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How to Organize a Run

So you volunteered (or have been picked) to host a run, now what?  Well, the first step is, relax.  We are a social club, just feed us and find somewhere that served drinks and we are happy.  Organizing a run is not as big a job as it seems to be.

• Step One – Relax
   
• Step Two – Pick a restaurant.  It could be your favorites, one that you have always wanted to try, or one that was recommended to you.  Preferably the restaurant will be within one-hour travel time of Portage.  (Previous destinations include:  Sauk City, Wisconsin Dells, Poynette, Wautoma, Madison, Sun Prairie, Columbus, Markesan, Ripon, Kingston, Westfield and Lake Wisconsin)
   
• Step Three – Call the restaurant.  Can they accommodate a group of around 30 people on your run night?  If they have any problems with a large group, remind them that we eat well, tip well, and if we are happy, we are often repeat customers.
   
• Step Four – Pick a route.  The drive to get to our restaurant is often the best part of the night.  Sometimes we go on scenic back roads and enjoy the scenery.  Other times we may travel through snall towns where everyone waves at us like we’re in a parade.  Sometimes due to the distance to the restaurant, we just head straight there on major roads.  Again, don’t worry, we just want to drive our cars and go to dinner.
   
• Step Five – Call the Newsletter Editor with your destination.  This is a new step.  Please plan ahead as to your destination, type of dress, i.e. casual, dress casual, etc. and if you would like, you could send to the Newsletter Editor a condensed menu to include in the newsletter a month or two before your run.  The Newsletter Editor’s goal is to get the newsletter assembled and mailed out the last week of each month for the next month’s events.  This will also assist members who may be running late, or have babysitters that need to know where mom and dad are going.  It will also help others decide where they should or should not take their run.
   
• Step Six – Run night.  Be prepared to call the restaurant before we leave Kmart at 6:30 with a final count on people.  Keep track of any calls you receive at home and add those people to the reservation.
   
• Step Seven – Write a short summary for the next newsletter.  This is a step people often forget about.  It is important that a short summary be written of the event.  The summary can include how many cars participated, the good food, the wonderful cruise, or a memorable event that occurred at the run.  Remember in order for the club to be successful, it is important to remind everyone of the good time they had or let other know what they are missing.
   
• Step Eight – Your efforts and hard work in organizing your run will have been appreciated by all.

RUN NIGHT

The normal meeting spot to begin a run is at the local Kmart on Highway 51 North.  For those of you coming from Madison, you can take Interstate 90/94 to Interstate 39 and then take the Portage Hwy 51 exit.  Kmart is just off the exit ramp.  The meeting time is between 6:00 and 6:30 with departure at 6:30 pm!  If you know you are going to be running late, feel free to call the host ahead of time and let them know you will just meet the rest of the group at the restaurant.