GOOD LUCK to our athletes participating in ErgSprints this weekend! Keep your eye on social media for updates on how our athletes fare. Links to all of the team social media accounts are at the bottom of this newsletter. Please see the Action Items for the Week below to get involved!

1. *NEW* REGISTER BY 2/5
2. PRACTICE BUS – INDICATE INTEREST BY 2/9
3. *NEW* VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
4. GAMBINO’S KING CAKE FUNDRAISER
5. ATHLETE SWIM TEST, SAT., FEB 10
6. *SAVE THE DATE* ON-THE-WATER MEETING, THU., FEB 15
7.  *SAVE THE DATE* PARENT SOCIAL – SAT., MARCH 2, 6-9p
8. HELP US BUILD A SUCCESSFUL TEAM
9. AT-A-GLANCE AND OTHER LINKS

ACTION ITEMS FOR THIS WEEK

• REGISTER NLT 2/5/2024 (1)
• Sign up NLT 2/9/2024 if you are interested in riding a bus to practice (2)
• Looking for a Carpool Coordinator. See (3) below.

1. *NEW* REGISTER BY 2/5

If you haven’t registered yet, please do so by FEBRUARY 5, 2024. Register here: https://woodsonrowing.org/registration/.

Why the deadline? We use this information to order t-shirts for the athletes for picture day and to register the athletes with US Rowing. Questions? Reach out to the membership team at [email protected]. 

 2. PRACTICE BUS – INDICATE INTEREST BY 2/9

The Board is in the process of determining whether a practice bus will be cost effective this year. As some of you may know, last year there was not enough interes to make the cost viable, so athletes and parents formed carpools to travel to Sandy Run for practices.

In order to provide a bus service, we must sign up a minimum number of riders. If we don’t reach a minimum number of riders we will revert to using carpools. The cost per rider is determined based on sign ups and if we don’t reach 45 riders, we must re-evaluate. While the cost has not been locked in, based on discussions with the providers, projected costs as are follows: 

• 45 riders, each rider pays approximately $733.
• 50 riders, each rider pays approximately $660.
• 55 riders, each rider pays approximately $600

As always, this is not a fundraiser for the team. The bus fee is directly based on the bus cost. The practice bus will run Mondays-Thursdays, departing directly from Woodson at 3:30 PM and returning to Woodson around 7 PM. Families are responsible for transporting athletes on Fridays and Saturdays. The practice bus also would not run on early dismissal days or school holidays. 

Sign up for the practice bus here. Intent to use the bus must be indicated NLT Friday, 2/9/2024. Payment is not required at this time. If it is determined that a bus is cost effective, we will be in touch with those who sign up to coordinate payment. Please also note that parent chaperones are REQUIRED for the practice bus as each trip to and from the river MUST have a chaperone.  Parents of athletes who will be riding the practice bus will need to sign up to chaperone at least one day. Should it be cost effective to run a practice bus, a sign up genius will be made available for planning and coordinating chaperone duties.

3. *NEW* VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

As is always the case, the need for volunteers is only going to increase as we head into on-the-water and competition season. Satisfying your volunteer requirements early in the season gives you more flexibility as the season progresses. There are also opportunities to loan the team your skills for the season. Check out the Volunteering webpage or see below for our current needs.

• *CRITICAL NEED* TRANSPORTATION/CARPOOL COORDINATOR NEEDED: We are looking for someone to fulfill the role of Transportation/Carpool Coordinator. This role will be responsible for either coordinating the practice bus chaperone schedule OR helping to facilitate carpools for on-the-water practice. Please contact Bill at [email protected] if you can step into this role!

• VASRA PRE-SEASON WORKDAYS: As part of our participation in the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA), our team is required to help with VASRA clean up days at Sandy Run. We need at least one person (parent/guardian OR athlete) to work a shift on 3/2 (all the other days we’ve satisfied our minimum requirement – but many hands make light work, so if you’re available sign up!!). Use this Sign up Genius and don’t forget to indicate that you are representing the Woodson Rowing team. Note: Athletes are encouraged to sign up for these workdays. You will receive school volunteering credits for participating!

• VASRA LOC POSITIONS: Woodson Rowing is required to fill two Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA) Local Organizing Committee (LOC) positions for this season, one Dockmaster position and one River Rat position. LOC members are part of the Regatta staff and work the same job for the entire day for every regatta and train the weekly volunteers who assist them on how to perform their duties. No prior experience is required and training will be provided. More details on our website under VASRA Volunteering. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Michael Chase, our VASRA Rep, at [email protected].

• WOODSON ROWING BOATHOUSE WORKDAY: Our next Boathouse workday will be on Saturday, February 10 from 9-11a. Help the coaches get everything ready for on-the-water practice and the beginning of the season! Sign Up Here.

• SEEKING AWAY REGATTA COORDINATORS: We are in the search for parents or guardians who are willing to help us coordinate various away regattas throughout the season. Think carpooling, onsite coordination, etc. Please see the Volunteer webpage for more info or contact [email protected].

4. GAMBINO’S KING CAKE FUNDRAISER 

5. ATHLETE SWIM TEST, SAT., FEB 10

The next swim test is scheduled for Saturday, February 10, 10:00-11:00a. If you are a new rower or coxswain and have not yet done a swim test, you are REQUIRED to pass a swim test certified by Woodson Rowing prior to participating in on-the-water practices. Passage of this test is required only once. If you have completed a swim test in prior seasons, you don’t need to do it again.

Swim Tests are held at Audrey Moore Rec Center, 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale, VA.  This Sign-Up Genius has all the info you will need to succeed.

6. *SAVE THE DATE* ON-THE-WATER MEETING, THU., FEB 15

The Board will host an on-the-water meeting for parents and athletes on Thursday, February 15 at 7:30p (location TBD – mostly likely Woodson Cafeteria). Join us to learn what to expect once the competitive regatta season starts. We will share important information for novice and returning parents alike. Athletes are welcome to attend. Board representatives and coaches will be on hand to answer questions. If you cannot attend, we will share a link to the slides following the meeting.

7.  *SAVE THE DATE* PARENT SOCIAL – SAT., MARCH 2, 6-9p

We hope you can join us at a Parent/Guardian Social on Saturday, March 2 at the home of Maz and Fredy Chinoy from 6-9p. This is an opportunity to get to know other parents,  meet some coaches and members of the board and learn more about the sport and season. This gathering is a potluck! Please RSVP and bring something to share. Wine will be provided by our hosts, but feel free to bring any other beverage of choice. The RSVP Sign Up Genius lists the location and directions, so make sure you check it out!

8. HELP US BUILD A SUCCESSFUL TEAM

Unfortunately there has been a short-fall in our fundraising to date. As a result, we are looking to get creative about ways to fund the team. One of the ways you can help is to identify people or companies who might be willing to sponsor our team. The good news: all you need to do is pass on contact information to our Fundraising Team. They will take care of making the calls and doing the asking. All upside, with little-to-no downside! Send your sponsor suggestions to [email protected].

9. AT-A-GLANCE AND OTHER LINKS

FEBRUARY

• Registration for the season continues.
• Sat. 2/3: ErgSprints
• Sat. 2/10: Swim test, 10-11a
• Sat. 2/10: Boathouse Workday, 9-11a
• Thu. 2/15: on-the-water parent meeting, in-person, 7:30p
• Fri. 2/16: Last day of winter conditioning
• Sat. 2/17: VASRA Pre-Season Workday #1. Sign up here.
• 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. (M-F: 4-6:30p; Sa: 8:30-10:30a)
• Tue. 2/20: Virtual Tag Day! Info to follow.
• Thu. 2/22: Mamma Lucia restaurant fundraiser, 11a-8p
• Sat. 2/24: VASRA Pre-Season Workday #2. Sign up here.
• Thu 2/29: Team picture day. 3:05p, Woodson Aux Gym.

MARCH – Racing season begins! 2024 Racing Schedule

• Sat. 3/2: Launch Boat Driver Training, 11a-1p.
• Sat. 3/2: VASRA Pre-Season Workday #3. Sign up here.
• Sat. 3/2: Parent/Guardian Social, 6-9p. RSVP.
• Thu. 3/7: Deadline for novice athlete refunds
• Sat. 3/9: VASRA Pre-Season Workday #4. Sign up here.
• Wed. 3/13: Chipotle restaurant fundraiser, 4-8p
• 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
• Wed. 4/24: Panera restaurant fundraiser, 4-8p
• 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.)

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STAY IN THE KNOW!

NEWSLETTER: Join the newsletter or Slack by sending an email to [email protected].

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP/FUNDRAISING:  Visit the Donors page on the website or contact our fundraising team at [email protected].

VOLUNTEER: Visit our  Volunteer Webpage to find out our current needs.

REMINISCE: Current season, previous season or upload your own! Find out all you need to know about Woodson Rowing photos and videos.

SHOP AND BENEFIT THE TEAM:
Spirit wear and more!

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