Thank you to all of the helpers, shoppers and supporters of our 31st Annual Woodson Craft Show. Extra thanks to Gail Lee for being our fearless leader. Also, congratulations to senior Ellie Fossand on her signing and commitment to row at Rutgers University next year.
1. FUNDRAISING UPDATES A. MINI TAG DAY DEC 7. SIGN UP NOW. B. SOCIAL MEDIA FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN C. CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP
3. VASRA WORKDAY THIS SATURDAY
4. WINTER CONDITIONING
5. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
WAIT – THERE’S MORE?
1. FUNDRAISING UPDATES With most of our biggest fundraisers behind us, the Board is focused on finding ways to cover budget shortfalls before the season begins. While the Craft Show continues to generate expected income, our first two Tag Days fell short of goal. Read on for how you can help us reach our funding goals!
A. MINI TAG DAY DEC 7. SIGN UP NOW. Please block off this morning to participate and help your team! We will only be doing a morning shift. Staging will take place at the Veigel home so that we can send athlete teams to portions of the Woodson pyramid that we were not able to visit over the previous 2 Tag Days. It is CRUCIAL that we get as many participants (both athlete and parent driver) as possible. Please sign up for the DECEMBER 7 mini Tag Day here:Mini Tag Day Sign Up.
B. SOCIAL MEDIA FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN On the same day as our mini tag day (Dec 7), we will be running a social media campaign to collect more donations. Parents and athletes alike will be invited to share our social media posts and email or text friends and family to boost donations. Meanwhile, please think of who you may be able to recruit to donate to help our team. Stay tuned for more info.
C. CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP 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 our fundraising team at [email protected] with any questions, to arrange sponsorships or set up employer matching!
3. VASRA WORKDAY THIS SATURDAY Big thanks to Khoi Do for signing up for this Saturday’s VASRA work day! Although all of the slots are currently full, feel free to show up and provide extra help getting Sandy Run ready for the on-the-water training and racing season. All parents and athletes are welcome. Athletes can receive volunteer hours for their work. Click the link for more info: VASRA Workday
4. WINTER CONDITIONING The team will begin Winter Conditioning on Monday, December 2. Coaches are finalizing the schedule and should have it in place by next week. Winter conditioning is when you make the most important investment in your spring racing. If you did not participate in Green Days, please make sure that you have the following completed BEFORE December 2: – a physical on file with the Woodson Athletic Dept (hard copies delivered to Rm. C158, soft copies emailed to [email protected]) – Completed the Woodson Athletics Registration
To learn more about why you should participate in winter conditioning, visit our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/winter-conditioning/. Participation is highly encouraged for all athletes to develop the cardiovascular fitness and camaraderie needed to make winning boats!
5. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/
There are tons of unassigned spots that MUST be filled. There are currently 105 vendors scheduled and thousands of shoppers expected, so we need lots of help to make this very popular regional show (that is also an important fundraiser for our team) a success. Scroll through the Craft Show Sign Up Genius to fill our most critical needs:
Heavy Duty EXTENSION CORDS and POWER STRIPS
BAKED GOODS
SIGN HOLDERS during the show. (Only 2 hour shifts – not for the entire day)
VENDOR ASSISTANCE. This early, long shift grants double service credits. And is, arguably, the most important work helping the vendors get set up for the day. This assistance is one of the many reasons that vendors LOVE our show. Please help us keep up the good impression!
TAKE DOWN ASSISTANCE. Starts at 4:00PM until done. Many hands make light work here.
B. BOREDOM RELIEF PROGRAM Ms. Virginia North America, Taylor Ragano, will have a table set up to support her Boredom Relief Program. She will be collecting items (books, coloring books, games and other forms of entertainment) and raising funds and awareness for mental health patients in psychiatric hospitals and residential programs. Visit her website to learn more about how you can help. Get into the holiday spirit of giving AND maybe get your photo taken with a bonafide beauty queen!
C. VENDOR PREVIEW PAGE New this year, we have a Vendor Preview Page on our website. Check out all of our amazing vendors, follow them on social media, and get ready to shop!2. VASRA WORKDAY
VASRA is hard at work getting Sandy Run ready for the on-the-water training and racing season. There are two dates available that would earn you a VASRA volunteering credit: Sat, Nov 9 and Sat, Nov 16. We do ask that the craft fair on 11/9 be your priority, but if there are multiple volunteers in your family, you can certainly divide and conquer! All parents and athletes are welcome. Athletes can receive volunteer hours for their work. Click the link for more info and to sign up: VASRA Workday
3. SAVE THE DATE – TENTATIVE 3rd TAG DAY Based on the amounts collected over the last 2 Tag Days, plans are being made to schedule a 3rd Tag Day to try and meet our fundraising goals for the season. Stay tuned for more information, but please Save the Date for Saturday, December 7. More information to follow. Questions? Reach out to Tag Day Coordinator Patrick Obruba via Slack.
4. WINTER CONDITIONING The team will begin winter Conditioning on Monday, December 2. Winter conditioning is when you make the most important investment in your spring racing. If you did not participate in Green Days, please make sure that you have the following completed BEFORE December 2:
To learn more about why you should participate in winter conditioning, visit our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/winter-conditioning/. Participation is highly encouraged for all athletes to develop the cardiovascular fitness and camaraderie needed to make winning boats!
5. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/
One of our biggest fundraisers, the Woodson Craft Show, is upon us. This is the 31st year of the show! We have many critical needs that still need to be met. We know that the season hasn’t even officially started and we are asking for a lot of participation – but these fundraising efforts, in particular, are what enable our team to be the successful program that we all enjoy being a part of! Please consider setting aside some of your time to help us make this long standing event a success.
1. URGENT REQUEST FOR HELP! 2. WHEN IS THE WOODSON CRAFT SHOW? 3. WHO IS THE WOODSON CRAFT SHOW FOR? 4. WHAT DO I GET OUT OF THE WOODSON CRAFT SHOW? 5. OK. BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS THE WOODSON CRAFT SHOW? 6. ALRIGHT. YOU CONVINCED ME. WHAT DO YOU NEED ME TO DO?
1. URGENT REQUEST FOR HELP! The Craft Show Sign Up Genius is long and maybe confusing to navigate – but that’s because we have SO MANY jobs that need to be filled to make this event run smoothly. Scroll all the way down to find the perfect opportunity for you. Here are our most critical needs:
Heavy Duty EXTENSION CORDS and POWER STRIPS
BAKED GOODS
SIGN HOLDERS during the show. (Only 2 hour shifts – not for the entire day)
VENDOR ASSISTANCE. This early, long shift grants double service credits. And is, arguably, the most important work helping the vendors get set up for the day. This assistance is one of the many reasons that vendors LOVE our show. Please help us keep up the good impression!
TAKE DOWN ASSISTANCE. Starts at 4:00PM until done. Many hands make light work here.
2. WHEN IS THE WOODSON CRAFT SHOW? Set up begins the night before the show, Friday, Nov 8. On that evening we need volunteers to help set-up and organize the many donated/loaned items that will be used the next day.
The show is on Saturday, November 9. Set-up continues at 6:30AM! Adults and athletes help our vendors get set up for when the doors open at 10:00AM. During the show, we need lots of volunteers to run things like the concession stand, greet, and hold signs at major intersections to draw in more shoppers. The show ends at 4:00PM, and then the tear down begins.
3. WHO IS THE WOODSON CRAFT SHOW FOR? Everyone, really! We currently have over 100 vendors signed up. Many vendors LOVE this event more than any other craft show because of all the help that the athletes provide them in bringing their merchandise into the school to set up. The Craft Show is also for shoppers. Admission is FREE and it’s a great place to start (or finish, if you’re really on the ball) holiday shopping. There is, literally, something for everyone.
4. WHAT DO I GET OUT OF THE WOODSON CRAFT SHOW? Shifts of labor are for service credit. You MUST check in with Gail and sign in upon arrival to get credit. There will be a table set up for check in just inside Door #3, near the bake sale. Shifts for both athletes and adults are included.
You ALSO get the opportunity to benefit the team in a FUN way. These vendors are amazing artisans who are very skilled at what they do. It’s fun to engage with creative people and learn about them and their wares. Any money you spend benefits the team because it keeps these vendors coming back year after year. (All the money made by the team is linked to what the vendors pay to participate in the show).
5. OK. BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS THE WOODSON CRAFT SHOW? This exceptional show features juried handmade arts and crafts from dozens of artisans around the region. Absolutely no buy-sell, resale or kits are allowed. So, all items offered for sale are handcrafted by the exhibitor.
It also brings thousands of shoppers to Woodson High School and benefits the Woodson Rowing Team.
This show has THREE UNIQUE FEATURES: — NO ADMISSION FEE for shoppers — ELECTRICITY is included in the booth fee — STUDENT ATHLETES assist crafters with loading and unloading their supplies!
6. ALRIGHT. YOU CONVINCED ME. WHAT DO YOU NEED ME TO DO?
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Tag day is THIS SATURDAY, so make sure you set aside the day to help out your team.
1. TAG DAY THIS SATURDAY, 11/2, 8:30AM
2. CRAFT SHOW NEXT WEEKEND, 11/9 A. CRITICAL NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS!! B. BOREDOM RELIEF PROGRAM C. VENDOR PREVIEW PAGE
3. LAST OPTIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING, 11/6
4. WINTER CONDITIONING
5. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
WAIT – THERE’S MORE?
1. TAG DAY THIS SATURDAY, 11/2, 8:30AM We need more adults and athletes to show up!! If you did not participate in Tag Day last weekend, please make sure you’re signed up for this weekend. Please sign up here – we need all hands on deck to make this event work!! Review THIS newsletter for all the information you need or the Tag Days webpage. Still have questions? Reach out to Tag Day Coordinator Patrick Obruba via Slack.
2. CRAFT SHOW NEXT WEEKEND, 11/9 A. CRITICAL NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS!! There are tons of unassigned spots that MUST be filled. There will be 100+ vendors and thousands of shoppers in attendance, so we need lots of help to make this very popular regional show (that is also an important fundraiser for our team) a success. We don’t only need your time – we also need your BAKING SKILLS! Volunteer for a spot but also consider signing up to bring a baked good for us to sell. Sign up here: Craft Show Volunteer Sign Up.
B. BOREDOM RELIEF PROGRAM Ms. Virginia North America, Taylor Ragano, will have a table set up to support her Boredom Relief Program. She will be collecting items (books, coloring books, games and other forms of entertainment) and raising funds and awareness for mental health patients in psychiatric hospitals and residential programs. Visit her website to learn more about how you can help. Get into the holiday spirit of giving AND maybe get your photo taken with a bonafide beauty queen!
C. VENDOR PREVIEW PAGE New this year, we have a Vendor Preview Page on our website. Check out all of our amazing vendors, follow them on social media, and get ready to shop!
3. LAST OPTIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING, 11/6 The last day of optional strength training will be Wednesday, November 6 at the Woodson weight room from 6:30-7:30a. There will not be optional strength training on Monday, November 4 because of the day off from school.
To learn more about why you should participate in winter conditioning, visit our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/winter-conditioning/. Participation is highly encouraged for all athletes to develop the cardiovascular fitness and camaraderie needed to make winning boats!
5. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/
SPECIAL EDITION NEWSLETTER ON OUR UPCOMING TAG DAY!
Our first Tag Day is coming THIS SATURDAY, OCT 26!! Here’s all the info you need on the team’s BIGGEST and MOST LUCRATIVE fundraiser of the year. We need LOTS of PARENTS and as many ATHLETES as possible to make this a success.
1. WHAT EXACTLY IS A TAG DAY? 2. GENERAL TIMELINE OF EVENTS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 3. WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?¶ 4. WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE ALL DAY? 5. WHY DO I NEED TO SIGN UP? 6. WHEN IS TAG DAY AGAIN? 7. WHY DO WE DO TAG DAYS?
ATHLETES: PRINT, FILL IN AND BRING this form (signed by your parents)
PARENT DRIVERS: PRINT, FILL IN AND BRING this form
1. WHEN IS TAG DAY AGAIN? Tag Days have been divided up into TWO FULL DAY (8:30 AM – 4:00 PM) events. The first day is THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26. The second day is NEXT Saturday, November 2.
2. WHAT EXACTLY IS A 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.
3. GENERAL TIMELINE OF EVENTS
Time
Event
8:30 AM
Arrive. Please park at the FRONT of Woodson (Door 1). Meet up in Woodson Cafeteria A.
Tag Day Timeline of Events. Times are not exact, but we will hold to this schedule as closely as possible. Any changes will be discussed in-person at the event!
4. WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?¶
ATHLETES ❖ MUST BRING this form signed by your parents. We will have some blank ones on-site, but prefer you to print and fill out in advance so that we don’t have to chase down your parents for a signature before you can go. ❖ A refillable water bottle. Stay hydrated and then you’ll have water at lunch. ❖ A positive attitude! ❖ Woodson Rowing Spirit wear, if you have it. If you have some extra you’re willing to share with a novice, please bring it. A limited amount of spiritwear will be available to borrow for the day, should you wish.
PARENTS ❖ ALL DRIVERS must fill out this form to transport student athletes. We will have some blank ones on-site, but to speed up the process and get everyone out and about efficients, please print and fill out in advance. ❖ 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.
5. WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE ALL DAY? We still 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 8:30a – noon. The PM shift will run from approximately noon – 3:30p.
6. WHY DO I NEED TO SIGN UP? It is preferred that you sign up beforehand because this allows parent volunteers to PRE-ASSIGN groups to routes, meaning everything runs a little more efficiently. But that being said, the more participants we have, the more quickly canvassing can be completed so please show up whether you remembered to sign up or not. Make it easy on all of us; click this link to SIGN UP NOW!
7. WHY DO WE DO 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.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s TAG DAY SPECIAL EDITION newsletter with all you need to know going into our first Tag Day this Saturday. Read below for more news and more opportunities to help out the team!
1. KOKEE TEA FUNDRAISER THIS FRIDAY, OCT 25
2. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS ASAP A. TAG DAY, SAT 10/26 and SAT 11/2 B. 31st ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW, FRI 11/8 and SAT 11/9
3. RENTAL ERG RETURN, THIS SAT 10/26
4. ONLY 3 GREEN DAYS LEFT!
5. ONLY 3 MORE OPTIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING DAYS LEFT
6. WINTER CONDITIONING
7. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
Celebrate the end of your week with a Hug in a Cup! This Friday, Oct 25 from 3-7p. Please mention Woodson Rowing to have a portion of your sale donated back to the team!
2. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS ASAP We are in dire need of your commitment to help with our TWO main fundraising events coming up: Tag Days and the Craft Show. The next 3 weekends are critical to the Spring season. Properly staffed, we make a predominant amount of the money we need for a successful season. We cannot do that without LOTS of help. All of our volunteering opportunities are always just a click away on our volunteering page. Visit and bookmark the site to stay up-to-date on how you can help the team!
A. TAG DAY, SAT 10/26 and SAT 11/2 Tag Days are the Woodson Rowing team’s most important fundraiser of the year. Funds collected during Tag Days off-set many of your costs during the season! Novice athletes are strongly encouraged to attend Tag Days because: (1) it helps to knock out volunteer requirements, (2) they get to spend the day bonding with varsity athletes and (3) it teaches them how to “talk about” rowing (since it is a new sport to most). Please sign up here – we need all hands on deck to make this event work!! Our Tag Days webpage can answer lots of your questions but we will also send out a special edition Tag Day newsletter TOMORROW with all the specific details you may need. Still have questions? Reach out to Tag Day Coordinator Patrick Obruba via Slack.
B. 31st ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW, FRI 11/8 and SAT 11/9 Set up for the event will begin Friday, November 8 from 6-8p. Volunteers are also needed during the event itself from 6:30a-4:30p on Saturday, Nov 9. Sign up to help to make this very popular regional show (that is also an important fundraiser for our team) a success. We will likely have 100+ vendors and, literally, thousands of shoppers on the day of the event. There are all types of volunteer spots available: help set up, provide baked goods, and get to know vendors on the day of the event. Sign up to help here: Craft Show Volunteer Sign Up.
We only have spots for a few more vendors! If your favorite vendor hasn’t signed up yet, encourage them to do so ASAP! 2024 Craft Show Vendor Registration.
3. RENTAL ERG RETURN, THIS SAT 10/26 Return your rented erg to the Woodson Rowing Erg Shed (back of school near senior parking) any time during a 8a-12p window. If you can, plan to stay for the Erg Shed Workday going on at the same time!
4. ONLY 3 GREEN DAYS LEFT! There are only 3 Green Days left, including today! (Thu – 10/24, Mon – 10/28, and Tue- 10/29). This is the last opportunity this season to get some experience in the boats (or refresh your skills) until we officially go on-the-water in late February. Make sure you sign up for any and all days now! Green Days Sign Up Genius.
5. ONLY 3 MORE OPTIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING DAYS LEFT The last day of optional strength training will be Wednesday, November 6. The remaining strength training sessions will occur at the Woodson weight room from 6:30-7:30a on 10/28, 10/30 and 11/6. There will not be optional strength training on Monday, November 4 because of the day off from school. Coaches are in attendance to help you get stronger. Set your foundation for Winter Conditioning now!
6. WINTER CONDITIONING The team will begin winter Conditioning on Monday, December 2. BEFORE YOU CAN PARTICIPATE, all athletes must have:
To learn more about why you should participate in winter conditioning, visit our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/winter-conditioning/. Participation is highly encouraged for all athletes to develop the cardiovascular fitness and camaraderie needed to make winning boats!
7. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/
Big thank you to the folks that have signed up to work the concession stand at the Woodson Homecoming football game this Friday! We appreciate you representing our team and hope you have a great time at the game.
1. VOLUNTEERING UPDATES A. CRITICAL NEED: TAG DAY, SAT 10/26. B. VASRA DOCK REBUILD, SAT 10/19 or SAT 10/26 C. 31st ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
2. RENTAL ERG RETURN, SAT 10/26
3. ONLY 6 GREEN DAYS LEFT!
4. ARE YOU ON SLACK?
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN WOODSON ROWING
6. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
WAIT – THERE’S MORE?
ACTION ITEMS Please sign up here for our first Tag Day.
VOLUNTEERING UPDATES All of our volunteering opportunities are always just a click away on our volunteering page. Visit and bookmark the site to stay up-to-date on how you can help the team!
A. CRITICAL NEED: TAG DAY, SAT 10/26. Tag Days are the Woodson Rowing team’s most important fundraiser of the year. Properly staffed, Tag Days off-set many of your costs during the season! Novice athletes are strongly encouraged to attend Tag Days because: (1) it helps to knock out volunteer requirements, (2) they get to spend the day bonding with varsity athletes and (3) it teaches them how to “talk about” rowing (since it is a new sport to most). Please sign up here – we need all hands on deck to make this event work!! Our Tag Days webpage can answer lots of your questions, but also feel free to reach out to our Tag Day Coordinator, Patrick Obruba, via Slack.
B. VASRA DOCK REBUILD, SAT 10/19 or SAT 10/26 VASRA has asked for help in rebuilding docks at Sandy Run! No experience necessary, but know that this is a labor intensive job. Wearing CLOSED-TOE, sturdy shoes is a MUST. Make sure you note your affiliation with Woodson when you sign up: VASRA Dock Work Days.
(Note: Tag Days should be the priority on Oct 26, but if you have multiple family members that want to help crank out most of your volunteer credits in one weekend – divide and conquer!)
C. 31st ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Set up for the event will begin Friday, November 8 from 6-8p. Volunteers are also needed during the event itself from 6:30a-4:30p on Saturday, Nov 9.Sign up to help to make this very popular regional show (that is also an important fundraiser for our team) a success.We will likely have 100+ vendors and, literally, thousands of shoppers on the day of the event. There are all types of volunteer spots available: help set up, provide baked goods, and get to know vendors on the day of the event. Sign up to help here: Craft Show Volunteer Sign Up.
We only have spots for about 9 more vendors! If your favorite vendor hasn’t signed up yet, encourage them to do so ASAP! 2024 Craft Show Vendor Registration.
2. RENTAL ERG RETURN, SAT 10/26 Return your rented erg to the Woodson Rowing Erg Shed (back of school near senior parking) any time during a 8a-12p window. If you can, plan to stay for the Erg Shed Workday going on at the same time!
3. ONLY 6 GREEN DAYS LEFT! Including today’s Green Day, there are only 6 more opportunities to get some experience in the boats (or refresh your skills) until we officially go on-the-water in late February. Make sure you sign up for any and all days now! Green Days Sign Up Genius.
4. ARE YOU ON SLACK? 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 green days or optional strength training. 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.
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN WOODSON ROWING Before the season even kicks off, we have Green Days, optional strength training and winter conditioning. If you are interested in trying out Woodson Rowing, here’s what you need:
B. Complete Woodson Athletics Registration (this is separate from the rowing team registration that will come closer to the season start)
C. Pass a swim test with Woodson Rowing. If you are a new athlete and have not done a swim test, please reach out to [email protected] to be placed on a list for future swim tests. We will have another round of swim tests in the fall/winter before on-the-water practices begin in late February.
Still feeling unsure? Check out the 2024 Parent Info Session Slides to see what the season is all about. Please also check out the Novice Tips page crafted by parent, Cindy Tomlinson to learn more about what the first year looks like.
6. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/
We have many volunteer opportunities that are on the horizon. Please sign up for any and all opportunities you (and your athlete) are available for. They are a great way to get to know other families on the team and to help the team kick off the season! Don’t feel intimidated or worried about not knowing how to do things – there will be plenty of experienced folks there to guide you. Get out of your comfort zone and volunteer now!!
1. CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES – PLEASE SIGN UP NOW! A. 2 MORE FOOTBALL CONCESSIONS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, FRI 10/18 B. HELP VASRA REBUILD DOCKS, SAT 10/19 and SAT 10/26 C. EVERYONE IS NEEDED FOR TAG DAYS, SAT 10/26 and SAT 11/2 D. HELP MAKE THE 31st ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW A SUCCESS, SAT 11/9
2. RENTAL ERG RETURN, SAT 10/26
3. NO OPTIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING ON MON, OCT 14
4. REMINDER RE: GREEN DAYS
5. ARE YOU ON SLACK?
6. WHAT YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN WOODSON ROWING
7. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
WAIT – THERE’S MORE?
ACTION ITEMS Please sign up for any and all volunteer opportunities you can!
CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES – PLEASE SIGN UP NOW! Listed below are all the current volunteering needs we have, but all of our volunteering opportunities are always just a click away on our volunteering page. Visit and bookmark the site to stay up-to-date on how you can help the team!
A. 2 MORE FOOTBALL CONCESSIONS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, FRI 10/18 Big thank you to all the folks that have already signed up to work the concession stand at the Woodson Homecoming football game! We still have 2 spots in the 2nd shift (8:00-9:45 PM) available. This is a fun opportunity to get some volunteer credits early, meet some other parents on the team AND get to watch the game. Sign up here: Football Concessions Sign Up.
B. HELP VASRA REBUILD DOCKS, SAT 10/19 and SAT 10/26 VASRA has asked for help in rebuilding docks at Sandy Run! No experience necessary, but know that this is a labor intensive job. Wearing CLOSED-TOE, sturdy shoes is a MUST. Make sure you note your affiliation with Woodson when you sign up: VASRA Dock Work Days.
(Note: Tag Days should be the priority on Oct 26, but if you have multiple family members that want to help crank out most of your volunteer credits in one weekend – divide and conquer!)
C. EVERYONE IS NEEDED FOR TAG DAYS, SAT 10/26 and SAT 11/2 We are still in need of LOTS of athletes and parent drivers for both Tag Days. This is THE opportunity for novice athletes to spend the day with varsity athletes! Tag Days are the Woodson Rowing team’s most important fundraiser of the year. Please sign up here – we need all hands on deck to make this event work!! Stay tuned for more information as the dates get closer, but if you have general questions please see our Tag Days webpage for information.
D. HELP MAKE THE 31st ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW A SUCCESS, SAT 11/9 Our annual craft show is back! Mark your calendars now for Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 10a-4p. Set up for the event will begin Friday, November 8. In past years, we have had 100+ vendors and 2000+ shoppers!! We need lots of help to make this very popular regional show (that is also an important fundraiser for our team) a success. You can help set up, provide baked goods, and get to know vendors on the day of the event. Sign up to help here: Craft Show Volunteer Sign Up.
2. RENTAL ERG RETURN, SAT 10/26 Return your rented erg to the Woodson Rowing Erg Shed (back of school near senior parking) any time during a 8a-12p window. If you can, plan to stay for the Erg Shed Workday going on at the same time!
3. NO OPTIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING ON MON, OCT 14 There will NOT be optional strength training on Monday, October 14 because of the teacher workday. There WILL be a Green Day, however. So, plan to come to green days since you’ll have all day to catch up on school work. Sign up here: Green Days Sign Up
4. REMINDER RE: GREEN DAYS When in doubt about whether a Green Day is happening or not, you should first check the Sign Up Genius to see if the date is listed. If the date is listed but you’re concerned about cancellation, check the #general channel in Slack for any last minute changes.
NOVICES: you should come to ALL the green days you can for the rest of the month! You are not limited to attending on Mondays. The coaches prefer that a novice come to their FIRST green day on a Monday so that they can give them ample orientation time. After that, please attend any or all days you can to get more experience in a boat.
There WILL be Green Day on Monday, 10/14 since that is a teacher workday and not a holiday.
5. ARE YOU ON SLACK? 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 green days or optional strength training. 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. WHAT YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN WOODSON ROWING Before the season even kicks off, we have Green Days, optional strength training and winter conditioning. If you are interested in trying out Woodson Rowing, here’s what you need:
B. Complete Woodson Athletics Registration (this is separate from the rowing team registration that will come closer to the season start)
C. Pass a swim test with Woodson Rowing. If you are a new athlete and have not done a swim test, please reach out to [email protected] to be placed on a list for future swim tests. We will have another round of swim tests in the fall/winter before on-the-water practices begin in late February.
Still feeling unsure? Check out the 2024 Parent Info Session Slides to see what the season is all about. Please also check out the Novice Tips page crafted by parent, Cindy Tomlinson to learn more about what the first year looks like.
7. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/
CONGRATULATIONS to the athletes that passed the second swim test. Keep reading for more pre-season information and volunteer opportunities!
1. CLARITY ON GREEN DAYS
2. JOIN SLACK
3. WHAT YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN WOODSON ROWING
4. WE NEED YOUR HELP! A. 2 MORE FOOTBALL CONCESSIONS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, FRI 10/18 B. 3 SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR ERG SHED WORKDAY, SAT 10/26 C. SIGN UP NOW FOR TAG DAYS, SAT 10/26 and SAT 11/2 D. HELP MAKE THE 31st ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW A SUCCESS!
5. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
WAIT – THERE’S MORE?
ACTION ITEMS 1. Join our Slack Community 2. Review Volunteer Opportunities and Sign Up!
1. CLARITY ON GREEN DAYS When in doubt about whether a Green Day is happening or not, you should first check the Sign Up Genius to see if the date is listed. If the date is listed but you’re concerned about cancellation, check the #general channel in Slack for any last minute changes.
NOVICES: you should come to ALL the green days you can for the rest of the month! You are not limited to attending on Mondays. The coaches prefer that a novice come to their FIRST green day on a Monday so that they can give them ample orientation time. After that, please attend any or all days you can to get more experience in a boat.
There WILL be Green Day on Monday, 10/14 since that is a teacher workday and not a holiday.
2. JOIN SLACK 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 green days or optional strength training. 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.
3. WHAT YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN WOODSON ROWING Before the season even kicks off, we have Green Days, optional strength training and winter conditioning. If you (or a friend! Keep up the recruiting!!) are interested in trying out Woodson Rowing, here’s what you need:
B. Complete Woodson Athletics Registration (this is separate from the rowing team registration that will come closer to the season start)
C. Pass a swim test with Woodson Rowing. If you are a new athlete and have not done a swim test, please reach out to [email protected] to be placed on a list for future swim tests. We will have another round of swim tests in the fall/winter before on-the-water practices begin in late February.
Still feeling unsure? Check out the 2024 Parent Info Session Slides to see what the season is all about. Please also check out the Novice Tips page crafted by parent, Cindy Tomlinson to learn more about what the first year looks like.
4. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Listed below are all the current volunteering needs we have, but all of our volunteering opportunities are always just a click away on our volunteering page. Visit and bookmark the site to stay up-to-date on how you can help the team!
A. 2 MORE FOOTBALL CONCESSIONS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, FRI 10/18 Big thank you to all the folks that have already signed up to work the concession stand at the Woodson Homecoming football game! We still have 2 spots in the 2nd shift (8:00-9:45 PM) available. This is a fun opportunity to get some volunteer credits early, meet some other parents on the team AND get to watch the game. Sign up here: Football Concessions Sign Up.
B. 3 SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR ERG SHED WORKDAY, SAT 10/26 Yes – this is the same day as Tag Day. Athletes should plan to return their erg and then join Tag Days. Parents – if you’re not driving for Tag Day, please stick around to help with the erg shed workday. Many hands make light work for servicing these critical pieces of equipment!! Location will be the erg shed at the back of the school (near the senior parking lot). Erg Shed Workday Sign Up
C. SIGN UP NOW FOR TAG DAYS, SAT 10/26 and SAT 11/2 We are still in need of LOTS of athletes and parent drivers for both Tag Days. This is a great opportunity for novice athletes to spend the day with varsity athletes! Tag Days are the Woodson Rowing team’s most important fundraiser of the year. Please sign up here – we need all hands on deck to make this event work!! Stay tuned for more information as the dates get closer, but if you have general questions please see our Tag Days webpage for information.
D. HELP MAKE THE 31st ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW A SUCCESS! Our annual craft show is back! Mark your calendars now for Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 10a-4p. Set up for the event will begin Friday, November 8. In past years, we have had 100+ vendors and 2000+ shoppers!! We need lots of help to make this very popular regional show (that is also an important fundraiser for our team) a success. You can help set up, provide baked goods, and get to know vendors on the day of the event. Sign up to help here: Craft Show Volunteer Sign Up.
5. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/
OCTOBER:
Mon, 10/7: Strength Training at Woodson, 6:30a Green Days at Sandy Run, 4:45p
CONGRATULATIONS to the athletes that passed the first swim test last Saturday! As long as you have a physical on file with the Woodson Athletic Dept and have filled out the Woodson Athletics Registration, you can now participate in optional on-the-water sessions! Your first day attending should be a Monday so that you can receive an initial orientation. After that, come to any and as many days as your schedule allows. Go to our website to sign up and for more information: Green Days
1. SLACK – WHAT IS IT AND WHY DO I NEED IT?
2. ARE YOU GETTING THIS NEWSLETTER VIA E-MAIL?
3. NEXT SWIM TEST, SATURDAY 9/28
4. SLIDES FROM PARENT & ATHLETE INFO SESSION, TUES 9/24, 7:30p
5. VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES! A. LAST FALL VASRA WORKDAY, 9/28 B. FOOTBALL CONCESSIONS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, FRI 10/18 C. **DATE CHANGE & URGENT NEED** RENTAL ERG RETURN & WORKDAY, SAT 10/26 D. TAG DAYS, SAT 10/26 and SAT 11/2 E. 31st ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW, SAT 11/9
6. GREEN DAYS & OPTIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING ARE ONGOING
7. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
WAIT – THERE’S MORE?
ACTION ITEMS 1. Join our Slack Community 2. Review Volunteer Opportunities and Sign Up!
1. SLACK – WHAT IS IT AND WHY DO I NEED IT? If you recently received an invitation to join Slack – DO NOT DELETE IT. It’s legit! If you attended the parent/athlete information meeting on Tuesday 9/24, you should have an invite waiting for you already. Please check your spam folder. If there is nothing there, reach out to our communications team to learn more or to receive an invitation link.
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 green days or optional strength training. 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.
2. ARE YOU GETTING THIS NEWSLETTER VIA E-MAIL? If you’re getting this newsletter via email, then just skip to the next item! If you are not getting this email, there are 2 possible problems: (1) your email address is not associated with a Google account. Since we use Google Groups to manage the distribution of this newsletter, users MUST have their email associated with a Google Account. (2) your Google Group Subscription settings have email turned off
Either problem is easily remedied. Please see this Google Support page to get started. If you continue to have problems, reach out to [email protected].
3. NEXT SWIM TEST, SATURDAY 9/28 If you are interested in trying out Woodson Rowing, please set aside 11a-12p on Saturday,9/28 to come take a swim test. This test is only required for new recruits – if you have previously taken a swim test with Woodson Rowing, you are not required to do so again. The swim test will begin promptly at 11a at Audrey Moore Rec Center, 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale, VA.
NOTE: We need a parent volunteer to help with logistics!! If you haven’t yet, let us know you’re coming by signing up here: Swim Test Sign Up.
If you are a new athlete and were/are NOT able to make last week’s swim test or the one this Saturday, please reach out to [email protected] to be placed on a list for future swim tests. We will have another round of swim tests in the fall before on-the-water practices begin.
4. SLIDES FROM PARENT & ATHLETE INFO SESSION, TUES 9/24, 7:30p Thank you to all who were able to come by the Parent & Athlete information session on Tuesday! If you weren’t able to make it or just want a refresher, you can find the slide deck here: 2024 Parent Info Session Slides.
Also, a new addition to our website is the Novice Tips page crafted by parent, Cindy Tomlinson. If you’re curious about the experience of a first time parent on Woodson Rowing, check it out!
5. VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES! As was discussed in the parent information meeting, here a a recap of the volunteer requirements for the 2024-2025 season:
Rest assured that the vast majority of families meet or exceed their volunteer commitments. Should you have questions or concerns about your ability to meet the volunteer requirements, reach out to Lisa Veigel, our Volunteer Coordinator. But also remember that there are many ways to earn your credits. Most volunteer responsibilities require NO prior experience or information. Volunteering helps the team to run efficiently and effectively AND is a great way to get to know each other.
Listed below are all the current volunteering needs we have, but all of our volunteering opportunities are always just a click away on our website. Visit and bookmark our volunteering page to stay up-to-date on how you can help the team!
A. LAST FALL VASRA WORKDAY, 9/28 Slots are still available for 9/21 and 9/28. We’ve only had 2 families show up so far and each school is expected to send one volunteer for each clean up day; e.g. 4 or more Woodson volunteers total. No experience necessary. Most of the activities are messy and dirty. Dress in your worst gardening gear, but make sure to have fully covered shoes, not flip flops. Make sure you note your affiliation with Woodson when you sign up: VASRA Work Days Sign Up
B. FOOTBALL CONCESSIONS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, FRI 10/18 Every team at Woodson is responsible for working the concession stand at a Woodson Football game. Woodson Rowing has been assigned to staff concessions for the homecoming football game on Fri., October 18. There are two shifts – 6:15-8:00 and 8:00-9:45 PM. We need 9 volunteers for each shift. This is a fun opportunity to get some volunteer credits early AND get to watch the game. Sign up here: Football Concessions Sign Up.
C. **DATE CHANGE & URGENT NEED** RENTAL ERG RETURN & WORKDAY, SAT 10/26 Erg rental return will take place on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 8a-12p. Yes – this is the same day as Tag Day. Athletes should plan to return their erg and then join Tag Days. Parents – if you’re not driving for Tag Day, please stick around to help with the erg shed workday. Many hands make light work for servicing these critical pieces of equipment!! Location will be the erg shed at the back of the school (near the senior parking lot).Erg Shed Workday Sign Up
D. TAG DAYS, SAT 10/26 and SAT 11/2 Tag Days are the Woodson Rowing team’s most important fundraiser of the year. The dates for Tag Days are set in conjunction with all of the teams/clubs at Woodson. For this season, Woodson Rowing has been assigned Saturday, October 26 and Saturday, November 2 as our authorized Tag Days. Please sign up here – we need all hands on deck to make this event work!! Stay tuned for more information as the dates get closer, but if you have general questions please see our Tag Days webpage for information.
E. 31st ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW, SAT 11/9 Our annual craft show is back! Mark your calendars now for Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 10a-4p. Set up for the event will begin Friday, November 8 and we will need all hands on deck to make it a success! Helping out at set-up, the day of, and SHOPPING are all ways to help out this large fundraiser for our team. Sign up to help here: Craft Show Volunteer Sign Up.
We are always looking for new and returning VENDORS for the Craft Show! Please contact any artisans/crafters/makers in your life and let them know you’d love to see their wares on site at Woodson. Vendors can register here: 2024 Craft Show Vendor Registration.
6. GREEN DAYS & OPTIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING ARE ONGOING All athletes MUST have a physical on file with the Woodson Athletic Dept and have filled out the Woodson Athletics Registration in order to participate in training with Woodson Rowing. In addition, athletes must have completed a swim test to participate in Green Days. Visit our website for more information. Note: There is no Green Day on Thursday, October 3 because of the school holiday.
7. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/
