INSIDE TRACK
WINTER 2011
Quarterly Newsletter for the Members of the Road Runners Club of America IN THIS ISSUE: !
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Renewal Time is Underway 54th Annual Convention Preview Resources for Club & Event Directors RRCA Program Spotlight
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2012 Election Notice
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And more…
RRCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Brent Ayer President David Cotter Vice President Dennis Novak Treasurer Dan Edwards Secretary, At-Large Director Mark Grandonico Eastern Region Director Mitchell Garner Central Region Director Lena Hollmann Southern Region Director Bailey Penzotti Western Region Director Kelly Richards At-Large Director
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL PERIOD IS UNDERWAY AT THE RRCA RRCA membership runs on the calendar year. All members must renew by February 1st to ensure full coverage of all club and event activities. Find details about the membership term along with membership policies and guidelines at www.rrca.org/membership/. For the fifth year in a row the RRCA Board of Directors has elected to maintain the membership dues at the current rate. We are able to do this through prudent financial management of the organization and from generous financial support by our members and corporate supporters for our programs. All 2012 membership renewals will be processed using our online system. You can find the membership renewal information at www.rrca.org/membership/joinrenew/. While the RRCA accepts credit card payments, we kindly ask that all members pay dues and insurance by check. Payment by check supports the RRCA by saving the organization thousands of dollars in credit card processing fees, especially if your dues and insurance exceeds $500. An IMPORTANT Note about Primary Contacts: Each running club and event member is assigned ONE Primary Contact person who is the authorized representative to renew a club or event membership in our database. • If you were the Primary Contact for your club or event in 2011 you will be able to log in using your User ID & Password assigned previously. • If you are the NEW Primary Contact for your club or event in 2012, please create a personal profile Once you have created a profile, send an email to membership@rrca.org. In the subject line of the e-mail, write – Primary Contact Update and include your full name and running club or event name. We will notify you when the change of primary contact is complete for your organization, and then you can proceed with the renewal process. For 2012, we will continue to offer the two options for liability coverage for clubs and events. The RRCA insurance program provides for $1 million per occurrence coverage with no aggregate limit for clubs and events (our standard policy) and $2 million per occurrence coverage with no aggregate limit based on the number of household members or event participants. We recommend that members select the $1 million per occurrence in liability option if they are not required by their local government to insure their activities for $2 million or more. The liability insurance rates have NOT increased for running clubs for 2012. For event members, dues remain the same, but there is an increase in the liability insurance rates for events. However, rates remain the same for events with 12K participants or more. You can find the detailed dues and insurance rates online at www.rrca.org/membership/join-renew/. A copy of the insurance policy will be emailed to all primary contacts for clubs and events in late February. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear RRCA Members, So much is happening inside the Road Runners Club of America as the fall racing season winds down, and we prepare for the long slog of winter training. Two groups that will not be “slogging” will assemble in Houston on January 14 to contest the U.S. Olympic Trials in the Marathon for both men and women to determine who will represent us at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Currently, 150 men and 194 women have met the qualifying standards to compete in Houston in 2012. Of this group, nearly twenty are Roads Scholar grant recipients. The Roads Scholar program was started by the RRCA in 1996 to provide post-collegiate support for promising young runners. Included among the entrants for the event as of the date of print are James Carney (2005), Josh Cox (2001), Mike Morgan (2005), Trent Briney (2005), Tyler McCandless (2011), Lucinda (Hull) Smith (2005), Deena Kastor (1997), Mehgan Peyton (2011), and Michelle Frey (2007). Entrants are updated daily and can be found at www.usatf.org/events/2012/OlympicTrialsMarathon/entry/status.asp. The event will be broadcast on NBC the same day and details can be found at http://www.houston2012.com/. Closer to home, under the leadership of RRCA Vice President David Cotter, the Kids Run the Nation grant program has been growing at a nearly exponential rate, climbing from $5,000 in 2009 to $15,000 in 2010 to $20,000 this year. My personal thanks to all of our very generous donors for helping to make this program a success. Finally, the RRCA has brought on Randy Accetta to update and expand the RRCA Coaching Certification program. Randy is the current RRCA State Representative for Arizona and serves as the Mentor-inResidence for the University of Arizona’s Entrepreneurship Center. Additionally, he has written runningbased articles that have been published in Running Times, Runners World and the New York Times and he serves on the board of directors of the Southern Arizona Roadrunners. If you have suggestions for improving the coaching program, please be certain to share them with the national office. See you in Memphis!
Keep Running, BRENT AYER RRCA President SU PPO RT TH E RRCA A financial contribution to the RRCA from you, your club, or your event(s) supports our programs such as the Kids Run the Nation grant program, the Roads Scholar program, the Runner Friendly Community program, and much more. You support enables us to develop, improve, and implement valuable programs that benefit the running community. Give today! Mail your contribution to RRCA, 1501 Lee Hwy, Ste 140, Arlington, VA 22201
Support
Give online at: www.RRCA.org/about/support/
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Support
Support
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
IMPORTANT: RRCA Membership and Insurance is non-transferable. RRCA clubs that assist other organizations with putting on an event may NOT extend insurance coverage to these organizations. If the club does not own the race or manage all aspects of the event, it is not an insured event of the club. In this case, the organization receiving the assistance must join the RRCA as an event member to obtain insurance for their event. Race Directing companies may insure an event through the RRCA if they OWN the race and direct all aspects of the race. If the race directing company is assisting another organization with elements of an event such as timing or finish line services, this event is not owned by the race directing company and not insured. Transferring or selling of the RRCA insurance to third parties by race directing companies and clubs for nonowned events is FRAUD. Clubs and race directing companies assisting other organizations with their events must instruct that organization to obtain and show proof of event insurance from the RRCA or another insurance provider. IMPORTANT: Exclusions to Covered Activities. For 2012, the RRCA group liability policy will no longer cover high risk events that include overnight relay races run on open roads (no police support, no road closures, or separate lanes for participants), and high risk events commonly referred to as mud-runs, “warrior dashes”, and urbanathons that include man-made obstacles such as man-made mud pits, man-made slippery slopes, wall climbs, tunnel crawls, or other similar man-made obstacles. Events run on man-made trails or cross country courses that do not include man-made obstacles ARE included in coverage, but the course cannot be altered to create man-made obstacles such as watering-down a dry trail or cross country course with a hose to make it muddy. Star Insurance can write a policy specifically for your event if the RRCA insurance program cannot cover the event due to exclusions to our policy. Contact Terry Diller at 260-467-5690. The RRCA reserves the right to deny access to the insurance program for activities it deems beyond the scope of the covered activities of policy. Each member should review and understand the details of the general liability program prior to obtaining coverage. All primary contacts for member clubs and event must review the insurance program information on the RRCA website at www.rrca.org/services/insurance/. There are no refunds if any club or race activities including prerace planning, pre-race marketing, and registration collection have occurred in the year, even if a race gets cancelled or a club dissolves. SUBMIT YOUR RUNNING CLUB ROSTER RRCA club members are required to submit a roster of household members to the RRCA in order to verify appropriate insurance coverage, provide your members with Club Running magazine, and Keeping Pace emails. Download the RRCA Roster template at www.rrca.org/membership/join-renew/rosters/, include your roster data in the template, save the file as instructed, and upload your club’s roster through our website. LIST CLUB OWNED RACES ON THE RRCA ONLINE CALENDAR Your renewal is not complete until you add your races to the RRCA’s online calendar. This serves as a record of your club’s activities for insurance coverage. All RRCA event members need to list their events on the calendar as well. Yes, we do actually review the calendar from time to time when additional insured certificates are requested to verify club or event ownership of the event. Failure to list your events on the calendar could result in non-coverage of an event if an insurance claim is submitted. Listing club training runs and social activities on the RRCA calendar is optional. Events can be added to the calendar by members throughout the year as they are planned. Contact Dorothy@RRCA.org if you need assistance listing your event.
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MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL CONCLUDED
VOLUNTEER MEDICAL PERSONNEL COVERAGE Both running clubs and events will be able to purchase additional coverage for volunteer medical personnel at a rate of $250 for the year for $1 million per occurrence coverage, and $300 for $2 million per occurrence coverage. The Volunteer Medical Personnel Endorsement covers emergency first aid and/or on-course medical treatment by properly licensed medical personnel working on a voluntary basis. Paid medical staff are not covered under this endorsement. All members are encouraged to review the RRCA insurance program information at www.RRCA.org/services/insurance/ for details about coverage. SEXUAL ABUSE & MOLESTATION COVERAGE Both levels of the RRCA liability insurance program provides for sexual abuse and molestation (SAM) coverage up to $500,000 per occurrence with a cap of $ 5 million. It is very important that all RRCA members managing youth running programs or events adopt a criminal background check for all youth coaches and youth program volunteers along with a SAM abuse reporting policy and procedure. The RRCA has partnered with the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) to provide an affordable background screening service for our members. All RRCA members will receive a 10% discount on background screening through NCSI. For more information call 440-542-9690. A link to NCSI along with a sample policy and abuse reporting procedure can be found at www.rrca.org/programs/kids-run-the-nation/program-directors/. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS (D&O) INSURANCE COVERAGE The RRCA believes that the additional insurance coverage afforded by D&O coverage is very necessary in a day and age when some clubs have already found themselves and their officers subjected to allegations of discrimination as a result of race policy and procedure. Even if the claim is a questionable one, to have to defend a tenuous claim in court can generate extraordinary legal expenses. Of course, not only does our insurance indemnify the club from loss—it also pays the cost of litigation. In order to make the coverage affordable, it must be a mandatory part of our insurance package for nonprofit running clubs and events, but the cost is minimal ($175.00 per year) when compared to the expenses individual members of a running club could incur in the event of an allegation, which would be outside our general liability insurance but fall within the purview of D&O endorsement. D&O insurance extends a safety net beyond the classic tort, or negligence situation, which might generate a claim against a member organization. D&O coverage will protect the officers and directors of nonprofit clubs and events from certain situations where the club might find itself subjected to a claim as a result of an error in judgment or challenged matter of policy. As noted in the Spring Inside Track, the RRCA recommends adopting a member code of conduct and policy and procedure for removal of members that violate the club’s code of conduct. Good governance practices such as this can help protect a club in the event of a claim. D&O insurance does not extend to for-profit business entities that own and direct races. Individuals that own races and direct races for a profit are highly encouraged to obtain their own business insurance to ensure their business activities are covered.
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BID TO HOST A 2013 RRCA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP !
2013 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BID DEADLINE: JANUARY 31, 2012 The RRCA National Championship designation is awarded on an annual basis, and we are now accepting bids for 2013 National Championships for the following distances: *5K *10 K * 10 Mile *Half Marathon (13.1 miles) * Marathon (26.2 miles) * Ultra (any distance over 26.2 miles) CHAMPIONSHIP BID SUBMISSION DEADLINES Bids for National events are awarded a year in advance for marketing purposes. We are currently accepting bids for the 2013 National Championships. There is a $250 non-refundable marketing fee if awarded a National Championship designation. Hosting an RRCA National Championship event is a great way for an RRCA club or nonprofit event to spotlight a marquee race in their community. RRCA Championships receive a sponsorship package as outlined on the RRCA website along with RRCA media coverage of the event. National Championships are advertised annually in Club Running and Running Times magazine. In addition the RRCA will promote all National Championships through our social media, and the RRCA executive director will be in attendance at the National Championship events to assist with awards and post race reporting in Club Running magazine. Bid today at www.RRCA.org/programs/championship-series/hosting/.
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TOP 10 REASONS TO JOIN US IN MEMPHIS FOR THE 54TH ANNUAL CONVENTION 10. The food! 9. Known worldwide as the "Home of the Blues & Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll - not to mention gospel, jazz, R&B, rap and soul, Memphis is mentioned in more songs than any other city in the world - more than 400 according to Billboard Magazine. Isn’t your iPod just telling you to come see us? 8. Kemmons Wilson opened the first Holiday Inn in 1952 in his hometown of Memphis and Memphis is the site of the first Welcome Wagon, founded here in 1928. So basically we invented hospitality. 7. Our featured races will be the Germantown Half Marathon and Mayors Cup 5K – which are established RRCA races with fast, flat courses. 6. The Piggly Wiggly, the world's first self-service grocery store, opened in Memphis in 1916 – and we know you are just dying to have an excuse to say “Piggly Wiggly”. 5. We are the 18th largest city in the USA and have the 5th largest running club – we are just crazy about running in Memphis. 4. Memphis has one of the top urban park systems in the nation covering 7,000 acres. On our group runs we are going to show you as much of them as you like. 3. Elvis!!!! 2. Named for its Egyptian sister on the Nile. We have a Pyramid. Really!!!!! 1. We really, really, really want you to join us for the 54th Annual RRCA National Convention in Memphis Tennessee from March 15-18, 2012, hosted by the Memphis Runners Track Club! Convention details can be found at www.RRCAConvention.org Email your convention questions to conventionhost@rrca.org Sponsor the event, host an expo table or purchase an add in the Convention program, learn how at www.rrcaconvention.org/sponsorexpoinfo.html
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INSPIRING KEYNOTE SPEAKERS FOR THE 54TH ANNUAL CONVENTION Friday Luncheon Featuring Dave Wottle Wottle's dramatic stretch run earned him an upset victory in the 800 meters and established him as one of the stars of the 1972 Olympic Games. As a student at Bowling Green State University, Wottle first came on the national scene in 1970 when he finished second in the NCAA championship mile. Injuries sidelined him in 1971 but a year later he came back and won the national collegiate 1500m and the National AAU 800m before tying the world 800 record of 1:44.3 at the Olympic Trials. He also qualified in the 1500m, but was eliminated in the semifinals of that event. In 1973, he won the NCAA mile in 1973, then turned professional and eventually became a college track coach and academic administrator at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.
Saturday Luncheon Featuring Christopher McDougall McDougall is an author and journalist best known for his 2009 best-selling book Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. In Born to Run, McDougall tracks down members of the reclusive Tarahumara Indian tribe in the Mexican Copper Canyons. After being repeatedly injured as a runner himself, McDougall marvels at the tribe's ability to run ultra distances (over 100 miles) at incredible speeds, without getting the routine injuries of most American runners. McDougall also has received critical praise for his rich story-telling and the many quirky characters portrayed in the book, including not only the Tarahumara but exceptional Western runners who share the Tarahumara spirit of running for enjoyment and spiritual experience. McDougall is a 1985 graduate of Harvard University. He spent three years as a foreign correspondent for the Associated Press, covering civil wars in Rwanda and Angola.
FRIDAY NIGHT BBQ Can you smell the sweet aroma in the air? Could it be? The world famous Memphis Barbeque you have been waiting for? Join us Friday night as we embark on a culinary and musical adventure. First stop will be a dinner at the world famous Rendezvous where you will enjoy real southern down home appetizers, a dinner buffet that includes ribs, shoulder and chicken breasts, beans slaw and bread. Add to that unlimited soft drinks, tea and yes!!! .... unlimited pitchers of beer for 2 hours. The small print: Note that the buffets are not all you can eat, everyone will go through the line once but each guest will get an entree sized meal. Vegetarian option of pasta is available. We are limited to the first 250 who sign up - when the seats are gone they are gone.
More good news: After dinner you are only a few steps from the excitement of Beale Street where you can enjoy music and atmosphere Memphis style.
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NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 2012 NATIONAL RUNNING AWARDS Since 1971, the RRCA has been honoring dedicated individuals for their service to the running community through the RRCA Hall of Fame and the National Running Awards. Detailed information about the award categories along with selection criteria and the online nomination form can be found at www.rrca.org/services/national-running-awards/ To nominate a deserving individual simply follow the instructions on the online nomination form, print a copy for your records, and click the submit button. Email or mail newsletter copies as instructed in the online form. The RRCA will provide a $400 travel stipend and one complementary ticket for each award winner to the 2012 RRCA National Running Awards Banquet that will be held in Memphis, TN on March 17, 2012. The nomination deadline is 5:00 PM Eastern on December 31, 2011. The period of performance for the individual being nominated is January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 for all awards except the Hall of Fame and Browning Ross awards which are lifetime awards. All nominations are forwarded to the appropriate selection panels tasked with selecting the final award recipients. Individuals interested in serving on one of the award selection panels should email William Dyson at programs@rrca.org.
RRCA: NATIONAL RUNNING AWARDS CATEGORIES RRCA DISTANCE RUNNING HALL OF FAME: Inducts individuals that have dedicated themselves to the sport of distance running. SPIRIT OF THE RRCA IN HONOR OF BROWNING ROSS: Honors a club member who is an unsung hero and champions the RRCA at the local and/or national level. OUTSTANDING CLUB PRESIDENT IN HONOR OF SCOTT HAMILTON: Honors an outstanding RRCA club president for the year. ROAD RUNNERS OF THE YEAR AWARD: Honors top male and female open and masters U.S. runners with outstanding records of distance racing performance during the year. EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM IN HONOR OF JERRY LITTLE: 1. Club Newsletter Award honors two club newsletters that demonstrate a variety of content, good presentation, informative and creative, and inclusive of the RRCA logo. One award is given to clubs with 499 or fewer households, and one for clubs with 500 or more households. 2. Club Writer award honors a top club writer that is an unpaid running journalist. 3. Club/Event E-Newsletter recognizes the use of technology when communicating with members. It is open to any size club or event. The e-newsletter can be emailed to members or clearly posted on a website and should be in PDF, HTML, or another similar format. The e-newsletter should look like a newsletter and not simply be a page on a club website or a text email. 4. Journalistic Excellence honors a professional writer who has made a notable contribution to the literature of distance running. OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR IN HONOR OF ROD STEELE: Honors an outstanding volunteer (excluding the president) of a local club or event. OUTSTANDING STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN HONOR OF AL BECKEN: Honors the outstanding service of an RRCA State Representative. OUTSTANDING YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR IN HONOR OF KURT STEINER: Honors a club member who is dedicated to promoting children’s running and/or coordinating an outstanding children’s running program. OUTSTANDING BEGINNING RUNNING PROGRAM: Honors beginning running programs hosted by nonprofit clubs that engage new or returning runners to the sport, regardless of their gender. RRCA ROAD RACE OF THE YEAR: Honors a volunteer-run, nonprofit race that is safe, well organized, promotes grassroots running, and the mission of the RRCA. OUTSTANDING WEBSITE AWARD: Honors two clubs with outstanding website design and content. Awards will be given to small (499 and fewer households) and large (over 500 households) club websites. A top website will be chosen from the finalists. Learn about all of the RRCA National Award Winners at www.rrca.org/about/history/award-winners/. !
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HOST AN RRCA COACHING CERTIFICATION COURSE The demand for the RRCA Coaching Certification Course around the country continues to be strong, and we are continually working to make the program the best it can be for prospective and current RRCA Certified Coaches. The RRCA works with individuals from member running clubs, events, shoe stores, and corporate clients to host Coaching Certification Courses, on a bi-monthly basis throughout the US. All certification courses are financially self-supporting. The RRCA handles all registration aspects for the course including refunds for attendee cancellations. The RRCA uses the registration fees to cover the course expenses, including instructor fees, instructor travel expenses, course materials, test hosting, and more. We also provide a participant stipend paid to the host organization to assist with food and beverage costs. Starting in 2012, the RRCA will develop a waiting list procedure for sold-out courses to ensure full participation at each course. In order to host the course, the organizing individual must be able to secure adequate classroom space to comfortably seat 35 people for two full days on an agreed upon date for the course. The room must also have working power outlets, accessible restrooms, and space for food service. Suggested locations for the course include: YMCAs, community centers, libraries, universities, and schools. Hotels should be used as a last resort, because they tend to be very expensive and exceed the operating budget for the course. If a course is held at a hotel, the meeting rooms should be free and the course organizers should be allowed to bring in outside food for snacks and beverages. All certifications are open to the public and advertised on the RRCA website, through our email list, and our social marketing efforts. To ensure that classes are filled and can support the needed logistics, it is important that the host has approximately 15 people committed to attending the certification in advance of scheduling the course with the RRCA. The RRCA will work with the local host to ensure priority registration for their committed attendees. The remaining slots will be promoted to the general public and fill quickly. The best locations for the course are within a metropolitan area, not more than 20–30 miles from a major airport. Before a class is scheduled, the prospective host must complete the new “Request to Host a Coaching Certification Course” form found at www.rrca.org/programs/coaching-certification/hosting/request/. Through this new form, we will gather basic contact information, geographic location, local goals for hosting the Coaching Certification, date availability, and other important information. After the RRCA receives the request to host a course the National Office staff will work with the prospective host and our team of instructors to schedule the course. Courses are not scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. The RRCA works with prospective hosts and instructors with an eye on ability to attract maximum attendees to a local, geographic diversity of the course during given time period, and other important considerations. Courses are planned three to six months in advance of the desired course date to allow for adequate planning and promotion. Take this into consideration when completing the Request to Host a Coaching Certification form. For additional information about hosting an RRCA Coaching Certification Course email coaching@rrca.org. If you are interested in taking the course in the near future, be sure to sign-up for the email list at www.rrca.org/programs/coaching-certification/. We send an announcement to that list when each course is announced. Courses quickly sell-out after the email is sent, so don’t wait to sign-up.
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RESOURCES FOR: CLUB AND EVENT DIRECTORS
Each year the RRCA experiences a great deal of turnover in club leadership around the country. This is a natural part of the governing structure of our organization and our members’ organizations. Why? Simple, the RRCA requires annual elections as part the governance process for a nonprofit running club and event member, especially those in the RRCA’s nonprofit group with the IRS. While leadership change in an organization is healthy, there is always the challenge of losing institutional knowledge. Some club leaders may feel like items in Inside Track start to sound repetitive. You’re right, we do repeat ourselves within these pages during the years, because we know that in any given year, the RRCA will have almost a 30% change in the primary contacts for running clubs and event members. Even if you are a seasoned club leader, we encourage you to always review Inside Track closely, because the RRCA is regularly implementing new and better ways to help or members. You will learn about the RRCA, club management, and race direction best practices through Inside Track. The RRCA maintains a section on our website call “Resources for Club Directors”. Click on the “Resources for Club Directors’” image on any page of the RRCA website to find helpful information about best practices in managing your running club. Share the “Managing Your Club” section of our website with incoming club officers and directors to help guide them through the transition process. The “Managing Your Club” section of the RRCA website (www.rrca.org/club-directors/manage-your-club/) includes detailed information about topics that are important to club leaders. Many of the items noted below have been covered in detail in previous issues of Inside Track, and this section on our website serves as a handy reference for guidelines to managing your club.
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Important Policies to Adopt Managing your Club Membership Managing your Club Finances Legal Responsibilities of Your Board Smooth Leadership Transition Member Code of Conduct
As running clubs transition leadership in their organizations, it is important to ensure corporate documents for your club are handed off to new leaders. Unfortunately, copies of bylaws can get lost over the years if they are not posted on the club website. Over the Summer, RRCA intern Chelsey Benney, scanned copies of all bylaws for members that we have on file. She then uploaded them to the club’s account in our membership database. If you can’t find a copy of your club’s bylaws, chances are we have a copy that we can email to you. If your club is a member of the RRCA’s group exemption with the IRS, and you don’t have a copy of your designation letter, you don’t need to waste time contacting the IRS. Contact the RRCA to verify if your club or event is a member of our group, and we can provide you with the designation letters for your records. The RRCA highly recommends that running clubs send their club president or designated leader to the RRCA Annual Convention. The RRCA Convention is designed to be an educational opportunity to learn more about best practices in managing running clubs and events. It is also a great opportunity to network with other club and event leaders from around the country.
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PARTICIPATE LOCALLY IN RRCA PROGRAMS
NATIONAL RACE SHIRT CONTEST The RRCA is pleased to announce the 4th Annual RRCA National Race Shirt Contest. This is an opportunity to showcase your event from a little different angle. The RRCA is seeking shirts (long or short sleeve, cotton or performance) from 2011 events hosted by RRCA members. Only one shirt per event is needed, size does not matter. A club hosting multiple events can submit entries for multiple races. **The race shirt must have the RRCA logo on it to be considered for judging** All entries should be mailed to the RRCA National Office at 1501 Lee Hwy, Ste 140, Arlington, VA, 22209 by February 15, 2012. Please include the name of the event, event date, location, host club, contact name, contact email, and contact phone number with the shirt. The 2012 RRCA Convention attendees will vote on the finalists to select the 2011 RRCA National Race Shirt Winner, and the winning shirt will be announced at the 2012 RRCA National Running Awards Banquet. The contest is sponsored by Sport Science. The winning event will receive a prize pack from Sport Science. Photo: the 2011 National Race Shirt Winner, Montana Women’s Run
SAVE THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 On September 21, 2012, the Road Runners Club of America will promote the 7th Annual RUN@WORK Day nationwide. Company-based wellness programs, human resources departments, running clubs, running events, running shoe stores, and individuals nationwide are encouraged to plan fun runs and walks around the country with their employers. The goal of RUN@WORK Day, presented by the Road Runners Club of America, is to encourage adults to get 30-minutes of exercise each day, in accordance with the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, either before work, during lunch, or immediately following work. RUN@WORK Day also encourages companies to help employees schedule time for physical activity. Incorporating exercise into one’s daily routine can markedly improve one’s overall physical health. To help you plan your RUN@WORK Day event, the RRCA created the RUN@WORK Day Planning Kit and Fact Sheet that can be found at www.rrca.org/programs/run-at-work-day/.
RRCA IS SEEKING APPLICATIONS FOR THE RUNNER FRIENDLY COMMUNITY DESIGNATION The RRCA will review three primary segments: (1) community infrastructure, (2) community support, and (3) local government support. Each segment includes important criteria as part of the designation process. The goal is for applicants to prove that their community works together to promote running as healthy exercise for their community while ensuring runners safety. To be considered for the next round of the Runner Friendly Community designation, applications are due by February 1, 2012. Learn more about this program at www.rrca.org/programs/runner-friendly-community/.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTE
Dear RRCA Members, As President Ayer noted in his letter, the RRCA has hired Randy Accetta to direct the everexpanding RRCA Coaching Program as we move into 2012. Randy takes over for Patti Finke who voluntarily chaired the program efforts from 2003 to 2011. The RRCA Coaching Certification was launched in 1998 by Roy Benson and Carl Sniffen, and was then led by Andy Palmer with support from Jim Duguay. Patti chaired the program efforts following the death of Palmer and was instrumental in expanding the program with assistance from Mike Broderick and Janet Hamilton who became course instructors in 2008. Janet Hamilton will continue to instruct RRCA Coaching Certification Courses in 2012. The RRCA thanks Patti and her husband Warren Finke for their years of service to the program. As noted on the cover page of Inside Track, the RRCA has worked hard to maintain our membership dues structure. We are proud of this fact, however as with most nonprofits, it is important to note that membership dues only cover a portion of our operating costs. We are fortunate to have several programs that are selffunded, such as the coaching program, and we have a great deal of sponsorship support for the Championship Event Series. The RRCA depends on contributions from our members to support important programs such Roads Scholars, Kids Run the Nation, Runner Friendly Community, State Reps, and more. Throughout 2011, the RRCA Board of Directors along with a board appointed Fundraising Task Force worked with a fundraising consultant to assist the RRCA with improving our fundraising practices. At the board meeting in September, the organization adopted several policies designed to director our fundraising efforts. These policies are outlined in the September Board Minutes posted at www.RRCA.org/about/governance/. Members are invited to adopt similar policies for their clubs and events, especially if you collect donations for scholarship funds or other program activities.. Happy Running, Find back issues of Inside Track online at www.rrca.org/publications/inside-track/
Nomination Procedure for 2012 RRCA Board of Directors The Nominating Committee of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is advising membership that the following officer and director positions are up for election in 2012: President Vice President Treasurer
Eastern Director Central Director
Elections will be held at the RRCA Annual Meeting of the Membership on March 16, 2012 at 3:15 PM Central!at the Hilton Memphis, 939 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38120. ! Nominating Procedure Details about officer and director nominations are covered in the RRCA Bylaws and the 2012 Nomination Procedures document posted on our website at www.rrca.org/about/governance/. The deadline for submitting nominations is January 6, 2012. The Nominating Committee, appointed by President Ayer, will review all nominations and may review other candidates as allowed in the Bylaws. A report from the nominating committee with a recommended slate of board member nominees will be shared with the members and posted with the notice of the annual business meeting in accordance with the Bylaws. After such time, additional candidates my express interest in running for the RRCA Board of Directors. !
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RESOURCES FOR: CLUB AND EVENT DIRECTORS
RRCA Launches Online Registration Portal for RRCA Member Club and Event Directors The RRCA has partnered with RunClubSignUp.com to bring running club leaders a club management system designed to make life easier for club directors and your members. Create your club management system through a simple wizard on the RRCA website at www.rrca.org/services/online-services/. Allow your club members to join your club online throughout the year. This system can:
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Automatically renew members; Offer a free upload of member data from offline registrations; Easily download data into Excel; Create custom questions for members for emergency management and demographic understanding; Sell club merchandize; Accept donations; Coach running groups and special training programs by assigning workouts; Allow members to log miles; And more.
Best of all, you can embed your club’s membership form on your club website to keep members on your site. A simple registration agreement protects your members from third party advertising and spam. Our online registration portal also includes an event management system. This online system is a tool that event directors can utilize to manage their race registrations. Best of all, you can embed your race registration directly on your event website and completely control all information your event participants see online and receive by email. The RRCA receives a contribution from our partner for each club and event that utilizes our online registration portal for club and event management. Take control of your registration data today and support the RRCA in the process.
Use Constant Contact to Support the RRCA The RRCA has a partnership with Constant Contact, the leading email marketing service for small businesses, associations, and nonprofits. For every RRCA member that creates and maintains an account with Constant Contact, Constant Contact will make a contribution in support of RRCA programs. With Email Marketing you can stay connected with your members, drive traffic to your website, share important information, and more. The survey feature allows members and event participants to communicate back to you-with new ideas and feedback to better understand and meet their needs. You can embed your email sign-up form on your website – exactly like the one on the RRCA website. Embedding your email sign-up form can dramatically increase your ability to communicate with your members as well as prospective members in your community. Use the RRCA link www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?pn=roadrunnersclub to create your account today.
Purchase Capital Assets through the RRCA Microfinance Fund The RRCA Microfinance Fund provides small annual loans to qualifying nonprofit running clubs as determined by a loan selection panel. The purpose of the loans is to assist clubs with purchasing capital assets such as timing systems, timing clocks, finish line equipment, and more. Basic club or event supplies like numbers, cups, etc. are not eligible for funding through the RRCA Microfinance Fund. The Microfinance Fund provides small annual loans ($1,000-$10,000) for a total of $20,000 loaned annually to qualifying nonprofit running clubs. Learn more at www.rrca.org/services/microfinance-loans/. !
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ROAD RUNNERS CLUB OF AMERICA 1501 Lee Hwy, Ste 140 Arlington, VA 22209 703-525-3890 www.RRCA.org
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WE RUN THE NATION! !!!
CONNECT WITH THE RRCA Scan our QR Code (at right) on your smart phone or tablet to launch the RRCA website. This is a great way to find back issues of Inside Track, Club Running, read RRCA News, vote in our polls, log your miles, and more. Find the RRCA on Facebook. Our Facebook page is a great place to brag about the great things your running club is doing to promote running in your community. Participate in RRCA’s Facebook discussions, which are published in Club Running. www.facebook.com/Roadrunnersclubofamerica
Find the RRCA on Twitter to get your 140-character fill of RRCA each day. http://twitter.com/RRCANational
View videos on the RRCA’s YouTube channel. Enjoy videos from our members and from our favorite running channels. www.youtube.com/user/rrcaexecdir
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