500 Festival, Inc.
2013 One America 500 Festival Mini-Marathon
Executive Committee Meeting
March 7, 2013 Meeting Minutes
Welcome
Map Pack
 Construction on Washington is complete; returning to standard start line
Training Series Update (Eric Rowles)
 10K is this Saturday, March 9
o 10th street construction will not result in a course change
 15K – Saturday, April 6
Sponsorship Updates (Dave Wilson)
 YMCA of Central Indiana is our official training program partner
o 8 centers have Mini-Marathon dedicated training programs with runs 3 times a week
 UPS will sponsor Gear Check
o We will have twice as many trucks as years past
 Snyders (pretzel snacks) will be providing products in the Runner Services area
 Clif Bar is a new sponsor as well for the Training Series and Mini-Marathon
 4 Michelob Ultra/Mini Marathon billboards on 465 will be put up in April
Registration Updates (Ben Pawelak)
 Seeding deadline is this Monday, March 11
 Field is still open
o Anticipate selling out in the next couple weeks
 Mobile friendly website for registration is being created
Volunteer Updates (Dayna Pawelak)
 Please sign up in TRS by March 15 to receive your polo
 Volunteers need to sign up in TRS by April 10th at 5 p.m. to receive invitation to Volunteer
Appreciation Day
 Kelli Webster is no longer interning with the festival; Sara Ratty is the new Volunteer Intern
 New Mini Ask Me Group – Charity Party Players
 Open public Mini positions: Hotel Ambassadors & Runners Services Fruit Cup Distributers
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Expo Updates (Chris Panyard)
 60 confirmed exhibitors and sponsors
o Still accepting exhibitor applications
 IMS is planning to have a bigger presence this year
 Pushing Virtual Goodie Bags – paperless option
Post-Race Party Updates (Brett Sanford)
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Judges BBQ, A Cup Above, Dippin Dots, and Edwards Dashboard Diner all confirmed
o Have room for one or two more
Vendors will be in a centralized location, unlike last year
Barto’s will be back to cater VIP areas
Bishop Chatard is back for recycle and trash removal
St. Christopher’s is back to pour bear
Beer tokens will be used instead of tickets
Eric Rowles’ Updates
 We have added two Remote Mini-Marathon’s in partnership with the Indiana National Guard
and our sponsors
o Kuwait– 400 participants; Afghanistan– 200 participants
o Loading date March 27th
o Thank You Banners will be sent after being signed at the 10k and at One America
 Frank Shorter will be returning and will once again be on air with WISH as well as appearing in
the OneAmerica display at the Expo and attending the Elites dinner.
 Rob Powers will return as the event’s Start and Finish Line announcer
 MarathonFoto has recently purchased Brightroom photography and we are happy to have them
on board to be the official photographers of the Mini-Marathon
 Bib Additions
o Runner Tracking will be available once again free of charge
o Bibs will include a QR code that will allow participants to get their race results via their
smart phone
o Barcodes are being added to the back of each runner’s bib to assist our medical team in
checking in patients as seamlessly as possible
Marketing and Communication Updates (Megan Bulla)
 Radio, TV and Digital advertising are in full-swing until the field is full.
 Recently, we were name 1 of “11 Races to run before you die” by Men’s Health
 Named one of the “Best Half Marathons” by Self Magazine
 We encourage you to follow us on social media networks:
o 500 Festival Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/500Fest
o Mini-Marathon Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/500FestivalMiniMarathon
o Twitter: https://twitter.com/500Festival #minimarathon
Pit Stations (Val Grudzien)
 Pit Station 2/17 will be split into two different locations
 We are still in need of one group (60+ volunteers) for a Pit Station #15
 We are also in need of two Pit Zone Captains
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Committee Updates
 Don Carr
o The course will be recertified due to some minor changes on 10th Street
 Ask me
o Eliminating community volunteers
o New Ask Me group, Charity Party Players, to work with the OneAmerica team members
o We will utilize new Ask Me Banner Backpacks – 5 will be introduced in 2013
 Terry Powers
o Revamped emergency plans
o Precision Weather
 Will provide us with more accurate weather forecasts for precise locations
 Entertainment
o 46 entertainers signed up so far
o 8 out of 11 spirit squads
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