Posted on by VP Communications

October 11, 2024 Newsletter

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! 

  1. 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.

        We are always looking for new and returning VENDORS for the Craft Show! Vendors can register here: 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. 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:

        A. Have a physical on file with the Woodson Athletic Dept

        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/

          OCTOBER:

          • Mon, 10/14: Green Days at Sandy Run, 4:45p
          • Tue, 10/15: Green Days at Sandy Run, 4:45p
          • Wed, 10/16: Optional Strength Training at Woodson, 6:30a
          • Thu, 10/17: Green Days at Sandy Run, 4:45p
          • Fri, 10/18: Football concessions
          • Sat, 10/19: VASRA Dock Work day
          • Mon, 10/21: Optional Strength Training at Woodson, 6:30a
                    Green Days at Sandy Run, 4:45p
          • Tue, 10/22: Green Days at Sandy Run, 4:45p
          • Wed, 10/23: Optional Strength Training at Woodson, 6:30a
          • Thu, 10/24: Green Days at Sandy Run, 4:45p
          • Fri, 10/25: Kokee Tea fundraiser, 3-7p
          • Sat, 10/26: Erg Shed Work Day and return rented ergs, 8a-12p
          • Sat, 10/26: First Tag Day, 8:45a – 4p
          • Sat, 10/26:  VASRA Dock Work day
          • Mon, 10/28: Optional Strength Training at Woodson, 6:30a
                    Green Days at Sandy Run, 4:45p
          • Tue, 10/29: Wendy’s restaurant fundraiser, all day long!
                  Last Green Day, 4:45p
          • Wed, 10/30: Optional Strength Training at Woodson, 6:30a

          NOVEMBER:

          • Sat, 11/2: 2nd Tag Day, 8:45a – 4p
          • Wed, 11/6: Optional Strength Training at Woodson, 6:30a
          • Fri, 11/8: Set up for the craft show, Sign up to help
          • Sat, 11/9: 31st Annual Craft Show, 10a-4p, Sign up to help
          • Wed, 11/13: Optional Strength Training at Woodson, 6:30a
          • Mon, 11/18: Optional Strength Training at Woodson, 6:30a
          • Wed, 11/20: Optional Strength Training at Woodson, 6:30a
          • Mon, 11/25: Optional Strength Training at Woodson, 6:30a

          DECEMBER:

          • Mon, 12/2: Winter Conditioning Begins
          • 12/23-1/3/25: Winter break. Tentative optional training during the week of 12/30-⅓.

          JANUARY 2025:

          FEBRUARY:

          MARCH:

          • Sat, 3/22: Polar Bear Regatta (Varsity Only), Sandy Run

          WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

          RECRUITMENT:

          Direct interested athletes and their parents to our interest form or have them send an email to our membership team at: [email protected].

          STAY UP TO DATE: Join the newsletter by sending an email to [email protected] or view the newsletter archives on our website.

          INTERESTED IN SPONSORING WOODSON ROWING?

          Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

          Can’t sponsor but want to donate?Check out our Donors page for instructions and information on how your donations benefit our team!

          NEED SWAG?

          There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!

          VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

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