NETC Mission Statement, Vision, Community Guidelines, and Respectful Behavior Policy

Mission: 

Northeast Track Club (NETC) is an inclusive running community dedicated to elevating others through sport, camaraderie & service to our city.

Vision: 

We are a community of runners in the Washington, D.C. area dedicated to supporting and including all athletes. We believe that pace is secondary to community.  

NETC Community Guidelines and Respectful Behavior Policy:

NETC is committed to being an active inclusive community where all participants, partners and affiliates are each required to treat each other with respect and dignity and act with intentional kindness.

All are welcome - whether you're lacing up your shoes for the first time or a seasoned runner, please join us! 

We welcome your whole self; regardless of fitness level, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or political beliefs, and expect all of our members to respect and celebrate that diversity.

We accept responsibility for our actions; are open to and acknowledge criticism of our behavior; and offer honest criticism of the actions and behavior of others.We are an anti-racist community; we denounce and condemn any and all forms of racism and discrimination and actively work to dismantle those ideologies that divide us as humans.

Harassment is behavior that is hostile or offensive. We prohibit and do not tolerate harassment at NETC-hosted events or at events not hosted by NETC where NETC members are present, including on all social media platforms. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

• Verbal or written comments that are insulting, degrading, or threatening;

• Verbal or written comments that are sexually graphic or sexually suggestive;

• Unwelcome and targeted photography or recording;

• Sustained disruption of talks or other events;

• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following;

• Display of offensive or sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or graphics;

• Initiation of inappropriate physical contact (contact of a violent or sexual nature);

• Unwelcome sexual attention, including repeated flirtations or advances; and

• Advocating for, encouraging, or intentionally concealing any of the above behavior.

For purposes of this document and NETC in general, the best definition of Harassment and Sexual Harassment can be found at the EEOC’s website (here: https://www.eeoc.gov/harassment and here:https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment, respectively). Harassment does not require intent to offend; harassment includes actions above that are intended to be jokes, "kidding," or "teasing."

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately, whether or not the request comes from someone in an NETC leadership position or otherwise. On a case by case basis, NETC leadership will decide how to handle reports of harassment. NETC leadership has the authority to ask a member (in any position) to step away from the group on a temporary or permanent basis.

Creation of a safe and welcoming environment is a shared responsibility held by all participants. Harassment and other violations of this policy reduce the value of participation for everyone, not just those on the receiving end. Participants who believe they are witnessing or experiencing harassing behavior are encouraged, though not required, to 1) check in with the person who they believe is the victim of this behavior, if not oneself, to confirm it is an issue and 2) to report the situation to NETC leadership if personal attempts to stop the behavior are not successful. Above all, NETC aims to empower each of our members to stand up for themselves when they feel someone has crossed a line that makes them uncomfortable, and to personally report situations that they feel need to be escalated to NETC leadership.

We encourage everyone (no matter their pace) to run to us and with us. PRs are great but service - to one another and our community - is our calling. 

Additional Reading / Sources:

https://www.rainn.org/articles/what-is-consent

https://the-orbit.net/brutereason/2013/06/25/touching-people-without-their-consent-still-a-problem-even-if-its-not-sexual/ 

https://dcvictim.org/learn/types-of-crime/sexual-assault/ 

https://www.thehotline.org/resources/tips-for-intervening-if-you-witness-domestic-violence/ 

https://www.11thprincipleconsent.org/resources/incident-response-toolkit/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gay-men-womens-consent_b_3490917