Behind the Scenes: Representing the Flyers on NYRR Club Council

Vicky T

Over the years I’ve encountered a number of folks who ask me if I’m a part of the running club in the city because they just joined NYRR. I proudly reply, “Well actually, I am a member of the New York Flyers since NYRR is not technically a club.” As I’m looked at quizzically, I go on to explain that NYRR is an umbrella organization for a number of clubs that compete against each other throughout the year as well as work together to enhance the local running experience. And here’s where the NYRR club council comes in.

I’ve been one of the NY Flyers representatives to NYRR club council for the past dozen years and have learned a great deal about the workings of the NYRR club council along the way. The NYRR Club Council meets bimonthly and has ad hoc meetings as well as occasional conference calls. It is comprised of representatives from each of the clubs that are officially registered under the NYRR.

Although there are seemingly hundreds of team affiliations that you can assign yourself to upon registration for an NYRR race, there are only approximately 40-50 that I would consider ‘active’ Club Council members. Co-ed clubs are asked to send one female and one male representative. The Club Council meeting is coordinated by NYRR staff, and generally begins with comments from NYRR Executive Director Mary Wittenberg. An agenda is distributed prior to the meeting and agenda items are solicited in advance with minutes provided after the meeting.

The NYRR Club Council serves two main functions.

1. The first is to serve as the vehicle for communication about all NYRR activities, races, events, etc between the NYRR and the clubs. Club Council representatives are asked to weigh in on certain initiatives and give feedback on races. In addition, if there is emergent information about a race that needs to get out to the clubs, the representatives will be contacted and asked to get the information out to their constituents.
2. The second function is to help coordinate the club points race series. This entails the selection of the club points races, formation of the rules around scoring in such races, and feedback on club night awards. The majority of Club Council representatives are frequent scorers for the club points race series.

I truly look forward to attending the Club Council meetings. It’s an opportunity to talk with other team reps to hear what their teams are up to and of course engage in a bit of healthy competition (aka - trash talk).

We’re all there for the same purpose though – to promote, improve and develop a sport that we all love.

Your Current Club council representatives also include Eduardo F and Deb M. Please check out the latest club council meeting minutes (need to used your NY Flyers password). If you are interested in attending a meeting, feel free to contact me.

-Vicky T.