“This is an ideal opportunity for RRCA nonprofit running club members to request funding to support youth running programs or beginning running program designed to get people active,” explains Jean Knaack, RRCA Executive Director.

The Community Small Grant Program funds are generated primarily through legal settlements to which the Ohio Attorney General is a party. They have been used in the past for a variety of projects, such as community holiday meals for families who are homeless, adult day services for senior citizens, summer camping and mentoring programs for youth, and outdoor rehabilitation programs for people with disabilities.

Learn more or apply for a grant today at www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/CommunitySmallGrant.

WALTHAM, Mass. — July 20, 2010 — Brainshark, Inc., the leader in on-demand multimedia for business, today announced the six latest grant recipients in its Non-Profit Program. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS); Dads and Mad Moms Against Drug Dealers (DAMMAD), Inc.; FSG Social Impact Advisors (FSG); the Hope Foundation’s eLearn initiative; Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) and Summer Advantage USA have received a free one-year Brainshark software license – letting them harness the benefits of on-demand multimedia to cost-effectively increase their reach and impact.

With Brainshark’s Web-based platform, organizations can communicate faster and more effectively than ever before, cutting training time in half and reducing the costs associated with previous communications methods – including face-to-face meetings and Web conferencing – by up to 90%. Through its Non-Profit Program, Brainshark awards one-year technology licenses on a quarterly basis. This enables non-profit organizations to use Brainshark’s enterprise-class solutions to create, edit and distribute high-impact, multimedia content – incorporating voice narration, video, survey questions and more – that can be viewed online, on demand. Using Brainshark’s tracking capabilities, these organizations also get deep visibility into the impact and effectiveness of their communications. 

The latest grant recipients plan to use Brainshark as follows:

Road Runners Club of America: The RRCA is the national association of running clubs, running events and runners whose mission is to represent and promote the sport of running through education, leadership, programs and other services. The RRCA has more than 1,100 running clubs and events annually, and represents more than 175,000 members. The organization plans to use Brainshark to develop and administer a comprehensive race director certification course, complete with testing. As part of these efforts, the RRCA will develop narrated Brainshark training modules, based on the book Organizing Running Events by Phil Stewart. The RRCA will also use Brainshark in its development of an online training course for adults interested in leading/coaching youth running programs and in the development of free orientation modules for volunteers.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: LLS is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The organization plans to use Brainshark’s audio and visual capabilities to deliver high-impact communications that galvanize potential partners and donors, help fund cancer research, and spread awareness of blood cancer and LLS’ mission. Brainshark will also be used to promote LLS’ “Light the Night” fundraising walk and its “Team in Training” charity sports training program.

Dads and Mad Moms Against Drug Dealers: DAMMAD is an anti-drug organization committed to addressing drug trafficking, prescription drug abuse and illicit drug use in the state of New Hampshire. The organization plans to use Brainshark to educate students, parents and local communities on the dangers and consequences of drug abuse.
FSG Social Impact Advisors: Through its work with leading foundations, corporations, governments and non-profits, FSG helps to accelerate social progress by advancing the practice of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. The company will use Brainshark to engage, educate, inform and motivate key influencers, funders, clients and other stakeholders. FSG also plans to use Brainshark to enhance and expedite the creation of professional development and training presentations. In addition, FSG will leverage on-demand presentations for marketing and training activities associated with its subsidiary division, Community Foundation Insights.

Hope Foundation: The Hope Foundation’s eLearn initiative is working to alleviate poverty in rural and semi-urban districts in India by providing education and training to the local communities. The foundation plans to use Brainshark to provide on-the-job training to working adults across India so they can improve their employment prospects and obtain higher wage jobs. Brainshark will also be used to train the foundation’s 5,000 accredited partners – who are responsible for training approximately 100,000 adults enrolled in the program.

Summer Advantage USA: Summer Advantage USA provides rigorous academic programming and enrichment activities to children in grades K-8 during the summer months to prepare them for success in high school, college and beyond. Launched only a year ago, Summer Advantage is already serving more than 3,000 children in Indiana and is expanding its efforts across other states. The organization plans to use Brainshark to train thousands of educators – helping to reach its goal of serving more than 100,000 students during the next five years. Summer Advantage USA will also use Brainshark’s software to educate parents, school leaders, government officials and policymakers about its mission, results and partnership opportunities.

“We’re excited to announce the next round of nonprofit grant recipients and applaud their plans to implement far-reaching and well-thought-out communication campaigns,” said Brainshark CEO Joe Gustafson. “In providing access to an easy-to-use, compelling and trackable communication solution, we look forward to helping these organizations spread awareness of their missions among key constituencies and achieve their communications goals.” 

In addition to awarding grants, the Brainshark Non-Profit Program also provides the Standard Edition of the Brainshark platform at a 40% discount for eligible nonprofits. These include registered 501(c)(3) organizations (or their equivalent outside the U.S.). Other eligibility requirements apply. For more information, please view the following two-minute Brainshark presentation, which provides a program overview and a link to the grant application: http://www.brainshark.com/brainsharkinc/NPOGrant.

Interested nonprofits can also take advantage of Brainshark’s free website, myBrainshark.com, which allows anyone to create multimedia presentations that are search-engine optimized and can be shared via e-mail or embedded within a website or blog.

About Brainshark, Inc.
Brainshark is the leader in on-demand multimedia for business, transforming static business content into high-impact communications. Delivered via Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Brainshark enables audiences to access and engage with business content when and how they want. More than 1,200 companies – including a third of the Fortune 100 – rely on Brainshark software and services to help sales, marketing, training and HR experts cost-effectively deliver measurable results. In addition, organizations and individuals use the myBrainshark site to create, share and track multimedia presentations for free. For more information on these offerings, visit www.brainshark.com.

The RRCA is pleased to introduce and congratulate the 2010 Class of Roads Scholars.

Stephan Shay

Stephan Shay is the youngest of eight children.  He graduated from Central Lake High School in Michigan where he was four-time all-state selection, four-time conference champion and three-time regional champion. He captured the state Division IV individual title as a senior and broke the state Division IV Cross Country record with a time of 15:35.  He set twelve meet or course records and was named academic all state on three occasions.  He won every meet during his senior season.

Shay ran for two years at Michigan State, coached by Walt Drenth.  He transferred to Brigham Young University for his last two years of college under the coaching tutelage of Ed Eyestone.  Shay was all-region in track and Cross Country at Michigan State and BYU. He was conference champion at BYU in outdoor track for the 10k, was a four-time qualifier for cross-country nationals, and qualified his senior year of college for the outdoor track nationals.

In his first year out of college, Shay has proven his abilities in distance racing.  He was 10th overall at the Gate River Run, the USA 15K Championship, and 5th overall at the USA Half Marathon Championship hosted by the Aramco Houston Half Marathon with a time of 1:02:26.  Shay is currently being coached by Magdalena Lewy-Boulet and advised by coach Joe Vigil.

“I am extremely grateful for this award.  The Road Runners Club of America provides an essential stepping-stone for many striving runners to continue pursuing their dreams.  I feel honored and privileged to have been selected to represent this great program.  I would like to thank family, friends, coaches, mentors, and sponsors such as the RRCA for making the transition to the next level possible!” – Stephan Shay

Lindsay Allen

Lindsay Allen competed in high school Cross Country and track and field at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, California. She then went on to run for Stanford University. She was a member of four Cross Country Pac-10 Championship title teams and Stanford’s 2007 Cross Country National Championship. She currently holds the Stanford school record in the 3,000m Steeplechase and is a two-time NCAA DI National Championship qualifier and All-American in that event.

Since her 2008 graduation, Allen has been a member of McMillan Elite, a post-collegiate running team based in Flagstaff, AZ and coached by Greg McMillan. Allen competed in the 2008 Olympic Trials as wells as the 2009 and 2010 USA Track and Field Championships in the Steeplechase. New to the roads, Allen finished 10th in the US 5k Road Championships in 2009 and had her 10k debut at the US 10k Road Championships that same year. Also in 2009, she represented the United States in the Chiba Ekiden Relay in Japan, helping the US earn 5th place.

“I can’t thank the RRCA enough for this grant. It truly is life changing for me, allowing me to cut my work hours and work towards my dream of full-time professional running.”  - Lindsay Allen

Patrick Smyth

Patrick Smyth was a Cross Country and track standout at Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, UT where he was eight-time varsity letter winner in the two sports.  In 2005 he was the Utah Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year and Utah High School Athletic Association Track Athlete of the Year. He was nationally ranked in Cross Country and track during his senior season.

At Notre Dame University, he was a seven-time All-American - three times in cross country, three in outdoor, and one indoor.  During his collegiate career, he was the two time NCAA Great Lakes Regional Champion in Cross Country, the Big East 5000m Champion, and the two-time Big East Outdoor 10,000m Champion. He was a three-time qualifier for the NCAA Cross Country Championships finishing as high as 11th in 2008. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2009, he finished fourth in the 10,000 meters.
Patrick holds the Notre Dame record for the most sub-14 minute 5000m races (10), including five sub-13:50 performances. He is also the school record holder in the 10,000 with a time of 28:25.85.

At the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships, he finished seventh. In his road debut, Patrick finished fifth at the USA 10k Championships. At the USA Men’s 10 Mile Championship he was third. He placed second at the 2010 USA Half Marathon Championships and then second at the USA Cross Country Championships to become a member of the World Cross Country team.  Patrick joined Team USA Minnesota in July 2009.

Jill Swope

Jill (Steffens) Swope was born and raised in Illinois where she was an All-State runner for Moline High School.  Her senior year she was the starting point guard of an Elite Eight MHS basketball team.  But at 5’3 a basketball career was out of the question, and she accepted a track scholarship to the University of Georgia after being charmed by the south.  At UGA Jill was a four-year team captain, 10k school record holder, 3-time SEC Champion and 10k All-American.  It wasn’t until racing the 10k at Stanford her senior year with a 67 second PR in a time of 33:21 that she decided to train post-collegiately.  Jill signed with New Balance and raced the 10k in the 2008 Olympic trials and decided while in Track Town USA that her new dream had found her. She hesitantly entered the 2008 20k National Championship as it was scheduled just five days prior to her wedding day.  In her first race over 10k, Jill stole the 20k National Championship in a 3-way battle to the finish in 1:08:47.  This qualified her to represent the United States in Brazil at the 2008 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships where she finished 30th in her debut Half Marathon.  In 2009 she finished 12th in the 10k at the USA Track and Field Championships and went on that summer to place 6th, 8th, 8th and 11th in four US National Championship races ranging from 10k-20k. Jill intends to hit the roads this summer and travel the country chasing faster times and her dreams simultaneously.

“A truly unique organization, the RRCA devotes time and resources to promote American distance running at the elite level. Being a Road Scholar recipient will allow me to pursue my dreams in running, and that is the greatest gift imaginable.  I would like to thank the RRCA for this incredible award, New Balance for putting superior shoes on my feet, Powerbar for fueling my races and recovery, and my husband, family, and coach for their relentless support.”  -  Jill Swope
Jeffrey Eggleston

Jeffrey Eggleston was born in Greece, NY and graduated from the University of Virginia in 2007. He ran four seasons for the Cavaliers. In his first race after college, he finished an encouraging 10th at the US 20K Championship in New Haven. He followed this performance up by running 1:04:58 for his first half-marathon at the 2008 US Championship in Houston. During a brief stint with a training group in Michigan, he finished 3rd at the Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago. For his performances on the roads that fall, he was named New England Runner magazine’s 2008 New York Runner of the Year.

In January 2009, he returned to Houston and qualified for the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials by running a personal best of 1:03:58. In the summer, he moved to Flagstaff, AZ to prepare for his first marathon under the tutelage of coach Jack Daniels. His Fall racing highlights included: winning his third consecutive title at the Rochester Run for Hospice, 3rd overall and top American at the B.A.A. ½ Marathon in 1:04:16 and setting a 5K road best of 14:11 at the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot. In January, he made a strong marathon debut of 2:14:32 at the P.F. Chang’s Rock’n’Roll AZ Marathon in Phoenix.

He continues to train autonomously in Flagstaff and represents Team MarathonGuide.com and Brooks.

“I am both honored and extremely grateful to be selected by the Road Runners Club of America as a 2010 Roads Scholar. Thank you for your generous level of support and the added street cred! I would also like to thank those who have been faithful and supportive of my post-collegiate running endeavors: my family and friends, Coach Jack, the USATF Niagara Association, Caroline of Empire Athletics and my two awesome sponsors MarathonGuide.com and Brooks Sports. I look forward to following in the footsteps of past accomplished recipients while trailblazing my own path to success. The RRCA does a phenomenal job in promoting our sport, and I am excited to help perpetuate your mission as I transition from a student of the sport to a leading US athlete.” – Jeffrey Eggleston
Learn more about the Roads Scholar program and the current and past recipients of this prestigious grant program.  Support the program by making your tax-deductible contribution today.

Learn more about the RRCA State Reps.

Qualifications for the position include bachelor’s degree, outstanding verbal and written communication skills, a self-motivated team player with a positive attitude, willingness to accept direction and oversight from the executive director, patience and a strong customer service ethic, minimum of two years post collegiate work experience, experience in a nonprofit and/or member-based organization, and knowledge of membership database management a plus.  A passion for the sport of running is required.

Interested candidates must email a cover letter and resume, in the form of a Word document, to .  Please do not mail or fax your cover letter and resume. The cover letter should be addressed to Jean Knaack, Executive Director, and it should outline specific interests in working for the RRCA along with education, skills and abilities that are applicable to the position. You must include Membership Coordinator Position in the subject line of the email.  Resumes should be submitted by July 9.  No phone calls, please.  Only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview. 

• October 8 - 9 , 2010 in Portland, OR
• Sept 17 - 18, 2010 in Denver, CO

Upcoming RRCA coaching certification course locations and dates

• July 24-25, 2010 in Birmingham, AL
• August 7-8, 2010 in Auburndale (Boston), MA
• August 14-15, 2010 in Cumberland, MD
• September 25 - 26, 2010 in Valparaiso, IN

Click here for detailed information about all upcoming RRCA Coaching Certification Courses.

The 2-day program includes 16 hours of coursework and an online multiple-choice exam with immediate results.  Day one will be The Basis of Training. The curriculum will include the Fundamentals of Coaching, Rules of Training, Physiology, Psychology, Injury Prevention and Nutrition.  Day two will be devoted to the Techniques of Training. It will cover developing training plans, cycles, and progressions, speed work and other related topics. Group exercises will teach how to apply the topics covered.

Cost for the 2-day certification class is $250. You must register for the certification class at least 2 weeks prior to attending or before it is filled, (limited to 30). Classes tend to fill early, so register as soon as possible. Click here for additional information and to register.

Continuing Education Credits
The American College of Sports Medicine’s Professional Education Committee certifies that this offering meets the criteria for 16.0 credit hours of ACSM Continuing Education Credit.
The RRCA Coaching Certifications are designed to train coaches interested in coaching adult distance runners. There are currently more than 1,200 RRCA Certified Coaches across the US and Canada and other international locations.

NEW YORK, NY (June 03, 2010) – Weight Watchers has created the first Walk-It Day scheduled for June 6 to encourage people to get active and walk a 5K.  This nationwide initiative is part of the Weight Watchers Walk-It Challenge that kicked off earlier this spring, emphasizing the importance of physical activity.  Throughout the Challenge, those who have visited www.weightwatchers.com/walkit have had access to motivational tips; encouragement from fellow walkers; and tools to find a walking team in their area.  Weight Watchers meetings members and Weight Watchers Online subscribers have had additional access to a six-week training plan to help them reach their goal of walking a 5K on Walk-It Day.

For the first-annual Walk-It Day, Weight Watchers has teamed up with the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), a national association of running clubs dedicated to promoting healthy exercise. In collaboration with RRCA, Weight Watchers will be sponsoring 5K walks in 16 cities nationwide, including Sacramento, Tampa, and Austin, to promote healthy living.  Additionally, Weight Watchers and RRCA encourage people to form their own walking groups and will help participants map out their own 5Ks for those who are not near one of the 16 sponsored 5K walks.

“The Weight Watchers Walk-It Challenge provides tools and resources to help people incorporate walking into their lives as part of their weight-loss goals, “says Theresa DiMasi, Editor-in-Chief of WeightWatchers.com.  “Walking is a great way to get moving, tone muscles and burn calories.”

“At RRCA, we strive to provide our community with educational information and programs that will keep them safe, healthy, and informed,” says Jean Knaack, RRCA Executive Director.  “Our partnership with Weight Watchers aligns with our core values, emphasizing the importance of physical activity and our passion for working with walkers and runners at all fitness levels.”

Physical activity such as walking is beneficial to a weight-loss plan and critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Research has found that 90 percent of people who’ve kept weight off successfully included regular activity in their lives.  Not only is walking low-impact, but it is also a safer alternative to rigorous, high-pressure workouts. Studies have shown that people can reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke by regularly incorporating at least 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise, like brisk walking, five or more days a week, into their lives. Brisk walking on a regular basis may also help to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and obesity-related diseases, such as coronary artery disease and, Type 2 diabetes.

To learn more about Weight Watchers Walk-It Day, or to find a 5K walking event close to you, visit www.weightwatchers.com/walkit. 

About Weight Watchers International, Inc.
Weight Watchers International, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of weight management services, operating globally through a network of Company-owned and franchise operations. Weight Watchers holds almost 50,000 meetings each week where members receive group support and learn about healthy eating patterns, behavior modification and physical activity. WeightWatchers.com provides innovative, subscription weight management products over the Internet and is the leading Internet-based weight management provider in the world. In addition, Weight Watchers offers a wide range of products, publications and programs for those interested in weight loss and weight control.

About Road Runners Club of America
Founded in 1958, the RRCA is the oldest and largest national association of running clubs, running events, and runners.  The mission of the RRCA is to promote running and walking as a competitive sport and a healthy physical activity.  The RRCA achieves their mission by promoting the common interests of its members through educational opportunities, programs, and services.  The organization’s membership consists of over 1,100 running clubs and over 5,000 events nationwide.

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.

Medical volunteers who provide service at running events typically have professional liability coverage already in place to protect themselves against malpractice claims. The RRCA Volunteer Medical Personnel Endorsement is considered insurance over and above any other insurance held by the medical professional.  It does, however, provide coverage when a professional liability policy does not extend coverage to emergency medical professionals volunteering at events held outside of a workplace facility.

Coverage limits for medical volunteers are the same as the RRCA’s General Liability policy.  The cost of the additional endorsement is either $250 or 2% of the club or event member’s General Liability premium for 2010, whichever is higher. 

To add this endorsement to your organization’s insurance policy, please send an email to Eve Mills at membership@rrca.org with Medical Volunteer Insurance in the subject line, and include the name of your club or event, your name and phone number, and your request for the volunteer medical personnel endorsement.  Eve will respond with an invoice for the additional premium. Once the premium is paid, you will receive a revised certificate of insurance, via email, that includes the additional medical volunteer coverage.