Ethics Scenario #38: Harristown Running Club

38. Dave is the newly elected president of the Harristown Running Club, with 500 members. The 30-year-old organization is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3), and its mission is to represent and advance the sport of running in Harristown. While perhaps half of the members are women and there are a sprinkling of minorities among those who pay the $20 annual dues, the self-perpetuating board consists of 11 white males, only one of whom is under the age of 50. Dave has no problem with this; it tends to make reaching decisions much easier when all of the board members are older and male sand have been running together for several decades, and share much of his perspective and vision. Seven years ago, the board did have a black woman on the board, but she tended to vote against the majority and ask too many questions. She quit after only attending three board meetings, and no one on the board expressed any regret about her decision to leave. And the fact that more than half of the board members attend Dave’s church means that he can communicate easily in an informal way outside of board meetings. He remembers that the Club did have a Jewish member once years ago, but had become incensed and resigned in a huff when the board had voted to have a pig roast on the Rosh Hashanah holiday to avoid a conflict with major Club races.

a. Is the HRC Board being ethical by not having any women or minority members on its board?

b. Was the board being ethical by scheduling a pig roast on Rosh Hashanah?