SLG Letter January 06

DISCLAIMER

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT OF ITS AUDIENCE (AND ITS AUTHOR). NO OTHER USE OF THE WORDS OR DESCRIPTIONS IS PERMITTED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF ITS AUTHOR. IN PARTICULAR, NO INSULT OR UMBRAGE MAY BE TAKEN AND NO FEELINGS MAY BE HURT. ANY RECIPIENT TEMPTED OR INCLINED TO ACT OR FEEL OTHERWISE HAS CLEARLY MISUNDERSTOOD AND SHOULD CAREFULLY CONCEAL THIS FAILING BY NOT COMPLAINING TO ANYONE.

OK everyone, I want to get this out just in time to wish you all a Happy New Year (the way I always heard it is that you can wish somebody happy New Year until the end of January. More importantly, for runners and non runners alike, tomorrow starts the 9 (nine) month countdown to this year’s running of the Chicago Marathon which will be held on October 22nd. How better to start this countdown than with a 10 mile race in Central Park. You SLG’ers signed up and ready to run? Liesbet? Mark? Stefan? Steven? Gil? Me? What about out of towners? And of course if anybody from the support crew feels a bit rusty about cheering us on, you can come and practice too! Deb? Margarita? Clo? Anne? Who am I forgetting?

There is already a lot of excitement in this young running year. A bunch of people have signed up for Chicago: founding fathers Stefan and Mark, members since the early days Philippe ,Erik, Liesbet, Gil, Lief, Clem, and also our other members David, Grant, Larry Eberhard (from Minnesota, Steve Goldade get your butt in gear!!). Dora also signed up and we got two new members, Patrick Bijnens, from Belgium and a running buddy of Clem (he got in on credentials of having run marathons and anyway, the super coach can vouch for him) and Thomas De Geest. Thomas signed up for the Chicago marathon and became a member last Monday during an all important SLG meeting. More about that later.
\n \nAs some of you already know, I thought the running year which will have its \nclimax on October 22nd, needed a motto. It doesn’t really apply to all the \nSLG members but I thought that “Catch me if you can!” sounded good, “catchy” and \nI thought it would inspire SLG members to really train hard for this one. \nObviously this motto only applies to the real thing, the marathon. You all \nhave proven that you can catch and surpass me easily in the shorter \ndistances. (Sorry, Clem and Patrick, the motto doesn’t really work for you \nguys!)\n \nBesides running news there are a few other things to report ; mostly things \nthat make me a bit sad and I think others will feel the same.\n \n - In a few weeks, Claudia Valladares will be leaving New York and \nwill be moving back to Caracas to become the CEO of a \nMicrobank. I don’t know exactly what that job entails but \nClaudia seems very happy about it. I also don’t know whether there \nwill be a lot of business travel to New York involved but I hope \nwe will get to see her on a regular basis. In any case, \nshe will be sorely missed and I don’t know what effect this \nwill have on French Tuesday but it can’t be good. Not to mention the \neffect it will have on the ABC (Absolutely Bitchy \nChicks)! \n \n-Other people leaving are Steven, Micheline and their daughter \nMadelon. They are \nreturning to Belgium a bit earlier than originally planned because Micheline \nis pregnant and is not \nallowed to fly after the end of March. Congratulations on \nthe bigger family but again, SLG is not completely \nhappy about this but of course we wish you all the \nbest! Go and be that absent minded professor Steven! And come run \nthe Chicago marathon with us. There are \ndirect flights Brussels-Chicago you know!\n \n-Liesbet is also leaving, again. She worked at the Belgian consulate \nfor a few weeks because the consul felt overwhelmed with the visit \nof the prime minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt. So Liesbet \nwas imported to do all the work and lend a shoulder for the consul \nto lean on. So, we will wish her luck in whatever she undertakes \nnext. In the crevasses of my mind I hear the line from that famous \nCountry and Western song : “How can I miss you if you won’t leave” Except, \nwe will have to change that to : “How can we miss you if you keep coming \nback?” (Only kidding, Liesbet) Again, a severe blow for the ABC’s and also for \nFrench Tuesday.",1]
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As some of you already know, I thought the running year which will have its climax on October 22nd, needed a motto. It doesn’t really apply to all the SLG members but I thought that “Catch me if you can!” sounded good, “catchy” and I thought it would inspire SLG members to really train hard for this one. Obviously this motto only applies to the real thing, the marathon. You all have proven that you can catch and surpass me easily in the shorter distances. (Sorry, Clem and Patrick, the motto doesn’t really work for you guys!)

Besides running news there are a few other things to report ; mostly things that make me a bit sad and I think others will feel the same.

- In a few weeks, Claudia Valladares will be leaving New York and will be moving back to Caracas to become the CEO of a Microbank. I don’t know exactly what that job entails but Claudia seems very happy about it. I also don’t know whether there will be a lot of business travel to New York involved but I hope we will get to see her on a regular basis. In any case, she will be sorely missed and I don’t know what effect this will have on French Tuesday but it can’t be good. Not to mention the effect it will have on the ABC (Absolutely Bitchy Chicks)!

-Other people leaving are Steven, Micheline and their daughter Madelon. They are returning to Belgium a bit earlier than originally planned because Micheline is pregnant and is not allowed to fly after the end of March. Congratulations on the bigger family but again, SLG is not completely happy about this but of course we wish you all the best! Go and be that absent minded professor Steven! And come run the Chicago marathon with us. There are direct flights Brussels-Chicago you know!

-Liesbet is also leaving, again. She worked at the Belgian consulate for a few weeks because the consul felt overwhelmed with the visit of the prime minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt. So Liesbet was imported to do all the work and lend a shoulder for the consul to lean on. So, we will wish her luck in whatever she undertakes next. In the crevasses of my mind I hear the line from that famous Country and Western song : “How can I miss you if you won’t leave” Except, we will have to change that to : “How can we miss you if you keep coming back?” (Only kidding, Liesbet) Again, a severe blow for the ABC’s and also for French Tuesday.
\n \nAnd now for the good news :\n \nOn January 5th, 2006, Jonas Mertens was born. If you now went Huh!!, \nWho is that? Well, Jonas is the first SLG’er by birth, grandson of Clem, \nthe supercoach. That of course makes Clem the first SLG-grandfather. \nGrandfather or not, he is the fastest SLG’er (of course he appears to be the \n“fastest” to have become a grandfather in this group)\n \nAnne Zschommler is NOT leaving but she officially graduated from Hunter \nCollege and is now a full-fledged speech therapist. Congratulations to \nAnne. If anybody feels a bit speech impaired after a night at Markt or \nFrench Tuesday, please call Anne at 917...\n \nWendy has also started a new job. After 6 (?) years of working for \nSmartstream technologies, she has gone to a Belgian company “Capco” to start up \ntheir marketing department. Good luck to Wendy. \n \n Erik and Wendy are renovating their house in New Jersey and are \nexpected to have a new living room in a few weeks.\n \nWendy has also started a new job. After 6 (?) years of working for \nSmartstream technologies, she has gone to a Belgian company “Capco” to start up \ntheir marketing department. Good luck to Wendy.\n \nSpeaking of houses, our newest member, Thomas De Geest has bought a studio \napartment near Cooper Square. We are anxiously awaiting the Studio \nwarming party. After inspecting the premises, Stefan has decided that the \nparty will have to happen in shifts. The place seems to be “square \nfootagely challenged”\n \nOur own renovation seems to be going according to plan but we were \nnot ready enough to have an SLG meeting in the new boardroom. So \ntherefore, some members made the sacrifice and transported themselves to \nMarkt. Philippe even came all the way from Chicago. Actually, the \nreason for this meeting was for Philippe to get back in touch with his \ncity-self. He realized he was getting too mellow out in the midwest so he \ncame over for a Karmeliet, some “best Belgian” fries and after doing this a few \ntimes over we ended up across the street for a POP burger.",1]
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And now for the good news :

On January 5th, 2006, Jonas Mertens was born. If you now went Huh!!, Who is that? Well, Jonas is the first SLG’er by birth, grandson of Clem, the supercoach. That of course makes Clem the first SLG-grandfather. Grandfather or not, he is the fastest SLG’er (of course he appears to be the “fastest” to have become a grandfather in this group)

Anne Zschommler is NOT leaving but she officially graduated from Hunter College and is now a full-fledged speech therapist. Congratulations to Anne. If anybody feels a bit speech impaired after a night at Markt or French Tuesday, please call Anne at 917...

Wendy has also started a new job. After 6 (?) years of working for Smartstream technologies, she has gone to a Belgian company “Capco” to start up their marketing department. Good luck to Wendy.

Erik and Wendy are renovating their house in New Jersey and are expected to have a new living room in a few weeks.

Wendy has also started a new job. After 6 (?) years of working for Smartstream technologies, she has gone to a Belgian company “Capco” to start up their marketing department. Good luck to Wendy.

Speaking of houses, our newest member, Thomas De Geest has bought a studio apartment near Cooper Square. We are anxiously awaiting the Studio warming party. After inspecting the premises, Stefan has decided that the party will have to happen in shifts. The place seems to be “square footagely challenged”

Our own renovation seems to be going according to plan but we were not ready enough to have an SLG meeting in the new boardroom. So therefore, some members made the sacrifice and transported themselves to Markt. Philippe even came all the way from Chicago. Actually, the reason for this meeting was for Philippe to get back in touch with his city-self. He realized he was getting too mellow out in the midwest so he came over for a Karmeliet, some “best Belgian” fries and after doing this a few times over we ended up across the street for a POP burger.
\n \nAs I mentioned before, there was some serious SLG business to attend to \nlast Monday. 1/After Thomas announced that he had signed up for the \nChicago marathon, we did some testing to see whether he was SLG ready. It \nwas touch and go but HE IS IN! Congrats.\n \n2/It was decided that a website is quickly becoming a necessity. If I \nunderstood correctly, Stefan and Erik “volunteered” to have that up by the end \nof February???It could have member information, member race results, \nmerchandise offerings etc, member biographies etc......(Speaking of biographies, \nin a few months, I will be asking all full SLG members, the ones who have \ncompleted a full marathon or are training for a marathon held in 2006 to provide \nme with a short “running” biography of 100 words.\n \n3/It was also decided that we were badly in need of a logo. After \nsome back and forth, Larry had the brilliant idea to suggest David Garcia’s \nservices. After all, he has the best qualifications as a Graphic Design \nArtist. In the meantime I have contacted David who has agreed to come up with a \nlogo and is working on it as we speak.\n \n4/We also touched on the delicate issue of SLG membership. Who are \ntrue members? Who are staffers? (Larry, our faithful driver for taking us \nto the start year after year is definitely on staff. So is Yvette, after \nmany many massages)\n \nHow to merge SLG and ABC and should they be merged? We couldn’t \nfigure that one out, not even after many Duvels, Karmelieten, Westmalles and \nordinary Stellas. Therefore it was decided that we needed “consultants” \nfor this issue. In the meantime, Stefan and I are working behind the scenes \nto come up with a “win-win” situation so there won’t be hard feelings.\n \nSo, that’s the news for now. As soon as our website is ready (hm, \ndon’t hold your breath), I guess we can incorporate the newsletter into the \nwebsite. As you can all see, SLG is growing in leaps and bounds. Who would \nhave thought it 2 years ago when I came off a bad NYC marathon experience and I \nwas struggling mightily to train for the first “old lady marathon”. Along \ncame Stefan and Mark to lend a helping leg and voila, SLG was born. \nLief",1]
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As I mentioned before, there was some serious SLG business to attend to last Monday. 1/After Thomas announced that he had signed up for the Chicago marathon, we did some testing to see whether he was SLG ready. It was touch and go but HE IS IN! Congrats.

2/It was decided that a website is quickly becoming a necessity. If I understood correctly, Stefan and Erik “volunteered” to have that up by the end of February???It could have member information, member race results, merchandise offerings etc, member biographies etc......(Speaking of biographies, in a few months, I will be asking all full SLG members, the ones who have completed a full marathon or are training for a marathon held in 2006 to provide me with a short “running” biography of 100 words.

3/It was also decided that we were badly in need of a logo. After some back and forth, Larry had the brilliant idea to suggest David Garcia’s services. After all, he has the best qualifications as a Graphic Design Artist. In the meantime I have contacted David who has agreed to come up with a logo and is working on it as we speak.

4/We also touched on the delicate issue of SLG membership. Who are true members? Who are staffers? (Larry, our faithful driver for taking us to the start year after year is definitely on staff. So is Yvette, after many many massages)

How to merge SLG and ABC and should they be merged? We couldn’t figure that one out, not even after many Duvels, Karmelieten, Westmalles and ordinary Stellas. Therefore it was decided that we needed “consultants” for this issue. In the meantime, Stefan and I are working behind the scenes to come up with a “win-win” situation so there won’t be hard feelings.

So, that’s the news for now. As soon as our website is ready (hm, don’t hold your breath), I guess we can incorporate the newsletter into the website. As you can all see, SLG is growing in leaps and bounds. Who would have thought it 2 years ago when I came off a bad NYC marathon experience and I was struggling mightily to train for the first “old lady marathon”. Along came Stefan and Mark to lend a helping leg and voila, SLG was born. Lief.