November 17 Membership Meeting

Posted bymlmarcotte15Posted inUncategorized
  • 26 Members attended this meeting, which will be our last formal meeting of 2022. 
  • Trish began the meeting with a welcome to all, then discussed our upcoming socials.
  • Golf cart relay Sunday 11/20
    • Teams are asked to arrive no later than 6:15 AM at Terri’s house, 817 Millhorn Loop   
    • Starts at 6:30
    • Wear Lights, it’ll be dark for the start
    • Please stay quiet while in Terri’s neighborhood
    • Make sure you have a map in the cart and know your route and planned transition spots
    • If very rainy there may be a decision to postpone
    • Bring your own water and nutrition, and a towel
    • Bring food to share for after the run if you’d like. Terri will provide coffee.
  • Thanksgiving Pie Breakfast 5K Fun Run
    • Will be held outside Colony Rec center at the pavilion at 8AM Thanksgiving morning
    • Fleet Feet (Michelle and Matt) are organizing and will provide coffee and utensils and plates
    • Everyone is asked to bring a pie to share…. Any kind of pie!
  • Christmas / Holiday Party
    • Will be held on Thursday 12/1 at 6PM at the Colony Rec Center.
    • Spouses are welcome
    • Festive attire is encouraged
    • Food provided, BYO Drinks
    • “Karoloke” and Raffle prizes
  • Upcoming Club Races
    • Mount Dora  12/17 5K, 12/18 Half
    • Running of the squares 5K – Sumter 1/14/2022
    • Running with the Herd 5K –  2/18/2022
    • Gate River Run 15K  – Jacksonville 3/4/2022
      • Marriott hotel has a special race rate
  • Elections were held. The following officers were elected for 2023.
    • John Valasco PresidentDianne Schultz Vice PresidentMark Rossini Treasurer
    • Mary Lou Marcotte Secretary
  • Self Defense Presentation
    • Lt Paul Bloom, from the Sheriff office in Marion County, gave us a great presentation focused on ways to make yourself not a victim and ideas to protect yourself if needed.
      • Limit your exposure to high risk situationsDistractions will pull you away from being alertUse common senseMake yourself visibleKeep alert and cautious but not afraid.  Try to stay in the ‘Yellow’.  ‘Green’ is overly optimistic – crime will never happen to me.  ‘Red’ is overly pessimistic – always worried that bad will happen and is exhausting to the person.Have a plan before you go out for a run.  If running alone, tell someone where you are going and when to expect you back.Running at the same time, same place creates a pattern that someone may notice…. That adds to risk.  Vary your route, or even running the route in reverse direction to mix it up. When parking for your run keep valuables hidden.  Putting a bag behind your seat is not hidden!Carry a whistle or alarm to draw attention if involved in an incidentBe aware of the route you are running to know any potential spots where someone could be hiding.Carry Pepper spray.  Works well to disarm an angry dog as well as people.  Even works on an alligator!  Very effective.  No permit required.  Lt Bloom passed a sample that was 1.5 ounces but even 0.5 ounces would be effective and smaller to carry.  Pepper spray is used as a getaway weapon.  Aim at the person’s face and eyes, then once they’ve been distracted run in the other direction.  Pepper spray is available at Amazon, sport stores, even Walmart and is legal to carry.  Go outside and practice so you know how to use it and how far it will shoot.Taser or stun gun is not really as effective, need to be very close to the person for it to do harm.If someone approaches you that looks suspicious, put up your hands to tell them to stop.  Be vocal and visible. Turn and run.  Most bad guys aren’t able to run fast very far.If someone attacks, do whatever you can to get away.  If they have a gun, give them what they want and run away.  Don’t try to fight them.If someone grabs you, go for their eyeballs with your thumbs.  Nose is very sensitive.  Heel of the hand to the nose.  Bone to bone (fist to their face) not the best approach.Hard to soft.  Soft to hard.  Get away……Elbow is very hard… use to their chest or stomach.  Hammer fist to groin.  Knee is boney, knee strike to groin.    Throat is soft, edge of hand chop to throat.  Top of the shoulder has sensitive nerve. Chop to the shoulder.Carry your cell phone.  Never hesitate to call 911 if you are concerned with a suspicious person.  Police are happy to respond and may have had other calls about the same person.  Your call may save another person from being attacked.There is always safety in numbers.  Always best to run with someone else.CHIRP program / public safety in the villages can provide a whistle that can be heard even when your voice isn’t loud enough.
      • Early morning tends to be safer, bad guys aren’t usually out then.