Don Rowing Club Newsletter - April 2009
- Old World, New World
- Club Rules - You Must Read This!
- 10 Commandments of Safety
- Safety on the Water
- The Rec Report
- The Mercer Report
- 2009 BINGO!
- UVic Sports Hall of Fame Inductees announced
Old world, New world
Bernhard Stomporowski, Head Coach
I am here. The new head coach of Don Rowing Club arrived. My name Bernhard Stomporowki, my former working place had been Switzerland and my working and experience in rowing lasts now 25 years. Started in Luebeck (north in Germany) travelled the world by rowing and now in Canada at your home, your home club.
I am lucky to be here, I am lucky to work in a club which was founded two centuries ago east of Toronto and which worked and performed itself up to a high level in Canadian rowing. Me and all the members have to keep this in mind what the ancestors have done and what we have to do that one day this club will look back on us and will be proud to serve our home.
Rowing changes, rowing has to change, society changes and a lot of our members coming from societies which changed dramaticly. So we, so I have to know this. Its me and its you who have to be open to new ideas. You have to deal with a coach with red hair, me who has to deal with your tradition and its wealth. We together have to deal with the major changes in our society but at the end we still have Don. Don our friend, the place we like to stay, the place where you and me the soul can find peace. Just the river and the personal workout. Just friends at the balcony and a BBQ. Just friends in StarBucks.
Nine days. The last nine days I stayed a lot of times in our club, and I have to thank all of you for the warm welcome. The onwater rowing season starts. I witness the touchdown of the docks in Credits surface and I hit the water to see you rowing. I was overwhelmed by the view of Toronto and I think all in all - we will for certain having a good time and with your and mine work successful moments, that someone someday will say again: Yes, we can!
Club Rules - You Must Read This!
Cynthia Drewry, Captain
Hello DRC!
After a VERY long wait through the winter we are now officially back on the water! As the rest of us begin to get into our spring routine, our UTM athletes are hard at it, training for the Dad Vail regatta in only a few short weeks and our Juniors getting ready to take on the world at their High School regattas. While it is fantastic to be back on the water and to see everyone (unrecognizable as they may be in their multi layers of spandex and fleece), there is some business to attend to!
Accountability
We are extremely fortunate to have a boathouse full of good equipment and it is the responsibility of all members to ensure that the equipment is properly taken care of. All rowers, whether using club or private boats are required to sign out and in again in the logbook.
When you take a boat out of the boathouse, please be sure to put it on stretchers and check it over before you move on to the dock. Please check over the boat for any new damage, clean the slides, and be sure that there are no loose or missing parts. When you return from your row, all club boats must be placed on stretchers and properly wiped down. It is not acceptable to put the boat back on the rack prior to wiping the boat.
Damage to Equipment
In our first week on the water we have had two collisions occur, each resulting in damage to equipment.
Any equipment damage must immediately be reported to both the Coach and the Safety Officer or Captain and noted in the logbook. An Incident report is to be completed and signed by all involved crews. The form and procedure can be found in the vicinity of the log book. If there is damage to equipment, document the chalk board in the repair bay, place a do not row sign on the boat and if there is space to do so put the boat in the repair bay. Please do not bring in a damaged boat and take another boat to continue your workout.
Consequences
Each incident will be reviewed by the Rowing Committee. The Rowing Committee will make a decision regarding consequences to the crews involved in the collision/damage. Consequences may be some combination of: Financial responsibility for the damage or portion of the damage, Suspension of rowing activity, and/or "Community service" to DRC.
Failure to Report
Failure to properly report damage to equipment will result in suspension.
Which Boat(s) May I Use
The Rowing Committee has divided the fleet into several categories, with each category assigned a colour. Over the next little while, each rack will be marked to identify the name, weight class, colour/category of the boat that belongs on that rack.
- Red - boats identified with this colour may be used by all programs including Learn to Row, Row for Heart, Youth Camps.
- Purple - these boats may be used by all regular club programs, permission should be obtained from the Coach to use for Learn to Row, Row for Heart, Youth Camps and Novice.
- Yellow - these boats may be used by experienced Recreational (determined by recreational coach/co-ordinator), as well as Competitive and Masters Programs.
- Blue - primarily Competitive and Masters although may be available to experienced Recreational with permission of Head Coach.
- Green - require permission of Head Coach, primarily Competitive and Masters programs. Each program coach will submit to the Head Coach a list of those athletes eligible to use boats in this category.
10 Commandments of Safety
Lynda Dundas, Safety Officer
- Thou shalt read the safety rules of the DRC and abide by them.
- Thou shalt check your equipment before going on the water to ensure that everything is workable.
- Thou shalt not row alone but with a buddy and / or a coach (Cold Water Rule )
- Thou shalt have a life jacket or PFD in your boat at all times ( 1X, 2X)-Cold Water Rule
- When rowing before dawn or at dusk there will be a white light on your bow and a red light on your stern. This is your responsibility !
- When rowing before dawn or at dusk thou shalt wear a white or light coloured top -NO BLACK OR NAVY BLUE.
- Thou shalt follow the traffic pattern on the river keeping to your starboard side of the course.
- Everyone ( singles included ) shall use the log book before going on the water and initial on your return.
- Thou shalt report any damage or accident situations to your coach and safety officer immediately. Please fill in an incident report.
- Thou shalt show respect for other rowers, paddlers and users of the water.
EVERYONE IS EXPECTED TO ABIDE BY THESE RULES!!!
Safety on the Water
Lynda Dundas, Safety Officer
The Don Rowing Club has safety rules posted throughout the club and the boathouse. It is the responsibility of all members to review these rules and to follow them at all times. We have had a very cold spring and the river is still high and flowing quickly. As the water temperature is only 5 degrees C.- COLD WATER RULES are in effect until further notice.
Just to review:
- All club boats must be accompanied by a coach boat. Private singles must row with a buddy and not go out alone.
- All doubles and singles must carry a life jacket ( for 2x's- two jackets )
- Each boat must carry a whistle and a bailing device.
You are reminded to check the course map before going on the water for any new course updates. Write in the log book before you leave the tarmac and sign in upon your return. This is the best way for us to know you are out there. Follow the traffic pattern on the river- up on the east side and down on the west side. DO NOT row in the center of the river! As there are two large deadheads just above the tennis courts all boats are to stay below this area until they are removed.
We have unfortunately had two accidents in our first week of rowing. Both could have been avoided by more diligence by the bow person -please be careful and lets keep the rest of the season accident free.
If you are unsure of any safety issue or policy please seek clarification from myself or a coach before you go onto the river.
Let's be careful out there !!
The Rec Report
Scott Timpson, Lieutenant Recreational
Hello Rec Crew,
Nancy, Rick, Bernhard, Peter and I would like to invite you to a rec meeting on Tuesday, April 21st after the rec row - about 7:30pm.
The purpose of the meet is threefold:
First, Bernhard will present a list of upcoming regattas and get a feel for who among us is interested in competing.
Second, Nancy, Rick and I would like to discuss some upcoming social events and brainstorm some fun activities for season 2009.
Lastly (and perhaps best), beer and chili will be involved! Can anyone make awesome chili aside from me (however, mine is vegetarian)? Ideally, someone should make a 'hot', someone else a 'medium' and someone else a 'mild' chili. Any volunteers?
I can't think of a better way to start a warm spring and leave behind a 'chili' winter season of training!
Please RSVP is you can attend so that we can get an idea of how much chili will be required.
Please spread word about this meeting to the early morning crews? We'd love to have you guys at this meeting too!
Regards, Scott
The Mercer Report
Jim Mercer, Director
GROUNDS - 15 Rec. members participated in a massive cleanup of the front grounds and hedges on March 21st. The next week Anne Bagosy, Bob Scheurich, Joyce Curry and Patrick Vincent from my Mon. Wed. Fri. group did a similar cleanup on the riverbank. All in all I took two trailer loads of debris totaling about 800 lbs. to the dump.
RIVER - Lynda, Fred and Tom are organizing a dead head cleanup, after which I'll make another couple of runs to the dump.
BOATHOUSE - New rigger storage racks have been installed to get riggers off the floor. Rick Martin has donated several metal stationary cabinets and file cabinets to help with the office and boat bay cleanup.
BOATS - The "Excalibur", "Blue Dawn", "Baby Blue", "Rob Marland", "Lauman Sisters", "Heather Hattin", "Car Fen", "Swan Chaser" and "Credit Critter" have all been repaired over the winter. Not as many as I would have liked, but much better than in previous years!
DOCK - Thursday was a perfect day. With the help of Head Coach Bernhard Stomporowski, Ann Bagosy, Bob Scheurich, Linda Mundt, Peter Okens, Ralph Smith, Scott Timson, Tibor Kovacs, and Vineet Honkan the docks went in without a hitch. Our dock is now almost five years old. So when it comes out in the fall, it is going to have to be turned up side down, cleaned and floats adjusted before being stacked for the winter. It's a much bigger job than the launch. We'll need more bodies, so don't say you haven't been warned!
SAFETY - The water level is very high. You WILL (not might) hit your head if you go under the railway bridge in the wrong place and don't duck. Last person that hit required 13 stitches, not to mention messing up the water for the next boat coming through.
2009 BINGO!
Cynthia Drewry, Captain
Hello DRC!
The 2009/2010 Bingo Season has arrived!
Not only is Bingo FUN (hey, life is what you make it), but by helping with bingo, you are helping to generate over $10,000 per year for our club……$$ that would otherwise mean higher fees for all of us!.
If you have not chosen to buy out your Bingo, now is your chance to sign up for one or more of your volunteer sessions. While more dates will open up later in the year, here are the dates that we have been assigned until October of this year.
Please email donrcbingo@gmail.com to register for one of the following dates:
For each session we ask you to arrive at the Bingo Hall @ 8:30pm and plan to remain until 12:00 or 12:30.
Wed April 22 - 2 more people needed
Wed May 27
Wed June 24
Tues Jun 30
Wed July 22
Wed July 29
Wed Aug 26
Wed Sept 23
Tues Sept 29
Wed Sept 30
Wed Oct 28
Many thanks to Michelle Murphy who is our new Bingo Volunteer Co-ordinator. Michelle can be reached at DonRCBingo@gmail.com
UVic Sports Hall of Fame Inductees announced
Submitted by Christina Hartmann
1983 MEN'S ROWING VARSITY EIGHT, TEAM
- Team members: David Ross, Grant Main, Kevin Neufeld, Dean Crawford, Tim Christian, Rob Currie, Tony Zasada, Paul Tessier, Nick Toulmin, Al Morrow (Coach)
- Eight of the nine crew members represented Canada at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, including coach Al Morrow
Nick Toulmin is a director of the Don Rowing Club and represented Canada at the Los Angeles Olympics as the stroke seat in the four.
 |
Guelph; countryside and showdown
June 28, 2009
4 in the morning. - the alarm bells, the alarm for guelph -. the eyes of the don rowing club r...
June Newsletter Published
June 18, 2009
Read the June 2009 issue of the DRC newsletter - edited by James Walker. Contents include: ...
Recreational Rowers - Road Trip to West Side Rowing Club - June 14-09
Sunday June 14, 2009
Rec Crew, If you weren't in Buffalo today, you missed a great time! A group of seventeen ...