Old School Meet in Old School Gym: USAWA Nationals Location Change!
by Thom Van Vleck
Attention: This article contains important information on a change in venue for the 2011 USAWA Nationals!
No School like the Old School: Williard Elementary, new location for the USAWA Nationals!!!
My Uncle Phil once told me, “Through no fault of your own….you always seem to have the worst luck”. I guess he was saying that while I do most everything right the variables I can’t control seem to often conspire against me. However, I have always believed that when the world gives you lemons make lemonade and then grill a nice steak to go with it!
I was notified today that the local National Guard Unit is being activated due to flooding in Missouri. Their home is the Rieger Armory and since they are being activated we have lost that location as the meet site. I was told this was the first time since 1993 this had happened! This caused me to take off from work and search frantically for a new meet location! I did NOT want anyone to be disappointed when they showed up! As a result, I tried to be picky….but on short notice “beggars can’t be choosers”. However, I think the location I have found will work out even better!
It is the old Williard School. Just a few blocks away from the downtown square and the Dukum Inn where our banquet will be held. The address is 707 N Centennial Street, Kirksville, MO 63501. This is an old elementary school built about 80 years ago that has been converted into a private daycare. A good friend of mine runs it and was willing to let us use the location. The building is on the corner of Centennial and Cottonwood streets and the gym entrance is on the South side of the building (the Cottonwood street side).
This gym is straight out of the 1950’s and since we are an “old school” type lifting organization I thought it was pretty fitting that we end up in an “old school” for our meet.
If you have any questions on the location, just let me know. I will have me cell phone on me that day and if you attend the annual meeting the night before we will tell you how to get to the meet. Cottonwood actually intersects with Highway 63, which is the major North/South highway in town so it is actually only involves one turn to get there from the highway! Looking forward to seeing everyone!