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 Mar 27 Mitch Garner's Convention Blog #1
Road Runners Club of America 51st Annual ConventionSan Francisco, California March 26, 2009 - Day #1 The long-awaited 2009 RRCA Convention began in San Francisco. Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day in the City by the Bay. Conventioneers awoke early this morning for a run along San Francisco's famous Embarcadero. Following the run, Executive Director Jean Knaack and Director of Program Services Eve Mills opened the RRCA's state representatives’ meeting and provided the State Reps with an overview of some exciting new developments at the RRCA, including the following: • the launching of the "Join a Club" marketing campaign designed to recruit runners into RRCA member clubs through advertisements in running publications; • the establishment of a new online store for RRCA gear; • the development of guidelines for RRCA clubs in leading group runs; • the initiation of a microfinance program to allow RRCA clubs to borrow from the RRCA to acquire capital assets (for example, a timing device); • the publication of a "Refusal of Medical Assistance Waiver" for runners who decline medical assistance during a race; • the development of a Run@Work marketing plan; • the creation of a "Beginning Running Program Tool Kit"; • the launching of a new, print publication, "Club Running," to be mailed to all members of RRCA running organizations; • the updating of the RRCA website; • the posting of RRCA ad templates on the RRCA's branding page for use by clubs in their newsletters; • the addition of corporate sponsors Crocs as the RRCA preferred recovery shoe and Ortholite as the RRCA preferred insole partner; • the retention of SportsScience and FuelBelt as RRCA sponsors; • the preparation of a 10-year strategic plan; and • the finalization of an online voting test for voting. At noon, the RRCA State Reps were treated to a luncheon cruise around San Francisco Bay. After lunch, the state reps reconvened for regional breakout sessions designed to develop new proposals for improving the RRCA's operations. Following these breakout sessions, there was a roundtable discussion at which each regional director communicated these proposal to Jean Knaack and Eve Mills for their consideration in improving the RRCA's operations. The day was capped off by a reception for all conventioneers at San Francisco's storied South End Rowing Club, where the sport of running was born in San Francisco. Central California State Representative George Rehmet, who worked tirelessly with the committee that planned and organized the convention, showed his promise as a swimmer by donning his swimsuit at the club and jumping into the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay (54 degrees) for a swim. George has swum to Alcatraz Island from San Francisco or from San Francisco to Alcatraz Island 101 times. Perhaps wisely, no one else chose to join George for a swim! The South End Club swimmers emerged from the water and unfurled an RRCA Convention banner that will be passed on to future convention organizers. To say the least, it was a very exciting and informative day for everyone. There will be much more to report from the convention tomorrow. Keep climbing that mountain and have faith. Mitch Garner, Central Region Director ###
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