Looking to get involved with a club committee? Look no further! No matter your talents, interests, or available time, we have a job for you. Committee information and contact info is listed below:

Communications

Chair: Anne Shubert

Contact communications@sandbox.steeplechasers.org

The Communications Committee keeps members up-to-date with what is happening in the club, promotes local races, and keeps FSRC visible in the community. If you’ve got a knack for writing, communications, marketing, social media, PR, or otherwise spreading the word, this is the committee for you.

Sub-Committees and Positions

Club Newsletter – Bi-monthly email newsletter of upcoming events and activities
Intervals Blog – Quarterly blog featuring articles of interest to members, including club activities and educational pieces by local professionals, intervalsblog@sandbox.steeplechasers.org
Premium Race Promotions – Promoting local races
Public Relations – Marketing FSRC to the community through articles in local publications and events, publicrelations@sandbox.steeplechasers.org
Social Media – FSRC is active on Facebook to promote the club and also to provide a space for members to communicate with each other about all things running.

Volunteer Opportunities

Maintain and use social media platforms to promote the club and recruit new members
Manage the email marketing system: coordinate with race directors, maintain distribution lists, draft content, and schedule message distribution
Write content for the Intervals Blog or Newsletter
Write articles on club activities for submission to area publications
Take pictures at Steeplechaser events and races

Community Outreach

Chair: Lou King

Contact community-liaison@sandbox.steeplechasers.org

The Steeplechasers are committed to supporting the larger Frederick community via fitness, friendship, and athletic development of both members and the community at large. The Community Outreach Committee handles matters related to Runner-Friendly businesses, scholarships, and event support.

Sub-Committees and Positions

Community Liaison – Community engagement related to Frederick’s Runner-Friendly City designation, Runner-Friendly Business listing
FSRC Memorial Scholarship – Scholarship for local students who have made a difference in the running community, memorialscholarship@sandbox.steeplechasers.org
Race Support – Support with course marking, course marshals, timing, and finish line activities for local race events around Frederick, raceservices@sandbox.steeplechasers.org

Volunteer Opportunities

Recruit businesses to participate in the Runner-Friendly Business listing
Provide finish line and course-marking support for client races; time commitments are normally one to two hours per event
Be a course marshal for the Frederick Running Festival half-marathon
Support the scholarship committee in reviewing and selecting scholarship recipients

Competition

Co-Chairs: Shannon Matthews and Ruth Taylor

Contact competition@sandbox.steeplechasers.org

The Competition Committee encourages fun (and friendly!) competition and participation within the Steeplechasers membership, with an emphasis on supporting local races.

Sub-Committees and Positions

Club Competition Series – Grand Prix, Equalizer, Trail, 5k
MD RRCA Club Series
Racing Team – Steeplechasers members compete on behalf of the Racing Team at races throughout the greater metropolitan Washington, DC area, racingteam@sandbox.steeplechasers.org
Summer Decathlon – A ten-week track series on summer evenings

Volunteer Opportunities

Direct one of the Decathlon events by purchasing relay prizes and being in charge of the evenings events
Organize a Decathlon event finishes by assigning timers and collecting finisher cards
Create a relay or track event that helps teach runners a particular aspect of running technique
Support chair in racing team activities and management
Assist in selection of series races each year
Assist in nomination and selection of annual award winners

Finance

Chair: Harriet Langlois

Contact treasurer@sandbox.steeplechasers.org

The Finance Committee keeps track of all things monetary on behalf of the club, ensuring that we can continue to offer affordable programs and benefits to members and support the Frederick running community. The Committee manages the club’s annual budget, oversees bookkeeping, handles tax and other Maryland state filing requirements, and manages insurance, dues and other RRCA requirements.

Volunteer Opportunities

Support club bookkeeping operations
Assist with paperwork for Maryland taxes and other state filing requirements
Support race services financial management (scheduling, contracts, invoicing)

Membership

Chairs: Nikki Martin, Kerry McHugh

Contact membership@sandbox.steeplechasers.org

We’re a running club, and that means we wouldn’t be much of anything without our members! The Membership Committee attracts and welcomes new members to the club and supports existing members, as well as developing new benefits for club members. We work closely with other committees to identify the best ways to bring members to various club activities.

Sub-Committees and Positions

Membership Benefits – Ensuring that members receive access to club benefits such as free training, race discounts, education nights, and members-only Facebook group
Membership Registration – Registration for the club is handled via RunSignUp
Social – Social activities include an annual banquet, summer picnic, (almost-)monthly happy hours, finish-line tents at big local races, such as the Frederick Half, and other fun social events throughout the year
Volunteer Appreciation Program – Recognizing the efforts of key volunteers each year

Volunteer Opportunities

Help set up/man/break down club tent at local races such as the Frederick Half
Suggest new social activity ideas for members
Host a winter breakfast run
Help organize volunteer efforts and gifts for the annual banquet
Help to maintain and enhance use of social media to promote the club and recruit new members
Man expo table at Frederick Running Festival
Assist with new programs and activities for the benefit of our club members

Races

Chair: Harriet Langlois

Contact individual race directors

The Races Committee is all about the club races, which includes three free low-key races for members (the Independence 5000, Lewis Run 10 Miler, and Pie Run), as well as our higher-profile signature club races, promoted to the regional running community and set up to benefit local projects and the club’s own community projects.

Sub-Committees – Low-Key Races

Independence 5000 – Victor Cretella independence5000@sandbox.steeplechasers.org
Lewis Run 10 Mile – Mark Lawrence mark.lawrence@sandbox.steeplechasers.org
Pie Run – Mark Lawrence mark.lawrence@sandbox.steeplechasers.org

Volunteer Opportunities – Low-Key Races

To volunteer with any of the club’s low-key races by joining the planning committee or helping out on race day, contact the race director (listed above).

Sub-Committees – Signature Races

Rick’s 5.22 Mile Run and Ultra Challenge – Crista Horn info@rickstrailrun.com
Frederick Summer Solstice Twilight 8k – Alex Young info@frederickss8k.com
Women’s Distance Festival 5k – Harriet Langlois info@frederickwdf.com
Market Street Mile – Lou King info@frederickmarketstreetmile.com

Volunteer Opportunities – Signature Races

To join the planning committee for any of our Signature or low-key races, send an email to the race director (listed above).
To volunteer on race day for any of our Signature races, sign up via the race website directly:

Store

Chair: Josh Roane

Contact store@sandbox.steeplechasers.org

Merch! We have merch! The Store Committee handles all official Steeplechasers merchandise, including singlets, seat covers, and other cool runner accessories.

Volunteer Opportunities

Process sales
Maintain inventory and online sales portal
Choose and order new inventory items

Technology

Chair: Lou King

Contact technology@sandbox.steeplechasers.org

The Technology Committee designed (and maintains) this beautiful website, and simplifies volunteer activities through the power of automation.

Volunteer Opportunities

Support web site design and automation activities using web design languages (e.g., html, php, javascript)
Update web content – does not require as much technical ability as web design
Assist with results processing for club series standings

Training

Chairs: Billy Clem, Nicole Davis

Contact training@sandbox.steeplechasers.org

Sub-Committees and Positions

Education Nights Several times a year, local professionals give presentations or workshops on topics of interest to our membership.
Panthers Running Club – FSRC conducts an after-school running program at Lincoln Elementary School for 2nd through 5th graders. Josh Henson lincoln-panthers@sandbox.steeplechasers.org
Spires Youth Running Club – The Spires is our training program designed specifically to meet the developmental needs of youth runners ages 7 to 14. The team competes in local youth cross country races in the fall, and track races in the spring. Trevor James spiresrunning@sandbox.steeplechasers.org
Trail and Ultra Running – Whether you prefer 5k’s or 100-milers, this program meets the needs of runners who prefer dirt beneath their feet.
Training Programs – Organized, coached training programs for all levels – Co-Ed 5k, Half Marathon, Marathon, Women’s 5k

Volunteer Opportunities

Coach or pace for a training program
Organize educational events with local professionals
Organize group runs including planning routes and aid
Assist with training plan development
If you are a local professional in a running related field, give a presentation at an education night or training program group run
Assist with planning of training runs including determining route and aid drop off
Assist with maintenance of the Facebook page
Lead/pace training groups