Committees & Activities

Interested in making your mark on the club? Front Runners has a wide variety of committees that do everything from helping run the behind-the-scenes operations to coordinating the weekly workouts to organizing major events. There’s something for every interest and we welcome you to join! You can reach out to any of the committees below via the links in the titles.

 

Awards Night

Annual banquet early each winter to celebrate accomplishments and recognize contributions from the previous year. Volunteer to help to organize or lend a hand during the evening.

 

Bagel Volunteer

Volunteer to help set up and run the post-run social breakfast after the weekly Saturday Fun Run. Organized by the board, and no experience necessary. See what is involved here.

 

Beginners' Clinic

A 10–12 week program organized each spring to prepare new or returning runners for their first big 5-mile race, the LGBT Pride Run. Volunteer to coordinate the committee, coach a workout(s), or join the participants on their Saturday workout runs for support and camaraderie.

 

Brooklyn

Organize Tuesday and Thursday fun runs in Brooklyn. Help with the Brooklyn LGBTQ+ Pride 5K. Organize Brooklyn-based socials, send weekly newsletters, administer the club’s Brooklyn Facebook group. Volunteer to serve on the committee, or rotate in to bag-watch for a Fun Run.

 

Coaching

The club holds Tuesday and Thursday weekly coached workouts (Central Park, outdoor or indoor track, and seasonal Brooklyn workouts), and an accompanying email newsletter. Serve on the committee to oversee the coaches, recruit assistant coaches, administer the Half Marathon & Marathon Training Facebook group, and organize or speak at occasional training and racing informational sessions. Help serve as a liaison for the performance team and also facilitate workouts for beginners. Volunteer as an assistant coach or rotate into bag watch. The coaching committee also organizes our annual Variety Hour fundraiser to benefit the coaching program.

 

Communications

The communications committee is dedicated to the club's message and operations. We maintain the website and manage the club's social media accounts on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, while also overseeing digital asset management. Our team creates visually appealing graphics and visuals, integrating them into a strategic and creative content approach to keep our members informed and engaged with the latest updates. Additionally, we provide valuable support to the club by assisting in drafting and reviewing public and general communications, ensuring effective and clear messaging across all channels.

 

Cross-Country Meet

An annual fall cross-country 5K in Van Cortlandt Park. Serve as race director, on planning committee, or lend a helping-hand the day of the race.

 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is an advisory committee that helps Front Runners New York uphold its mission of welcoming all LGBTQ+ people and their allies into a social running community. Through collaboration with the FRNY Board, other committees, and the membership at large, we identify and work to eliminate barriers preventing full participation of the communities underrepresented in our membership. The FRNY DEI Committee provides outreach and support to runners who are marginalized on the basis of ability, age, class, ethnicity, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, and more.The FRNY DEI Committee will advocate for full access, inclusion, and fulfillment for all FRNY members.

 

Elections

Manage the officers and directors nominations and elections each year in accordance with the Bylaws. The committee consists of three members not currently serving in the present year, nor will accept a nomination for the next year in a board position. Receive nominations and communicate with nominated members, maintain a list of nominees available to members, communicate to members throughout the elections process, administer and tally voting.

 

Finance

Review the Club’s monthly expenditures, help select an annual accountant, assist with filing required state and federal tax forms. Consists of one Club member, one board member other than the president, and assisted by the treasurer.

 

Front Walkers

Meet Saturdays at 9:10 AM to walk with Front Walkers, respond to email inquiries on Front Walkers.

 

Gay Games

Promote attendance by Front Runners at the Gay Games. Help raise funds for the Gay Games Participation Fund by organizing the Drag Royale event in addition to other fundraising events. For quadrennial Gay Games, select, order, and distribute team uniform pieces. Provide informational guidance to members on Gay Games participation, including registration, events, scheduling, travel, and accommodations. Organize a group outing at the host city.

 

Governance

Assist the board with interpreting Bylaws and Club policies. Typically a five-person committee of former board members and/or attorneys, serving for the calendar year.

 

Health & Wellness

The Health & Wellness Committee helps Front Runners by providing supplemental events and forums to support an active lifestyle for members. This includes nutrition, cross training, recovery techniques, and overall wellness. The better we are about maintaining our health, the less likely we will face problems that can take us away from doing what we love.

 

History & Archives

Maintain an archive of Club materials and add to it. Promote in the Front Runner Gram with the weekly Throwback Thursday.

 

LGBT Pride Run®

Serve as race director (appointed in September each year for next year’s race). Serve on the committee to help liaise with NYRR on race logistics, market the race, obtain and support sponsors and donors.

 

Long Runs

Most marathon and half marathon training programs call for weekly long runs. On most Sundays throughout the year, Long Run coordinators organize a mapped, group long run from a Club member’s home of 3 distances — typically ranging from 10 - 20 miles, depending on participants’ training schedules. Volunteer to be a coordinator or sign up to host a run.

 

Membership

Maintain the membership directory and database, providing updates & access on member lists and levels to committees as needed. Organize and deploy the annual renewal drive. Coordinate in-person membership promotional activities like tabling at NYRR Run Center Club Fair, Jock-A-Thon, Brooklyn Pride, Queens Pride. Donate your organizational and project management skills to serve on the committee or volunteer to staff a public outreach event.

 

Multisport

Help organize Monday night swim practice as a punch-card gatekeeper or serve as a volunteer assistant coach. Organize or lead weekly bike rides. Draft and send the weekly Multisport email newsletter. Select and oversee the swim coach. Design and manage Club triathlon uniforms. Organize group multisport events (e.g., run/bike to the beach with open-water clinic).

 

Participation Fund

The Participation Fund Committee currently consists of the club president, secretary, and treasurer. Review, approve, and disburse scholarships in accordance with the guidelines.

 

Race Captains

Help to fulfill the Club’s primary purpose to support and encourage running—specifically participation in races. Identify and promote targeted races for the LGBTQ community or that fill buckets in the Inger-Jo Berger Participation Award, compile the weekly Race Report, organize cheer zones, track the scoring of the Club’s age-group achievement awards, identify nominees for the Club’s Awards Night Awards.

 

Race Support

Participate in and help organize cheer zones at races. Volunteer to serve as captain or co-captain for water stations at some of our big races. Volunteer the day-of at Club-sponsored water stations for: New York City Half Marathon (winter), Chase Corporate Challenge (spring), New York City Marathon (fall). Participation brings benefits to the Club (donations or access to marathon registrations) and serves the community.

 

Social

Coordinate monthly social activities and post-race social events. Serve on the committee, contribute ideas, or lend a hand at an event or the Variety Hour and other fundraisers (or consider performing).

 

Track & Field

Organize the annual Indoor Track Meet at the Armory, coordinate team competition in track and field events, administer the Club’s Track and Field Facebook group page. Volunteer to help at a track meet, or serve on the organizing committee.

 

Trans & Non-Binary

The Trans & Non-Binary (TNB) committees serves and represents all trangender, non-binary and gender non-conforming members within Front Runners New York. The committee coordinates social events for TNB members, encourages education about trans and non-binary identities amongst the geater FRNY membership, and seeks volunteer opportunities for members to give back to the greater community. Above all else, the TNB committee is a community for all trans and non-binary members and encourages everyone to participate in FRNY to their fullest potential.

 

Wednesday Coordinators

Coordinate bag drop, make announcements, start the Wednesday Fun Runs.

 

Women's Committee

Administer the Women’s Team Facebook group, organize Dash ‘n Dine Wednesdays, organize the holiday party and other social events. Compose and send the Women’s Team Updates email newsletter.