1. Welcome to Forest Park Crew Spring Crew Information Night
11 January 2017

2. State of the Team
We anticipate having a significantly larger team this season than we had last season.
We have 55 rowers currently participating in Winter Conditioning and expect many more to register for Spring Crew.
We are going to have turnover in Board and Key Volunteer positions at end of this season and we need parents to volunteer to train as replacements.

3. FPHS Crew Board of Directors
President Cameron Naron 1st Vice President Denise Hummel 2nd Vice President Diana Nguyen
(and Registration Coordinator) Treasurer Luchie Paredes Secretary David Cattler Directors of Maintenance Jason Engstrom & Alan Stankovich Director of Operations Vacant

4. FP Crew Key Volunteers
coordinator Leslie Casey Asst. Treasurer Katelyn Poole Webmaster Michael Miller Adult Volunteer Coordinator Tricia Koos Asst. Adult Volunteer Coordinator Janelle Hatton Launch Driver Coordinator Dale Casey Tag Day Coordinators Veronica Phillips & Cheryl Downey Rent-a-Rower Coordinators Adam & Courtney Manne Breakfast Coordinators Vince & Jennifer Murphy Away Regatta Coordinators Mary Stankovich & Delia Engstrom OLOC Representatives Ron Stouffer/Mike Miller Uniform/Spirit Wear Coordinator Candice Bruns Banquet/Party/Parade Planner Karen Cattler Carpool Coordinator Vacant

5. FP Crew Coaching Staff
Head Coach Marta Metzler Men’s Coach Bob Rodriguez Asst. Coaches Gretchen Thompson Collin Hummel [More to come!]

6. What boats do we race? Freshman Eights Novice Eights
Junior Eights (No Seniors)
First Eight (best boat usually)
Second Eight
Third Eight
Four
Quad

7. What’s required of rowers?
Show up on time for practice
Get up early on Regatta Saturdays
Listen to your coach
Work as a team
Be willing to help out in any way possible
Always try your best

8. What’s required of parents?
Volunteer (mandatory) for at least two regattas
VASRA volunteers needed from each team for each regatta
Team set up and tear down for each regatta
Volunteer to participate in fundraisers
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

9. 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 Volunteer positions get a discount on their rower/coxswain's dues

10. 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

11. How do I sign up to help at a Regatta?
Click on 'find a sign up' and enter the address
It will find all of the signup lists for this year.
Additional details will be ed out later this month.

12. 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 siblings 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

13. Spring Crew Sign-up Day
Jan 28 (9am-noon) 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 calendar
as you will also need to sign
up for adult volunteer
positions.

14. Work Days Team Work Days VASRA Work Days (setting up the course)
All will be announced via and on Signup Genius

15. TAG Day Set for Saturday, Mar 18th 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
Veronica Phillips & Cheryl Downey will distribute further details in Feb.

16. Other Crew Fundraisers
Rent-a-Rower
Savers Used Clothing/Items Drive
Donation Letters
Restaurant Nights
Just to name a few!

17. Required Water Safety Exercise
Sunday, February 26st
Chinn Aquatics Center
Fundraiser at All American Steakhouse after!

18. Practices Tryouts begin Feb 13th at FPHS
Practices begin on water Feb 27nd 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

19. 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.

20. Regattas
Regattas start approximately 9 am and usually run through 3 or 4 pm Rowers report to our boat house at approximately 6 am (Coach Metzler will announce) March 25: Polar Bear Regatta (Varsity Only) April 2: Regional Park Regatta April 8: Walter Mess Regatta April 15: Darrell Winslow Regatta April 22: Ted Phoenix Regatta April 29: Al Urquia Regatta May 6 & 13: Virginia State Championships May 19-20: Stotesbury Regatta in Philadelphia, PA ​May 26-27: SRAA Nationals at Cooper River in Camden, NJ (Must qualify to attend) All regatta’s on Occoquan at Sandy Run Regional park except those in red (which are away).

21. 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 Murphys, serving as ‘Breakfast Coordinators’, will send out s each week asking for donations of breakfast items. Please help by donating breakfast items.

22. 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

23. What to Bring? Rowers Parents
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

24. Where to go?

25. The Race Course

26. 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 unique 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

27. Away Regattas 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

28. 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

29. End of Year Banquet Set for Thursday, 1 Jun in the Enclosed Cafeteria
End of year awards
Election on New Board
Rower video presentations

30. Where Can I Get More Info?
Our Website:
Comprehensive team schedule
Board, Coaches, Team Student Reps, and Key Volunteer POCs
Forms and Documents (Must read FP Crew Handbook 2017)
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Calendar
Leslie’s announcements
Parents: Talk to experienced crew parents (we’re friendly!)
Rowers/Coxswains: Talk to experienced team members

31. Registration
VERY detailed instructions available under “Spring Season” tab on
Please read the instructions through completely before starting your online registration
Uniform and Spirit Wear ordering instructions will be ed out separately.
You MUST come to Spring Crew Sign-up Day on January 28th to complete your registration.

32. Physicals
Physical Examination Form: All participants are required to have completed Physical Examination Form (MUST be “Revised April 2016” version) to be completed by qualified medical personnel. No exceptions.
The form is located on the website.
Download, have it filled out with required signatures, and retain a copy for your records.
Already on file for Fall Crew and Winter Conditioning participants

33. 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, 2017
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 $20K-$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

34. Reducing the Costs
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
Dues can reduced up to $200
by participation in certain combinations of fundraisers and service as a board mbr or key volunteer.

35. Online Registration

36. Online Registration

37. Online Registration

38. Online Registration

39. Online Registration

40. Online Registration

41. Questions?