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FAQ Page
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Frequently Asked Questions
Archived: http://www.empirerunners.org/newsletter, or click “Club Info/Newsletters” on the homepage.
Grand Prix points: http://www.empirerunners.org/grandprix, or click “Grand Prix Series” on the homepage.
Does ERC have a coach, someone who can help me set goals and design a workout plan to achieve those goals?
Can I attend a few workouts first before I join the club?
I'm out of shape and haven't run in years, is this club right for me?
I am a veteran runner with a few marathons under my belt and now I'm looking to improve my time, is this right club for me?
When and where do you meet up and run?
How can I get involved in the club?
How do I access my member profile?
What if the system doesn’t recognize my email address?
What if I don’t have an email address or I share an email address with someone else in my family?
What is a bundle administrator?
What is the Members Directory and who can view it?
What are the profile privacy settings?
The Egroup
What is the club egroup?
What are the egroup message guidelines?
How do I send an egroup message?
How do I turn egroup messages off or on?
MiscellaneousWhat is the Grand Prix
What are the RRCA and the PA/USATF?
What is Wild Apricot?
What benefits do I receive from joining ERC?
When you join ERC you will have the opportunity to:
Does ERC have a coach, someone who can help me set goals and design a workout plan to achieve those goals?
The ERC offers a number of group training sessions each week. Sessions that have leaders or hosts are loosely structured and although beginners and newcomers are welcomed, there is no club-sanctioned coaching program offered. Even so, veterans of these workouts can be a good source of information and encouragement.
Can I attend a few workouts first before I join the club?
The dates, times and meeting places can be found on the club calendar which appears on the Calendar page of the club website and in the monthly newsletter. All sessions are always open to the public; club membership is not required.
I'm out of shape and haven't run in years, is this club right for me?
With over 800 members at different levels and abilities, you will be sure to find other runners in the same situation. Some people are looking to lose weight and start an exercise program; others have specific goals in mind such as running a marathon or getting a PR on a certain race distance. Our club encompasses every type of runner from recreational to competitive.
I am a veteran runner with a few marathons under my belt and now I'm looking to improve my time, is this right club for me?
Absolutely, many of our runners are fine-tuning their racing skills and looking to get faster and stronger. Joining ERC will help you define and meet your goals.
When and where do you meet up and run?
We run together 7 days a week. Tuesdays are our track workouts out of Montgomery High School. Please visit http://www.empirerunners.org/training for a complete list of our monthly group training sessions
How can I get involved in the club?
We've got many opportunities to get involved. You can show up at our monthly meetings, usually held on the fourth Thursday of every month at Round Table Pizza, Montgomery Village - Santa Rosa. Check our website for meeting time. At these meetings we discuss club issues and events. We are also always in need of volunteers our projects are on an ad hoc basis and we'll advertise for volunteers on our website and over email when the need arises.
What is my member profile?
Members can access and edit their member profile by logging into our site to renew membership, add family members to family accounts, update contact information, change privacy/email settings, and more.
How do I access my member profile?
Use the sign-in box in the lower left corner of the club website homepage (www.empirerunners.org). Enter the email address you used when you joined the club and your password. If you do not have a password or forgot your password, click on “Forgot password.” Once logged in, click on “Member Profile.”
What if the system doesn’t recognize my email address?
If the system does not recognize your email address, it’s because we don’t have it or your membership has expired. You may have to contact the membership director (membership@empirerunners.org) to correct this.
If you are a member of a family membership, a unique email address for you may not have been submitted when your family joined the club or a fake (non-functional) email address may have been used to create your place in the system. In either case the principle family member, or “bundle administrator,” can access your member profile and enter your correct email address. Once your unique email address is entered in the system, you can then create a password, log on, and access your own member profile.
What if I don’t have an email address or I share an email address with someone else in my family?
Members without email cannot access their member profiles. However, if you are part of a family membership, you can use the address and password of the family bundle administrator to access the profiles of the whole family.
What is a bundle administrator?
Each family membership has one person responsible for paying club dues and adding or deleting other family members to the membership. The database system designates this person as the “bundle administrator.” The bundle administrator has access to the member profiles of all the members of his or her family.
What is the Members Directory and who can view it?
Every club member’s name and city of residence are automatically included in an online searchable Member Directory viewable only to club members who log in using a password. A member can opt to remove his or her name from the Directory altogether or can add additional contact information (address, phone number, email address, etc.) by editing the “Privacy” section of his or her member profile. Log on and click Member Directory for additional instructions.
To respect privacy, we have limited the default setting for each member in the directory to name and city, but we encourage members to edit their profile privacy settings to make additional contact information accessible to other members.
What are the profile privacy settings?
The “Privacy” section of a member’s profile allows each member to choose one of three levels of accessibility for each piece of personal data: “Anybody,” “Members,” or “No access.” Currently, the only place member information can be viewed by anyone other than club administrators is the Member Directory, and the Member Directory is viewable only to club members who log on using a password. Our Member Directory will never be accessible to the general public, so the net effect of choosing “Anybody” or “Members” for contact information is the same.
What is the club egroup?
Official club announcements, including notice of the publication of the monthly newsletter, are also sent to the membership using the egroup system.
We do not use the egroup as a chat room. Replies to an egroup message go only to the original message sender, not to the whole membership. For public conversations about club and running issues, please use our facebook page.
Egroup messages are monitored by club moderators and must follow the Egroup message guidelines and be approved before being released to the membership.
What are the egroup message guidelines?
How do I send an egroup message?
Address egroup messages to egroup@empirerunners.org. Enter “egroup Message” in the subject title of your email to identify your message as intended to be broadcast. Include the real subject title you wish sent with your message at the top of the text of your message.
How do I turn egroup messages off or on?
Every egroup message includes a link to “unsubscribe” to e-Newsletters and e-mail blasts. Once unsubscribed, you will no longer receive any messages from other members or official club announcements, including the newsletter announcement. You may also unsubscribe or re-subscribe by editing your member profile under “Email subscriptions.”
If you are not receiving egroup messages and want them, check to make sure your member profile is “subscribed” to “E-newsletters and E-mail blasts.”
What is the Grand Prix?
The Empire Runners Fleet Feet Grand Prix Series is a year-long competition for club members in which points are scored in club races and prizes awarded at the Annual Club Awards Banquet based on cumulative points totals. First, second, and third place finishers in men’s and women’s divisions, overall and by age group, are recognized and provided with gift certificates at sponsor Fleet Feet Sports. Rules for the Grand Prix are dictated annually by the Grand Prix Czar and can be found on the club website under Grand Prix Standings.
What are the RRCA and the PA/USATF?
The Empire Runners Club is a club member of two running organizations, The Road Runners Club of America and Pacific Association/USA Track & Field.
The Road Runners Club of America (www.rrca.org) is a national organization dedicated to promoting the development and growth of running clubs, running events, and the interests of recreational runners throughout the country. As a member club, the Empire Runners Club acquires liability insurance for its events and workouts as well as its status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Pacific Association (www.pausatf.org) is a regional association of USA Track & Field. Its geographical boundaries stretch from the California-Oregon border on the north to San Luis Obispo in central California on the south and just beyond Reno, Nevada, to the east. The Pacific Association oversees and administers region-wide programs for all ages in track and field, long distance running, and race walking, and of special interest to the Empire Runners Club, age-group team competition in road and cross country races.
What is Wild Apricot?
Wild Apricot is the integrated online software our club uses to administer our membership database, club website, and event registration. The egroup, Club Member Directory, and Event Calendars all function within the Wild Apricot system.
Here you’ll find answers to questions you may not easily find elsewhere on the club website. The following list is a work in progress. If you find any of the answers unsatisfactory or have other questions about the Empire Runners Club you would like answered and added to this list, contact us at onlineservices@empirerunners.org. Please put “FAQ” in the subject title of your email.
Quick Links
Discounts: See “Member Discounts” on the sponsor page: http://www.empirerunners.org/sponsors
Club Apparel: http://www.empirerunners.org/apparel
Your Membership Profile: http://www.empirerunners.org/faq#h1
The Empire Runner newsletter:
Current: Click “READ THE CURRENT ISSUE OF THE NEWSLETTER” at the top of the website homepage.Archived: http://www.empirerunners.org/newsletter, or click “Club Info/Newsletters” on the homepage.
Grand Prix points: http://www.empirerunners.org/grandprix, or click “Grand Prix Series” on the homepage.
Age group teams (cross country): http://www.empirerunners.org/crosscountry
Local Races: In addition to races put on by the Empire Runners, our website race calendar lists other events in Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Napa, and Marin counties: http://www.empirerunners.org/races
Race Results: A link to results of the most current club races can be found at the top of the homepage under “Latest Results & Updates.” Archived results: http://www.empirerunners.org/results
Club Awards: http://www.empirerunners.org/awards, or click “Awards” on the homepage.
ERC on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Empire-Runners-Club/175376832474904, or click “The Empire Runners Club on Facebook” near the bottom of the homepage.
Egroup Messages: http://www.empirerunners.org/faq#p1
Training Calendar: http://www.empirerunners.org/training-calendar, or click “Training Calendar” on the homepage.
Grant Fund: http://www.empirerunners.org/studentgrantfund, or click “Student Grant Fund” on the homepage.
Contacts: http://www.empirerunners.org/contacts, or click “Contacts” on the homepage.
ERC Membership and You
Does ERC have a coach, someone who can help me set goals and design a workout plan to achieve those goals?
Can I attend a few workouts first before I join the club?
I'm out of shape and haven't run in years, is this club right for me?
I am a veteran runner with a few marathons under my belt and now I'm looking to improve my time, is this right club for me?
When and where do you meet up and run?
How can I get involved in the club?
Managing your club membership online
What is my member profile?How do I access my member profile?
What if the system doesn’t recognize my email address?
What if I don’t have an email address or I share an email address with someone else in my family?
What is a bundle administrator?
What is the Members Directory and who can view it?
What are the profile privacy settings?
The Egroup
What is the club egroup?
What are the egroup message guidelines?
How do I send an egroup message?
How do I turn egroup messages off or on?
MiscellaneousWhat is the Grand Prix
What are the RRCA and the PA/USATF?
What is Wild Apricot?
What benefits do I receive from joining ERC?
When you join ERC you will have the opportunity to:- Meet and socialize with other runners who share your interests
- Find training partners to motivate and push you
- Receive discounts on running apparel and gear from our sponsor running stores in Sonoma County.
- Discounted entry to club races when registering online (Except: Kenwood Footrace)
- Experience camaraderie and team competition in our participation with the USATF-PA Cross Country race series
- Have fun stay healthy and get in great shape!
- New members receive 1 free Club T-shirt (up to 6 shirts per family membership)
Does ERC have a coach, someone who can help me set goals and design a workout plan to achieve those goals?
The ERC offers a number of group training sessions each week. Sessions that have leaders or hosts are loosely structured and although beginners and newcomers are welcomed, there is no club-sanctioned coaching program offered. Even so, veterans of these workouts can be a good source of information and encouragement.Can I attend a few workouts first before I join the club?
The dates, times and meeting places can be found on the club calendar which appears on the Calendar page of the club website and in the monthly newsletter. All sessions are always open to the public; club membership is not required.I'm out of shape and haven't run in years, is this club right for me?
With over 800 members at different levels and abilities, you will be sure to find other runners in the same situation. Some people are looking to lose weight and start an exercise program; others have specific goals in mind such as running a marathon or getting a PR on a certain race distance. Our club encompasses every type of runner from recreational to competitive. I am a veteran runner with a few marathons under my belt and now I'm looking to improve my time, is this right club for me?
Absolutely, many of our runners are fine-tuning their racing skills and looking to get faster and stronger. Joining ERC will help you define and meet your goals.When and where do you meet up and run?
We run together 7 days a week. Tuesdays are our track workouts out of Montgomery High School. Please visit http://www.empirerunners.org/training for a complete list of our monthly group training sessionsHow can I get involved in the club?
We've got many opportunities to get involved. You can show up at our monthly meetings, usually held on the fourth Thursday of every month at Round Table Pizza, Montgomery Village - Santa Rosa. Check our website for meeting time. At these meetings we discuss club issues and events. We are also always in need of volunteers our projects are on an ad hoc basis and we'll advertise for volunteers on our website and over email when the need arises.What is my member profile?
Members can access and edit their member profile by logging into our site to renew membership, add family members to family accounts, update contact information, change privacy/email settings, and more.How do I access my member profile?
Use the sign-in box in the lower left corner of the club website homepage (www.empirerunners.org). Enter the email address you used when you joined the club and your password. If you do not have a password or forgot your password, click on “Forgot password.” Once logged in, click on “Member Profile.”What if the system doesn’t recognize my email address?
If the system does not recognize your email address, it’s because we don’t have it or your membership has expired. You may have to contact the membership director (membership@empirerunners.org) to correct this.If you are a member of a family membership, a unique email address for you may not have been submitted when your family joined the club or a fake (non-functional) email address may have been used to create your place in the system. In either case the principle family member, or “bundle administrator,” can access your member profile and enter your correct email address. Once your unique email address is entered in the system, you can then create a password, log on, and access your own member profile.
What if I don’t have an email address or I share an email address with someone else in my family?
Members without email cannot access their member profiles. However, if you are part of a family membership, you can use the address and password of the family bundle administrator to access the profiles of the whole family.What is a bundle administrator?
Each family membership has one person responsible for paying club dues and adding or deleting other family members to the membership. The database system designates this person as the “bundle administrator.” The bundle administrator has access to the member profiles of all the members of his or her family.What is the Members Directory and who can view it?
Every club member’s name and city of residence are automatically included in an online searchable Member Directory viewable only to club members who log in using a password. A member can opt to remove his or her name from the Directory altogether or can add additional contact information (address, phone number, email address, etc.) by editing the “Privacy” section of his or her member profile. Log on and click Member Directory for additional instructions.To respect privacy, we have limited the default setting for each member in the directory to name and city, but we encourage members to edit their profile privacy settings to make additional contact information accessible to other members.
What are the profile privacy settings?
The “Privacy” section of a member’s profile allows each member to choose one of three levels of accessibility for each piece of personal data: “Anybody,” “Members,” or “No access.” Currently, the only place member information can be viewed by anyone other than club administrators is the Member Directory, and the Member Directory is viewable only to club members who log on using a password. Our Member Directory will never be accessible to the general public, so the net effect of choosing “Anybody” or “Members” for contact information is the same.What is the club egroup?
Official club announcements, including notice of the publication of the monthly newsletter, are also sent to the membership using the egroup system.We do not use the egroup as a chat room. Replies to an egroup message go only to the original message sender, not to the whole membership. For public conversations about club and running issues, please use our facebook page.
Egroup messages are monitored by club moderators and must follow the Egroup message guidelines and be approved before being released to the membership.
What are the egroup message guidelines?
- Subject matter must be of obvious concern to the Empire Runners Club membership.
- No advertising, want ads, or commercial promotion
- No obscenity, offensive language, or disrespectful content
- Information regarding local, non-club races should be sent to website@empirerunners.org for placement on our online race calendar.
How do I send an egroup message?
Address egroup messages to egroup@empirerunners.org. Enter “egroup Message” in the subject title of your email to identify your message as intended to be broadcast. Include the real subject title you wish sent with your message at the top of the text of your message.How do I turn egroup messages off or on?
Every egroup message includes a link to “unsubscribe” to e-Newsletters and e-mail blasts. Once unsubscribed, you will no longer receive any messages from other members or official club announcements, including the newsletter announcement. You may also unsubscribe or re-subscribe by editing your member profile under “Email subscriptions.”If you are not receiving egroup messages and want them, check to make sure your member profile is “subscribed” to “E-newsletters and E-mail blasts.”
What is the Grand Prix?
The Empire Runners Fleet Feet Grand Prix Series is a year-long competition for club members in which points are scored in club races and prizes awarded at the Annual Club Awards Banquet based on cumulative points totals. First, second, and third place finishers in men’s and women’s divisions, overall and by age group, are recognized and provided with gift certificates at sponsor Fleet Feet Sports. Rules for the Grand Prix are dictated annually by the Grand Prix Czar and can be found on the club website under Grand Prix Standings.What are the RRCA and the PA/USATF?
The Empire Runners Club is a club member of two running organizations, The Road Runners Club of America and Pacific Association/USA Track & Field.The Road Runners Club of America (www.rrca.org) is a national organization dedicated to promoting the development and growth of running clubs, running events, and the interests of recreational runners throughout the country. As a member club, the Empire Runners Club acquires liability insurance for its events and workouts as well as its status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Pacific Association (www.pausatf.org) is a regional association of USA Track & Field. Its geographical boundaries stretch from the California-Oregon border on the north to San Luis Obispo in central California on the south and just beyond Reno, Nevada, to the east. The Pacific Association oversees and administers region-wide programs for all ages in track and field, long distance running, and race walking, and of special interest to the Empire Runners Club, age-group team competition in road and cross country races.
What is Wild Apricot?
Wild Apricot is the integrated online software our club uses to administer our membership database, club website, and event registration. The egroup, Club Member Directory, and Event Calendars all function within the Wild Apricot system.