October 31, 2006

Dear Sir,

If you would print this letter to bring to the running and walking public's attention that the Bermuda Track & Field Association's Race Weekend committee has passed that "ALL ENTRIES INTO THE 2007 EVENT WILL BE ONLY OVER THE INTERNET". This would mean no more entering for locals at the sport and running shops. The following day the BTFA President confirmed that decision.

This change would be for all participants, resident and foreign. I could understand it for the foreign participants, but local too! It is said that change is good, yes, but not all change.

Why this change? Was money being lost from the shops entered at? Were making the entry forms too expensive? Minimise it. Is the BTFA in the "red"? Just the opposite.

Is Bermuda as big as the USA, Canada, or even Jamaica where it could take the local person months to travel to get or drop off entry forms? Nope.

Do all have access to the internet? Are all satisfied with putting their credit card numbers on the internet? Nope for both. How many know the BTFA website? What happens if a large number wanted to enter as a group? I have not even seen any media publicising here of this change and it's now 30 October 2006, and Early Entry ends the November 29. Maybe they won't have to publicise the change, as this letter will get more attention than their late, quiet method.

Has the Race Weekend been publicised here yet? What a lack of Public Relations. I really only want your money.

Are the BTFA and Tourism looking at collecting much more money from late entry? Residents are known to enter late. The entry fee has even risen, but who knows. So if less participants, maybe the same or more money collected.

Is it true that the money collected will not be going to the BTFA? That'll be a change. Is the BTFA no longer the owner of this event?

It is not too late to give people the choice of entry. Maybe it is too late, as some of the same persons on the BTFA Race Weekend Committee were on the past "Great Bermuda Walk's" Committee. Is that great walk still going on in 2006 or even 2007? Nope, it has not happened for a couple of years now. It came fast and ended fast.

Thank you for the space.

ROGER LAMBERT