Help us plan Run Tosa Run 2016

You could say we’re biased, but we happen to think we have the best darn neighborhood 5K race around, and after two years of growth using a neighborhood-wide course, we’re expecting Run Tosa Run to really take off in 2016.

We’re getting off the ground early with planning the next race in an effort to increase the number of runners, improve our business outreach and expand the activities and attractions we host at the finish line. To make this all happen, we’re actively recruiting volunteers to fill a handful of key roles (no experience necessary).

Why would you want to help plan Run Tosa Run? Well, the best reason is to give something back to the neighborhood we call home, but we also raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin, give exposure to our local businesses and help bolster East Tosa’s reputation as a place runners live and love. (Plus, it’s actually kind of fun putting on a race.)

The race tentatively is scheduled for May 14, the first Saturday after Mother’s Day. The race committee will have an organizational meeting tentatively on Nov. 18, and then followup meetings will begin in January and be held monthly until the race, with much of the activity taking place in the final few weeks before race day.

In particular, we need people willing to coordinate promotions, volunteers, the kids’ run, equipment, the race packets and post-race festivities. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more, please contact race director Dave Paulsen at 414-399-0067 or dmpaulsen@gmail.com.

Promotions coordinator

The promotions coordinator will take the lead in developing and carrying out a strategy to increase race participation, including through printed promotional material, social media marketing, media pitches and possibly some advertising. Reaching out to companies to sponsor teams of runners is another approach we’d like to pursue this year.

Time commitment: All in advance of the race, with a steady stream of promotions starting by January.

Volunteer coordinator

This is one of our most important roles. The volunteer coordinator reaches out to groups in the community, such as Key Clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, to solicit volunteers for the week leading up to the race and race day in particular. The coordinator also maintains our VolunteerSpot for the race. We have needed at least two dozen volunteers in the past, but we’d like to increase our coverage this year.

Time commitment: Would require some time right off the bat working with the race committee to determine what volunteers we need, refreshing our VolunteerSpot page and developing a plan to solicit volunteers. After that, most of the heavy lifting will be in the final month before the race. On race day, the coordinator is the primary contact person for all volunteers.

Kids run coordinator

Our kids’ run is a half-mile loop of one neighborhood block. The coordinator helps prepare the course, ensures volunteers have medals to give the young finishers and is available if parents have any questions. We’d also like the kids run coordinator to oversee planning of activities that the kids can do before and after their race, such as face painting and crafts.

Time commitment: In advance of the race, this would require a modest amount of time planning activities and possibly helping the promotions coordinator to specifically promote the kids’ run. Most of the effort would be focused on race day, coordinating activities for the kids and making sure our kids run goes smoothly.

 Post-race coordinator

This person will take the lead in expanding our offerings at the finish line, possibly to include vendors, activities, partnerships with local businesses and maybe a more elaborate offering of food and refreshments.

Time commitment: This will start picking up early in 2016 as we line up attractions for our race finish line. The race-day commitment would primarily be making sure everything is set up properly and answering any vendor questions.