First update to PBC Bylaws in 30 years

To: Members of Potomac Boat Club
From: Ed Ryan, Club Secretary

I am pleased to announce that the Board has updated the Bylaws of the Club for the first time since their last revision more than 30 years ago. The newly updated Bylaws can be found on the PBC website in the Members Area section and in the Members Only Info area of the Potomac Star (both areas are passcode protected).

The primary changes to the Bylaws were made to eliminate provisions that the Board determined were no longer relevant or applicable (availability of purchase option for life membership and waiver of initiation fee for active members of other rowing clubs); to update the fees and dues referenced in the Bylaws to those that are currently payable; to institute the use of a Club Bulletin Board for posting of Club information (contact information, fees, dues, etc.) and other official notices from the Secretary; to correct the descriptions of the Club uniform and flag; and to institute an improved mechanism to ensure early member notification of any proposed changes in fees or dues. Other changes included many “clean up” and ministerial changes to correct typos and the like.

Please note that the new Bylaws are effective as of December 16th, 2009, but are effective on a prospective basis only. As for any matter predating December 16th, 2009, the former Bylaws are effective (including the waiver of initiation fees for active members of other rowing clubs).

I hope the revised Bylaws will work for the Club for at least another 30 years.

Ed Ryan
Secretary, Potomac Boat Club

Security reminder from the president

Hi All –

A recent locker room theft reminds us that despite significant improvements in house security, we must continue to take reasonable precautions to secure our belongings while at the club.

This particular theft was from an unlocked locker.  Please make sure you are locking your locker and closing doors behind you.  As an added measure, don’t be shy about questioning anyone you don’t recognize.

It’s unfortunate we have to be on guard at our own club, but if we remember to do these simple things, we will continue to increase the level of safety and security for all of us.

Bob Price
President, PBC

Safety lesson learned the hard way

A couple of weeks before the ice set in, but after PBC’s winter rowing rules went into effect, senior member Nick Holland and his single had a run in with a log.  Upstream without a personal flotation device (pfd), with a water temperature below 45F, Nick would be the first to tell you that he was lucky to make it back to the dock alive.  Below is his story.  Sharing it with you is his penance for breaking the rules.

Before we get to Nick’s story, at the bottom of this post you will find links to Hypothermia and Cold Water Immersion - Information for Rowing and Coaches and Clubs by Jane Blockley of the Leo Blockley Memorial Campaign. Leo Blockley drowned on December 29, 2000, in the River Ebro while rowing with the Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club during winter training camp in Amposta, Spain.  About fifty meters from the dock, Leo disappeared as he attempted to swim back to the boat. He was 21.

Please visit the Leo Blockley Memorial Campaign web site linked here for information that could save your life.

And now, a few words from Mr. Holland ….

* * *

As many of you know, I had what can only be called a lucky escape a few weeks ago when my single hit a large submerged log up river near the Hens and Chicks. Had it not been for some fortuitous circumstances, I might have ended up with a very cold swim to the Virginia shore.  I want to let you know what happened and hopefully draw out some valuable lessons for you all.

Following the collision, my boat was still afloat, so I elected to try to get back as close to PBC as I could.  Assisted by wind and stream, I started to row with one eye on my bow as the boat took on water.  When I could see that the bow ball was about to sink below water level, I spun the boat around and continued down river by backing down at the compressed catch position in order to keep the bow up as much as possible and to keep my weight as close to the stern as possible.  As I passed Three Sisters, the water came pouring over the gunwales and I was no longer able to row.

Knowing I could get very cold and wet - or worse - I took out my feet and got as far to the back of the boat as possible. After a second or two, I realized that maybe I could “surf paddle” the hull closer to PBC.  I wedged my scull handles under my stomach with the blades flat to hopefully steady the boat a bit more.  At that point, only my legs and lower torso were wet.

Straddling the hull with one leg on either side and lying forward on the tracks and foot stretcher, I was able to paddle the boat okay, but the wind blowing against the stern made it difficult for me to get to shore. I headed to a point up river of the Canoe Club, so that if I passed out, the wind and current might move my boat down onto the Canoe Club dock. As it turned out, I remained conscious and was able to paddle the hull all the way to the PBC dock, where some very nice people got me and my boat out of the water.

The lessons I learned are as follows:

1. It doesn’t matter how good I think I am, ACCIDENTS CAN AND WILL HAPPEN, when I least expect them.

2. DRESS APPROPRIATELY FOR THE CONDITIONS. I had on decent clothes which helped to minimize my heat loss a bit, especially the superb under armor beanie, which looks stupid, but certainly kept my head warm. Pogies kept my hands warm, but eventually they were lost in the ordeal. In retrospect, I should have had on a pfd or wetsuit, or both. I would have increased my buoyancy, retained more body heat, and bought myself a little more time should I have needed it. And you never know when you’re going to need it.

3. DON’T PANIC. Assess the situation and make a decision. Obviously, the best decision is the one that will get you out of the water and on shore soonest. My boat was still afloat and rowable for most of the time, but every situation will be different. Try to have a plan before you go out. If it comes down to saving the boat or you, just make sure you do what it takes to save yourself. You can always replace a boat.

Nick Holland

* * *

So, folks, once the ice has melted and those of us who simply must row - no matter what - are back on the water, please remember to follow the winter rowing rules and take basic precautions. Cold water rowing is an inherently dangerous activity. We don’t want you to do it, but if you do, don’t make us have to explain to your spouse/parents/kids that you didn’t make it back to shore because you were simply too stubborn to wear a pfd or wetsuit.

• Hypothermia and Cold Water Immersion - Information for Rowing Coaches and Clubs (ENG) (132KB - MS Word)
• Hypothermia and Cold Water Immersion - Information for Rowing Coaches and Clubs (ENG) (314KB - Adobe PDF)

Brrrr … 4-Oar Rule starts today!

PBC Members: Don’t be left out in the cold!

The access code to the boathouse changes on January 1, 2010.  After that date, existing keys, FOBS, cards, and shared codes will no longer get you into the club. 

But guess what?  You have until December 4th to choose a new access code of your very own!  Exciting, isn’t it?  (Just nod your head “yes.”)

If you’re a member, you should have received an email from the Security Committee on Sunday, November 22nd, explaining how to get your new access code.  If you didn’t get the message, please contact the Security Committee immediately at security@potomacstar.com, so you can be sure to meet the December 4th code application deadline.

We just chose our new code!  It’s the birthday of the mother of the person who rowed 6-seat behind us in ‘91, plus 1869, minus 12, divided by pi, and multiplied by the number of cupcakes we ate for lunch today.  Easy!  Now, go get yours.

Social Committee socks it to us at the 140th Anniversary

Fortunately for you, the Social Committee still has a few left … and they’ll only cost you $100 a pair! Okay, for you, $5 a pair, if you can pick them up at the Club, or $6, if they have to be mailed.  Interested?  Send us a note to editor@potomacstar.com, and we’ll send you what you need to know to get your very own pair.  Supply is limited, so hurry. [Available sizes for men:  shoe size 6-8=M, 8-10=L, 10-13=XL. For women:  7-9=M, 9-11=L, 11+=XL.]

Potomac heads home to the Charles

The Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) is like homecoming weekend for many rowers, especially for us at Potomac Boat Club.  We’ve been there each of the regatta’s 45 years, winning the Men’s Championship Eight event in year one.  When not racing, it’s our opportunity to catch up with old friends and teammates, some we haven’t seen in years.

If you’re going to the Charles this weekend, make sure you get to the racecourse in time to cheer on all the folks keeping PBC’s rich HOCR racing tradition alive.  As you’ll find below, there are quite of few of them, so remember to wear layers, bring the throat lozenges, and maybe make friends with the guy with the flask (um, if you’re into that kind of thing).

Oh, in case you weren’t at the Semi-Annual Meeting last week, the Board announced the first winners of the David Challinor Head of the Charles Memorial Fund awards!  Congratulations to Margot Shumway and Bill Greer!

Best of luck to all of you this weekend … and a special “go get ‘em, ladies” from the Star to PBC-sponsored WeCanRow DC as they compete in their very first Head of the Charles Regatta!

Saturday, October 17th

01. Grand Master Singles Men 50+ (7:45)

00052 Potomac Boat Club (E. Ryan)
00076 Potomac Boat Club (T. Baxter)

02. Grand Master Singles Women 50+ (8:16)

00012 Potomac Boat Club (C. Cole)

03. Senior Master Singles Men 40+ (8:43)

00013 Potomac Boat Club (R. Lewis)

06. Senior Master Eights Women 50+ (9:43)

00017 Potomac Boat Club

08. Senior Master Fours Women 50+ (10:17)

00012 Potomac Boat Club

10. Senior Master Doubles Women 50+ (10:52)

00014 Potomac Boat Club (G. Edie/J. Hopkins)

13. Club Singles Men (11:46)

00051 Potomac Boat Club (J. Moncton)

17. Club Eights Men (13:26)

00012 Potomac Boat Club

25. Championship Doubles Men (13:47)

00006 Riverside/Potomac Boat Club (B. Wilkinson/S. Gorman)

26. Championship Doubles Women (16:02)

00006 Potomac Boat Club (M. Wimberley/K. Stainken)

29. Championship Singles Men (16:57)

00014 Potomac Boat Club (W. Greer)

30. Championship Singles Women (17:14)

00002 Potomac Boat Club (M. Shumway)
00020 Potomac Boat Club (M. Gaab)

Sunday, October 18th

31. Senior Veteran Singles Men (8:00)

00006 Potomac Boat Club (C. Sutliff)

41. Master Singles Men (12:32)

00008 Potomac Boat Club (B. Howe)

Posted: Scullers Head of Potomac Photos!

Photos from the Charlie Butt 29th Annual Scullers Head of the Potomac are up on SportGraphics right now!

• For pics of Potomac Boat Club, go here.
• For pics of PBC-hosted WeCanRow DC, go here.
• To search the whole shebang, just visit the SportGraphics SHOP search page here.

By the way, did you miss out on getting a t-shirt from this special event?  Well, it’s not too late.  Contact Nancy Butt-Packard to see what she has left.  Proceeds from t-shirt sales go to benefit young athletes through the Charlie Butt Scholarship Fund.

Looking good, Potomac!

143rd Semi-Annual Meeting this Wednesday!

The Potomac Boat Club 143rd Semi-Annual Meeting will be held this Wednesday, October 7.  Happy Hour will start at 6:30 pm, with the business of Club set to commence at 7:30 pm.

Here are a few of the agenda items you can look forward to so far:

• General remarks by PBC president, Bob Price
• Election of Float Officers
• Reports from the Committee chairs
• Presentation of the first annual David Challinor Memorial Fund Awards

If you missed helping out with the regatta last weekend or any number of volunteer opportunities the House Committee has thrown your way, the Semi-Annual Meeting is your chance to participate by just standing around and having a drink or two.

Heck, you might even find a committee you’d like to join!  (That’s the plan, at least.)

See you there, Potomac!

Results from 29th Annual Scullers Head of the Potomac

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 29th Annual Charlie Butt Scullers Head of the Potomac (SHOP)!

For official 2009 results, visit the Potomac Boat Club website at http://potomacboatclub.org/result09.php. 

Looking for photos of your race?

For Sportgraphics pics of Potomac Boat Club at the SHOP, go here.  To search for other teams, visit the Sportgraphics search page here.

Thanks to the many tireless volunteers who made this the best SHOP to date! 

See you all next year!

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