The Jacksonville Track Club (JTC)
was founded and organized at the Riverside Avenue YMCA on October 28, 1975, as a
result of interest expressed by area runners at the Bold City Run earlier that
month. The founding members were:
Rodney Smith Doug McElhinney Jack Bailey
Tom Skordas
Pam Peterson Cheyney Wells John Geren Jay Birmingham
Harris
Stebbins Lamar Strother John TenBroeck.
Soon after the founding, Saturday
fun runs were initiated at the South Campus of Florida Junior College (now FCCJ).
By January 1976, club membership had reached 39 members.
Our first sponsored race was the Winter Beach Run in February 1976.
The Mile Festival was first run at Craig Field in April 1976. That summer the
JTC assumed the management of the Summer Beach Run from the Jacksonville Rugby
Club. The River Run 15000 made its debut in March 1978.
The Last Gasp was founded in 1977, the Women’s Run (now
CASH) in
1978, and the Ginger Fannin Couples Relay in 1985. The Summer Track Series
debuted in 1979. The Ravines Run first appeared in the early 1980’s and then
resumed in 2001. The Guana River 50 km Trail Run & Relay began in 2002.
Name Change
The Jacksonville Track Club became JTC Running in February 2007.
The JTC was incorporated in
Florida on December 31, 1975. By-laws, approved shortly thereafter, were
amended occasionally over the next twenty years. In February 1997, a complete
by-laws revision was approved by the Board of Directors. In March 1977, a
policy was approved that limited the number of board meetings a director could
miss and still retain his/her seat.
Section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code exempts the JTC from
federal income tax. The exemption is based on the JTC’s affiliation with the
Road Runners Club of America. However, the treasurer must file an annual report
with IRS. The JTC is exempt from paying Florida sales taxes as of February 24,
2004.
To continue the benefits of our incorporation, the club files an
annual report with Florida’s Secretary of State. John S. Duss IV is the JTC’s
registered agent.
Florida laws require, that a file of race registrations be
maintained for at least 5 years for liability purposes. Those documents should
be stored at the JTC warehouse.
JTC’s races are the legal property of the club. That precept was
established in a 1983 countersuit against several persons who tried to assume
control of the River Run 15000.
The JTC owns over $10,000 worth of equipment and supplies that are stored at our warehouse (Mandarin Mini Storage) and at the Alred, Strother, and TenBroeck homes.
The JTC mailing address is: PO Box 24667, Jacksonville FL, 32241 and is located at the postal facility on Sunbeam Road. Our non-profit bulk mailing permit allows reduced rates on mailings of 200 or more identical pieces. Bulk mail is now forwarded at an extra cost of $.75 to the JTC so members should update mailing address changes with the membership chairman and/or the secretary ASAP.
The JTC phone number is (904) 384-8725 and is equipped with recorded updates of club activities and an answering machine. It is located at the Strother residence. The JTC e-mail address is ConsultJTB@aol.com . Those members who sign up for the JTC E-Mail Club receive regular updates on club activities. The JTC web site is www.jacksonvilletrackclub.com and is managed by John TenBroeck
The bulk of our income is
derived from race entry fees, sponsorships, membership dues, donations,
dividends, and interest. The JTC Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer are responsible for managing and recording
all JTC transactions, investments, and accounts.
The JTC has regularly contributed funds to deserving individuals,
local collegiate running programs, and large high school invitational meets.
School teams and organizations are able to receive funds by working at JTC
races.
The JTC joined the Road Runners
Club of America (RRCA) in 1979 and JTC delegates have attended every RRCA
national convention since then except for 1990 and 2006. The RRCA, founded in 1958, is a
confederation of running clubs that disseminates information, approaches running
concerns on a national basis, publishes the quarterly Footnotes magazine, and
provides club liability insurance.
The JTC is
also a member of USA Track & Field – the national governing body of running and
walking sports. Through USATF, we obtain practice insurance, race course
certification, and sanctioning for our championship events. JTC delegates
regularly attend USATF/Florida Association meetings.
Membership in the JTC is contingent upon our receipt of a membership application/renewal and appropriate dues. Current membership categories are for individuals or families. A discounted three year membership was first offered in 2003.
Our bi-monthly newsletter, “The Starting Line”, is managed by the appointed editor, Chris Twiggs, and includes event calendars, results, board minutes, articles, and announcements. Submissions and advertising are welcome.
“The Runner”
The JTC commissioned a life-size statue of a runner in 2001. It was donated to the City of Jacksonville and installed on the Riverwalk at the foot of Newnan Street in 2002.
Group Runs
Current group runs include interval workouts at the Bolles School track as well as others at various locations during the week. The newsletter and web site have details.
Board of Directors
The JTC Board of Directors, consisting of 5 to 20 members, manages the club.