Had an interesting question. My wife and I used to belong (from 2004 through 2006) to the Hudson Valley Triathlon Club (about 90 miles North of New York City). The club was created in 2001 (I think) from what used to be the Catskill Multi-Sport Club (run by a different person). In 2001 the current HVTC club owner took over the club (not sure how) and has run it since. We used to swim/train at Williams Lake Resort (in Rosendale New York) but that property was purchased last year by a private developer who plans an upscale resort. The club moved this year to a New York State Park much further North and very out of the way for many (ourselves included). The club has a small list of sponsors who give them some comped product. Some of the members where there club jerseys and have raced at some local races under the “Team”.
The HVTC charges $200 per year now and conducts 4 sprint races with a deli-style dinner afterwords. Since it is now in a state park we can swim/train their whenever we want anyway with our NYS Park Passport.
The club has no management board of any kind and the only person who has any say if the club owner (rightfully so). He is also a Triathlon coach. It seems that many (if not most) of the Triathlon clubs (like the running and biking clubs) all have a board/group of management from the club memebers who assist in running the club and are voted in by membership yearly. Group decisions are made for the betterment of the club overall.
My point is that from my point of view the club has never really grown, i.e. organized group rides, seminars for newbies, planned group outings, web forums, etc. like many of the other triathlon clubs accross the country which is too bad and part of the reason we did not renew our membership in 2007. It is sort of “this is how it is take it or leave it” attitude.
There are some people form our area planning on starting a new Triathlon club with a board of management elected from the memebrship and have told me about their intentions to reach out to other clubs in the NY area for competitions, have organzied club outing/group rides, a nice web forum for exchange of ideas, etc.
What are your thoughts on what is most important about the Triathlon club you belong to (if you belong to one). Like a top-ten list of what to do/not to do when creating a new triathlon club.
Peace out!
I’ll bite. Having been on the BOD of the two biggies in San Francisco, and the current president of SF Tri Club, here are my ideas:
1). Social. People join tri clubs because they want to hang out with people like them. A good social event, maybe once a month, is very good for making you a club and not just a random selection of peopl.
2). Work hard to create value. People know they can join or not, having a good answer to “why should I join?” is key.
3). Workouts are helpful. These do not need to be all formal coached workouts, but some are a big plus.
4). A good website is key. We have many members who have told me “I joined SF Tri because your website is better”.
5). Always try and get people to meet people they may not have met. We do name games at some events, even though we are a 350+ member club. Brings people together.
I agree that member elected board is the way to go. The private clubs, at least in SF, are much smaller and occassionally idiosyncratic based on who is running the show.
If you start a club in the ORange/Ulster County area, check out the lake at Winding Hills Park in Montgomery, very accessible off of 17K about a mile outside of the Village. I always thought it would be a great place to swim - it’s large, clean, surrounded by woods. Although swimming isn’t allowed, perhaps something could be worked out with the County Parks Department, which runs it.
Dude, are you a current or former member of the HVTC? You seem quite angry with the club.
Nice first post. Welcome.
I like HVTC (and no, I’m not on here to defend how it’s run, etc), since from my point of view, I get 4 great sprint races w/ a nice feast afterwards, for $50 each. In the metro NY area, you can’t beat that deal with a stick, and the fact that it’s on a Wed nite (ie - doesn’t take up valuable weekend real estate, so I get to do more races this way) works great for me.
To HHNY’s points, I think having a board of directors or some sort of multiple person leadership would be helpful, since there would be more input into how things are done, etc. (Although frankly I don’t really have any issues with how things are currently, and am thankful that there is somebody who is willing to do all the legwork to make this stuff happen, since I probably wouldn’t.)
I would think having a website would be very good as well, which is probably the #1 negative about HVTC right now - there’s really no way for members to interact with each other, unless you get their contact info directly.
Being able to share training ideas, see who is racing where when (rather than just finding out when you are at the races), etc would all be good stuff.
All that being said, I’m not sure a new tri club in this area would be able to get much traction, since there are only so many tri folk around anyway, and already tons of clubs from Westchester and south into the city, and Albany and north.
Free exchange of information beyond posting race results of members is the way to facilitate newbies and veterans to interact and get together outside of the group swims. Since there are no organized runs/bikes, but for the Woodstock ride which Joel organizes (not in the HVTC) I think it is one way to help.
http://www.stpetemaddogs.com/
http://www.octc.net/
http://www.ggtc.org/Main/homePage.aspx
These are three great ones. They also give back by requiring/encouraging group fellowship through local mission work.
I truly did enjoy my three years as an HVTC member but always thought more could be done (and suggested so openly). Conducting four sprint races was great (with sandwhiches afterwards) but it alwasy seemed as that was the only way to see/interact/have fun with memebers as there was/is no forum or organized way to members to interact. Again, with one person owning the club it makes group thought/decision making very difficult, IMHO.
Peace out.
Hopefully, your kidding. Did you get food poisening from the free case of Snickers Marathon Energy Nutrition bars we were given in our HVTC Member Kit Bags in 2005? Who got $2.00?
You seem very very angry?
Peace out!
The most inporatnt thing about a tri club is good times ,good competetion,organized races,and a club history to mention a few.
HVTC is all this & more!!!
You get a “pat on the back” when you do stupidly insane bike rides and finish Ironman races 4 hours or more after the winner is done.You don’t know anything about racing an HVTC race, cause you are never in the race.
Talk to me when you’ve gone under 53:00 , then you’ll know what it’s like to race at HVTC.
BTW, I’ve gone 51:00.
I’ll give you one thing though,HVTC races do produce “happy endings”.
Try and run me over wearing my HVTC kit and I’ll make a big woman out of you.
Dude. Don’t get me started put the word out that I will be playing target practice with the front end of my HUM V with anyone i see riding with a HVTC club shirt on. I think this would work a little faster than the plague. I want my 2 dollars and free box of snickers.
I don’t know about triathlon clubs, but I would certainly avoid THIS guy like the plague!
That’s what all his boyfriends say.
Who do you think SonofSam really is?
Ronnie…any race with you in it is a sure-bet for a happy-ending! LOL. I just wish I would see you more than at the start and finish, as your as fast as greased lightening!
The one & only "SON OF SAM "… ( More like Son of Spam ) LOL 
For those of you racing Timberman Age Group Elite , Watch Out for this nigga!!!
If he don’t get you with his 2:15 Bike Split he’ll run you over with his Hum V!!!
Yeh, Make sure my skirt says 2006 HVTC Champ Baby, I wouldn’t be the first to wear a skirt after a race would I ?
2:15 Timberman Bike Split? This dude is capable of going under 2:10 at Timberman. I think he won the 2007 Mt. Equinox Bike Climb Clydesdale Division Saturday, by over 5 minutes.
What is the black thing on his chest Ronnie? and what is he doing with his hands?
Peace out!
I think it’s some sort of bra and he’s probably masterbating as usual??
He also has quite an unusual look on his face…is he giving you a head-start at an HVTC Club Race swim, sort of handicapping the race? I heard he throws down a sub 4:45 swim out there.
Peace out!
I would think having a website would be very good as well, which is probably the #1 negative about HVTC right now - there’s really no way for members to interact with each other, unless you get their contact info directly.
Being able to share training ideas, see who is racing where when (rather than just finding out when you are at the races), etc would all be good stuff.
a group of former members have started a website/forum for just this purpose. unfortunately only a handful of people are using it (and very sporadically) but it’s a start. so allow me the opportunity to introduce http://multisportmaniacs.com/community/. still needs works (like a logo). but it has great potential to fill a huge void
cheers
That group of former members are a bunch of whinners ,that’s why there are only a handful of those miserable bastards dreaming of forming a new club.
So what do you think of Son of Sam?
I think he’s one of those whinners,yeh I’m sure of it…