I’ve recently been released from a toxic relationship.
No, hubby and I are doing great. It’s not that type of relationship. I resigned from the advertising and marketing position in a local running club after coming to terms with the fact that my goals did not align with the direction the club was headed. (Ok, that was a mouthful.) In truth, I’m very sad about it. I love the running community. But the reasoning behind my decision is justified, and I have no regrets.
I accepted the position in 2016 with encouragement from Jonathan. I needed something to use my marketing skills without the commitment of a full time job. First and foremost I value my stay-at-home-mom status, so I can dedicate my time to my toddler. But I also needed an outlet for my creative expression, and I needed a way to feel like I was contributing to society.
Over the next 12 months I grew close to the Board members, fully acclimated to my post, and had a hundred and seven ideas for the following year. I was enthusiastic and super excited to personally take on a complete club rebranding, race promotion and growth,board member headshots and bios, and roll out member perks like a quarterly newsletter with long time member interviews, scholarships for college bound members, and revamp the ambassador program and featured event programs. I developed the plans, I was willing to take on the responsibility, and I was so excited to watch the growth and development. At Elections I eagerly accepted the position for the second consecutive year.
This club, originally a long distance running club, had been using the phrasing “running and walking” to entice more members. But the image was not as coherent.
- What is xxx Club?
- It’s a community service club that uses money from races to donate to charities.
-True conversation overheard at a hosted event
What. The actual. Eff.
Insert my goal to improve the branding of the club image. Because that is not forty years of running club. But I digress.
Unfortunately, none of my plans will take place. Despite being well thought out ideas, the leadership structure of the club was turned on it’s head placing all decision making, communication, and follow thru, funneled through one single person: the president. Every idea, every concept, every email and phone call was required to pass her desk. And this desk was where ideas went to die.
I stepped down because my expectations didn’t align with the actual responsibilities of the position. I was tired of butting heads with the president in my defensive attempts to actually complete the responsibilities. I felt the club was going down a road with questionable ethics. And I was beyond frustrated with consistently being told “I will do that, don’t worry.” by the person who also said “No one does anything, I’m the only person who does anything.” I’m sorry, but you can’t hoard the job duties of every position then complain that no one does their job. One word- delegate. Although honestly, all of those things I could have ignored.
The kicker, what pushed me over the edge, was watching my friends who I had grown close to be abused and disrespected as well as myself. I’m a tough cookie, I can stand up to a bully. But watching my peers experience the same mistreatment, then reading blatant lies and cries for attention because she feels “attacked” in the group chat…? That’s the straw that broke my back. I don’t need to fight for the ability to volunteer! I’m not event getting paid! For what? Some free swag? I can buy my own running visor. And I will be proud wearing it when I run.
I have only been running for a few years now. I’m not the fastest. I can’t run very long. I have terrible form. I don’t take good race photos. But I am a runner, and I run with no regrets.
Moving forward…
I have since been approached by multiple organizations (both non-profit and paid) seeking my marketing and advertising skill set. I will be forever grateful for the experience I received while volunteering. My heart aches for the future of the club, as I see retaliation and furthering the blurred lines of unethical business practices clearly displayed in the upcoming meeting agenda. I want the group to do well, to help shape runners like me. But alas, I am a runner and I’m running on to the next place life takes me.