Ann Arbor Track Club President, Mitch Garner, was quite pleased with the increased attendance at the 2011 Annual Meeting, held at the Original Cottage Inn restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor, the second Sunday in November.

“This is the largest group we’ve had in quite a while,” Garner commented as nearly fifty AATC members and significants filled the dining room with chatter, laughter, anticipation of a heavenly meal and more of the former.

While a bit of business was quickly discussed, the heart of the evening focused on outstanding achievements of the Club and its members – the glue that unites us.

Each year, two exceptional individuals are recognized for their phenomenal performances and participation in AATC hosted races.

After many years of hard work, Lia Stevens achieved her goal as Garner awarded her 2011 AATC Female Runner of the Year.

“I’ve been working towards this for a long time,” Lia beamed, and further credited fellow cohorts, Ellen Nitz and Elke Dozauer, as her ‘inspirations.’

On the men’s side, a surprised while clearly jubilant Mike Manz received like honors.

“I thought Wally or someone would beat me, but hey, I got it!”

A great year for Club racing, Garner was proud to impart that the 2011 Dexter-Ann Arbor Run experienced its most profitable year to date as did the Kensington Challenge, race director, Doug Goodhue’s ‘labor of love’.

Goodhue was quick to thank his sponsors along with wife, Cindy, and Ellen and Walt Nitz, who round out his “four man crew.”

Another labor of love only recently resurrected by Board Member, Terry Reilly, is the Club newsletter, presently named, ‘The Streak.’

“I joined the Club a little over three years ago,” Reilly explained, “and couldn’t figure why the Club was smaller than it used to be.”

“I figured there were some basic disconnects and that we were just doing a poor job of communicating all that is going on.”

Told he was “crazy”, Terry ignored the naysayers, joined forces with talented, dedicated, like-minded souls, and hardly two months later, Reilly and his “fellow Streakers”, produced a first edition.

“It’s really a beautiful newsletter,” Terry enthused.

And a lot of work.

Reilly welcomes one and all to contribute their talents and be a part of his crew.

Never a stranger to hard work and filling in wherever needed, perhaps the most essential honor of the night went to Volunteer of the Year, Nancy Yvanauskas.

Truly “dumbfounded”, Yvanauskas, caught like a deer in the headlights, thanked the Club for “quite an honor.”

Cake was eaten, drinks savored, present company relished, ‘bored’ was never present at the AATC Annual Meeting.

Stayed tuned to The Streak for all the news and next year’s dinner - can’t wait to see you in 2012.

To learn more about contributing to the AATC newsletter, please contact Terry Reilly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and (248) 836-8136