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Terry Layton Volunteer of the Year
Jane Serues was chosen as the 2015 GSRC Terry Layton Volunteer of the Year. We asked Jane to share with us the benefits of volunteering. Congratulations on a well deserved honor!
To Volunteer or Not to Volunteer? (Sorry, Hamlet!)
What an honor to be selected to be this year's recipient of the Terry Layton Volunteer of the Year Award. For those who don't know Terry Layton, he has been a huge asset to the Grand Strand running community for many years having served as Executive Director for the Myrtle Beach Marathon and was instrumental in starting the Grand Strand Running Club (as a chapter of the national Road Runners Club of America). He was as busy as a one-armed paper hanger! It's amazing how much he got accomplished for the club on all levels with the help of some key hard-working volunteers like Jim Troxell, Dave Hansen and others.
I have been running for 40 years. It's such a wonderful sport for so many physical and emotional reasons I trust you know about. I am a fan! When I was given the award in mid-December, I chose the opportunity to point out how volunteering my time to promote and work for the sport is almost as fulfilling as the physical health benefits the sport provides. I'm 67 years old and have moved 4 times since I began running. Joining and volunteering for the local running club is how I made connections with nice, like-minded people in each new location. But, the "volunteering" was the key!
Volunteering is any activity that involves spending time and effort (usually unpaid), doing something that benefit others. Examples from the GSRC:
- Show up early at a club race and help with registration.
- Help out at the club's water station for a big event in the area.
- Give an evening to stuff participants' packets to be mailed or unpack thousands of metals for the city's Myrtle Beach Marathon weekend.
- Sign on as a mentor for the GSRC training program to help give more personal support to new and improving runners.
- Join a committee (there are several): volunteer recruitment, communication/marketing, grand prix series, training team, kids running program, membership, social, Battle of the Border, race, or finance committees.
- Become a race director or committee chairperson
- Serve on the GSRC executive board
Some of these require a few hours. Some require more. It's a group of people with a common task working together ... and getting to know each other. There weren't this many opportunities several years back but the club has been growing and leadership has expanded the club from the small group of enthusiasts to a good-sized club!
Volunteering is not an "all give and no take" proposition. You give of your time and talents in an area that interests you. You gain a satisfaction of giving back to something that has been good to you. AND you meet new friends, share training runs or tips that help your running, discover vendors or professionals you may need, maybe even find a husband (as I did 25 years ago) and know that you've helped others by expanding the sport for their pleasure and fitness.
Running is a great sport. Volunteering adds to it in many worthwhile ways! I highly
recommend it.
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Terry Layton Volunteer of the Year Award Winner, Jane Serues
and GSRC President, Roscoe Griffin |
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