Madison Crew:

The Ultimate Team Sport

http://www.warhawkcrew.org/ JMCBO, P.O. Box 1657, Vienna, VA 22183

1

Madison Crew Club 2010

Madison Crew at Sandy Run Park

2

Agenda

• Introductions• Madison Crew Communications• Spring Water Practices• 2011 Regattas• Crew Costs and Fundraising• Volunteer Requirements• Q&A and Break-out Sessions• Boat-naming Contest

3

Introductions

• Madison Crew / JMCBO Board– President – Ron Marx– Executive Vice President – Howard Springsteen– Vice President for Operations – Sue Colwell– Treasurer – Phil Mottola– Secretary – Michael Peterson– Membership Committee Chair – Cindy Lawless– Volunteer Committee Chair – Karen Fowkes– Hospitality Committee Chair – Debbie Wascom– Ways & Means Committee Chair – Marty Cammiso– Communications Committee Chair – Anne Driscoll– Personnel Chair / Crew Council Chair – Sonya Kedzie– Immediate Past President – Marina Lyn Beckhard– At Large Members: Cheryl Billingsley .

Nancy Holliday . Mike Hurst . Janet Weiner

4

Madison Crew Council

• Crew Council is the forum for parents’ issues & complaints– Ombudsman for students, parents / guardians, Board, & coaches– 5 parents investigate facts and make recommendations to Board– Led by the Personnel Committee Chair, Sonya Kedzie

• Email address: skwon@aol.com • Members: Cheryl Billingsley

. Ron Marx . Pat Ritter . Harvey Weiner

5

Introductions

• Head Coach: Paul Allbright– 4th year with Madison Crew– 2nd year as our Head Coach / Women’s Varsity– Assistant Coaches

• Charlotte Morris (3rd year with Madison) – Women’s Varsity• Robert Russel (2nd year with Madison) – Men’s Varsity• Jameson O’Brien (3rd year with Madison) – Men’s Novice & Varsity• Anne FitzSimons (2nd year with Madison, former Madison HS cox) –

Women’s Novice• Beth Ellis (new, currently on GMU crew team) – Women’s Novice• John Findley (new) – Men’s Novice

• Madison Crew Team Captains– Dalton Conaway (Senior)– Jessica Melton (Senior)– Will Whitfield (Junior)– Genny Lawless (Junior) 6

Mission Statement• Madison Crew enables student athletes to

– Learn teamwork, aquatic, and rowing skills– Attain top physical condition– Feel the thrills of competition and winning– Enjoy socializing with classmates and other students– Broaden their experiences via travel to away regattas

• James Madison Crew Boosters Organization (JMCBO) is a non-profit organization that exists– To provide the resources for Madison Crew, a club sport

• As a club sport, the team is entirely supported (financially and with volunteer work) by the parents / guardians

– To protect student athletes from all dangers– To ensure the smooth operation of Madison Crew and its

eligibility to compete in VA and national regattas

7

Changes Since 2009-10 Season• Team size grew from 55 to 74 student athletes• Grew our fleet of racing shells

– Bought 1 new Vespoli V1 8 (top of the line racing shell)– Paid for 1 newer 8 and 1 newer 4 leased / raced last year– Bought 2 older Vespoli Millennium 8s (varsity shells)– Sold 1 old Vespoli shell (not used last season)

• Completely refurbished our boat trailer• Bought 16 new adjustable Concept 2 sweep oars• Repairing and painting all 5 coaches’ launches• Bought 2 new cox boxes• Bought a used hospitality / utility trailer for away regattas• Held first-ever Erg Relays / Chili Cook-off fundraiser• Grew our menu of Madison Crew spirit wear and placed our

largest order ever• Launched new / re-designed website at the same URL 8

Madison Crew Communications

• Communications Team: jmhscrew@gmail.com

Anne Driscoll, Eileen Doughty, Chris Voigt

• Team website: www.warhawkcrew.org– Your One Stop Shop for JMHS Crew Information!

• News• Calendar• Coaches’ contact information and profiles• Board minutes and contact information• Forms• Photos

9

Madison Crew Communications

• Why register on www.warhawkcrew.org ?• Access to Members-Only portion of website

– Team rosters with contact information– Coaches and Board Contacts

• Email: jmhscrew@gmail.com – Emails are generated from the website registration

Parents and rowers should register on the website to ensure you are

receiving all targeted information10

Water Practice Policies

• Pre-season conditioning through 19 February at JMHS• Practice Policy

– Mandatory practices Mondays – Saturdays on / after 21 February– Crew is a team sport: if a rower / cox doesn’t show up as planned, this

impacts practice for up to nine students and a coach– Coordinate planned / excused absences beforehand with Coach

Allbright and your assistant coach (as applicable)

• Rowing Time Policy– Varsity: Goal is to get everyone on the water every day – Novices: Same goal, but may sometimes observe from a coach’s launch

or exercise on land part of the day• Goal is at least 3 days / per week in February / March and at least 2 days per week in

April / May• Each day missed by a rower counts as one day towards his / her minimum weekly

water time goal

11

Transportation to Practices• Daily water practices at Sandy Run starting 21 Feb

– VASRA & NVRPA have zero tolerance policy for profanity– Inclement weather plan: practice at Madison HS– Communications disseminates notices of changes / cancellations

• Bus transportation provided by JMCBO Mondays - Fridays– Two buses depart Madison at 2:45 p.m. Mondays - Fridays– One bus will be shared with Oakton HS – loading there first then loading at

Madison at 2:45 p.m.– Buses depart Sandy Run at 6:00-6:15 p.m. (arrive Madison only at approx

6:45-7:00 p.m.) – suggest students call parents enroute– Bus driver guidance: Carol Topp

• Practices continue on Saturdays 8-11 a.m. Sandy Run– No buses (students / families provide transportation)

• Practices continue daily over Spring Break (18-22 April)– Spring Break practice schedules TBD based on coach availability– No buses (students / families provide transportation)

• Drive slowly at/near Sandy Run (speed limits enforced)

12

Lightweights Overview

• Lightweight rowing class allows for smaller rowers to compete against similar-sized rowers

• Madison may or may not field lightweight boats for each regatta depending on numbers, etc.

• Lightweight rowers must arrive early to regattas in which they will row as lightweights

• Lightweight rowing heats and finals are typically later in the day than other varsity heats and finals at Sandy Run

• Weekly weigh-ins are required for any rower who participates as a light weight rower in a regatta– Rower must weigh-in weekly or he / she is not eligible

• Lightweight rowers are not encouraged to lose weight or diet and should not diet beyond elimination of unhealthy foods

13

Lightweight Weigh-ins

• VASRA weigh-ins for lightweights begin 12 Feb– Determines who can safely meet lightweight requirements by the

beginning of the regatta season– Men – 155 lbs or less, no less than 7% body fat

• This is a change from last year, to align with US Rowing & SRAA

– Women – 130 lbs or less, no less than 12% body fat– For more info, please visit

http://www.fcps.edu/supt/activities/atp/CREW/crew108home2.htm

• If you do not want your student to participate in the lightweight category, please email Coach Allbright at paul.allbright@gmail.com

14

2011 Regattas• Regatta Waivers

– VASRA requires that they have a liability waiver in hand from every rower / cox that will be participating in any VASRA regatta

– Waivers must be completed by one parent (or the rower / cox if 18 years old) for the calendar year (since 1 Jan 11)

– Waivers must be completed online via Ronin Racing (http://www.signyourwaiver.com)

– Enter POC Paul Allbright at email address paul.allbright@gmail.com

• Regatta Days– Arrive early to minimize delays due to parking and walking

• Can be more than a mile hike to finish line• Parking at Sandy Run is $10• Park shuttle van service to finish line is $2 each way

– Bring stadium cushion/chair, sunscreen, raingear, binoculars, etc. – VASRA & NVRPA zero tolerance policy for profanity at Sandy Run– No dogs or other pets 15

JMCBO Shuttle Bus

• Operates during Saturday regattas at the Occoquan– Bus costs are shared among Madison, Langley, and Oakton clubs– Shuttle from Silverbrook ES (on Crosspoint Rd) on regatta days

• Shuttle departs the ES on the 15s and 45s• Approximate departure times from Sandy Run are on the hours and the 30s• For some regattas, a second shuttle will operate on the hour and 30s from

Silverbrook ES• No shuttle bus on 30 April (we will be at the Potomac River)

– Please look for updates in your regatta email– Start time for the shuttle and the time for the driver break will be set

based on the race schedule• How to use the shuttle

– Drop off rowers / family at Sandy Run, park at Silverbrook ES, and take shuttle bus to Sandy Run

– Drop offs pay the $10, but then get it back when driver leaves• Tell parking attendant you’re a "drop off“ to get a time slip. You have 30 minutes to

drop off and exit Sandy Run, stopping at same parking attendant to get refund– Plan to catch the shuttle bus at least 90 minutes before race time

16

2011 Regattas

26 March – Polar Bear Regatta at Occoquan (varsity only) 2 April – Regatta at Occoquan (varsity & novices) 9 April – Regatta at Occoquan (varsity & novices)16 April – Regatta at Occoquan (varsity & novices)

18-22 April – Spring Break practices

23 April – Regatta at Occoquan (varsity & novices)24 April – Easter

30 April – Charlie Butt Regatta at Potomac River (v & n) 7 May – VA State Championships (novices only)14 May – VA State Championships (varsity only)19-21 May – Stotesbury Cup at Philadelphia (v & n)26-28 May – SRAA National Championships

At Camden NJ; qualifying boats only

For more information, please see the VASRA website: http://www.vasra.org/ 17

Stotesbury Cup Regatta19-21 May 2011

Schuylkill River, Philadelphia PA

• POC’s: Karen Sampson, ksamvienna@aol.com . Patricia Waters-Heflin, patricia.g.watersheflin@nga.mil

• Summary– Excused absence from school– Take as many students as can row, plus a few alternates– Trip fee – costs are in addition to dues – approx. $250 + $75 meals /

spending– Rowers / coaches / volunteers / chaperones have rooms reserved by

the team– Families interested in attending should make reservations now– Team hotel: Holiday Inn, Historic District– Return (approximate): early evening, Saturday May 21

18

SRAA National Championships26-28 May 2011

19

Madison Crew Costs• Dues: $950 for rowers / $750 for coxes

• Includes shuttle bus costs and VASRA capital fund assessment• $200 discount for 2nd and 3rd sibling rowers (doesn’t apply to coxes)• The base dues rates have been the same for several years

– 14 February – Final payment ($400 / $200 for coxes & siblings) dueALL DUES MUST BE PAID TO BOARD BUS FOR PRACTICES AT SANDY RUN

• Dues refund policy– The first dues payment is not refundable for any reason– Second & final dues payments are fully refundable if requested in

writing to the Treasurer within 30 days of the due date• 2nd payment refund date: today; Final payment refund date: 16 March

• Travel (optional) – additional cost per trip for bus, hotel room, food, and security– Stotesbury Cup in Philadelphia PA (all boats)

• In 2010, all boats and the entire team traveled to Stotesbury Cup– SRAA National Championships in Camden NJ (qualifying boats)

• In 2010, Madison took most (not all) of our boats to SRAA Nationals20

Madison Crew Fundraising• Fundraising: $600 minimum per rower / cox

– Raffle # 1 ended 8 November– Raffle # 2 ended 16 January– Erg Relays held 21 January– Mulch sales began 2 February thru 13 March, with home delivery 26-27 March

– Others: Fosters’ Grille, car washes, Let’s Dish, corporate donations

• Fundraising deadlines:– $380 – March 25th (the day before the first regatta)MUST MEET THIS DEADLINE BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN ANY REGATTA– $600 – April 17th

MUST COMPLETE FUNDRAISING COMMITMENT TO GO TO PHILADELPHIA21

Boat-Naming Contest• Five Madison Crew boats need to be named

– 1 new Vespoli 8 and 1 newer Vespoli 8 (V2)– 1 newer Vespoli 4 (Lease) and 2 older Vespoli Millennium 8s

• Students submitted 69 names– Students who submitted winning names earn $100 credit towards

their fundraising commitments• No cash value; Not transferable to anyone else

– The JMCBO Board and Head Coach selected 14 finalists

• Contest rules– Contribute in any amount ($1 / vote) by check (payable to JMCBO)

in the box (please put boat name in the ‘memo’ section of check)– Contributions do not count towards dues or fundraising commitments– The five names with the most votes by 9 pm tonight win!

• Phil Mottola (JMCBO Treasurer) counts votes – final decision• Head Coach Paul Allbright matches names to shells 22

Madison Crew Volunteer Requirements

• Parents / Guardians– One day of bus chaperoning (round-trip) during Spring practice

(Feb-May) • Bus leaves Madison HS @ 2:45pm and returns to Madison HS by 7:00pm

– Two regatta jobs at Sandy Run• VASRA fines JMCBO $50 for any job that is a ‘no show’

– Participation in one JMCBO committee / job• Committees include Hospitality, Operations, & Fundraising

– Participation in “All Hands” events such as Sandy Run Work Days on 12 & 19 February and Mulch Delivery on 26-27 March

• One parent from each girl’s family on 12 Feb only at 9 am–noon at Sandy Run• One parent from each boy’s family on 19 Feb only at 9 am-noon at Sandy Run

• Students– Sandy Run Work Days & Mulch Delivery, Clean up at Regatta Site

• All rowers / coxes required 9 am-noon for both Sandy Run Work Days23

Madison Crew Volunteer Requirements

• Volunteer Committee Chair– Karen Fowkes, madisoncrewvolunteers@gmail.com

• Sign-ups for most VASRA and JMCBO volunteer jobs available via MySignUp.com beginning 12 Feb

• Specialty Skills Needed from Some Volunteers– Truck drivers needed for our boat trailer

• Prefer someone with a large heavy-duty / dually truck

• Training planned this Spring (date TBD)

– Boat drivers needed for launches during regattas• Training planned this Spring (date TBD)

• Launches are small metal fishing boats with an outboard engine <10 hp

– Volunteers needed that are interested in becoming referees for regattas in future years

• Would observe regattas this year, shadowing an experienced referee

• VASRA referee clinic is scheduled for 5 March in Merrifield VA

– Operations support, including rigging and repair of shells24

Schedule of Coming Events

• 12 February – Pre-season work day at Sandy Run• 14 February – Final dues payment ($400) is due• 19 February – Cox training is 8:30 am – 1 pm at TJ HS

– Mandatory for all novice coxes, Optional for varsity coxes

• 19 February – Pre-season work day at Sandy Run• 21 February – Spring season practices begin - Sandy Run• 26 February – Team photo in spirit wear at Sandy Run• 5 March – VASRA / US Rowing referee clinic – Merrifield• 25 March – Initial fundraising deadline ($380)• 26 March – Polar Bear regatta (varsity only) – Sandy Run• 26-27 March – Mulch home delivery• 17 April – Final fundraising deadline ($600 25

Conclusion• Questions & Answers• Break-out Sessions

– Session 1: Coaches meet with parents and athletes• 4 groups: mens’ and womens’; novices and varsity

– Session 2:

All Rowers/coxes watch water safety video while

Parents / guardians learn about volunteer jobs• Pay dues and fundraising to Phil Mottola• Complete paperwork with Cindy Lawless• Order spirit wear from Penny Gibson

• Boat-naming contest

26