Salem, Oregon's
Running & Walking Club Site
Home of
Willamette Valley Road Runners (WVRR)
www.WVRoadrunners.org.

SURVEY SAYS!
by Rick Segal

 

The results of the survey are in! There were 52 responders, approximately 38% of our club membership. As a refresher you were asked to rate a variety of topics from 1-10, 1-4 indicating a decrease in emphasis, 5 implying the same emphasis and 6-10 indicating an increase in emphasis. The results in order of importance to our club members is as follows:

1. 7.56 Getting more members
2. 7.25 Raising money for High School/ Middle School Running Programs
3. 6.79 Social Events
4. 6.75 Training Clinics
5. 6.67 Support Non-WVRR races
6. 6.17 WVRR sponsored races
7. 5.06 Raising money for other charities

Getting more members topped the survey. Though most of the comments implied we don't want to have just a bunch of bodies; we want members who will participate in activities and be involved in volunteering and coming to social functions

Quite a number of responders emphasized the importance of "balancing" our membership by encouraging activities that support a younger membership from youths to young adults. This leads into the second highest ranked finding of increased support for high & middle school running programs. We all recognize that with our schools budgets being cut, cuts are occurring in less popular sports such as cross country and track and field. It is a shame because we all realize that running can be a life long sport and allows for anyone with a desire to participate. Hopefully our support, for example, by donating a percentage of our profits from the Cascade Half Marathon to Cascade High School Cross Country and Track will help ensure its existence and potentially foster new members to our club.

Many of our club members just want to have fun! Thus, Social Events came in third. Ideas were brought up on running potlucks, guest speaker presentations, picnics, family oriented events, raffles, activities for children, etc. Don't forget our next fun social event will be a Pizza feed at Walery's Pizzeria on Edgewater St., in West Salem on May 7th! Also our membership picnic potluck will be on July 10th at the gazebo in Minto-Brown Park.

Training Clinics came in a strong fourth. Being a product of Gallagher's/Galloway's walk/run marathon program, it is easy for me to see the value of a training clinic. The Leukemia society and Diabetic society also offer training programs to help their causes. Having played a small part as a group leader in the Gallagher/Galloway program, I know the great deal of work and effort that is required to organize a successful training clinic. As part of the survey many commented regarding the risks of spreading ourselves to thin. As a club we would all support and help any member who was devoted to establishing a training program but at this time no one has come forward to fill these shoes. Thus, we should try to support training programs as they appear in our community.

Five and six are regarding races in our community. The comments of our club members are very clear. "Don't spread ourselves too thin." Continue with the current races we already put on and try to improve them. Try to offer support by volunteering and helping out in anyway possible to keep other local races going without becoming physically responsible for them.

Coming in last with the goal of remaining the same is the support of other charities. This is not because of a cold heart but more in the alignment of our club's mission statement: "To support and encourage a healthy approach to running and training for runners of all ages and all levels of ability. Through the camaraderie of a club atmosphere, members enjoy running for the purpose of general fitness as well as personal and team goals. As a group the WVRR participates in, as well as promotes, running and fitness related events and activities throughout the communities of the Willamette Valley." Though there were a lot of good causes mentioned by responders the overall consensus was that we shouldn't spread ourselves too thin and our main charitable support should be within our community by supporting youth and school running programs.