Nantucket Triathlon Club Changes Name and Expands the Board
So you may be wondering what this Nantucket Athletic Association organization is? It is the new name for The Nantucket Triathlon Club Inc. which was organized in 2010 as an Island non-profit to host a half marathon and support other athletic endeavors on the Island. Many of the original organizers have sadly left the Island. In recent years, the Club has been supported by a few intrepid volunteers. The Nantucket Half Marathon was kept alive by the efforts of Danielle O’Dell and her merry band of volunteers. The Half Marathon is the primary fundraiser for the Club and provides funding for various youth sports and healthcare needs on Nantucket.
We realized that the Club needed to appeal to a wider audience then the name “Triathlon” implies. We were looking for a name that reflects our current broad based activities. In addition, the Nantucket Triathlon Club, has often been confused with the for profit Nantucket Triathlon race. So a group did some research and came up with the name Nantucket Athletic Association to reflect our goal of being more inclusive of various athletes and activities.
Nantucket has a unique abundance of local talent engaged in swimming, cycling and running as well as competing in triathlons. The Monument Running Group and Nantucket Open Water Swimming have grown in popularity. There has also been discussion that these activities should have insurance liability protection for the participants through an insurance and a waiver system. So after much thought an assembled group of Island athletes have reconstituted the Triathlon Club. These changes increase the membership of the Board from three to thirteen members, provides insurance liability coverage, and establishes a membership and waiver electronic system. The following have agreed to assume leadership roles on the Board, Jim Pignato, (President), Jerry Adams (Vice President), Jim Meehan (Treasurer), Danielle O’Dell (Secretary) and Brandon Jellison on the Executive Board.
We will continue to use the Monument Running Group and Nantucket Open Water Swimming names but these activities will be Association sponsored activities to assure that the runs and swims are covered by the Association insurance which covers all that sign the waivers. In accordance with the Association insurance, waivers will have to be signed to participate in these activities. The Board also agreed to take the following actions:
· Rename Nantucket Triathlon Club Inc to Nantucket Athletic Association.
· Obtain insurance for Association Activities
· Institute a waiver system to participate in group runs and swims
· Act as an umbrella for Monument Running Group-NOWS
· Institute a membership program
We will continue to do the following:
· Organize the Nantucket Half Marathon
· Support Nantucket Adult Learn to Swim
· Support Various Island Charities and Youth Sports
· Schedule MRG runs, NOWS swims and Our Spring Popup Triathlon
· Organize the fall 5k run program with Addiction Solutions
· Operate as a Non-Profit 501 C 3 – All Volunteer Organization
· Host the Spring and Fall socials
· Support Nantucket Aquatics Masters and Spring Swim Series
· Field a Swim Across America Team
So what does this mean to you. First, we are asking all that participate in the various MRG and NOWS activities to sign a waiver. The waiver protects all participants and is necessary for the insurance to be effective. You only need to do it once annually. The waiver is easy and electronic with the link as follows: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/jiu9jzyqxqjbnvdplds3dh/web/
Please sign up today!
Second, we will asks you to join the Association with an annual membership of $25.00. We have insurance costs and other expenses related to the Association. If you chose not to join and want to attend the socials it will cost you $25. So just consider the membership fee as a down payment for a couple of nice nights out with your run and swim pals. Participation in the runs and swims will not require membership but will require signing a waiver. You can find the link to join on the new Association Website. https://nantucketathleticassociation.com/
We hope to continue to build the organization. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities from helping out at the Half Marathon, to planning a weekend run, to helping teach adults to swim. Let us know if you are interested in volunteer opportunities. You can help us achieve our Association mission of promoting healthy lifestyles and community through swimming, cycling, and running.
These changes are designed to support and broaden our swimming, cycling and running community. The name change will take a bit of time as we do all of the necessary name change filings so you will still see Nantucket Triathlon Club on waivers and other items until this is accomplished. We see the Nantucket Athletic Association as a way to continue to build fitness, health and most importantly community on the Island. Join us today as a member and don’t forget to sign the waiver. There will be more announcements coming soon. Please join us for the Spring Social at Island Kitchen on May 31st! Let us know what you think about the new Association effort and help us keep the Island moving.
Jim Meehan
Nantucket Athletic Association
Treasurer