Welcome to Forest Park CrewSpring Crew Information Night

12 January 2016

State of the Team

• We anticipate having a significantly larger team this season than we had last season.

• We have 56 rowers currently participating in Winter Conditioning and expect many more to register for Spring Crew.

• We are going to have significant turnover in Board and Key Volunteer positions at end of this season and we need parents to volunteer to train as replacements.

FPHS Crew Board of Directors

President Cameron Naron1st Vice President Mary Beth Naron2nd Vice President Birgit Campana(and Registration Coordinator)Treasurer Luchie ParedesSecretary David CattlerDirector of Maintenance Mark HittDirector of Operations James Jones

FP Crew Key Volunteer Positions

Email coordinator Toni StovallFPHS Webmaster Michael MillerFPHS Team/VASRA Volunteer Coordinator Eileen Marcy

Launch Driver Coordinator Cameron NaronTag Day Coordinator Kathy HittBreakfast Coordinator Vince MurphyAway Regatta Coordinator Toni StovallOLOC RepresentativesRon Stouffer/Mike MillerUniform/Spirit Wear Coordinator Candice BrunsBanquet/Party/Parade Planner Karen Cattler

FP Crew Coaching Staff

Head CoachMarta Metzler

Men’s CoachBob Rodriguez

Asst. CoachesGretchen Thompson

Collin HummelNathalie Rosado

What boats do we race?

• Freshman Eights• Novice Eights• Junior Eights (No Seniors)• First Eight (best boat usually)• Second Eight• Third Eight• Four• Quad

What’s required of rowers?

• Show up on time for practice• Get up very early Regatta Saturdays• Listen to your coach• Work as a team• Be willing to help out in any way possible• Always try your best

What’s required of parents?

• Volunteer your time (mandatory) at 3+ regattas– VASRA volunteers needed from each team for each regatta

– Team set up and tear down for each regatta

• Information will be sent shortly for volunteering• Donate items for rowers’ breakfasts on Saturdays during

the regatta season• Consider hosting a pasta party for rowers on a Friday

evening before a Saturday regatta• Make sure your rower has transportation to and from the

Lake Ridge Boathouse

Volunteering for a Board or Key Volunteer Position

• Crew team can only exist through strong parent participation– No monetary support from school– Program only runs through parent involvement

• Volunteering for crew teaches your children great life lessons--great way to give back to the team

• Not asking for a lot of time—approximately 1 night a month

• Volunteers for Board and Key Positions get a $100 discount on their rower/coxswain's duesWe need YOU to set up and shadow a departing board member

to keep this great program running for your kids in the future!

Volunteer to become a Launch Boat Driver

• No prior boat driving experience required; we can train anyone to be comfortable driving our boats

• When you're ready to drive officials (our most advanced jobs), you can have the best spectator view available of your rower

• We need a LOT of launch drivers as regattas can't take place without us

• We provide all necessary equipment• Any day on the water is better than a day on land!• Sign up at Registration and we will contact you for training

How do I sign up to help at a Regatta?

• www.signupgenius.com• Click on 'find a sign up' and enter the email

address fpcrewvolunteers@gmail.com. • It will find all of the signup lists for this year. • Additional details will be emailed out later this

month.

Referee Volunteers

• Rowing around our area is in desperate need of Referees• Referees are crucial in assuring the safety of our rowers—that is

their main role• Many older referees have retired recently• VASRA looking for parents and sibling over 18 interested in

becoming a referee• Takes about a year to get certified—you train with an experienced

referee in all positions • Can select which events you want to referee for• Has the best seat on the water to watch your son or daughter row• VASRA has a referee clinics where you can go a see if you are

interested in performing this critical role

Spring Crew Sign-up Day

• Jan 30 (9am-1pm) in the FPHS Lobby• All rowers/coxswains and at least one

parent/guardian MUST come to this Sign-up Day to complete your registration.

• Please bring your calendaras you will also need to signup for adult volunteer positions.

Work Days

• Team Work Days– Feb 6– Other dates TBD

• VASRA Work Days (setting up the course)– Feb 27– Mar 5– Mar 12– Mar 19

TAG Day

• Set for Saturday, Mar 5th• Biggest fundraiser for team• Mandatory for rowers• Parents drive 4 rower teams to neighborhoods• Team (2 Varsity/2 Novice rowers)• Meet at FPHS parking lot• Kathy Hitt will distribute further

details in Feb.

Other Crew Fundraisers

Rent-a-RowerDonation Letters

Restaurant NightsJust to name a few!

Required Water Safety Exercise

Sunday, February 21stChinn Aquatics Center

5:00-6:00 pmFundraiser at All American Steakhouse after!

Practices

• Practices begin on water Feb 22nd at Oxford Boat House.

• Practices run 3-6pm• Activities bus will drop rowers off, but

parents will need to pick them up at 6pm

• Please don’t drive down to boathouse to pick-up or drop off rowers

• Please don’t park in rower drop off lane

Directions To Lake Ridge Golf & Marina

• From Northern Virginia area, take I-95 South to Exit 160 (Rt.123 North).

• Turn left at second traffic light onto Old Bridge Rd.• Go 5 miles and take a right onto Hedges Run Road,

then a left onto Cotton Mill Rd, to the Lake Ridge Park/Golf Course Entrance.

• The Boathouse is located at the very end of the road at bottom of the hill. Rowers are required to park in the upper lots.

Regattas

Regattas start approximately 9 am run through 3 or 4 pmRowers report to our boat house at approximately 6 am (Coach Metzler will announce)

March 26: Polar Bear Regatta (Varsity Only)April 2: Regional Park RegattaApril 9: Walter Mess RegattaApril 16: Darrell Winslow Regatta April 30: Al Urquia RegattaMay 7: Mathews Regatta in Mathews, VAMay 7: Ted Phoenix RegattaMay 14(?): State Championships (Varsity Only)May 20-21: Stotesbury Regatta in Philadelphia, PA (Selected Varsity) May 27-28: SRAA Nationals at Lake Dillon in Nashport, OH (Must qualify to attend)

All regatta’s on Occoquan at Sandy Run Regional park except those in red (which are away).

Breakfast on Regatta Saturdays

• Since rowers report to the boathouse very early each Saturday morning, breakfast is provided at the river for the rowers

• The Murphy’s, serving as ‘Breakfast Coordinators’, will send out e-mails each week asking for donations of breakfast items. Please consider helping.

Away regattas

Mathews Regatta – Mathews, VA

Stotesbury Cup Regatta – Philadelphia, PA

• This is a very competitive regatta• Only the best boats that have a

good chance of representing the school well will go

• Not all rowers or boats will go to this regatta

What to Bring?

• Rowers– Rower’s Bag (under armor, sweats, sleeping bag,

pillow, homework, etc)• Parents– Folding Chair– Warm clothing (Layers—especially early in the season)– Binoculars– Cow Bell!– Sunscreen– Comfortable Shoes

Where to go?

The Race Course

What to know?

• Parking—can park at regatta, get there early, cost about $15 to $20 to park, might need to ride shuttle bus

• Schedule—check out VASRA website for race schedule (usually Friday before race)

• T-Shirts—every regatta has uniques design for race, costs about $15, buy at concession stand, limited quantities/sizes

• Concessions—donuts/bagels/coffee in the morning, hamburgers/hot dogs/chicken sandwich/sodas in the afternoon

Away Regattas

• Mathews, VA– Rowers depart on School bus at

approximately 4 am – Parents should leave at approx 5 or 6 am to

get good seats and parking– Lots of races

• Stotesbury and SRAA Nationals– Additional charge for those invited to attend– For Stotes, Leave on Thurs, morning on

charter bus and return Sat evening– For Nationals, leave on Thurs in Parents

vehicles and return Saturday

Pasta Parties

• Before home regattas• Hosted at on family’s home• 2-3 adult chaperons• Runs from 7-9pm• Each group responsible for dish (pasta, salad,

drinks and bread)• Groups broken up by Varsity Boys, Varsity

Girls, Novice Boys and Novice Girls

End of Year Banquet

• Set for Thursday, 2 Jun in the Enclosed Cafeteria

• End of year awards• Election on New Board• Rower video presentations

Where Can I Get More Info?

• Our Website: www.fpcrew.org – Comprehensive team schedule– Board, Coaches, Team Student Reps, and Key Volunteer POCs– Forms and Documents (Please read FP Crew Handbook 2016)– Volunteer Job Descriptions

• Toni’s email announcements• Parents: Talk to experienced crew parents (we’re

friendly!)• Rowers/Coxswains: Talk to experienced team members

Online Registration

- You will be emailed VERY detailed instructions this week.

- Please read the instructions through completely before starting your online registration

- These instructions will also be posted at www.fpcrew.org

- Uniform and Spirit Wear ordering instructions will be emailed out separately next week.

- You MUST come to Spring Crew Sign-up Day on January 30th to complete your registration.

Physicals

• Physical Examination Form: All participants are required to have completed Physical Examination Form to be completed by qualified medical personnel. No exceptions.

• The form is located on the www.fpcrew.org website. • Download, have it filled out with required signatures, and

retain a copy for your records. • Bring to Spring Crew Sign-up Day. Note: you must use the

“Revised March 2013” form for the 2015-2016 school year. Already on file for Fall Crew and Winter Conditioning participants

Cost

• $665 registration fee per rower for the spring season if you pay by credit card/PayPal. Payment by check option also available.– The dues portion can be broken down into 2 payments – Write both checks on Sign-up day

and the 2nd check will not be deposited until April 1, 2015 • Activity Bus (optional): $75• Uniform for regattas – unitank (approx. $52 for men and $55 for women),

Black Shorts and long sleeve white shirt• Why does the cost seem so high?

– Boats cost between $30K-$40K– Replacement seats, shoes, oars can cost over $300– Need to maintain boats, launches, launch engines– Yearly fees for boat house use and rack rental– Dock replacement fees– Insurance– Regatta entry fees (Stotesbury is an extra charge)

• Competitive Soccer Leagues can cost between $500-$1,500 per Year and Swimming teams between $500-$600 per session

Reducing the Costs

Dues can reduced up to $200

by participation in any combination of

fundraisers or service as a chairperson or

officer.

• Each rower can reduce dues by participating in team fundraisers held year-round (such as rent-a-rower)

• Parents can reduce dues by serving on the crew board or in a key volunteer position

• OBC Scholarship• Multiple Rower Discount• Two payments

Online Registration

Online Registration

Online Registration

Online Registration

Online Registration

Online Registration

Online Registration

Questions?