VOLKSSPORTING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

The greatest reward for exercise is good health and fitness, but volkssporters can also be recognized for their accomplishments through the International Achievement Awards Program. A unique aspect of volkssporting, these awards are based on the number of events completed and/or the number of kilometers walked, biked, skied or skated. Volkssporters may participate in events in any of the 29 International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV) member nations. Many events also offer a medal, patch, collector's plate or some other memento to commemorate that particular event. Recognition through The U. S. President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is also available to people who participate in volkssporting events.

All of TVK's volksporting events are sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association (AVA) in the IVV and are eligible for credit towards the IVV's Achievement Awards Program.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV) has an incentive awards program which is separate from the awards offered by the individual clubs for many of their events. The IVV's individual achievement awards consist of a cloth patch, hatpin, and certificate indicating the level of achievement for two types of participation: "events" and "distance". Both awards may be earned simultaneously. There is no time limit for completing a specified number of events or distance.

The proof of completing an event is recorded in official IVV Record Books. They may be purchased at event registration tables or ordered from the American Volkssport Association (AVA) headquarters. The current price is $5.00 which covers the cost of the patch, pin and certificate.

After completing an event, present your Record Books along with your validated start card at the table marked "Finish". Your books will be stamped with the official AVA/IVV stamp for that event--nicknamed the "credit stamp". After completing a Record Book, mail it to the "AVA, Awards and Records Department, 1001 Pat Booker Road, Suite 101, Universal City, TX 78148-4147". The Record Book will be returned to you through the mail along with the patch, pin and certificate for the appropriate level of achievement. In addition your name and achievement level will be entered in The American Wanderer--the national volkssporting magazine. After you redeem your first Record Book, you will receive your own AVA Registration Number to be used on all future Record Books. Be sure to store your returned Record Books in a safe place; for future award requests you will need to include the Record Book for the previous earned award. After purchasing a new Record Book, immediately fill in the name and address information--should you happen to lose your Record Book during an event, if found, it can then be mailed to you. Here are AVA's guidelines for submitting the Record Books.

Achievement Awards may be earned for completing a designated number of events. An event is an officialy numbered AVA or IVV walk, bike, swim, ski or skating activity. Awards are granted for the following levels: after completing 10, 30, and 50 events, and every 25 events thereafter until 600 events; after 600, every 50 events. Each numbered event may be entered only once in the Record Book. For year-round events, each event may be stamped in the Event Record Books twice during a calendar year-- once between January 1 and June 30 and once between July 1 and December 31.

.
Event Award patch [x1] and hatpin [x2].

DISTANCE AWARDS

The Distance Achievement Awards may be earned for accumulating official volkssporting kilometers from the walking, biking, ski touring and skating events. Awards are granted for achieving the following levels: after every 500 kilometers until 8000 kilometers; after 8000, every 1000 kilometers. The same event, including the year-round and seasonal events, may be entered in the Distance Books multiple times--as often as the event is completed.

.
Distance Award patch [x1] and hatpin [x2].

The AVA offers additional special achievement awards. Through the "Fifty State/Fifty-One Capital Programs" you may earn an award for completing a volkssporting event in each of the 50 U. S. States, and, another award for completing a volkssporting event in the capital city of each of the 50 States and the Nation's capital. There is an award - "Walking Our National Heritage Award" - for completing a volkssporting event in 10 different U. S. National Park sites. Contact the AVA to obtain the special record books for these awards. Here is a list of AVA's Special Awards Programs.