Policies

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

Our mission and core values have long emphasized a welcoming and inclusive culture within the club and in our relationships with the community. Ongoing review of our policies and practices has encouraged us to reinforce our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do, internally and externally. The following definitions clarify our intent.

Diversity is a term that describes the group as a whole. It arises from the characteristics which enable us to respect and benefit from points of view, experiences, strengths, and needs that differ from person to person.

Equity describes an approach to policy and action that enables groups to meet the different needs of its members. Equity acknowledges that treating everyone the same, although doing so might appear equal, does not produce equitable results.

Inclusion addresses the perception of belonging. An organization’s culture communicates, often in subtle ways, the collective view of “we” and “they.” An inclusive organization recognizes the impacts of its behavior on the views and experiences of current and potential members and the broader running and walking community.

In summary, we intend not only to accept and support all current and prospective members of the running and walking community, we also want to make conscious efforts to reach out, invite, actively welcome, and ask for help identifying and implementing changes that could improve DEI within the Run Wild organization. We consider it important to make an extra effort toward DEI within the over-arching framework of our Mission and Core Values.

One of the primary purposes of Run Wild Missoula, Inc. (“RWM”) is to provide its members and other participants with the ability to participate safely in RWM races, training runs and track workouts. These events are, at times, at the mercy of the unforeseeable circumstances that are beyond RWM’s control. As such, RWM must have the ability to postpone or cancel these events when health and safety concerns (or other unforeseeable acts) warrant.

No Refunds: Most RWM races require an extensive amount of planning and pre-event expenses that include proper permitting, course control, and the purchase of food and beverages, shirts, and race awards. As such, if a race is cancelled, RWM will not provide refunds to participants, sponsors, vendors, or others who have expended funds on the race. The Board of Directors, with consultation with the Race Director and the RWM Executive Director, may, however, authorize partial or full refunds (or other accommodations such as deferred payment for a year) at their discretion under extraordinary circumstances.

Circumstances for Cancellation or Postponement: By definition, all unforeseeable events or occurrences that may affect RWM events cannot be succinctly defined. RWM acknowledges that its events are in Western Montana where cold and icy days are common in any season, and hot, smoky or rainy days exist in the summer. As such, RWM events generally shall occur come rain, snow or shine because RWM understands the training and expense participants have invested in competing in RWM races and training.

However, sometimes unusual events — weather and otherwise — demand changes. The health and safety of RWM members, other participants and the community at large, are the overarching criteria RWM will follow in deciding whether a race should be postponed or cancelled.

Weather: Unusually hot, humid, wet, cold, or icy conditions may cause the postponement or cancellation of a race, training run or track workout. This also includes the existence of visible lighting, strong or dangerous wind conditions, hail, heavy rain and flooding.

Fires and Air Quality: The presence of forest fires and poor air quality in and around the race, training run or track workout location may cause the postponement or cancellation of an event. In deciding whether to cancel or postpone an event due to smoke from forest fires, RWM shall consider the Missoula County Air Quality Guidelines as part of its decision-making process.

Other Circumstances: Unforeseen actions by others that affect a RWM race, training run or track workout may cause postponement or cancellation of an event. These include, but are not limited to, actions by governmental entities, actions by law enforcement, unanticipated road/trail closures, the existence of dangerous animals on the course, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, war, and other natural or unnatural acts that have historically been attributed to God, the Devil or any of the lesser-known deities.

Postpone/Cancellation Procedure: RWM will strive to keep participants and the community apprised of any postponement or cancellation of its events. It will do this through its website, email, traditional media outlets and social media. All participants are urged to check the RWM website in the days leading up to an event for the most current event conditions and updates.

The organizers of RWM training runs and track workouts have the discretion to postpone or cancel these events based on the above criteria. Any cancellations shall be reported to the RWM Executive Director.

Before a RWM race is cancelled or delayed by more than one hour, the race director shall confer with the RWM Executive Director to discuss options. Prior to cancelling a RWM race or delaying the race by more than one hour, the Executive Director shall use his/her best efforts to communicate the issues and a recommendation to the RWM Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, in consultation with the race director and the Executive Director, shall make the ultimate decision to cancel a race.

 RUN WILD MISSOULA, INC.’S MEMBER CODE OF CONDUCT

Run Wild Missoula’s [RWM] mission is to promote and support running and walking of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Run Wild seeks to create opportunities where a community of welcoming individuals can safely participate or volunteer at races, training classes, recurring runs, social happenings and educational events.

The Code of Conduct is created for the safety and benefit of the organization, its members, staff and visitors. It is not meant to dictate all interpersonal relationships and interactions between members or between members and the community. Instead, the purpose of this policy is to set forth the basic principles of decency we expect members to follow so that members can achieve their running and walking goals in a safe and fun environment.

As a RWM member, you agree to:

• Always show respect to your fellow club members;
• Always show respect and appreciation for the volunteers who give their time to help RWM and/or assist at RWM events;
• Always show respect to staff at events and in the RWM office;
• Communicate in respectful ways to fellow members, volunteers and staff. This includes (but not limited to) verbal, email, text, phone, and social media communications;
• Refrain from verbal (yelling, taunting, threatening) or physical violence upon anyone at a RWM race, or other club events;
• Refrain from making racial, ethnic, religious, age, sexual-orientation or gender-related slurs or derogatory comments at RWM events;
• Refrain from making unwanted sexual or physical contact with other members, volunteers or members of the community at RWM events. Members shall not act in a manner that can be deemed as sexual harassment, which includes unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors and any other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature;
• Refrain from acting in a manner that disrupts or impedes RWM events;
• Follow all RWM Club Rules of the Run and/or Course Marshal Instructions when participating in running events.

Failure to follow the Code of Conduct may lead to a member’s expulsion from RWM.

• Violations of the Code of Conduct are to be made in writing and presented to the RWM Executive Director, who shall investigate the circumstances of the allegations and report the findings to the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors shall review the findings of the Executive Director at its next scheduled meeting to determine whether further action is necessary.  The Board, in its discretion, may fashion a remedy depending on the frequency or severity of the Code of Conduct violation. Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, a verbal warning, a written warning, referral of the matter to proper law enforcement, and/or the cancellation of RWM membership and all member benefits.  The Board shall allow the accused member an opportunity to be heard, either in writing or in person, prior to any cancellation of any RWM membership.

1. Stick to the designated route. We will tell you what the route is, but you are responsible for following it. In most instances, we will not have someone leading the way. Draw a map or write down directions if you need to.
2. RWM discourages the use of headphones. If you choose to use them, you assume the risk of injury associated with head phones. Please be alert, especially when crossing streets.
3. No dogs please.
4. Do not run more than 2 abreast, especially on busy roads, sidewalks or multi- ­”use trails. Yield to vehicles on the road. They are bigger than you are.
5. Be mindful of your language and conversation content during group runs given that we have some young people joining us this year.
6. We do not want to leave anyone behind. If you plan to finish your run in a place other than the designated route please tell someone. If you drop out of a run, please contact (or have someone contact) the run leader or Runner’s Edge so we are not out looking for you.
7. You are responsible for your safety while you are running. Obey all traffic signs and rules. Pay attention to your surroundings.
8. If you are running on a road, please face traffic and run no more than 2 abreast. If there is a confrontation with a motorist, please be respectful and report any issues to the run leader.
9.  If it is going to be dark during the run: Wear reflective clothing, headlamps and a flasher.
10. If there are people pushing strollers: Those pushing strollers, please stay at the back and be mindful of other runners and traffic. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of the children in the strollers. Children may NOT ride bicycles next to adults during training runs.
11. If you are injured during a run (or witness an injury), please report it as soon as possible to the run leader.
12. Do not litter on the course.

Welcome! We are so happy you are here! At Run Wild Missoula (RWM) we strive to ensure that everyone is and feels welcome at our events and in our community. The intent of this policy is to ensure fair and inclusive practices that respect the personal rights and dignity of transgender & non-binary participants while preserving the integrity of competition for awards and records based on gender.

RWM will accept each entrant’s declared gender at face value and no additional supporting evidence is required. Therefore, there shall be no basis for, or tolerance of, any challenge to a runner’s self-declared gender unless a prize, an overall award or an age group award is at stake.

CHALLENGES TO OVERALL AWARDS/PRIZES & AGE GROUP AWARDS

RWM shall have the sole authority to review any challenge regarding the gender status of a prize, overall or age group award winner.

• Any such challenge must be made in person or writing to the RWM Executive Director and must be done with the utmost discretion and respect for the privacy of all parties involved.
• All challenges must be submitted within 48 hours of the completion of the race in question. RWM in its sole discretion will determine whether there is a legitimate basis for the challenge.

If legitimacy is determined to the challenge, RWM will follow guidelines set out by the Missoula Marathon Transgender Athlete Policy. Please read more about that here [add link to policy]

Additional questions can be directed to:

Trisha Drobeck

Run Wild Missoula, Executive Director

406.531.0933

trishad@runwildmissoula.org

Run Wild Missoula and the Missoula Marathon affirm the worth and dignity of each member and participant. We celebrate the varied voices and wide range of lived experiences in our running community. With this in mind, we have updated our binary language and expanded gender categories and awards to make all participants feel welcomed, safe, respected and included.

• We welcome all as they self-identify.
• No member or participant is required to provide documentation regarding their gender.
• All gender expressions (distinct from gender identity) of individuals seeking membership or participation are welcome.