We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Now, it’s back to school and hard work until winter break. Some new items to note below!

1. *NEW* EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION PRICING ENDS DECEMBER 15
2. *NEW* BOARD POSITION AVAILABLE – WEBMASTER
3. *REMINDER* CROC CHARMS ARE A GREAT GIFT
4. WINTER CONDITIONING ONGOING
5. HOLIDAY SHOPPING IDEAS
6. DON’T MISS OUT ON TEAM UPDATES
7. FUNDRAISING CONTINUES
8. LOOKING AHEAD: AT-A-GLANCE
9. ALL THE REGULAR STUFF

ACTION ITEMS FOR THIS WEEK
None

1. *NEW* EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION PRICING ENDS DECEMBER 15

There are only 2 weeks left to take advantage of a $50 savings on your registration fee for the spring season. Commit to rowing now! Click here to get started and to read about the refund policies. Still have questions? Reach out to our membership team at [email protected].¶

2. *NEW* BOARD POSITION AVAILABLE – WEBMASTER

Our current webmaster, Janae Haaland, is unfortunately moving on from her position here on the board. She has been an amazing asset and has set up the next webmaster for an easy job! If anyone has any interest in being part of the communications team, you’ll have a lot of support and help learning our VERY user friendly systems. Knowing anything about WordPress would make you almost overqualified – but it is NOT REQUIRED for this position. Comfort around a computer, though, is a must. Being a member of the board satisfies your volunteer requirements – and this is one job that can be done from the comfort of your own home on your own time! Please reach out to Jenn, our VP Communications at [email protected] or Bill, Board President, at [email protected] if you’re interested in learning more.

3. *REMINDER* CROC CHARMS ARE A GREAT GIFT

Don’t forget about our new croc charms this year! They’re cute and an inexpensive way to show your school spirit. The singular W would be good for ANY Woodson athlete, while the crossed oars and shield will, obviously, be perfect for anyone who loves Woodson Rowing. Cost is $6 for 1 charm and $10 for 2 charms. Contact Ana, our fundraising chair, via Slack or at [email protected] to arrange payment and delivery. Ana can drop these off at winter conditioning, so make sure you order now!

4. WINTER CONDITIONING ONGOING

The general schedule for winter conditioning is below. Any changes are communicated via Slack. Participation is highly encouraged for all athletes. Athletes should be communicating with their coaches via Slack if they will be late or unable to attend. Before you can participate, all athletes must: (1) have a VHSL physical dated after May 1, 2023 turned into the Woodson Athletic Trainer (hard copies delivered to Rm. C158, soft copies emailed to the athletic trainer, [email protected]) and (2) be registered with the Woodson Athletic System.

5. HOLIDAY SHOPPING IDEAS

In addition to the croc charms discussed above, here are two additional ways you can complete your holiday shopping while benefiting the team!

• Woodson Spirit Wear. Grandparents can show their support from afar while athletes can participate in passive recruiting just by wearing their favorite sweatshirt! A portion of the proceeds does benefit the team.

• Oakley eyewear and MORE. Woodson has partnered with TCA Team to bring you preferred pricing on sunglasses or other sports equipment. To get the discount:
  • 1) Visit the TCA Store at tcateamstore.com
  • 2) Add items to your cart
  • 3) At checkout enter WOODSON or BFCM23 in the discount code box and the discount will be applied to the price.
    Check out tcateamstore.com today!

6. DON’T MISS OUT ON TEAM UPDATES

The two best ways to stay up to date on all things Woodson Rowing: (1) this newsletter via email and (2) our Slack community. There are 2 separate Slack spaces: one for coach and athlete communications and a separate space for parent/guardian communications. Please contact our communications team at [email protected] if you need help with getting signed up for either!

7. FUNDRAISING CONTINUES

Although our major fundraising efforts have passed, fundraising never really ends. We didn’t quite meet our goals through Tag Day efforts – so now what? Well, donations are a mainstay of our funding efforts. Please continue to spread the word. If you, or anyone you know, might be interested in becoming a sponsor of our team, our Donors page on the website is a great resource. In addition, please check with your employers to see if they have any matching programs! Some employers will match charitable donations made by their employees. Please contact our fundraising team at [email protected] with any questions, to arrange sponsorships or set up employer matching!

8. LOOKING AHEAD: AT-A-GLANCE

DECEMBER:

• Registration available.
• Wed. 12/13: Kokee Team restaurant fundraiser
• Fri. 12/15: Deadline for early bird registration discount
• 12/18-12/29: Winter break
• 12/18 – 12/22: Optional winter conditioning. Tentative. More info to follow.

JANUARY 2024

• Thu. 1/18: Noodles & Co. restaurant fundraiser

FEBRUARY

• Fri. 2/16: Last day of winter conditioning
• Mon. 2/19: Deadline for returning athlete refunds
• Mon. 2/19: Practice begins. Baseline erg testing at school. Time TBD.
• Tue. 2/20: On-the-water practice begins. Pull for Woodson!
  (Mon-Fri: 4-6:30p; Sat: 8:30-10:30a)
• Thu. 2/22: Mamma Lucia restaurant fundraiser

MARCH

• Thu. 3/7: Deadline for novice athlete refunds
• Racing season begins! 2024 Racing Schedule.
• Sat. 3/16: Polar Bear Regatta, Sandy Run
• Sat. 3/23: Regional Park Regatta, Sandy Run
• Sat. 3/30: Invitational at St. Andrews, Middletown, DE

APRIL

• Sat. 4/6: Tri-Meet, Anacostia River, Washington, DC
• Sat. 4/13: Bye Week. No racing.
• Sat. 4/20: Ryz Obuchowicz Regatta, Sandy Run
• Sat. 4/27: Al Urquia Regatta, Sandy Run

MAY

• Sat. 5/4: Virginia State Championship (Day 1), Sandy Run
• Sat. 5/11: Virginia State Championship (Day 2), Sandy Run
• Fri-Sat. 5/17-18: Stotesbury Cup Regatta, Philadelphia, PA
• Fri-Sat. 5/24-25: SRAA National Championships Regatta, Camden, NJ
      (Only qualifying boats attend.)

9. ALL THE REGULAR STUFF

This week’s newsletter is going out a little early due to the Thanksgiving Holiday! This Thanksgiving we are thankful for the community of athletes and parents that make up Woodson Rowing. We hope you have a wonderful holiday off from school.

1. *NEW* NO WINTER CONDITIONING WED – FRI (11/22 – 11/24)

2. REGISTER FOR THE SEASON

3. *NEW* HOLIDAY SHOPPING IDEAS

4. *NEW* WED 11/29, PAISANO’S BURKE FUNDRAISER

5. DON’T MISS OUT ON TEAM UPDATES

6. SCHOOL NAME CHANGE AND HOW IT AFFECTS US

7. FUNDRAISING CONTINUES

8. LOOKING AHEAD: AT-A-GLANCE

9. ALL THE REGULAR STUFF

ACTION ITEMS FOR THIS WEEK
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

1. *NEW* NO WINTER CONDITIONING WED – FRI (11/22 – 11/24): Due to the Thanksgiving holiday and schools being closed, there will be no winter conditioning Wed – Fri (11/22 – 11/24). Get some movement in to keep yourselves loose and ready to get back to it on Monday!

Here is the general schedule for winter conditioning. Participation is highly encouraged for all athletes.Before you can participate, all athletes must: (1) have a VHSL physical dated after May 1, 2023 turned into the Woodson Athletic Trainer (hard copies delivered to Rm. C158, soft copies emailed to the athletic trainer, [email protected]) and (2) be registered with the Woodson Athletic System.

2. REGISTER FOR THE SEASON: Commit to rowing this spring! Click here to get started. Still have questions? Reach out to our membership team at [email protected].¶

3. *NEW* HOLIDAY SHOPPING IDEAS: If you didn’t finish your holiday shopping at the Woodson Craft Show, there are lots of ways to get your shopping done and benefit the team at the same time!

• Woodson Spirit Wear. Grandparents can show their support from afar while athletes can participate in passive recruiting just by wearing their favorite sweatshirt! A portion of the proceeds does benefit the team.

• Oakley eyewear and MORE. Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale (runs thru Nov 27). Woodson has partnered with TCA Team to bring you preferred pricing on sunglasses or other sports equipment. To get the discount:
  • 1) Visit the TCA Store at tcateamstore.com
  • 2) Add items to your cart
  • 3) At checkout enter WOODSON or BFCM23 in the discount code box and the discount will be applied to the price.
    Check out tcateamstore.com today!

• USRowing Black Friday Sale. These purchases do not benefit our team directly, but each purchase at the USRowing Marketplace directly supports the US National Team, adaptive and STEM to Stern community programs, and USRowing educational programming.

• Don’t forget about our new croc charms this year! Cost is $6 for 1 charm and $10 for 2 charms. Contact Ana at [email protected] or on Slack to arrange payment and delivery.

4. *NEW* WED 11/29, PAISANO’S BURKE FUNDRAISER

When the Thanksgiving rush is over, you’re out of left overs AND you still don’t feel like cooking … eat at Paisano’s in Burke all day (Dine in and Carry out ONLY) on Wednesday, 11/29 (11a – 10p). Make sure to mention the Woodson Crew Boosters (or WTW Crew Boosters) to benefit our team with your purchase. 20% of sales will be donated back to the team. RSVP isn’t required, but it does let the restaurant get a better idea of the potential turnout!

5. DON’T MISS OUT ON TEAM UPDATES: Join our Slack communities to stay up-to-date on all the comings and goings of the team. Slack is a communications tool combining the best elements of text messaging and email. We use Slack for more immediate communications than this newsletter. There are 2 separate Slack spaces: one for coach and athlete communications and a separate space for parent/guardian communications. 

Parent / Guardian Slack: In addition to push notifications for team related information such as weather or other cancellations, Slack creates a space for parents to be able to coordinate carpools, and other team related logistics. If you are a parent or guardian and are not yet on Slack, please send an email to [email protected] with the following information: (1) your name, (2) your email address, and (3) the full name of your athlete. Once your request is processed, you will receive a separate invite link from Slack to join. There is an app you may download on your mobile devices to access Slack or you may log-in using any browser.  

Coach / Athlete Slack: Coaches will ensure that all athletes are added to this Slack space. Athletes not currently on Slack should let coaches know at winter conditioning. Please note that you must have a NON-FCPS email to join this space. Parents and guardians do not have direct access to this space. This is your athlete’s responsibility and an opportunity for them to learn to communicate more readily and effectively with their teammates and coaches.

6. SCHOOL NAME CHANGE AND HOW IT AFFECTS US: You might have noticed some branding changes (or not!) on social media and a transition from “W.T. Woodson Crew” to “Woodson Rowing.” Why the switch? Well – the answer is two-fold. With the recent school board vote to change the school name from W.T. Woodson High School to Carter G. Woodson High School, as a team we must represent the school effectively by removing the W.T. from our brand.

As for the switch from “Crew” to “Rowing” – read this article in the Washington Post for a quote from Head Coach Bryan Tylander on this pet peeve. (tldr; a crew is a group of people who row, rowing is the actual sport and what our athletes “do”).

You’ll likely see a slow roll of changes in this rebranding effort. Please be patient with us as we work through rebranding over the course of this year!! 

How can you help? By referring to our team as “Woodson Rowing” you’re giving potential recruits and their families a much more descriptive picture of this sport. Is it semantics? Perhaps – but anything that exposes more folks to the joys (and pains – wait until the hand blisters start), the better. Also, don’t throw out your W.T. Woodson Spirit Wear! Continue to wear it until other options are available. Everything in the team store is compliant with the school’s name change. Plus, maybe the old stuff will be worth some money some day. 😏 

7. FUNDRAISING CONTINUES: Although our major fundraising efforts have passed, fundraising never really ends. We didn’t quite meet our goals through Tag Day efforts – so now what? Well, donations are a mainstay of our funding efforts. Please continue to spread the word. If you, or anyone you know, might be interested in becoming a sponsor of our team, our Donors page on the website is a great resource. In addition, please check with your employers to see if they have any matching programs! Some employers will match charitable donations made by their employees. Please contact our fundraising team at [email protected] with any questions, to arrange sponsorships or set up employer matching!

8. LOOKING AHEAD: AT-A-GLANCE

NOVEMBER:

• Registration available.
• Wed. 11/29: Paisano’s in Burke restaurant fundraiser. 11a-10p.

DECEMBER:

• Wed. 12/13: Kokee Team restaurant fundraiser
• Fri. 12/15: Deadline for early bird registration discount
• 12/18-12/29: Winter break
• 12/18 – 12/22: Optional winter conditioning. Tentative. More info to follow.

JANUARY 2024

• Thu. 1/18: Noodles & Co. restaurant fundraiser

FEBRUARY

• Fri. 2/16: Last day of winter conditioning
• Mon. 2/19: Deadline for returning athlete refunds
• Mon. 2/19: Practice begins. Baseline erg testing at school. Time TBD.
• Tue. 2/20: On-the-water practice begins. Pull for Woodson!
  (Mon-Fri: 4-6:30p; Sat: 8:30-10:30a)
• Thu. 2/22: Mamma Lucia restaurant fundraiser

MARCH

• Thu. 3/7: Deadline for novice athlete refunds
• Racing season begins! 2024 Racing Schedule.
• Sat. 3/16: Polar Bear Regatta, Sandy Run
• Sat. 3/23: Regional Park Regatta, Sandy Run
• Sat. 3/30: Invitational at St. Andrews, Middletown, DE

APRIL

• Sat. 4/6: Tri-Meet, Anacostia River, Washington, DC
• Sat. 4/13: Bye Week. No racing.
• Sat. 4/20: Ryz Obuchowicz Regatta, Sandy Run
• Sat. 4/27: Al Urquia Regatta, Sandy Run

MAY

• Sat. 5/4: Virginia State Championship (Day 1), Sandy Run
• Sat. 5/11: Virginia State Championship (Day 2), Sandy Run
• Fri-Sat. 5/17-18: Stotesbury Cup Regatta, Philadelphia, PA
• Fri-Sat. 5/24-25: SRAA National Championships Regatta, Camden, NJ
      (Only qualifying boats attend.)

9. ALL THE REGULAR STUFF

With the 2nd Tag Day behind us, we begin looking forward to the start of winter conditioning and getting everyone registered for the spring season!

1. WINTER CONDITIONING BEGINS TODAY!!!
2. TAG DAY THANK YOU
3. SLACK – WHAT IS IT AND WHY DO I NEED IT?
4. DO WE ROW OR DO WE DO CREW?
5. HOLIDAY SHOPPING?
6. FUNDRAISING NEVER ENDS
7. LOOKING AHEAD: AT-A-GLANCE
8. ALL THE REGULAR STUFF

ACTION ITEMS FOR THIS WEEK
REGISTER FOR THE SEASON!
Click here to get started.
Still have questions?
Reach out to our membership team at [email protected].

1. WINTER CONDITIONING BEGINS TODAY!!!
IF PHYSICALS OR REGISTRATIONS ARE NOT COMPLETE, YOU CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN WINTER CONDITIONING. Everyone that was missing either of those was sent an email earlier this week. If you have questions re: your eligibility, contact our membership team at [email protected].

The schedule for winter conditioning is below. Participation is highly encouraged for all athletes to develop the cardiovascular fitness and camaraderie needed to make winning boats!

REMEMBER, before you can participate, all athletes must have a VHSL physical dated after May 1, 2023 turned into the Woodson Athletic Trainer (hard copies delivered to Rm. C158, soft copies emailed to the athletic trainer, [email protected]). Athletes should also be registered with the Woodson Athletic System.

2. TAG DAY THANK YOU

Huge thank you to all the athletes and parents who showed up for Tag Day on November 11. We raised $5,000 more toward our goal of $20,000. Congratulations to the top earning teams from the morning and afternoon session!

3. SLACK – WHAT IS IT AND WHY DO I NEED IT?
Slack is a communications tool combining the best elements of text messaging and email. We use Slack for more immediate communications than this newsletter. There are 2 separate Slack spaces: one for coach and athlete communications and a separate space for parent/guardian communications. 

Parent / Guardian Slack: In addition to push notifications for team related information such as weather or other cancellations, Slack creates a space for parents to be able to coordinate carpools, and other team related logistics. If you are a parent or guardian and are not yet on Slack, please send an email to [email protected] with the following information: (1) your name, (2) your email address, and (3) the full name of your athlete. Once your request is processed, you will receive a separate invite link from Slack to join. There is an app you may download on your mobile devices to access Slack or you may log-in using any browser.  

Coach / Athlete Slack: Coaches will ensure that all athletes are added to this Slack space. Athletes not currently on Slack should let coaches know at winter conditioning. Please note that you must have a NON-FCPS email to join this space. Parents and guardians do not have direct access to this space. This is your athlete’s responsibility and an opportunity for them to learn to communicate more readily and effectively with their teammates and coaches.

4. WE ARE A CREW WHO ROWS
You might have noticed some branding changes (or not!) on social media and a transition from “W.T. Woodson Crew” to “Woodson Rowing.” Why the switch? Well – the answer is two-fold. With the recent school board vote to change the school name from W.T. Woodson High School to Carter G. Woodson High School, as a team we must represent the school effectively by removing the W.T. from our brand.

As for the switch from “Crew” to “Rowing” – read this article in the Washington Post for a quote from Head Coach Bryan Tylander on this pet peeve. (tldr; a crew is a group of people who rows, rowing is the actual sport and what our athletes “do”).

You’ll likely see a slow roll of changes in this rebranding effort. Please be patient with us as we work through rebranding over the course of this year!!

How can you help? By referring to our team as “Woodson Rowing” you’re giving potential recruits and their families a much more descriptive picture of this sport. Is it semantics? Perhaps – but anything that exposes more folks to the joys (and pains – wait until the hand blisters start), the better. Also, don’t throw out your W.T. Woodson Spirit Wear! Continue to wear it until other options are available. Everything in the team store is compliant with the school’s name change. Plus, maybe the old stuff will be worth some money some day. 😏 

5. HOLIDAY SHOPPING?
If you didn’t finish your holiday shopping at the Woodson Craft Show, don’t forget that Woodson Spirit Wear is the perfect holiday gift. Grandparents can show their support from afar while athletes can participate in passive recruiting just by wearing their favorite sweatshirt! Visit our team store to buy your Woodson gear – a portion of the proceeds does benefit the team.

Don’t forget about our new croc charms this year! Great stocking stuffers. Cost is $6 for 1 charm and $10 for 2 charms. Contact Ana at [email protected] or on Slack to arrange payment and delivery.

6. FUNDRAISING NEVER ENDS
Although our major fundraising efforts have passed, fundraising never really ends. We didn’t quite meet our goals through Tag Day efforts – so now what? Well, donations are a mainstay of our funding efforts. Please continue to spread the word. If you, or anyone you know, might be interested in becoming a sponsor of our team, the Donors page on the website is a great resource. In addition, please check with your employers to see if they have any matching programs! Some employers will match charitable donations made by their employees. Please contact our fundraising team at [email protected] with any questions, to arrange sponsorships or set up employer matching!

7. LOOKING AHEAD: AT-A-GLANCE

NOVEMBER:

• Registration available.
• Thu. 11/16: Winter Conditioning begins.
• Wed. 11/29: Paisano’s in Burke restaurant fundraiser. 11a-10p.

DECEMBER:

• Wed. 12/13: Kokee Team restaurant fundraiser
• Fri. 12/15: Deadline for early bird registration discount
• 12/18-12/29: Winter break
• 12/18 – 12/22: Optional winter conditioning. Tentative. More info to follow.

JANUARY 2024

• Thu. 1/18: Noodles & Co. restaurant fundraiser.

FEBRUARY

• Fri. 2/16: Last day of winter conditioning
• Mon. 2/19: Deadline for returning athlete refunds
• Mon. 2/19: Practice begins. At school (baseline erg testing). Time TBD.
• Tue. 2/20: On-the-water practice begins. Pull for Woodson!
  (Mon-Fri: 4-6:30p; Sat: 8:30-10:30a)
• Thu. 2/22: Mamma Lucia restaurant fundraiser.

MARCH

• Thu. 3/7: Deadline for novice athlete refunds
• Racing season begins! 2024 Racing Schedule.
• Sat. 3/16: Polar Bear Regatta, Sandy Run
• Sat. 3/23: Regional Park Regatta, Sandy Run
• Sat. 3/30: Invitational at St. Andrews, Middletown, DE

APRIL

• Sat. 4/6: Tri-Meet, Anacostia River, Washington, DC
• Sat. 4/13: Bye Week. No racing.
• Sat. 4/20: Ryz Obuchowicz Regatta, Sandy Run
• Sat. 4/27: Al Urquia Regatta, Sandy Run

MAY

• Sat. 5/4: Virginia State Championship (Day 1), Sandy Run
• Sat. 5/11: Virginia State Championship (Day 2), Sandy Run
• Fri-Sat. 5/17-18: Stotesbury Cup, Philadelphia, PA.
• Fri-Sat. 5/24-25: SRAA National Championships, Camden, NJ. (Only qualifying boats attend.)

8. ALL THE REGULAR STUFF

Thank you to all who helped at our 30th Annual Woodson Craft Show. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. We appreciate all the time, effort and friendliness that went into this event! Next up – our 2nd Tag Day!

1. TAG DAY, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11
2. REGISTER FOR THE 2023-2024 SEASON!
3. WINTER CONDITIONING BEGINS THU. NOV 16
4. BECOME A SPONSOR OR RECRUIT A SPONSOR
5. 2024 RACING SCHEDULE HAS BEEN SET
6. WOODSON SPIRIT WEAR
7. LOOKING AHEAD: AT-A-GLANCE
8. WAIT. THERE’S MORE?

ACTION ITEMS FOR THIS WEEK
SIGN UP FOR TAG DAY!

1. TAG DAY, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Our 2nd Tag Day of the season is this Saturday. We really need more adult drivers and athletes!! Please SIGN UP FOR TAG DAY! If you have questions, check out the “Tag Day Special” email from Tuesday of this week here.

Spread the news to your neighbors so they can be on the lookout and ready to donate!

2. REGISTER FOR THE 2023-2024 SEASON!

Please review the registration guidelines and steps to get started with the 2023-24 season! You may also review the presentation from our parent information session to learn more. Still have questions? Reach out to our membership team at wtwcrewm…@gmail.com.¶

3. WINTER CONDITIONING BEGINS THU. NOV 16

BEFORE YOU CAN PARTICIPATE, all athletes must have a VHSL physical dated after May 1, 2023 turned into the Woodson Athletic Trainer (hard copies delivered to Rm. C158, soft copies emailed to the athletic trainer, cho…@fcps.edu). Athletes should also be registered with the Woodson Athletic System.

The schedule for winter conditioning is below. Participation is highly encouraged for all athletes to develop the cardiovascular fitness and camaraderie needed to make winning boats!

4. BECOME A SPONSOR OR RECRUIT A SPONSOR

As you know, donations are a mainstay of our funding efforts. Please continue to spread the word. If you, or anyone you know, might be interested in becoming a sponsor of our team, our DONORS PAGE on the website is a great resource. In addition, please check with your employers to see if they have any matching programs! Some employers will match charitable donations made by their employees. Please contact Ana at wtwcrewfu…@gmail.com with any questions, to arrange sponsorships or set up employer matching!
5. 2024 RACING SCHEDULE HAS BEEN SET

Visit our website for more information and mark your calendars! 2024 Racing Schedule.

6. WOODSON SPIRIT WEAR

New this year – Woodson Crew Croc Charms! Cost is $6 for 1 charm and $10 for 2 charms. Contact Ana at wtwcrewfu…@gmail.com or on Slack to arrange payment and delivery!

With the holidays coming up, plan to get your athlete (or yourself!) some spirit wear so you’re ready for the spring season. Visit our team store. A portion of the proceeds does benefit the team. 

7. LOOKING AHEAD: AT-A-GLANCE

NOVEMBER:

• Registration available.
• Sat. 11/11: 2nd Tag Day
• Thu. 11/16: Winter Conditioning begins.
• Wed. 11/29: Paisano’s in Burke restaurant fundraiser. 11a-10p.

DECEMBER:

• Fri. 12/15: Deadline for early bird registration discount

FEBRUARY 2024

• Fri. 2/16: Last day of winter conditioning
• Mon. 2/19: Deadline for returning athlete refunds
• Mon. 2/19: Practice at school (baseline erg testing). Time TBD.
• Tue. 2/20: On-the-water practice begins. Pull for Woodson!
  (Mon-Fri: 4-6:30p; Sat: 8:30-10:30a)

MARCH

• Thu. 3/7: Deadline for novice athlete refunds
• Sat. 3/16: Polar Bear Regatta, Sandy Run Regional Park.
• Sat. 3/23: Regional Park Regatta, Sandy Run Regional Park.
• Sat. 3/30: Invitational at St. Andrews, Middletown, DE.

APRIL

• Sat. 4/6: Tri-Meet, Anacostia River, Washington, DC.
• Sat. 4/13: Bye Week. No racing.
• Sat. 4/20: Ryz Obuchowicz Regatta, Sandy Run Regional Park.
• Sat. 4/27: Al Urquia Regatta, Sandy Run Regional Park.

MAY

• Sat. 5/4: Virginia State Championship (Day 1), Sandy Run Regional Park.
• Sat. 5/11: Virginia State Championship (Day 2), Sandy Run Regional Park.
• Fri-Sat. 5/17-18: Stotesbury Cup Regatta, Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA.
• Fri-Sat. 5/24-25: SRAA National Championships Regatta, Camden, NJ. Only qualifying boats attend.

8. WAIT. THERE’S MORE?

SPECIAL EDITION NEWSLETTER ON OUR UPCOMING TAG DAY!

Our second Tag Day is this weekend. Here’s the 411 on the team’s BIGGEST and MOST LUCRATIVE fundraiser of the year. We raised a little less than half of our goal at the first Tag Day. To meet our goal we need as many PARENTS and ATHLETES as possible to make this a success.

1. WHERE DO I SIGN UP?

2. WHEN IS TAG DAY?

3. WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE ALL DAY?

4. WHAT EXACTLY IS TAG DAY?

5. GENERAL TIMELINE OF EVENTS

6. WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?¶

7. WHY TAG DAYS?

1. WHERE DO I SIGN UP?

Click this link to SIGN UP NOW! (Using the sign up genius allows parent volunteers to PRE-ASSIGN groups to routes… if you “just show up” you will likely spend time waiting for a route/driver assignment instead of heading out). The more participants we have, the more quickly canvassing can be completed.

2. WHEN IS TAG DAY?

Tag Days have been divided up into TWO FULL DAY (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM) events. The first day was Saturday, October 7. The second day is THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11.

3. WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE ALL DAY?

We will need your help! While we are hoping for everyone to participate for the full day, if you can only make the morning or afternoon shift, please note that in the comments on the sign up genius. The AM shift will run from approximately 8:45a – noon. The PM shift will run from approximately noon – 3:30p. 

4. WHAT EXACTLY IS TAG DAY?

Tag Days are the most important athlete-driven fundraiser of the year. 

On Tag Days, athletes (transported by volunteer parents) walk door-to-door in our local neighborhoods. They are given scripts to help them confidently tell Woodson families about the sport of rowing, how we receive no FCPS funds, that we rely on dues and donations — and then ask for their support.

Athletes are always grouped together, so no one goes alone. Groups of 3 or 4 athletes (with at least 1 returning/seasoned athlete) will be paired with 1 parent volunteer driver. Each parent volunteer will drive to their pre-mapped route so that the athletes may canvas their designated area. Parent volunteers are responsible for safely transporting athletes, keeping eyes on them during canvassing for safety, and helping them keep track of the cash and checks they collect.

5. GENERAL TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Time	Event
8:45 AM	Arrive. Please park at the FRONT of Woodson (Door 1). Meet up in Woodson Cafeteria A.
8:45 – 9:00 AM	Paperwork drop-off/signing, Safety Briefing, Morning Route Map Distribution, Vehicle assignments
9:00 – 12:00 PM	Perform Morning Routes
12:00 – 12:30 PM	Return to Cafeteria A for a break and LUNCH
12:30 – 12:45 PM	Afternoon Route Map Distribution if needed
12:30 – 3:00 PM	Perform Afternoon Routes
3:00 – 3:30 PM	Return, tally results and update leaderboards!

6. WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?¶

ATHLETES

• MUST BRING this form signed by your parents (unless you provided this form at the first Tag Day).
• A refillable water bottle. Stay hydrated and then you’ll have water at lunch.
• A positive attitude!
• Woodson Crew Spiritwear, if you have it. A limited amount of spiritwear will be available to borrow for the day, should you wish.
• Water

PARENTS

• ALL DRIVERS must fill out this form to transport student athletes. (this form only needs to be filled out once per season, so if you filled one out for the last Tag Day, you’re good to go).
• Anything you might like to have on hand while sitting in the car for a few hours (water, coffee, etc.).
• Patience. It can be challenging for athletes who have never canvassed before to speak to strangers. Your kind words and encouragement will go a long way.

7. WHY TAG DAYS?

• Tag Days are our BIGGEST fundraiser of the year. So, while it might seem a time-consuming event, it helps us keep YOUR registration costs down, pay the coaches and maintain our equipment.
• A FULL DAY OF VOLUNTEERING (pre- and post-lunch shifts) fulfills TWO of your athlete and/or parent volunteer requirements.
• For more information and a direct donation link, visit our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/tag-days/

So, what are you waiting for? SIGN UP NOW!

Thank you to  all who helped at our Erg Shed and Boathouse Workdays! While not the most glamorous work, these maintenance days are critical to keeping our equipment in tip-top shape as we head into winter conditioning and the spring season ahead!

1. THE 30TH ANNUAL WOODSON CRAFT SHOW NEEDS YOU
2. 2023-24 REGISTRATION HAS OPENED
3. WINTER CONDITIONING BEGINS THU. NOV 16
4. FUNDRAISING
A. WENDY’S RESTAURANT DAY, ALL DAY TUE, NOV. 7
B. THE NEXT TAG DAY IS SAT. NOV 11
C. BECOME A SPONSOR OR RECRUIT A SPONSOR
5. 2024 RACING SCHEDULE HAS BEEN SET
6. WOODSON SPIRIT WEAR
7. LOOKING AHEAD: AT-A-GLANCE
8. WAIT. THERE’S MORE?

ACTION ITEMS FOR THIS WEEK
ALL THINGS CRAFT SHOW!

1. THE 30TH ANNUAL WOODSON CRAFT SHOW NEEDS YOU

As you know, we urgently need volunteers to make this event a success. Please visit the Sign Up Genius to sign up for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING you can do to help make this CRITICAL fund-raising event go smoothly.  We have 102 vendors who will be participating. Just to give you a comparison, we only had 80 or so vendors last year. Word has spread. Help us leave a good impression on these vendors so that they come back for many years to come!

HIGHLIGHTS:  We are in particular need of power strips, extension cords, baked goods and SIGN HOLDERS (athlete job on the day-of). Sign up for the Craft Show NOW!. 

Bring your extra extension cords or power strips on Friday, 3 November during set-up between 6pm and 10pm. If you label them with your name and number, we’ll be sure to get them back to you. We are also in need of baked goods – the bake sale component of the Craft Show is a sizable chunk of the proceeds.

SOCIAL MEDIA REQUEST: Please use your social networking skills to tell people about the Woodson Craft Show. Get a minimum of 5 family members or friends to commit to attending on Saturday, 4 November from 10am to 4pm.  Then ask each of them to tell 5 of their friends!

• If you’re on Facebook, there’s an event you can join and then share with your friends: Woodson Craft Show Facebook Event. Or Share our most recent post.
• If you’re on IG, share our most recent post on your stories.
• If you’re (still) on Twitter/X: share our post!
• Share the graphic below ANYWHERE – your local neighborhood Facebook group, your Next Door group, on your personal timelines.

2. 2023-24 REGISTRATION HAS OPENED

Please review the registration guidelines and steps to get started with the 2023-24 season! You may also review the presentation from our parent information session to learn more. Still have questions? Reach out to our membership team at [email protected].¶

3. WINTER CONDITIONING BEGINS THU. NOV 16

BEFORE YOU CAN PARTICIPATE, all athletes must have a VHSL physical dated after May 1, 2023 turned into the Woodson Athletic Trainer (hard copies delivered to Rm. C158, soft copies emailed to the athletic trainer, [email protected]). Athletes should also be registered with the Woodson Athletic System.

The schedule for winter conditioning is below. Participation is highly encouraged for all athletes to develop the cardiovascular fitness and camaraderie needed to make winning boats!

4. FUNDRAISING

A. WENDY’S RESTAURANT DAY, ALL DAY TUE, NOV. 7: We will be having a restaurant fundraiser at the Wendy’s in Fair City Mall ALL DAY LONG on Thu, Mar 2nd. 20% of sales that day will be donated to the team. Please make sure to mention Woodson Crew when you order!

B. THE NEXT TAG DAY IS SAT. NOV 11: We were just shy of halfway to our goal after the first Tag Day. So, we need a big turn out of athletes and parents for our next Tag Day! SIGN UP NOW! For more information and a direct donation link, visit our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/tag-days/

C. BECOME A SPONSOR OR RECRUIT A SPONSOR: As you know, donations are a mainstay of our funding efforts. Please continue to spread the word. If you, or anyone you know, might be interested in becoming a sponsor of our team, our DONORS PAGE on the website is a great resource. In addition, please check with your employers to see if they have any matching programs! Some employers will match charitable donations made by their employees. Please contact Ana at [email protected] with any questions, to arrange sponsorships or set up employer matching!

5. 2024 RACING SCHEDULE HAS BEEN SET
Visit our website for more information and mark your calendars! 2024 Racing Schedule.

6. WOODSON SPIRIT WEAR

New this year – Woodson Crew Croc Charms! Cost is $6 for 1 charm and $10 for 2 charms. Contact Ana at [email protected] or on Slack to arrange payment and delivery!

With the holidays coming up, plan to get your athlete (or yourself!) some spirit wear so you’re ready for the spring season. Visit our team store. A portion of the proceeds does benefit the team. 

7. LOOKING AHEAD: AT-A-GLANCE

NOVEMBER:

• Registration available.
• Fri. 11/3: Set up for the craft show
• Sat. 11/4: 30th Annual Craft Show, 10a-4p. Volunteer and shop! 
• Tue. 11/7: Wendy’s restaurant fundraiser, ALL DAY LONG!
• Sat. 11/11: 2nd Tag Day
• Thu. 11/16: Winter Conditioning begins. More info to follow.
• Wed. 11/29: Paisano’s in Burke restaurant fundraiser. 11a-10p.

DECEMBER:

• Fri. 12/15: Deadline for early bird registration discount

FEBRUARY 2024

• Fri. 2/16: Last day of winter conditioning
• Mon. 2/19: Deadline for returning athlete refunds
• Mon. 2/19: Practice at school (baseline erg testing). Time TBD.
• Tue. 2/20: On-the-water practice begins. Pull for Woodson!
  (Mon-Fri: 4-6:30p; Sat: 8:30-10:30a)

MARCH

• Thu. 3/7: Deadline for novice athlete refunds
• Sat. 3/16: Polar Bear Regatta, Sandy Run Regional Park.
• Sat. 3/23: Regional Park Regatta, Sandy Run Regional Park.
• Sat. 3/30: Invitational at St. Andrews, Middletown, DE.

APRIL

• Sat. 4/6: Tri-Meet, Anacostia River, Washington, DC.
• Sat. 4/13: Bye Week. No racing.
• Sat. 4/20: Ryz Obuchowicz Regatta, Sandy Run Regional Park.
• Sat. 4/27: Al Urquia Regatta, Sandy Run Regional Park.

MAY

• Sat. 5/4: Virginia State Championship (Day 1), Sandy Run Regional Park.
• Sat. 5/11: Virginia State Championship (Day 2), Sandy Run Regional Park.
• Fri-Sat. 5/17-18: Stotesbury Cup Regatta, Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA.
• Fri-Sat. 5/24-25: SRAA National Championships Regatta, Camden, NJ. Only qualifying boats attend.

8. WAIT. THERE’S MORE?