On Monday, November 26, the Steeps’ annual Membership Meeting and Movie Night took place at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center. Although the event was previously postponed due to the rare mid-November snowstorm on November 15, this year’s Membership Meeting had a solid turnout of Steeplechasers members new and old.

Current Steeplechasers president, Jill Cameron, got the event started by recapping some of 2018’s milestones for the club, including the thousands of dollars raised for charity via the club’s four signature races. Jill also recognized many of the club’s volunteers, 91 of whom volunteered in some capacity in 2018 in roles like course marshal, race director, breakfast run host, training group coach, and more. At the check-in table, Lori Mensh distributed Steeps duffle bags and flower pots for those who had volunteered multiple times during the year.

Jill also took time to recognize key members of the club’s leadership, while also turning attention to the future by announcing the next group of Steeplechasers leaders on the executive board. Beginning in 2019, Robert Hall will be the club president. Along with Robert, Josh Roane will be the club vice president. Filling out the rest of the executive board will be Crystal Tressler (treasurer) and Heidi Novak (secretary). We’re excited to have these leaders on board to guide the club through the next two years! Click here to view the slide deck presented at the meeting.

Up next, current club VP Eric Cameron stepped to the microphone and announced that his duty was to secure entertainment for the event. He explained that the club budget wouldn’t warrant a major headliner, so he made do and donned a sparkling blue blazer and did a surprisingly solid Neil Diamond impression. After his “performance” graciously ended, Eric queued up the first of two videos, Eric Epstein’s TED Talk, “Are Athletes Really Getting Faster, Better, Stronger?” After Epstein’s talk provided perspective on athletic performance, the evening’s finale was the movie, “Where Dreams Go To Die,” the story of Canadian ultrarunner Gary Robbins’ quest to complete the grueling race known as The Barkley Marathons in Tennessee. After the film ended, everyone went home, likely thinking about how they’d never have any desire to attempt The Barkley Marathons. Next up is the Steeplechasers’ annual banquet on January 19, 2019!