November 2009

Hi Everyone!

As most of you know, we have a weekly Saturday Run. Compared to our other store events, this one is tough to nail down. One week we'll have five or six folks show up and the following weekend we'll have one. When the weather's nice we have less folks than when it's pouring rain. A holiday weekend may bring extra runners one weekend but none show at the next. I'm left scratching my head as I try to figure out how to make this run a valuable community resource.

I think I may have just figured it out. Our one-and-only regular Saturday runner, Keith, enlightened me.

I can always count on Keith to show up for our Saturday Run. All too often he's the only attendee. But this doesn't deter him. He still comes, religiously, and helps me brainstorm how to get the word out about the run. Though we enjoy each other's company we also would like to include others on the list of Saturday "regulars".

During a run a few week back, Keith mentioned a way he and his wife help raise money in their church. Coincidentally, at this same time I had been thinking about how to do something similar in the Fleet Feet community. Keith's idea was exactly what I needed to hear. Serendipity. With his permission I decided to steal it.

I want Fleet Feet to be an integral part in the local community of giving. So we're challenging our entire customer database, some 7500 folks, to identify someone they know who would benefit from a financial gift of some sort. Giving just to give. It feels good and it is good.

Now for the challenge...

Fleet Feet is giving five customers $50 cash with the challenge to turn it into $500 for their recipient. We hope that this initial $50 gets the ball rolling and multiplies over the next two months. But there's a catch! If you accept the challenge, you MUST tell us how you did it and for whom you did it. We can't wait to read those stories!

We call ourselves a community. Well, now's the time for us to act like one.

Thanks Keith for making me see the value (and potential value) in our Saturday Run. And thanks to you ALL for considering this challenge in any capacity. See below if you are interested.

I toast you all at my Thanksgiving table!

To Your Health,

tom