AS SEEN IN THE RUNNERS WORLD JANUARY 2010 ISSUE
RRCA to Host Advocacy Training at Convention
Arlington, VA – The Road Runners Club of America is working with the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI) to develop two, one-hour training seminars at the 52nd Annual RRCA National Convention. The purpose of the training seminars is to teach running club and event leaders how to develop and engage in grassroots advocacy campaigns and lobbying efforts in their communities.
“The RRCA envisions our members as important players in the development of local advocacy campaigns and lobbying efforts related to topics that are of importance to the running community,” explained Jean Knaack, RRCA executive director. “The RRCA’s investment in this training is a commitment to or vision of runners as health, fitness, and pedestrian safety advocates.”
The first session will outline the laws that govern grassroots advocacy and lobbying activities for nonprofit organizations. This session will cover the differences between direct and grassroots lobbying and other important concepts.
The second session will outline the concepts of developing grassroots advocacy campaigns that clubs can implement locally. These locally developed campaigns will address ideas such as runners’ safety initiatives, community health promotion initiatives, multi-use trail development and maintenance initiatives, and many other topics of interest to the running community.
The training sessions will be lead by CLPI training fellow Jeannie Fox.
Jeannie is Deputy Director of Public Policy at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, having spent over a decade working in nonprofit and government direct service organizations. Jeannie's experience ranges from developing and supervising psychiatric crisis residential services, running a domestic violence shelter, and being the clinical supervisor of a large city/county alcohol & drug services unit. These experiences greatly informed her later work as a nonprofit administrator and policy director.
In her current role at MCN, Jeannie is responsible for direct and grassroots lobbying and advocacy efforts on behalf of the nonprofit sector in Minnesota, and is a frequent speaker and trainer to various nonprofits increasing their capacity to do advocacy and civic engagement work. Jeannie has developed extensive training curricula for MCN-sponsored training series in Minnesota as well as custom policy institutes in various states, including Michigan, Illinois, and Florida. Jeannie serves on steering committees, public policy advisory councils and boards of directors of numerous nonprofit organizations.
Jeannie has a B.A. degree from South Dakota State University, a Masters degree in Agency Counseling from the University of North Texas, and a Mini-MBA for Nonprofit Organizations from the University of St. Thomas. Jeannie recently joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota - Duluth, Masters In Advocacy and Political Leadership department, teaching a course in Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying.
For more information about the 52nd Annual RRCA National Convention or to register for the event, visit
http://www.RRCAConvention.org.
ABOUT CLPI:Founded in 1998 as a project of the Independent Sector, the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI) is now a national, nonprofit organization that helps charitable organizations increase their effectiveness and impact through advocacy. Civic participation is the essence of democracy, and nonprofit organizations are one of the most effective vehicles for engaging people in the democratic process. CLPI trains nonprofits and promotes increased advocacy within the nonprofit and philanthropy sector in order to create systemic change on the critical issues of our day. The Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI) promotes, supports and protects 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy and lobbying in order to strengthen participation in our democratic society and advance the missions of charitable organizations. (
http://www.clpi.orgPhoto: Jeannie Fox courtesy of University of MN Duluth website
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About RRCA:
The RRCA is the national association of running clubs, running events, and runners. The mission of the RRCA is to promote running as a competitive sport and healthy exercise. The RRCA achieves their mission by promoting the common interests of its members by providing educational opportunities, programs, and services. The organization.s membership consists of over 988 running clubs and events the represent over 180,000 running club members in the US.