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WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
By Jeff Benjamin

A Column appearing every two months informing people about the POSITIVE things which are going on in the Staten Island running community.

October 23, 2002 - "I'll be there...what time do you need me?"

These words, without a doubt, are like a gift to someone who is a race director. As many know, a race is only as successful as it's volunteer work. It really is a credit for an event to have dedicated volunteers who keep the event successful.

Perhaps no volunteer has said these words more often over the past 10 years to any race director on Staten Island than Lorraine Lettieri. Starting out in the Staten Island Athletic Club in the early 1990's, Lorraine was always there for the club in every conceivable capacity, whether it was giving out water to runners, setting up finish lines or handling race day entries. In her capacity as SIAC treasurer, Lorraine helped renew the club's non-profit status, filling out the much needed and painstakingly slow paperwork to get that accomplished. Along with the other officers of the SIAC, Lorraine helped secure the date and place for the SIAC/Triple Crown awards dinner year after year, even helping to set up guest appearances as well.

Her service to the running community didn't end there, however. When not running in the events herself, Lorraine would still be there to help the event keep going. She also has volunteered her time at the CYO track events, as well as the St. Joseph-by-the-sea Big Blue Track Classic, and the Monsignor Farrell Invitational. Lorraine is also serving on the board of TRAC, helping that non-profit organization not only in hopefully realizing it's goal of an indoor track on Staten Island, but once again, doing the bureaucratic work necessary for such an organization to survive.The last time I called on Lorraine was to help out at the BIll Welsh 5k race in 2001. As always, she was there, and once again was a key member of that group as well.

Now it's the Island's running community's turn. Lorraine has been selected to receive the Lou Marli Service award at this years SIAC/Triple Crown Awards dinner. Here's hoping that this time, it will be all of us who will say, "I'll be there...what time do you need me?" to sincerely honor this fine woman who has given so much of her time to the Island running community.

See you all on Wednesday eve, November 6th.

Oh, and by the way, congratulations Lorraine! You're getting CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE!!!