By Debby Woodin
news@joplinglobe.com
JOPLIN, Mo. —
The director of the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau says the paid organizer of this year’s Mother Road Marathon is jumping ahead of planning efforts for next year, and he wants a face-to-face meeting before the city makes any further commitment to the organizer.
The Oct. 10 inaugural Mother Road Marathon, which drew about 1,500 runners, was created by former CVB Director Vince Lindstrom. It was planned by a committee of volunteers from cities along Route 66 from Joplin to Commerce, Okla. Lindstrom and the former director of the Joplin Sports Authority co-chaired the effort.
Lindstrom, who retired Nov. 1 and was succeeded by Tim Cox, had hired Reinke Sports Group of Winter Park, Fla., a professional marathon consultant, to handle the marketing and entries, and assist in guiding plans.
Cox acknowledged on Friday that the CVB put up a message on the marathon’s Facebook social media page on the Internet on Thursday that said the CVB has decided not to use the Reinke group for next year’s event.
The message starts out thanking participants for their comments and announcing a date of Oct. 9 for next year’s event.
It states that the Reinke group, headed by Dean Reinke, was “an integral part” of helping the communities along Route 66 plan the event.
“However, upon conclusion of the event it has been the decision of the city of Joplin and the Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau to not utilize the Reineke Sports Group for any future events, races or activities officially associated with the Mother Road Marathon,” the posting reads.
It says the city of Joplin and the CVB are the copyright holders and owners of the event.
There are comments on the page that indicate that Reinke has been e-mailing participants to sign up for next year.
Cox, asked Friday why Reinke won’t be rehired, said a decision on whether to rehire Reinke actually is pending. Globe efforts to reach Reinke on Friday were unsuccessful.
For more of this story, pick up a copy of Saturday’s Joplin Globe or register for our E-Edition here at joplinglobe.com.
