The newly formed AARC held its first board meeting on February 6, 2003. AARC, whose initial goals are to provide clubs with a source of participant liability and Directors and Officers insurance as well as group exemption non-profit status from the IRS, was formed in response to many requests from clubs and events.

Among the actions taken during the inaugural Board meeting were:

Election of Officers:
Jeff Darman, Co-President
Harold Tinsley, Co-President
Julia Emmons, Vice President
Anna Berdahl, Secretary
Bee Andrews, Treasurer

Adoption of By Laws

Election of a Board of Directors which includes the officers above and Don Kardong. Three of the members of the Board are former RRCA presidents (Darman, Kardong, and Tinsley), Anna Berdahl is a former RRCA Deputy Executive Director, Julia Emmons is Peachtree Road Race Director and Atlanta Track Club Executive Director, and Bee Andrews is Tidewater Striders President.

It was also decided that the first membership meeting will be held on Saturday, June 14, in Atlanta, Georgia, where the AARC offices are located. Elizabeth Unislawski is serving as AARC's first Administrator.

A logo was also approved by the Board.

"We encourage all of our member clubs and events to attend the June meeting as we plan for the future in these challenging times," said Co-President Jeff Darman. "In June we will be deciding future direction and our role in the year ahead and we need input from all our members to make the right decisions," he added. The term of the transitional Board will end and elections for four officers and three additional At-Large Board Members, who will serve terms of one and two years, will be conducted at the Atlanta meeting.

The American Association of Running Clubs was formed in December 2002 and currently consists of 47 running clubs representing more than 26,000 members, and four event clubs with 46,000 participants. New clubs and events continue to join, adding to the organization's rapid growth.

Information on membership may be obtained via email to Elizabeth Unislawski, or by calling (404) 848-8051. The AARC offices are located at: 3097 East Shadowlawn Ave, Atlanta, GA 30305.