USATF – Arkansas Association Newsletter
December, 2009
Dear USATF Arkansas Members,
This brief newsletter will bring you up to date on some of the things happening in our Association. There is momentum building and a lot of positive things in store for the future. We hope that you will get involved to make our Association – and the sport that we love – strong in Arkansas.
NEW WEBSITE
We want to invite you to visit our new association website: www.usatf-ar.org. Please let us hear from you regarding your likes, dislikes, suggestions and comments.
“BY THE NUMBERS”
The purpose of this section is to provide our members with information about the overall membership makeup of this association. While that may be the purpose, the actual result will probably be an instant cure for insomnia! Anyway, let’s get started.
Membership: The number of members at the end of fiscal year 2009 (our fiscal year runs October 1 through September 30) was 257 – maybe the largest number in the history of the association. This was up from 180 in 2008. The ladies are outnumbered by more than three to one: there are 195 males and 62 females in the association.
Age Groups: Four members were born after January 1, 2000, seventy-three were born in the 1990’s, and forty-seven in the 1980’s. The 1970s produced twenty-three, the ‘60’s produced twenty-four. From the 1950’s we got twenty-nine members and thirty-two from the ‘40’s. To finish up the count, twenty-three members were born in the 1930’s and two in the 1920’s.
The remaining information is taken from membership applications and renewals. It is provided voluntarily and an individual may choose to be in more than one category.
Athlete 143
Disabled Athlete 2
Coach 24
Developmental Coach 0
Level 1 Coach 3
Level 2 Coach 2
Level 3 Coach 0
Parent 8
Official
Association Level 42
National Level 26
Master Level 32
Sport Area of Interest
Track 220
Field 182
Road Running/LDR 55
Cross Country 131
Ultra Marathon 11
Mountain/Trail 10
Race Walking 9
Administrator 2
Other 5
Only one person has indicated military affiliation (Air Force) and forty-seven individuals have indicated membership in one of our 7 clubs.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 2nd Annual Jack Frost Vault Meet – December 27 – Norman, AR
- Officials’ clinic – January 2 – 9:00 am-3:00 pm – Randall Tyson Indoor Track in Fayetteville. This is for those interested in becoming an official as well as an opportunity to review rules and procedures for current officials. Lunch will be provided. To reserve a spot, contact Mike Armstrong at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 479.530.4086.
- Tyson Invitational – February 12-13 – Randall Tyson Indoor Track in Fayetteville.
- Victorian Classic – March 14 – Eureka Springs (always a fun event)
- Arkansas Association Masters/Youth Championship – June 18-19 (tentatively) – the location is still to be determined, but the plan is to have it in Central Arkansas.
- A link to a statewide road racing calendar is found on our website.
OFFICIALS
- Officials’ certification will expire at the start of the year until you renew your USATF membership for 2010. You may do that online at www.usatf.org/membership/application.
- Plan on being at our clinic on January 2 in Fayetteville. And feel free to bring along any friends interested in officiating!
- We would like to schedule an officials’ clinic for Central Arkansas later this spring. If you would like to help up put this together, contact Mike Armstrong at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 479.530.4086.
- Congratulations to those officials from our association selected to work USATF National Championship meets in 2010:
Indoor Championships – Bill McBee (umpire); David Williams (head high jump)
Outdoor Championships – Mike Armstrong (head high jump); Joe Bouley (horizontal jumps); Adrian Cummings (electronical recording – alternate); Bobby James (shot put); Bobby Thurman (marshal)
OFFICERS
Below is a list of the current officers and committee chairs for USATF-Arkansas. Please feel free to contact any of them to find out how you can get involved in making our association stronger!
| Position | Name | Address | Phone | |
| President,
Officials’ Chair |
Mike Armstrong | 2606 S. 43rd St.
Springdale, AR 72762 |
479.530.4086 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Secretary,
Treasurer |
John Mitchell | PO Box 74
Cane Hill, AR 72717 |
479.824.3476 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Membership,
Cross Country, MUT |
Tom Aspel | 120 S. Laredo
Russellville, AR 72801 |
479.968.0213 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Men’s Track & Field | Bobby Thurman | 150 W. Van Buren
Eureka Springs, AR 72632 |
479.253.8495 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Women’s Track & Field | Pam Willard | 710 Locust Drive
Jonesboro, AR 72401 |
870.761.0691 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Masters’ Track & Field | Doug Spencer | 414 Martin
Warren, AR 71671 |
870.223.7782 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Youth | Dave Rodely | 2003 Vail Drive
Jonesboro, AR 72404 |
870.219.3452 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Race Walk | Paul Johnson | PO Box 10084
Ft. Smith, AR 72917 |
479.782.9837 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| LDR | Randy Taylor | 102 Weston Place
Little Rock, AR 72211 |
501.978.2275 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
In closing, I would like to say thank you to those individuals who have worked over the years to grow and develop this association. Randy Taylor, Tom Aspel and Doug Spencer, among many others, have given countless hours and much energy to USATF-AR. When you see Randy, Tom or Doug, please thank them for the work they have done and continue to do.
Sincerely,
John Mitchell
Secretary/Treasurer