd Place - Third Most Walks $50 REI Gift Certificate $25 REI Gift Certificate $10 REI Gift Certificate Please submit your walk information by March 16, 2015 to Ed Hainline (OTSVA Recognition Chairperson) via my email address edhainline@comcast.net If you do not have email – send the information to Ed Hainline, 11410 SE 90th Ave, #1511, Happy Valley, OR 97086 If there are any questions, you contact me at my email address of or my cell # 360-921-1909. See You on the Trail!!! Enjoy the Challenge and Your Walks!!! Ed Hainline

Albany Fitwalkers Newsletters Printed by

ppp pr

Get out and Walk Oregon

It 's full on fall outside and the leaves are changing colors and falling beautifully from the trees. And while the patchwork pattern they create is very pretty to look at, it 's also turning into a slippery, dangerous layer coating the walkways. So just as a friendly reminder, be careful out there. Reminder thanks to BTA

My First Walk How I Became a Walker

By Wendy Bumgardner. Walking Expert Updated Sept. 16, 2014 Volksmarch Medal - Forest Grove 1984. Wendy Bumgardner © It was September, 1984. I was not quite 25 and newly engaged to Rich Bumgardner. I was looking through my hometown newspaper when I spied an announcement for the very first volksmarch walk in Oregon, to be held in my own hometown of Forest Grove. How convenient!

Volks-What?

Rich enjoyed walking volkssport walking events, also called volksmarches or volkswalks, when he was stationed in Germany in the 1970's. These are non-competitive walking events you do at a strolling pace, 6 miles or 10 kilometers long. A club selects a nice place to walk, marks the trail, and invites the public to come walk it. Rich had his 30 volksmarch medals framed on the wall, and he showed me slides of the fun he and his friends had on those walks. Rich said I had to walk the Forest Grove volksmarch. But I was afraid to do it -- a volksmarch is 6 miles long, 10 kilometers, and I had never walked that far before.

My Left Foot

Back in 1984, I still considered myself handicapped. I had dropped foot from nerve damage following a knee operation when I was 14, and it took me 10 years to be able to walk without an obvious limp. The ankle remained weak and prone to sprains, and running was impossible. I had legitimate concerns about being able to walk a full 10K. I agreed to walk on the condition that when my foot gave out, Rich would finish the walk and come back and pick me up with the car.

Start Walking We arrived at the walk at the stroke of 8 a.m., wanting to ensure we got the medal award. There was no line-up at the start trailer. We registered, paid our $4 each and got start cards #3 and #4. We followed the trail markings through my familiar territory, out past the houses and farms of my relatives. I got to give Rich a little tour of my stomping grounds, although I had mostly driven around them and never actually walked on any of these roads.

Checkpoint

American Volkssporting Association

As we started up Purdin Road we came to the checkpoint -- a little table with a jug of water and some hard candies. A writer was there doing an article on the walk for Sunset magazine. We gave a couple of comments. We headed up David Hill, turning onto Thatcher Road at the house of my favorite cousins. By four miles I was amazed that I was still walking. I was enjoying seeing these familiar backroads at a walking pace. Our next checkpoint as we arrived back in town was at the house of a walker who had a roomful of volkssport awards from Germany. Rich enjoyed looking at those, and had many tales to share of the walks he did in Germany.

An Award!

When we finished, I received my first sports award of my life, a volksmarch medal showing a lion, with a Bavarian hat and walking stick , drinking a beer. I bought my first IVV Record Book to record the event and begin to earn IVV Achievement Awards , although I didn't know how often I'd have the opportunity to do them since the sport was just starting in the Pacific Northwest.

And So It Begins

The next weekend, Rich was busy but I took off with my roommate Susan and headed up to the Olympic Peninsula to do a walk at Quilcene. Rich and I went to every walk we could, many in Washington, and my first event book filled up in a few months. I loved the walks. Walking 10 kilometers was plenty, though. Once in awhile Rich and I did two walks in a day, separated by a meal and some rest.

A Walking Life

By the end of the 1980's, I became vice-president of a local walking club, then soon after, the state organization. In 1991 I was elected national secretary of the American Volkssport Association. In 1995,

I created their website AVA.org and in 1996 I became the Walking Guide at About.com. Since becoming the Walking Guide, I have been certified as a marathon coach, walked seven marathons, and learned to racewalk. I have been trailmaster for well over 100 different walking events and participated in more than 1,000 walking events. See what one little walk can do?

OFFICIAL PEDOMETER OF THE AVA

Dear Albany Fitwalkers, Oregon State University is conducting a once-per-decade assessment of non-motorized trail use on behalf of Oregon State Parks. The survey covers trail use anywhere in Oregon, from local parks to national forests. We have sent surveys to a sample of trail users chosen at random, but we also would like to survey others who engage in non-motorized trail use. Survey responses help local, state, and federal agencies efficiently allocate funding to meet the needs of non-motorized trail users. The survey, and each question in it, is voluntary. All responses are confidential – they are only be reported as part of larger groups. People who fully complete and return the survey within three weeks will be entered into a drawing for one of two Oregon State Parks 12-month day use passes and one $100 grocery store gift certificate. We estimate about 1,200 people will qualify for the drawing. Responses will be most helpful if people complete the survey by November 26th.

The survey can be accessed by typing the following web address into the address bar – not search bar – of web browsers: bit.ly/trailclub It also can be accessed directly via clicking the link below: http://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6nEVLCZeg8vWfNb If you have questions, please contact me by reply email or contact the project lead, Kreg Lindberg, at 541-322-3126, or by e-mail at kreg.lindberg@osucascades.edu. Thank you very much for helping us gather input from a wide range of non-motorized, rail users. Sincerely Tyson Bertone-Riggs Graduate Student, Oregon State University

COME WALK WITH US Albany Fitwalkers

THURSDAY WALKS Carpool to YREs

Walk from 10:00am to 12:30pm See weekly e-mail or contact Julia at pjwesterberg@comcast.net, or 541-967-3001.( on Thurs with cellphone: 541-979-0139)

November Schedule (subject to change)

Nov. 6: West Salem 13: Tigard -- Cook Park 20: North Albany 27: Thanksgiving -- no walk

COME WALK WITH US

Albany Fitwalkers Sunday Stroll

North Albany Walk Nov 30, at 2 PM. Starting from the Gibson Hill Rd Fire Station (not Starbucks) at Grand View. 5/10km rated 1B

Walk with the Wanderers willwander.weebly.com

Meeting the third Wednesday of each month

7:00pm – 8:30pm Bldg D, Salem Hospital,

890 Oak St, Salem Meeting Wed, Nov. 19.

Everyone Welcome.

Pre-meeting walks at 4:30 in the lobby of Building A

Willamette Wanderers’ Salem Second Sunday Stroll

N.E. Historic Salem Nov. 9, at 2 PM.

Start from the Salem Hospital (free parking in the parking garage) neighborhoods -- Court-Chemeketan Historic District (residential), Oregon State Hospital campus (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest movie was partially filmed there), the attractive Englewood neighborhood and Park before heading back to the hospital via the Mission Mill neighborhood. 5/10K, rated 1A.

Build Lebanon Trails

Buildlebanontrails.com Lebanon Trails Committee

Public Meeting Lebanon Samaritan Lebanon Hospital Tues. Dec. 2, 2014 ~ 7:00pm-8:30pm (BLT) – December 7, 10am, Chriistmas Walk in Lebanon

DATES TO REMEMBER NOVEMBER 2014 AVA Hosted Events 2014

12/6 - Sherwood – Christmas Lights Night Walk, Sherwood Merrywalkers 12/13 - Time To Walk, 10:11:12:13:14 – Vancouver Christmas at Fort Vancouver Delta Ponds YRE, Eugene-Springfield Mossbacks, Depot Bay - Yachats Coastal Gems Rogue Valley Walkers YRE 12/20 - Portland – Ships Walk, Columbia River V. Club, 1/1/2015 - Portland – New Years Day Walk Columbia River V. Club, ALBANY FITWALKERS 2014 Year Round Walks Albany - Historic - 5/10km, Start : Starbucks, 633 NW Hickory North Albany - 5/10km, start : Starbucks, 633 NW Hickory Southeast – Parks – 5/10km, Start : The Brookdale Villas Courtyard Parks & Lakes - 5/10 km, Start : Holiday Inn Express Hotel near the airport. Brownsville Historic - 5/10km - 2B, Start Brownsville Chevron Gas Station and Mini-Mart,203 W. Bishop Way. Brownsville Jefferson - 10 km, 5 km, Start :Jefferson Thriftway Grocery

Coming in 2015

19th AVA Biennial Convention

June 13 - 21, 2015

Salem, Oregon May 30, 2015 - Peony & Hosta Walk September 26-29, 2015 Olympiad. Chengdu, China.

Coming in 2016

Columbia Gorge Walks, June 16-19, 2016

Albany Fitwalkers Sunday Strolls in 2015:

January 25 -- SE Albany revised, 2pm. Contact person - Connie. February 22 - Timber Linn, 2pm. Contact person - Nancy. March 29 - Brownsville, 2pm. Contact person - Rozy. April 26 - Jefferson, 2pm. Contact person - Nancy. Come Join Us

ALBANY FITWALKERS VOLKSSPORT CLUB

POST OFFICE BOX 1218, ALBANY OR 9732

www.albanyfitwalkers.org