“Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.”

- Steve Prefontaine

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front):  Get as many Coast Guard employees as possible running and competing under the Coast Guard banner.

BASIC INFO: US Coast Guard Running Club (USCGRC) was established to organize the network of runners within the Coast Guard.  The Coast Guard is keenly situated with dense populations in some of the countries best running cities, like San Francisco (Bay Area), Seattle, Washington DC and more.  The club endeavors to raise the awareness of Coast Guard athletes (with a focus on runners) within our service, amongst the other services and in the public.  All members of the Coast Guard family (Active duty, Retired, Reserve, Civilian, and Auxiliary) as well as their dependants and friends of the Coast Guard (with qualifying sponsor) are welcome to join.

The national club is headquartered in Alameda, California and coexists as the Greater Golden Gate (G3) Chapter.  National officers are voted in accordance with the bylaws below.

EVENTS: The club encourages participation in team events like relays, cross country, and mud runs.  Our members use these events to put our proficiency in logistics and teamwork on display while showcasing the Coast Guard in a positive way.  Often the club competes in the military or law enforcement or corporate division if available, whereas the teams are limited to USCG employees only.

STATUS AND GOALS: With generous loans from the first club members we were able to form the begining of the national structure, including our first large run of club t-shirts – which will hopefully become the trademark running shirt that bonds the Coast Guards athletes together.  Our membership is slowly growing and we’re focusing on establishing independent chapters with signature events and plans to progress the club towards it’s goals.

The mission of the club is to foster running in the Coast Guard in order to promote esprit de corps and to aid in creating a healthier workforce.  De facto running club’s exist throughout the Coast Guard and have for many years – formally organizing them is a new idea, and getting our processes and procedures down is one of our main goals.  Ensuring we are a legitimate entity in the eyes of the USCG and public is also a priority.  In that vain we have dotted our i’s and crossed our t’s registering as an RRCA affiliate club and establishing 501(c)3 non-profit status.  All of our chapters will fall under our status, while the national organization maintains the paperwork, taxes and other tasks necessary for the club to continue.

CHAPTERS: With the national club developed growing membership and establishing chapters is our number one priority.  Each chapter will be able to utilize the tools and benefits provided by the national organization as well as establish their own local partnerships.  A charter will be created for each chapter that will be used as a road map towards their operations including:

• Signature Event  – the one team event the chapter will endeavor to participate in each year.
• Other Events – other events the chapter typically participates in.
• Local running club partners – local running clubs that align with the mission of the CGRC as well as provide services we aren’t set up to.
• Chapter hosted and sponsored events or programs.
• Sponsors – local organizations that give a deal to our members as set up by the chapters.

END GAME: With a well established club and chapters, personnel rotating into the area or travelling TAD can easily find other runners and training groups as well as organize teams for events.  With a streamlined organization the club will continue even as the officers consistently turnover as well as members transfer into and out of the area.  A small group of dedicated volunteers in each area will keep the collective knowledge of running in the area consistent providing an invaluable resource to our service.

FUNDS: Membership Funds go to the following:

1. Maintaining club admin – Website fees, RRCA membership,membership packet, newsletter and directory distribution.
2. Maintaining apparel stock – we have our minimal stock and would like to be able to keep enough on hand to meet demand of teams, new members, .
3. Funding club member participation in events (once established this is our Main Objective)
4. Distributions to established chapters based on membership.  If we don’t need it to cover basic admin – it goes back to the chapter to do as the elected officers determine.
5. Every first time member gets a t-shirt.  Initial membership fees are higher than renewals to cover this cost.  Distributing Coast Guard running apparel is in line with our mission and we believe every member needs one thing in common – and that’s our signature T.

BYLAWS:  BYLAWS OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD RUNNING CLUB