29 Jan 2025 PTCRC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE SHELLY COLLINS
Under the leadership of Shelly Collins as Club President during the three-year period 2022-2024, the club truly flourished. She not only performed her Presidential duties in an outstanding manner, but she also organized and led all our monthly meetings, race committee meetings, and quarterly Executive Board meetings. She did almost all the social media marketing, became our Race Director for the PTCRC Classic, and even organized and hosted some of our Grand Prix events, now renamed the Monthly Run Socials.
When our social media chair was unable to fulfill her duties, Shelly stepped up to the plate. When our Classic race participants exceeded the number of shirts available, she put in a rush order of shirts to meet the demand. We saw a rejuvenation of club events with the 1-Mile Time Trials, the updated social media posts, the Water Fountain Fund Raising Initiative, the renewal of the Runner Friendly City designation, and all her efforts to meet the challenges our community needs.
As with many other running clubs across the nation, membership and race participation numbers faced a serious decline during the pandemic. Shelly and Gina Bolen mounted a campaign to promote the club and the Classic Race at gyms, fitness centers, the Peachtree 10K Expo, and other events across the community. They did this on their own time and with no recompense other than the satisfaction of knowing they were helping the club get back on its feet. Our membership has since reached the highest point it has been in the last 15 years. We also saw record race registrations since the pandemic for the PTCRC Classic with Shelly at the helm.
She invited community leaders to come and speak to our club, and negotiated good terms to mutually benefit our club, the businesses, and the community. She invited new ideas and re-engineered our group runs as a result. Her positive impact on the club will pay dividends for years to come.
It is only fitting that out of over 1500 running clubs in the United States, the RRCA recognized her as the 2023 Outstanding Club President of the Year. The RRCA, recognizing talent and leadership when they see it, also selected her to be the Georgia State Rep beginning in 2025. Her leadership skills will be put to even greater use benefitting the entire running community of Georgia.
Thankfully, the annual Classic 5K/15K race will continue to thrive as Shelly will remain as Race Director for which we are most grateful. In recognition of her over 2000 hours of service to the club, last year, Shelly received the RRCA Certificate of Recognition for Volunteerism.
Accordingly, in appreciation of her dedicated service to the club and by unanimous acclamation of the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, Shelly Collins is hereby inducted into the Peachtree City Running Club 2025 Hall of Fame.