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I hope you enjoy this month's newsletter. I've enjoyed my advance peek at the articles about the BASOC family…. especially note the two events coming up in November. First, the triathlon on Treasure Island…looks to be lots of fun, so plan to come and cheer! Entries are 'sold out', great for a first year event! Second, plan to join us for our 'HONOR PRIDE GLORY' salute to the Winter Olympics at the San Jose Tech Museum on November 15…and, plan to run with us at Seventh Annual Northern California Olympians Run on December 2nd.
October will be an exciting month as BASOC Co-chair Jim Woolwine and I head to Salt Lake City for a workshop with the USOC culminating in the announcement of the decision by the USOC regarding the bid process. The USOC expects to reduce the number of cities – currently eight – to three or four. We are optimistic that the San Francisco Bay Area's Bid will make this cut. Remember, the U.S. Candidate City will be announced in November 2002.
Watch the papers for news, and we will send you all an email with the results. Whatever happens, this is a great time to tell you all how much your support, energy, and enthusiasm has meant to the bid, the BASOC staff, and board. One of my favorite observations these days is, 'It is the initial efforts of a few people that always provide the impetus for the most outstanding accomplishments.' Thanks to all of you…
Best Regards,
Anne
Sunday, October 28, 2001, San Jose
Register to participate in the 'Fastest Marathon in the Pacific Region,' according to the Ultimate Guide to Marathons. Race Director and BASOC supporter, Tom Bradley, expects about 6,000 competitors, so why not join in the fun! If you don't feel like completing the entire marathon, take part in the half marathon, the four-person relay marathon, or enter a child in one of the kids' races! For more information about this great Bay Area event, check out www.svmarathon.com.
To support the event, and to increase support and awareness for our Olympic bid, BASOC will be responsible for staffing the aid station at mile 23 of the marathon course. We're looking for 20-30 people to come meet the BASOC team and to help out the thousands of athletes taking part. For more information about helping at our BASOC aid station or at our booth at the Expo, please contact James Raybould, BASOC Volunteer Coordinator, at (650)-856-2234 or james@basoc2012.com.
Saturday, November 3, 2001, Treasure Island
The inaugural 2000 Olympic triathlon, with views of the Sydney harbor and Opera House, boasted perhaps the most scenic triathlon course yet devised. On November 3, this standing will be put to the test when Tri-California, in collaboration with BASOC, stages the Treasure Island Triathlon!
With incredible views of Marin, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, and the San Francisco Skyline, come watch some of the world's fittest athletes compete! BASOC is co-hosting this event, so support our 2012 Olympic bid by volunteering your help! We're looking for a total of 60-80 volunteers to help out on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning/afternoon. For information about volunteering, please contact James Raybould, BASOC Volunteer Coordinator, at (650) 856-2234 or james@basoc2012.com. To find out more about the event itself, or to register on-line, check out http://www.tricalifornia.com/treasureisland/2001/index.htm.
Thursday, November 15, 2001 - The Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose, 7:00 pm
Honor the pure pursuit of athletic excellence.
Pride yourself on joining a winning team.
Glory in world acclaim for Bay Area Olympic Games.
Unwind after a hard days work at a reception where you will be joined by Northern California Olympians and other celebrity guests. Follow this with a private screening of 'Olympic Glory,' an IMAX salute to the Winter Olympic Games. End the evening with a private exploration of The Tech and a silent auction of Olympic and sports memorabilia - top this off with dessert and coffee and what do you have? An evening that you can't miss! Individual tickets are only $125 for this one-of-a-kind event.
For reservations or further information call Helen Mendel, Director of Marketing for BASOC at (925) 426-5339.
Saturday, December 2, Lake Merced, San Francisco, 8:30 am
Join the Bay Area's local Olympians for a 4.5 mile run/walk around San Francisco's beautiful Lake Merced. Come meet and take pictures with your local Olympians and the Olympic Torch! This event, produced by The Final Result, will help support the Northern California Olympians Travel and Training Grant Program.
In order to participate , a donation of $20 (before 6 p.m. Nov 24) or $24 (on race day) is required. All awards will be presented by Bay Area Olympians!
For further information and race application go to: NCOLYMPIANS.ORG or call 800.491.8988. Outside California, please call 650.696.1196. Applications can be faxed to: 650.342.0323.
Parking Info: The location is at the northern parking lot of Lake Merced, on the
Corner of Lake Merced Blvd, and Sunset Blvd.
June 12-15, 2002, University of California, Berkeley
The 7th World University Taekwondo Championship of FISU will be held June 12-15, 2002 at Haas Pavilion, University of California, Berkeley. Thirty-five countries from six continents will participate with teams of 8 male contestants and 8 female contestants. For more information about the event and how to register your university, check out: http://www.ucmap.org/events/wutc2002
By Elizabeth Faletti, BASOC Volunteer Writer and Editor
One could say that skiing is in Olympian Starr Walton-Hurley's blood and bloodline. Her family's long history of involvement in the sport dates back to her grandfather and great uncle's development of Sugar Bowl. As California's first certified ski instructor, Starr's grandfather joined his brother in building the Rainbow Tavern, a popular hotel and restaurant still in existence today. Upon her father's return from World War II, Starr's parents built and developed Donner Ski Ranch and the surrounding area of Soda Springs.
Starr began skiing at the age of three and won her first race by five. The family relocated to the Sacramento Valley once she reached school age and Starr frequented the slopes in junior competitions. As all competitors were then amateurs, Starr tried out and was chosen for the U.S. Olympic team in 1963. She competed in the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria and placed fourteenth in the downhill, the top American, and ninth in the world that year.
Starr took a few moments to share her thoughts on skiing, what it means to be an Olympian, and her present work with BASOC and the Northern California Olympians (NCO).
What is your favorite memory from your Olympic experience in Innsbruck?
There are two of them. One is walking in behind the children who carry the United States name plate and walking into the stadium as the United States in your uniform with all of the competitors. It's pretty awesome. The reality of it hits you. It's like, 'I'm an Olympian.' My second favorite memory is the closing ceremony. All of the athletes come in together. It's an unstructured parade and I remember walking in with the friends that I made. It really kind of states the camaraderie that has occurred. You may be competitors but, on the other hand, you are new friends and it's incredible.
What was it like competing as an amateur in the Olympics?
Only amateurs could compete back then. We had no logos, no labels…we had to give our equipment back after the Games. To get to the Olympics, my parents paid for everything including various competitions. I represented Sugar Bowl and they gave us a little money but you couldn't take a lot of money because you were considered an amateur. Then, once you were on the team, things were a bit different. No endorsements, though.
How long have you been involved with the Northern California Olympians (NCO)?
I'm going on 15 years. I started becoming involved with NCO when it first started getting together. We held the first Welcome Home Olympian event for returning Northern California athletes. One of the reasons we wanted to hold the event is because as an Olympian you get a huge send off but you come home to an empty stadium if you don't return with a gold medal. It's because of the Northern California Olympians that I have been able to feel comfortable about stating that I am an Olympian.
How are you presently involved with BASOC?
Anne asked me to be an Olympian Representative representing both the Sacramento region where I live and my fellow Olympians. She wants Northern California's Olympians to participate on BASOC's Board of Directors. I also came down and played in BASOC's golf fundraiser. I've been playing golf seriously for a year and I won the longest drive in the First Annual BASOC Celebrity Golf Tournament (224 yards). Yeah, I really hit that ball!
How are you involved in the sport of skiing today?
It's been fun this last year. I have a very close friend who I went to high school with who developed a terrible kidney disease from Vietnam. He was dying, literally, and needed a kidney transplant and the woman he was living with at the time donated her kidney. He was a ski instructor at Squaw Valley for 25 years and became involved with the World Transplant Games. The Games are held every so many years and I was the U.S. Ski Team Coach at this year's competition in Switzerland. We had 17 different countries represented, over 150 competitors from as far away as Japan. We did extraordinarily well and the man who got me involved initially, my dear friend, won a gold medal in the slalom!
I have a passion for skiing. I ski all the time. I am on the slopes and I ski with anybody. I ski with people who can barely stand up and I love it because of the joy of watching their face go from anxiety to this wonderful realization that they can do it! They can be this bird that glides along and it's awesome. When I go to Sun Valley and ski with the Big Boys, as I call them, and I'm cruising at 70 miles an hour down that mountain I am in Hog Heaven. I'm loving every minute of it and I DO wear a helmet.
What other ways do you spend your time these days?
I'm currently in the travel industry. I've been doing tours to Europe and ski tours all over for the past 15 years. I am now doing wine tours. My husband is Honorary Counsel to New Zealand so we've spent quite a bit of time in New Zealand. I have a fabulous wine tour planned for March to both islands. I also do some motivational speaking for a friend of mine who does corporate realignment and brings me in as an athlete to share my personal story about being an Olympian. It's fun and something I'll be doing in the future.
With BASOC's bid being a regional bid, how do you think the Sacramento area would contribute to a 2012 Games?
We have the finest rowing facility that the Olympics can present anywhere (Lake Natoma). I've heard that from Olympic rowers. We will have a velodrome whether the Olympics come or not. And, we're only a hour and a half drive from San Francisco. We will have some of the most imaginative transportation to come up here. We have a waterway that you can come up on. I think being the capital of the great state of California affords a tremendous draw for tourism and there's a lot to see. After all, gold was discovered here! There's so much to do. Sacramento has it all including a number of great Olympians!
Why do you believe that the San Francisco Bay Area is the best choice for the 2012 Games?
Because we can do it the best. I think the Bay Area has tremendous warmth. The organization, the plan presented, tremendously benefits the athlete. Our program has put the athletes first and builds the Olympics around the athletes. That's why I believe so strongly in it.
Thank you Starr for your continued support of BASOC. It was a pleasure speaking with you!
By Ilene Trossman, BASOC Volunteer Writer
The inaugural 2000 Olympic triathlon boasted views of the Sydney harbor and Opera House. To surpass even Sydney's vistas, BASOC recruited Tri-California's Terry Davis, one of triathlon's most experienced race directors, to guide the development of BASOC's 2012 Olympic course. Not only does it provide stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, it follows the same terrain as the famous Escape from Alcatraz, one of the most challenging triathlons in the world.
The triathlon will offer people from all around the world the chance to experience our bid city firsthand. While the venue itself will accommodate 10,000 spectators, the surrounding streets and parklands will provide viewing for hundreds of thousands more. A place can be found for everyone to experience the thrill of an Olympic event.
The Course
An Olympic Distance Triathlon is comprised of a 1.5K swim, 40K bike, and a 10K run. In 2012, the Start/Finish will take place in front of Ghiradelli Square. Athletes will swim in Aquatic Park, cycle through the Marina, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Presidio, and run along Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and the Embarcadero. The Olympic athletes of the Escape and the recent San Francisco Grand Prix would agree that while the scenery is fantastic, the hills are brutal!
Triathlon Popularity Keeps Growing
Triathlon was invented in the early 1970's when the San Diego Track club developed an alternative workout to the rigors of track training. The sport grew rapidly and, in 1989, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) was founded.
In 1994, the triathlon was awarded full medal status on the Olympic programme and made it's debut at the 2000 summer games in Sydney, Australia. Today, there are over one hundred affiliated national federations around the world, including USA Triathlon whose own Siri Lindley is currently ranked Number 1 in the world.
If you are interested in finding out more about the sport of triathlon and local events, contact Tri-California at www.tricalifornia.com. You can also check out Silicon Valley Tri Club or Golden Gate Tri Club.
Treasure Island Triathlon, November 3, 2001
In collaboration with BASOC, Tri-California is staging The Treasure Island Triathlon, an Olympic Distance Triathlon (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run) as well as a Sprint Distance Triathlon (.5K swim, 20K mi bike and 5K run). With incredible views of Marin, Alcatraz, both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, and the San Francisco Skyline, you can participate or simply watch some of the world's fittest athletes compete, including our own BASOC relay team! To find out more about the event itself check out: http://www.tricalifornia.com/treasureisland/2001/index.htm.
BASOC is playing a major role as co-host in this event. Please help support our bid by volunteering your time. We are looking for volunteers to work shifts for registration on Friday (12-3:30 pm and 3:30-7pm) and during the event on race day (5:30am-12 pm, 11 am-3pm). Opportunities include talking to the community at the BASOC booth at the expo, assisting at the swim start, in the transition area, in the hospitality tent, or handing out medals at the finish line. We'd like to have over 75 BASOC supporters working as volunteers over the course of the two days, so come assist at a great event and boost our Olympic bid. It's unparalleled fun for the whole family!
To volunteer for this event, or to assist in the future, please contact James Raybould, BASOC Volunteer Coordinator, at (650) 856-2234 or james@basoc2012.com. With your help, 'San Francisco 2012 - It Could Happen!!'
By Lauren Brock, BASOC Volunteer Writer
Recruiting financiers for an Olympic Games can be likened to the task of coaching a world championship basketball team. BASOC must draw economic support from a variety of sectors in a community, just as it is the coach's responsibility to draft players with different positions and skills. Similarly, as initial investors have been asked to give money to a dream that won't materialize for a decade, coaches demand that their players work hard in training camp even though there are several months until the playoffs. While donors look to BASOC to keep them interested in the Olympic Movement, the basketball coach inspires his or her team and drives them all the way through the post-season. Luckily, in the world of income development, BASOC has found their star coach in Duncan Matteson.
Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Duncan L. Matteson attended the University of Missouri on a basketball scholarship before marrying his high school sweetheart and serving three years in the U.S. Air Force. He and his wife Shirley moved to California in 1959 where he took a job trading securities in the Bay Area. Five years later, he changed fields when a family owning three large real estate companies hired him as a sales manager for both commercial and residential properties. In 1978, he started his own business, Matteson Investment Corporation, and today his assets include high-quality Bay Area commercial and apartment properties managed by Matteson Realty Services, Inc. and Matteson Real Estate Equities, Inc. Duncan is also a member of numerous boards throughout the Bay Area, including the Greater Bay Bancorp and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Busy as he is, we recently managed to snag a bit of Duncan's time to chat with him about his volunteer duties at BASOC:
How did you first become involved in BASOC and what is your current role?
I was first approached by BASOC almost two years ago because of my position as Chairman of the Greater Bay Bancorp. Anne Cribbs told me about the bid for 2012 and how it would be a great investment for the Bancorp, so I pledged our support as one of the first Gold Founders and became a member of the Board of Directors. I am now the Chairman of the Income Development Team whose job is to write letters and place calls to companies and individuals who we think should be financial supporters of BASOC 2012.
You also co-chaired the BASOC celebrity golf tournament with Jim Woolwine in September. What were some of the highlights?
Everything about the day was wonderful! The course at CordeValle in San Martin was challenging but beautiful and it was a five star day for the weather. All of the volunteers worked very hard to ensure the tournament ran smoothly and the staff at CordeValle went out of their way to provide excellent service. The highlight for me was getting to play with one of the Olympians in my five-some, Debbie Meyer, who has held five world records simultaneously in swimming. Her bio was truly impressive!
What has been the biggest challenge for you so far, and what is coming up?
The biggest challenge is getting people to realize the enormity of the project that BASOC is tackling and how much their support is needed now, even though the Olympics wouldn't come to the Bay Area until 2012. Most people don't understand the timetable of planning for an Olympic Games and how much work there is to be done. I will continue to try to educate others about the importance of the Olympic Movement, especially in light of the tragic events of September 11th. Now it is even more important to show people how sports can bring the world together and how cultures can commune in peace.
What is your favorite Olympic memory?
That's a very tough question but since I love basketball, I'd have to say watching the U.S. men's team win the gold medal in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 2000 in Sydney. I had tickets to both events! My wife and I loved our trip to Sydney, and the highlight of those Olympics for me was watching the U.S. baseball team beat Cuba for the gold medal in a tight match.
If BASOC wins the bid, what would be the first ticket you buy in 2012?
I would definitely try for the Opening Ceremonies. They are always so magical.
Thanks for taking this time out with us Duncan, and good luck in your continuing efforts!
By Teka Thomas, BASOC Volunteer Writer
'We haven't had it, so we want it!' exclaims Sue Maloney, a Group Vice President for Ketchum, describing her agency's passion for helping bring the Games of the Thirtieth Olympiad to the Bay Area. Ketchum has been BASOC's conduit to the mass media since October 1999. They figure to play a major role in the future as the momentum builds towards the United States Olympic Committee's selection of the American bid city for the 2012 Games.
Ketchum is a global public relations agency with 100 people in their San Francisco office. While Sue oversees the Brand Marketing Group, the day-to-day management of the account is handled by Erica Archambault and Michelle Sibbitt. While the core management team has six people, as many as twenty people have pitched in to help work two major media events.
Two such high profile news conferences that Ketchum helped organize were in December 2000 and June 2001, both at Pacific Bell Park. The December event was to show the unified support to the region's Olympic bid from our region's political leadership as the bid was submitted. It was this BASOC event that brought Bay Area mayors together in support of the bid and provided the media with a great photo. In June, for the final bid submission, Ketchum organized a media event showcasing the 'Theme Teams' responsible for the many parts of the BASOC bid.
The genuine passion and enthusiasm for the Games runs throughout the Ketchum team. 'We're all sports freaks,' says Sue. Erica adds that, 'It is one of the most exciting (accounts) I've worked…There is a genuine anticipation and community spirit.' Working with the press is the primary service that Ketchum provides for BASOC. This includes sending out media alerts, producing materials for major media events, and pitching ideas for stories.
BASOC CEO Anne Cribbs has ready praise for Ketchum's 'experienced and talented staff.' Anne sums up Ketchum's effect saying that, 'The results speak for themselves.'
By Elizabeth Faletti, Volunteer Writer and Editor
Have you ever met someone whose welcoming smile instantly sets you at ease? A professional whose sharp wit and confidence lights up a room? Helen Mendel, BASOC's Director of Marketing, is such a person. Born in New Jersey and transplanted as a freshman to San Jose's Camden High School, Helen considers herself a 'Bay Area gal.' She attended San Jose State and now resides in Pleasanton where she has directed her own marketing and special events management company, All Pro Promotions, for the past 20 years. As BASOC's Director of Marketing, she brings a rich background in marketing, public relations, and fundraising to the job. Her enthusiasm and down-to-earth attitude is a true asset to the BASOC team. Helen took some time out of her schedule to tell me more about her professional efforts, volunteer work, and direction in a variety of BASOC projects.
Tell me about your professional life.
I have a very diverse background of clients in the Bay Area. For a long time, I focused my career on shopping center management and marketing. I have my CMD designation (Certified Marketing Director) from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
With All Pro Promotions, I've been working as a consultant in marketing, management, and strategic planning with a variety of corporations and non-profit organizations. I have been producing gala type events, auctions, celebrity golf & tennis tournaments, and trade shows. I place Bay Area professional athletes at community events and in schools to inspire kids to stay in school, help them with their self-esteem, and motivate them to work hard. The athletes also appear at event autograph sessions, speaking engagements for corporations, and other activities.
One of the special projects I was involved in was producing the San Francisco Forty Niners cookbook "Cookin' with Champions". All the book proceeds benefited the American Cancer Society and the 49ers Foundation. It was a hit and made the SF Chronicle's best list in 1995! It is now a collectors item. Funny, I even saw it on eBay last year and what a shock that was!!!
Tell us about your volunteer work.
One of the things I am most proud of is my work as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society where I began with the Santa Clara County unit and became their president in 1986. I then went on to the California Division as a board representative and moved through the chairmanships of different committees. I served as the California Division Treasurer for two years and then became the Chairman of the Board for 1997-98. California has the largest division in the country which raises over $60 million a year and has almost 350,000 volunteers. It was an amazing experience leading the organization, along with my president partner and our CEO.
We also helped to pass Proposition 10 - The Tobacco Tax Initiative - which was on the California ballot. Working side by side with Rob Reiner (the Meathead), we campaigned across the state. I was given a political appointment to serve four years as Chair of the Alameda County Children and Families Commission which is funded by Prop Ten tobacco tax. This commission oversees 20 million dollars and the program is dedicated to funding children's programs from age 0 to age 5.
One of the highlights as Chairman of the Board was going to Washington D.C. to lobby for more cancer research funds and having dinner at the Vice President's house. I continue today as a volunteer and a past Chairman of the Board and serve as a delegate from California on the National Assembly.
How did you get involved with BASOC?
This is a great story! I received a call from Rodger Rickard who is a BASOC Board of Directors member and he asked me to come with him to meet Anne Cribbs, BASOC's CEO. He felt the two of us should work together given my past experience in marketing, fundraising, working with athletes and the media and Anne's background as an Olympian, one of the founders of the ABL (American Basketball League) and her public relations company and other ventures. Rodger was an investor in the ABL and I had worked as a consultant for him and his Portland Power team for a short time. So, I met Anne and we bonded immediately. I then joined BASOC in 1999 as the Director of Marketing and have really enjoyed working with Anne and our BASOC Board and team of volunteers and Olympians.
What has been your role so far?
Roles have developed and evolved over time given the fact our staff is very small and we wear multiple hats. I have been developing and producing most of our fundraising and special events in the community - including our successful golf tournament held at CordeValle in September - and staging our press conferences. I worked on the Bid helping with research, some writing and editing, and with the design team and printers making sure we stayed on schedule. I was able to recruit UPS (United Parcel Service) to donate the packaging and shipping of numerous copies of the 3-volume bid to the USOC - that was an experience I will save for our BASOC book!
I have made several speeches about BASOC and our efforts in the community. I have also made a few television appearances in support of our outreach. I worked with DDB's creative writer and produced our BASOC radio spots with the generosity of the KARA/KRTY radio production staff and of our Bay Area Olympians.
I have been spearheading our eBay partnership effort to raise funds. That continues to be an exciting way to spread our BASOC message to everyone.
When the USOC came here to inspect our bid city in August, I was responsible for the inspection logistics, planning and implementing the tour routes with the CHP (California Highway Patrol), overall coordination of our efforts at the venues in conjunction with our Bid Director, CEO, and BASOC staff and planning both social events. It was a week I will never forget and, as the Director of Marketing for BASOC, I was very proud of all our volunteers who stepped up to help us in a variety of ways.
What can we expect to see in the future regarding fundraising and special events?
I would imagine we will continue to annualize the events we have begun this year that were most successful. I know the celebrity golf tournament will be held again Sept 9th 2002 at CordeValle. We will hopefully have at least one event per quarter that will help us raise friends and funds. Our relationships built over time will play an important role in our efforts to become the U.S. Candidate City to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
Thank you Helen for your enthusiasm and support of BASOC's bid for the 2012 Games!
Please send comments, suggestions, and questions to: BASOC E-Newsletter, 1900 Embarcadero Road, Suite 102, Palo Alto, CA 94303 info@basoc2012.com
BASOC e-newsletter writing provided by dedicated BASOC volunteers and writing and editing provided by Elizabeth Faletti of The Write Stuff! - Berkeley, CA (510) 486-1843.
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