Management: Top 20 Things To Do To Manage a Race or Club
Define as accurately as possible the duties of each job you ask someone to do.
Plan the event with as many leaders as possible, as early as possible.
Make a budget and keep monthly updates of budgeted and actual expenses and make it available to all who want to see it.
Make all meetings as interesting, brief, productive, focused, and non-confrontational as possible.
Keep accurate minutes of meetings and distribute them to all interested parties.
Try to develop future leaders of the club/race committee. Always strive to keep in mind potential reliefs for the incumbents of vital functions.
Reward all volunteers (including leaders) with as much thanks and recognition as possible.
Develop a good, multilayered system of communication, and use it often.
Make the club a fun organization for all members.
Watch for changes in circumstances of members who might want (or need) to be replaced.
Develop an organizational chart, use it, and make it widely known so that people will know who to contact regarding various subjects.
Keep good records to pass on to your successors.
Keep all promises you make.
Encourage people to propose new ideas and programs, with the clear understanding that they will be expected to be the "sponsor" of these innovations.
Provide as wide a range of running opportunities & training programs as resources allow.
Make accommodations for both very fast and very slow runners in all planning.
Adopt a "sunshine" approach to all club & race meetings, with all members invited to attend and participate.
Be on the lookout for signs of "growing pains" and "surprise contractions" in your numbers. Are you heading for gridlock or slow collapse in your club or race?
Always look ahead: What do you want your club to be doing five years from now?
Attend the RRCA Convention, Road Race Management Seminar, get the RRCA Handbook: A Guide to Club and Race Management, and other sources of help & information, to learn more about the job.
