President’s note
Dear Capital,
Thank you to all of you who responded with enthusiasm to help the Adaptive program. Either through establishing contacts or volunteering, you have helped to sustain this program. It proves that CRC can be a force when we put our minds and efforts into it. I hope you will continue to support Adaptive rowing as well as many other CRC programs, such as Capital Juniors and Learn-to-Row. Your support will allow CRC to continue to provide quality rowing programs at minimal cost to the participants.
Starting soon, we will kick off several fundraising events for general equipment improvements to help CRC maintain and update our fleets of boats. I hope to count on all of your support.
Congratulations to the Juniors on finishing strong and posting some very competitive times at the recent regattas. Way to end the season on a good note! Congratulations and a warm welcome to the recent graduates of Learn-to-Row program. If you see any of these “novices,” please show them some CRC love.
Finally, good luck to all of you on the upcoming sprint racing season!
Regards,
Nhat Nguyen
President
Novice sculling kicks off!
Capital is offering a session of Novice Sculling/Learn to Scull starting on June 19. Novice classes are twelve 2-hour sessions. Each class will consist of approximately six novice scullers. The class begins with work in doubles and recreational singles, learning technique and getting comfortable with handling two oars. Moving into singles is based on the coach’s discretion. The classes focus on safety, boat handling skills, and learning basic sculling technique.
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis with priority for current Capital members, and some prior sweep or limited sculling experience is required. Capital may offer a second session in the fall depending on the level of interest. The schedule for the sessions can be found here.
Questions? Contact Membership@CapitalRowing.org
Coach Spotlight: Bob Reichart, Novice Sculling & Club Sculling
Which programs do you coach at Capital?
I coach the Monday/Wednesday/Sunday session of Club Sculling. The sculling program added this second session of club sculling to meet the growing demand for a coached program with access to club singles and doubles. I also coach Novice Sculling (starting June 19) and have given a few private sculling lessons.
My goal is to give folks a safe platform to row and have fun while improving their rowing – because rowing well is both fast and very satisfying. I try to combine reading and visualization (video) with on-the-water drills, observation and feedback, and rowing to help scullers work towards that elusive perfect stroke!
What are you looking forward to this year as a Capital coach?
Seeing our Capital scullers grow and improve – it has been really cool to see my novice scullers from last year significantly improve this spring!
Where did your rowing career begin?
I started rowing at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, where I rowed on the Freshman Lightweight boat in 1981 and then varsity for the next three years. I was drawn in by a life-long love of the water (I come from a sailing family) – and the incredibly positive experience that my brother-in-law, Harry Graves, had rowing at Trinity. His boat set a course record in the Ladies Challenge Plate at Henley in ’78 that stood for many years.
I didn’t get to Henley – rowed in lots of fast boats and collected many betting shirts and Dad Vail medals. I also spent a college summer rowing at the Minneapolis Rowing Club, where I first learned to scull. My family has kept me drawn in… we have a Virtual Rowing team that competes well in the C2 January Virtual Challenge each year, and I have 4 nephews who have competed for the US at the international level – sculling and sweep.
How did you first get involved with Capital?
My wife, Anne Diggs, and I were searching for a place to row when we returned to DC from Hawaii in 2012. We fortunately found Capital, which was very convenient to the Navy Yard where I was working.
What is it about Capital that encourages you to return each year?
The great people and great friends! Oh – and the opportunity to row in Narnia (aka Upstream on the Anacostia).
Share a favorite Capital moment.
Winning the Mixed Quad at the Cap Sprints last year in a throw-together boat with Anne, Kate Bonner, and Larry Caruso. Truth be told – our competition failed to show up – but we had a blast anyway!
Where did you grow up and, if you aren’t from DC, what brought you here?
I grew up outside of New York City, in Switzerland, and in Mystic, CT. The Navy brought me to Washington in 1989… this is the 3rd time Anne and I have been stationed here.
When you’re not coaching, what’s your day job?
Up until recently, I was a US Navy Supply Officer. My last job was as the senior logistician at Naval Sea Systems Command on the Navy Yard. I “retired” from the Navy in February – and I’m currently considering other options!
If you could listen to just one song or album while you rowed, what would it be?
On the erg (and I’m on the erg a LOT in the winter) – I’m all about whatever classic rock is pumping on 100.3. On the water – I’m listening to the boat and the water!
If you could give Capital rowers a piece of advice, what would it be?
Keep at it! Rowing is an amazing lifetime sport!
Safety Tip
As the weather warms up, we’ll (hopefully) see lots of sunny days on the Anacostia! US Rowing shares advice for staying safe in the sun.
Member Spotlight
Meet a Member: Director-at-Large Candidate Bios
This month, rather than feature a single member, we’re sharing the candidate statements from three of our members who are running for the open Director-at-Large position on the CRC Board.
Georgia Bullen:
I’m interested in serving as a Director at Large for Capital Rowing Club. I’ve been involved in rowing in one form or another for 13 years. I served as treasurer for my club team in college and then coached the Carnegie Mellon novice team (men and women) for 3 years. During the time that I was coaching we grew the total team from about 12 students to 60 students, making it possible to race 8s, which we had never done before. As coach, I coordinated logistics for our trailer, carrying both Carnegie Mellon and Three Rivers Rowing to regattas, where I also raced on the TRRA Women’s masters team. At TRRA, I also coached for our corporate program. I’ve only been with Capital for a little over a year, but I love the community and am very interested in helping to see the club grow. Thus far, I have been helping to rebuild the website, switched over out list management tools, and worked closely with Kirsten on moving to a new donation management system which we are using for registration. I’d love to continue in this work, while serving as a Director at Large for the club. Thanks!
P. Justin Foote:
Justin joined Capital Rowing Club in 2011, and joining the Capital Rowing Club Board would give Justin the opportunity to contribute to the Board’s ongoing efforts to make the club a positive experience for all members and help CRC reach its goals. As a Director-at-Large, Justin would bring a valuable and varied set of skills to the CRC Board including process improvement, negotiations, and small business development. As a federal contracts negotiator, Justin created a new contracts department within his company, managed over $100 million in government contracts and subcontracts, and developed numerous business process improvements. This experience can be used to help the CRC Board to manage projects, negotiate and work with outside contractors, and more generally, to help the Club achieve its goals. Additionally, Justin has been an entrepreneur in the past and recognizes the value of making every penny count. A trait that can be seen today with his drink preference still being cheap beer.
CRC holds a special place in Justin’s heart because of all of the wonderful friends he has made, but CRC has also changed Justin’s life in an extremely positive way by shifting his focus to health, exercise, being outside, and building many lifelong friendships. It is because of the constructive influence CRC has had on Justin; that he feels driven to give back to CRC and contribute to the spectacular environment that is Capital Rowing Club.
Sarah Gross:
I was introduced to rowing as a college freshman in 1996. I was immediately hooked and rowed with the Purdue Crew Club throughout undergrad. I also served two years as the club’s Vice President where I helped with fundraising efforts and day to day operations. I then spent 12 sad years away from the sport, but rediscovered rowing at Capital with the Comp women in 2012 after moving to DC. A year later I was elected to the position of Secretary, a role I held for two years. I am now running for Director-at-Large and if elected I will work with the Club’s senior leaders to ensure the club’s continued growth and success in the community.
Program / Board News
CRC Board Highlights
The Board thanks all members who submitted comments on the ACBA Clubhouse proposal. All comments were consolidated and submitted to ACBA for review. Board meeting minutes can be found here.
CARP
CARP has hired an assistant coach and is looking at two candidates for the head coach position. An extra “Thank You” goes out to all Capital members who have helped in the search.
Juniors
On June 8, Juniors hosted a delegation from Poland through a program at the State Department. Delegation members had a brief learn-to-row session followed by a youth development presentation and discussion from Juniors and CARP Executive Director, Harlan Trevithick. Juniors started their first week of competitive summer sculling this week. See the fundraising section for an exciting development about Juniors summer offerings!
Upcoming Events
June 8 – Summer Season starts
June 13 – Schuylkill Navy Regatta (Philadelphia, PA)
June 20 – Rocketts Landing Sprint Regatta (Richmond, VA)
June 27 – Charm City Sprints (Baltimore, MD)
June 28, 11:00am – Bioswale Work Session (1900 M St., SE)*
4:00pm – CRC Board Meeting (Erg Room, 1900 M St., SE)
Review of Past Events
Juniors Celebrate at End-of-Year Banquet
On Friday, May 29, 2015, Juniors had their end of year banquet. It was a hot evening, but roughly 100 family members and rowers gathered to eat a catered meal through a significant donation from Pie-tanza in Arlington, VA at tables donated from local hardware store, Fragers! Thank you to all the parents and rowers who donated to support the event!
Most Improved Rower: Paola Williams (novice girls), Baruch Biggs (novice boys), Fox Meyer (varsity boys), Sarah Wong (varsity girls)
Most Valuable Rower: Erin Fenzel (novice girls), Kojo Saunders (novice boys), Will Warren (varsity boys), Micaylah Jones (varsity girls)
Fewer than three attendances in spring season: Tiona Herring, Erin Fenzel, Kojo Saunders, Will Delano, Micaylah Jones, Sarah Wong
Hammer (fastest 2ks): Sam Otto (6:58.9) Stacey Carson (7:21)
Spirit of Capital Award (rower(s) who most further Capital’s mission in the community): Camilla Hallman and Shannon Mackenzie
4-year seniors: Maggie Carson, Camilla Hallman, Bailey Koike, Anna Fenzel, and Cambria Revsine
Housing Wanted…
Dammie Onafeko (Adaptive) just received a full ride for his first year at Howard University! He is seeking housing for his upcoming school year. He needs basic amenities (no significant accommodations), rent must be under $500 and he would like to be as close to Howard as possible to cut down on his travel time from MD. If you have any leads or know someone who might, please email Dammie at mindofdheart@gmail.com.
Community News
In case you missed it…
News from around our river, our boathouse, and our community:
Fundraising
Fundraising: Juniors Receive DC Trust Grant
Capital Juniors landed their first grant! Last week, the program received an award letter for $18,000 from the DC Trust, an independent non-profit organization created by the DC Council to determine which nonprofits best serve DC youth. This funding will go towards delivering a 6-week academic and rowing summer program for free to a target population of youth in wards 6, 7, and 8.
The program will run from June 28, 2015 – August, 7, 2015. The curriculum includes daily rowing combined with reading, writing, and community service projects to improve in young people the following youth development outcomes: physical health, mastery and future, and intellectual ability. Want more info? Email harlan@capitalrowing.org.