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9.1 Club Affiliation Form
9.2 How to Form a Triathlon Club
Please complete the following and return with a copy of club bylaws and procedures to the: Secretary of the Saskatchewan Triathlon Association Corporation (STAC). If additional space is required please attach sheets to this form.
If requesting sanctioning of club events. Please attach a list of club events to be sanctioned including: Times, Dates, and Locations of the events. Please be aware that only individual STAC members will be covered. Sanctioning if approved, will be for the duration of the event. Events will be eligible for STAC support provided sanctioning is approved. ( See Sanctioning of Races/Events and Sanctioning for General Club Events)
Club Affiliation Form (Adobe Acrobat® format)
Club Affiliation Form (Microsoft Word® format)
On acceptance as a club in Saskatchewan Triathlon Association Corporation ( STAC) the applicant agrees to:
- Abide by the rules and procedures of STAC.
- Disclose to STAC current club bylaws and procedures.
- Club status with STAC may be revoked by STAC at any time.
- Notify STAC of any changes to club officers or changes in club bylaws and procedures.
9.2 How to Form a Triathlon Club
The idea of triathlon clubs is to promote a healthy life style and develop local athletes. Formed for a variety of reasons; to demand better facilities, to promote racing, to provide a social climate for like minds, all these differing objectives hold good today and many existing clubs originated with these aims.
To get the most from triathlon, to learn and develop the skills of an accomplished triathlete, club membership is a pre-requisite. Membership of a well run club, active in weekly events, competition, social activities and racing is the best introduction to triathlon for the aspiring triathlete.
However, in many areas there is no club or information on how to get one started. Who to contact, is not easy to come by. It is hoped that the following points will be of use as a basis for a community triathlon club.
If your city hasn't a triathlon club, or you feel there is a need for one in your particular area, now is the time to start.
First of all, be prepared to do some groundwork, telephoning, contacting people and writing notices. If you know anyone else who is interested, then you are well on the way to getting the club going.
There are certain basic contacts that should be made at the start:
1. The local city or township Recreation Department. Contact the Sports Consultant, Recreation Director and tell them of your interest and gain their support. They may be interested in coming to your first meeting and possibly supplying a meeting room.
2. The local press. Telephone or visit the Sports Correspondent. Ask him to give some publicity to the idea. Put an ad in the paper asking for interested triathletes.
3. Sport Good Stores. Visit them all, tell them of the proposed club. Give them posters advertising the club.
4. Contact the Saskatchewan Triathlon Association Corporation office and discuss resource materials information and fees. Ask if a representative from the STAC can attend your first meeting.
Once these steps have been taken, arrange a meeting. It could include three or thirty people. Have a specific objective in mind, such as "The formation of a Triathlon Club in Moose Jaw."
Start the meeting with a statement, "Why is a triathlon club necessary?" Stress the advantages of organization, presenting a united front, companionship, weekend rides, affiliation with the Provincial and National Bodies and contacts with other triathletes.
An election of officers, club name, financing, all this should be covered. The elected committee can then get down to the business of organizing a good program of weekly training sessions. A great deal of assistance is available from the Provincial Association in forming a club and their help should be solicited at all times.
Club Name - It is recommended to use the name of the city or locality. Such a name is easy to identify and you will get more press coverage with a community name. Have a competition for a club logo.
Club Officials - The following are the minimum: President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Membership Secretary.
Membership - Cater for a "general" membership, youth, adult, and family. It is important to attract a membership representative of the community. Keep membership fees low with three classes, Junior, Senior, and combined family membership for three or more of the same family. Incorporate the STAC membership in the fees so that all members become individual members of the Association.
Program - At first this should be concentrated on a weekly event basis, Saturday, Sunday and mid-week. Make the meeting place the same each time. If you have a mixed group of triathletes, some stronger than others, organize two rides/runs/swims with differing levels of difficulty. With good planning, both groups could meet for lunch or mid-day break. Publish an event list and make sure each ride/run/swim is mentioned in the local press.
Assistance - A triathlon club is a community project, it is providing a service that most municipalities will recognize. Establish a good relationship with them and find out if any assistance is available, ie. grants, meeting rooms, etc. Some Municipalities, through their Recreation Departments, assist clubs with postage, photocopying, and dispatching newsletters.
Once the club is established, don't sit back and let events take their course. An active club is forever looking for new ideas. Have a regular influx of new members, a continued program. One source of recruitment is through the schools, establish liaison with school in your area, get them to promote triathlon as a recreational activity. Visit them with a film show and give them a talk on triathlon.
Get involved in community projects, make sure that the club name is always mentioned. Parades, sports events, Canada Day celebrations, and so on. Have a regular supply of the club leaflets in sporting good stores. Ask sporting good store owners to let you have the names and addresses of all new major purchases.
Provide members with a regular club newsletter. This need only be a duplicated sheet of two that provides contacts, club events, meeting dates, news items, etc.
Club identity can be provided by supplying at a low cost, T-shirts and crests bearing the club name and logo.
Keep in touch with local politicians and municipalities. Make your voice heard if any anti-triathlon legislation is passed or adverse comments made on triathlon activities and triathletes. Be prepared to present the triathletes case at all times.
Contact the local service clubs, Lions, Kinsmen, Kiwanis, Optimists, etc. They could be great help.
The success of a club depends solely on the amount of effort put in by the members. Each member has a responsibility to the club, to take on the odd job, to recruit members, it should not be left to one person.
