February 2003 Newsletter

Finger Lakes Runners Club Membership

I have been asked several times over the years what the club does with the membership dues it receives, and what the benefits are of becoming a member of The Finger Lakes Runners Club. Therefore I have decided to give our membership a brief explanation.

The Finger Lakes Runners Club is a not for profit organization. None of our members receive any compensation for the hours they donate to the club. In fact, many of the members of the board of directors do not request reimbursement for the expenses they incur on behalf of the club. The dues paid by club members help support the cost of the newsletter. The monthly newsletter costs more to print, copy and mail to members than we actually receive in club dues. Why then do we encourage you to join when it cost us more to have you as a member than you are charged for annual membership dues? Plain and simple: we are not in the business of making money. We are a healthy running club whose main purpose is to support the running community by putting on quality running events at a reasonable cost, offering support and encouragement to the running community, and promoting physical fitness through the sport of running. We try to charge the minimum amount possible for the events we put on. We put on over 20 different running events a year and not all record a profit. All profits do, however, go back into the running club and the running community in the form of equipment purchases, insurance, RRCA membership dues, the free-to-club members annual Loop The Lake run and picnic, USATF club membership dues, newsletter printing, copying and mailing, and our scholarship fund.

Members receive a mailed copy of the club newsletter, a $2.00 discount on many of our running events, free entry to all of our track meets, entry to Barton Hall to use the indoor track during open rec. hours, free entry to the Annual Loop The Lake 5K run and picnic and members also receive a 10% discount at some of the local sporting goods stores. The Finger Lakes Runners club is here to support our members. Our mission is simple and our path is clear. Our strength comes from the efforts and appreciation of our members and that is why we encourage those interested in the running community to consider becoming a member of The Finger Lakes Runners Club.

-- Lorrie Marnell, FLRC President