The Search for the Next President...
(The outgoing Prez Reflects on the past 3 years)

Word on the street is that the current GRC President will retire after this year. Well, not exactly retire. But, yes, it is true that I am no longer able to serve the club in my current capacity as its president. I sincerely wish it were not so because I've enjoyed serving as the club's fearless leader more than I ever imagined I would when Marsh first asked me three years ago. To be honest, the prospect was very scary!

Since my tour of duty began I've learned more about the technical aspects of our sport than I ever expected to. Throughout I've leaned heavily upon Marsh & Josephine, Richard Taitague and others who do. They have advised me but expected me to exercise a basic sense of calm and fairness to make some tough judgement calls now and then. This kind of responsibility can be very intimidating, but has been made much easier by the general readiness of our members to accept the call without a lot of grousing. I have really appreciated the overall respect and encouragement runners have given me when I've had to make a tough call. But the role of president entails a lot more than officiating on rules of the race.

A GRC president is required to oversee the big picture. Club members rightly address their suggestions or complaints to the club president. I learned very early that Marsh wasn't entirely forthcoming when he said, "We all help. The president's job is no big deal." Everyone does help. And Marsh, Josephine, Joanne and Richard take on the lion's share of the work, along with Billy, and previously Nancy Hawkins and Norvel & Shirley Marsh. But if certain aspects of the race run amok, the buck stops at the president's desk. I have learned that overseeing the overall performance and execution of the race--from waterstops to accurate courses, etc.--is the president's concern.

What are the kinds of issues typcially send the Prez's brain matter into high gear? Well, take for instance when we have two races at one time like the Northern Lights 5 & 10K. Unlike a race with only one event, you have to make sure there are racing bibs for either the 5K runners or the 10K so you know who is finishing what race when they come flying into the finishing chute. Few runners are coherent enough to be quizzed on whether they ran the 5 or the 10K race as they whiz or crawl through the chute. One year we had virtual insanity because we just assumed the 5K runners would be done well before the 10K...oops!

Another rubik's puzzle for race logisticians was figuring out how to simplifiy the sign-up process and solve the need for having under-age runners properly signed for by their parent or legal guardian. Previously the needed signature was obtained separately for every race on sign-up day. With some thought we hit upon a plan to make the annual member's application include a waiver that gave signed permission which covered all official GRC races for the year. We then asked the coaches of the high school teams to encourage their runners to sign up as members at a discounted student rate and get that parental signature on the application and in our files. Voila! Another dazzling feat of administrative ingenuity applied to our challengingly complex sport. You think that was easy? So why did it take us until the third millenium (not mellenium!) to figure this out! These are the sorts of things that go on behind the running scenes.

Coordinating volunteers and ensuring that we have sufficient folks manning the water stops, finish line, timers, etc., are matters the whole club looks after and the prez must make sure gets done. Connecting with sponsors and promoting the clubs events in the community is shared by the prez and the vice-prez. Setting the annual schedule and determining which races continue and which, for whatever reason, should be discontinued is another club function. Replacing worn-out equipment. Coordinating tee-shirt production with Creativitees on our anniversary or other special races. The list continues.

Now I don't want to scare our next potential prez away with this list. The club's activities are do-able and getting more so all the time. To ensure that this is so, I'm working to wrap up a few loose ends as I hand over the reigns. What follows are a list of items completed or sure to be done before the new Prez takes up his or her assignment:

	Recruit & better organize the involvement of all club members in the operations of supporting actual races. We know that we need more help. We know that many of you would be willing to help. But now we, as club officers, need to put the plan in place. Beginning in 2005 it will be required, in order to qualify for GRC Runner of the Year, that the member has assisted in the logistics of at least one of the year's races.
	Reducing the Annual Race Calendar:from 21 official races to 14-16. The current schedule of 21 races (and prior to that 24, plus non-GRC races the club has helped with) is simply too much for the club to do well. 2005 will see the best of our club's races continue, focusing on intermediate to long distance.
	Improved Course Safety: The Club now owns and uses 14 highway regulation safety diamonds in marking lane closures. We hope to add a few more each year to further improve the safety of our events.
	A New & Improved Marathon Course: In view of the continuing deterioration of the Back Road to Anderson (Rte 15, which was approximately 1/3 of our original course) and the ongoing problem of no roadside shoulders and a growing number of drunks, we have devised a scenic coastal route.
	Completing the filing of our club not-for-profit papers with the IRS. Honestly, the GRC has been in existence for 34+ years, has a constitution and everything but somehow either never managed to process the paperwork or it was lost by Rev & Tax. At any rate, this job is almost done and will not be a concern for the next Prez.

So what do I plan to do in my "retirement"? To be sure I'll be very busy with my other flock. I'll continue to operate the Culbertson Christian Academy (fancy for "home-schooling my son"). I will continue to make modifications on my home against future, world-class typhoons. If the club is willing, I am available to help as GRC Vice-President to provide some continuity for the new Prez. I will do a better job at upgrading and maintaining the Club's website. I have really enjoyed this aspect of my service and am glad to concoct wild stories and promote running on Guam. Armed with a new and better software program I will be redesigning the website to make it even better. With the club's blessing, I would like to continue focusing on directing and overseeing the development of the annual Guam Marathon.

Well, there you have it. The word is official. Culbertson steps down and makes way for the next Prez. You don't need to be great or a type-A overachiever to fill this position. I've left small enough footprints which should be easy to fill. You just need to enjoy running, like people and be able to be a team player with the other officers of the GRC, who are also great folks (even if we get a bit edgy now and then. You try putting on 24+ races year in and year out and you'd get a little crabby, too!) You need to have patience and not be to easily ruffled, to help calm the impatient and sometimes unreasonable runner who has yet to realize he or she is not the next world-class hopeful. You need to be an encourager who enjoys seeing runners of all abilities come out for our races. You should be a person who is a little bit organized. Our club is focused on fitness, fun, and, for those who are able, some serious racing (on some of our events), but ours are not the olympic time trials. Thank you for the opportunity you've given me to serve you! And don't forget to thank those who continue to do so.

In it for the Long Run,

Neil Culbertson, GRC Prez