Congratulations to our Flyer of the Year, Gabi D.!

Gabi writes: Wow – that pretty much sums up my surprise to being named Flyer of the Year. I honestly never expected to win the award.
I’ll have been a Flyer for ten years in August and I can honestly tell you that I have been blessed with incredible support and friendship from the club. From the 2003 Executive Board celebrating my birthday and wedding at a meeting, to singing in a video to convince you to vote for a change in the By-laws while 7 months pregnant in 2005, to scaring the daylights out of the Powergel folks that same year, but now 9 months pregnant and 5 days before my due date, to celebrating my half marathon P.R. at the More in 2008 by passing out water to the marathoners, to last Saturday night, were I got more texts and calls then AT& T knew what to do with.
The Flyers have been there for me through many times and for that I thank you, the members. While I could not make it on Saturday as my extended family is going through some very difficult times, my goddaughter Grace tells me that she is looking forward to meeting all of you and crossing the finish line in Central Park with me.
To you new members, treasure the times with the club, make wonderful friends, run strong and volunteer much. It is so worth it.

Thank you all again.
Go Flyers - Gabi

Gabi joined the Flyers in 2001 and was elected Treasurer in 2003. In this role she secured various permits and aided the social chairs by taking charge of entrance and raffle fees at most social events. Additionally, in 2003, Gabi was a member of the Coach Search Committee after the retirement of long time coach Cliff Held.

The following year she was elected club President. During her tenure, she supported and facilitated the expansion of the club’s volunteer activities with the Central Park Conservancy, and the NYRR Long Training Runs which have continued to this day. She went to the NYRR with the idea of a Flyer aid station at the NYC Marathon, subsequently creating, organizing, and staffing the first-ever Flyers PowerGel Station which is now in its 7th year. She has continued her involvement in this effort to the present time, including the recruiting an management of 100+ volunteers each year.

As co-Chair of the Bylaws Committee in 2005, Gabi successfully helped lead the Flyers through the passage of Stage I of the badly-needed Bylaws changes which were enacted the following year. Gabi also helped research and resolve legal issues, liability issues and other insurance concerns, and confirmed compliance with RRCA policy in these areas.

In 2006, Gabi continued to take a huge role in the club, by taking over the weekly email editor role and management of the announcements page. She continued the job of the "voice of the weekly email" until the blog was established this year, when she became a regular blogger. Her unpretentious manner of dealing with running, professional and family obligations as conveyed in her writing, is inspiring.

As a volunteer, she is indomitable. A few years back Gabi ran in the More Half Marathon and achieved a big PR. Many runners would celebrate such an accomplishment by treating themselves to a big post-race meal (or at least a nap). Gabi quickly changed at the finishing area near Tavern on the Green, then made her way over to the Flyers’ Water Station behind the Metropolitan Museum and volunteered for the duration of the More Marathon. She has also and served as a pace leader for the Long Training Runs for a number of years and has participated in the Flyers’ volunteer events with the Central Park Conservancy.

Congratulations, Gabi!