• To see the entire USRowing events calendar, click here.
• To read more about National Team selection procedures, click here.
• To donate to the Potomac River Sports Foundation (PRSF), the organization that helps support the National Team goals of our Open Scullers, click here.
• Follow tweets of our Open Scullers’ results and progress on USRowing or Potomac Star Twitter accounts!

2013 Annual Meeting, Report of the Racing Committee

PBC racers from across the competitive programs and the club in San Diego at the San Diego Crew Classic.

The following is the Racing Committee Report for the 2013 Annual Meeting, submitted by its Chair, Penelope Wrenn. If you have any questions regarding this report or about the Racing Committee, please contact Penelope at racing[at]potomacstar.com.

On behalf of the Racing Committee, I would like to thank the entire club for your ongoing support of PBC Racing!  From a racing results standpoint, we’ve already started the year off with wins at the Sarasota Invitational and the San Diego Crew Classic.  [You can read more about our club-wide participation in these regattas here.]

Your PBC Racing Committee includes the following members:

• Chair, Racing Committee and Independent Club Racing Liaison, Penelope Wrenn
• Open Sculling (OS) RC Representative and OS Head Coach, Reilly Dampeer
• Masters Rowing Program (MRP) RC Representative, Virginia Bryant
• MRP Alternate Representative, Lena Wang
• Men’s Sweep (MS) RC Representative, Chad Jungbluth
• MS RC Alternate Representative and MS Captain, Peter Clements
• Board Liaison and Member of Men’s Sweep (MS), Nick Davies
• Washington-Lee High School (W-L) Liaison and W-L Head Coach, and RC Launch Director, Derek Parsons
• W-L Alternate Representative, W-L Women’s Team Head Coach, and RC Safety Advisor, George Kirschbaum
• WeCanRow Program Liaison, Beverly Buffkin

As many of you are aware, our club, like any club, is filled with strong personalities each with varying goals and ambitions, mostly related to the passion we all share for the sport of rowing.  Regaining cohesiveness throughout the teams was a goal set the previous winter and I think we’ve come a long way towards achieving it.  I would like to recognize my committee as a whole for continuing to work so hard this year to bring all of the teams together to form a “team of teams” mentality … one team, Potomac Boat Club. 

The Committee believes that through tight coordination and accountability we create an environment that supports the achievement of competitive goals throughout the Club, and serves as a reminder that we are indeed all part of one team.  Towards accountability, the RC created an Equipment Damage reporting procedure and online form (top tab of the Star) that allows the RC and other team leads track repairs through to completion. The RC also continues a successful effort to engage team management representatives and collaborate whenever possible with those beyond the Committee, including the Club Rowing Committee, the Membership Chair, and the Treasurer, as well as the Club at large.  The RC created online rosters to allow the Membership Chair and Treasurer to access the latest roster information.  Towards better safety awareness, this year, the RC named a Safety Advisor, George Kirshbaum, to the committee.  Since 2012, there has been a decrease in equipment damage through increased general awareness of safety and equipment issues. 

The Open Sculling Program has refocused its efforts on elite men’s sculling with a goal of producing the next Men’s Quad that will represent the United States at the Olympics in Rio.  The RC thanks the club and the Potomac River Sports Foundation for its support of this effort. We know these great athletes will represent the Club well, and add to our rich history of success at the highest levels of our sport.

The Masters Rowing Program (MRP) and the Men’s Sweep Program (MS) continue to be self-sustaining and comprosed  mostly of senior members. At the same time, these teams highly value the contributions of their very active and motivated future senior member teammates.  To help address wear and tear on partner Washington-Lee High School, each team is contributing funds towards the refurbishment of a W-L hull to be used at the discretion of W-L Crew leadership.  Finally, all teams are currently operating within their own forecasted budgets.

Emphasized through the RC and team leaders, awareness and participation in various Club volunteer activities is at record levels. Competitive program members led or participated in large numbers in every major Club volunteer effort from Work Days to the Dock Move to the Charlie Butt Annual Scullers Head of the Potomac, and various other efforts as the needs of the Club have been identified.

With the competitive spirit of PBC emanating throughout the club, the RC this year recognized a growing need to coordinate requests from Club members who are unaffiliated with a program but who may wish to use RC equipment for purposes of racing; to facilitate these requests, the RC created an Independent Club Racing Liaison (the RC chair is the acting representative) to serve as a point of contact for these requests.

In 2012, RC delayed equipment turnover at request of the Board and pushed out hull turnover plan to support the purchase of new float / dock that serves the rowing endeavors of the entire club.  However, with the equipment purchase budget cut again this year, the RC as a whole must strive to do more with less, but hopes the Club will re-commit soon to the funds required to maintain quality fleets and serve the best interests of this club. 

The Committee will continue to provide the Board with comprehensive reports from the teams on a regular basis.  The information and feedback gleaned from the Board and through the club-at-large throughout the competitive year will allow for the refinement of the goals, objectives and strategic outcomes that will grow and maintain the competitive spirit and legacy of PBC into the future.

Thanks, again, for your support.

Row like a Champion Today!

Penelope Wrenn, Chair, PBC Racing Committee

It’s T-shirt Time! Gear up now for The Star’s Fundraiser Trifecta.

Nick Holland unknowingly intimidates the man behind him with his impressive shirt.

THE ORDER WAS PLACED ON SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2011.

* * *

Yes, that’s right, PBC.  This is the one gear sale a year that strives to make you look good and do good at the same time.  Remember, in fashion, one day you’re in, and the next day, you’re out. We’ve got the “in” tees you want and three charities we’d like to help. Got it? Great!

So, check out the four beyond-cool PBC tees (and a hat) here, click, and buy.  It’s that easy.  Soon, you’ll have a t-shirt on the way with proceeds from the sale going to the following deserving groups:

1. The Open Scullers through the Potomac River Sports Foundation. Why?  Because we live vicariously through our Olympic hopefuls.  (Oh, don’t forget to mark your calendars and RSVP for their Rising Stars Dinner on March 26th!)

2. Washington-Lee High School Crew Boosters. Why?  Because we love our W-L kids, even if it seems like we’re tough on them (and um, on their boats) sometimes.

3. The Petit Family Foundation. Why?  Because we’re inspired by the short life of Hayley Petit. The daughter of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and William A. Petit, Jr., M.D., Hayley was a June 2007 graduate of Miss Porter’s School and headed to Dartmouth College, her father’s Alma Mater and where she planned to row.  As many of us learned last year when the trial made national news, the lives of Hayley, her mother and her younger sister were brutally taken during a home invasion on July 23, 2007.

Hayley was well known, admired, and loved for the integrity she brought to everything she did, and for the student, athlete, leader, and friend she was.  At school, Hayley was an  Honor Roll student, a member of Cum Laude, a journalism prize-winner, and winner of the school’s award for “exceptional community service.”  She was also a three-season varsity athlete in cross country, basketball, and crew.  Hayley was made captain of her crew and basketball team by her teammates, and elected to a senior leadership position as head of the school’s athletic association. And Hayley’s leadership extended beyond school to the larger community; she raised over $50,000 to support research for Multiple Sclerosis, the disease that afflicted her mother.

Hayley Petit, co-captain, Miss Porter's School Crew

Despite her many gifts, Hayley called no attention to herself, and instead led by example and encouraged those around her to do the same. She was honored and respected by her teachers and her coaches, to whom she gave her best; and by her class and schoolmates, both older and younger, who saw Hayley as someone they always wanted to be around, as well as someone they wanted to be like. The impact Hayley made in the short time she had on this earth was truly exceptional.

Hayley was a powerhouse who gave so much energy to everything she did that her teammates used to call the final sprint at the end of their race “giving it the Hayley 10.”  And as it turned out, Hayley indeed fought the good fight up until the end of her life.  On July 23, 2007, with the house already ablaze, and despite enduring hours of torture to herself, her mother and sister, Hayley managed to loosen the ties that bound her to her bed and crawl into the hallway of their home.  Investigators say she most likely was headed to save her 11 year old sister, Michaela.  Hayley and Michaela succumbed to smoke inhalation before rescuers could get to them.

We didn’t know Hayley, but in many ways, we feel like we did.  We easily could have imagined her walking through the doors of PBC after graduating from Dartmouth, wanting to row while doing post-grad work or whatever else brings high achievers like Hayley to DC.  And when we look at our own children, especially our daughters – playing sports, working hard in school, and trying to become good citizens of this world – we think of her often and of the amazing young woman she was at only 17, and of the incredible woman we are certain she would have been.

The Petit Family Foundatiaon honors the memories of JENNIFER HAWKE-PETIT, HAYLEY ELIZABETH PETIT and MICHAELA ROSE PETIT by continuing the kindness, idealism and activism that defined their lives. The Foundation’s funds are given to foster the education of young people, especially women, in the sciences; to improve the lives of those affected by chronic illnesses; and to support efforts to protect and help those affected by violence.

Happy Holidays from PBC’s Open Scullers! (Updated with pics!)

[Update: 12/30/10] Lucky us! Social Committee Co-Chair Camilla Durfee took a quick break from her busy holiday social schedule to send us the following photos taken by Louise Krumm at the 2010 PBC Holiday Party, on December 12. Just click play (forward arrow) to check them out. If you haven’t had a chance to read the original post from the Open Scullers, keep scrolling!

Thanks for sharing, Camilla and Louise! And Happy New Year, PBC!

Katie Stainken (foreground) and Maria Bokulich of PBC's Open Sculling team race the Women's Championship single event at the HOCR 2010.

Our hard charging PBC Open Scullers are taking on a new challenge … keeping you, their extended PBC team, up to date on all of the great things they’re doing!

This first installment comes from Open Sculler Katie Stainken. You’ll learn more about Katie and the rest of the team as soon as they get their bios posted! Look for them on the Star in the next few weeks!

Here’s the latest from Katie:

It was awesome to see so many people attend the PBC Holiday Party this year! We really enjoyed decorating the ballroom, hosting the party, but most of all, chatting with fellow PBC’ers in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere, as opposed to the usual quick conversations on the dock.  Thanks to you, and some beautiful notecards produced by Susan Trice, we were able to raise about $1200 for the Potomac River Sports Foundation (PRSF) to help us with our training efforts throughout the year.  Many generous PBC members also brought gifts for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.  All in all, it was a great night for us and we hope you enjoyed yourselves, too.

We want to say something chipper here, but all we can think of is, "Yuck."

On the training side of things, we certainly have braved some unseasonably cold temperatures in the DC area this month. The ice continues to creep across the river, so we’ve already traded in our sculls and team boats for ergs.  Looks like all of those long rows out to Haines Point and up to Fletcher’s that were on the schedule will have to wait for now.  We don’t mind having to erg at the moment, though; it gives us a chance to rock out to tunes on our iPods while we workout, which is a nice change.  Our apologies in advance to those who come down to the boathouse in the morning for our music tastes!

Coming soon, look for a new Open Sculler website to be announced in the Star – complete with athlete bios!  We’re also planning an event for February, so as soon as the date is confirmed, we will let everyone know when to mark your calendars!

In the meantime, if you’re still in the gift-giving mood this holiday day season, please remember that your donations to the PRSF go to help PBC’s National Team athletes, and as always, are tax deductible!  To donate via check or PayPal, click here to go to the PRSF donation post on the Star.

Finally, for those of you who missed out on ordering your set of PBC notecards, they’re still available!  The Star will post all the information you need to get your very own set soon.

Thanks, again, for your support, PBC, and Happy Holidays from the Open Scullers!

Support PBC’s National Team athletes!

Update: PBC's Brendan McEwan made it to Belarus and to semis at U23 World Championships, but the team still needs our support!

Every little bit helps!  And it’s all tax deductible!

• Click HERE to go straight to your donation options!

In less than a couple of weeks, our Brendan McEwan will represent the United States in the Men’s Single Sculls at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships in Brest, Belarus (July 22 – 25).  Brendan won his event at trials in June by 3.41 seconds, crossing the line in 6:59.294. He will be joined by Coach Reilly Dampeer, who has done a tremendous job helping him get ready.

And, hey!n  We’re proud to report again that Rob Rasmussen and Nader Al-Naji are on the Junior National Team roster!  Joined by Coach Deb Dryer, Rob and Nader will be racing in the double at the 2010 World Rowing Junior Championships in Racice, Czech Republic (August 4 – 7).

Crazy kids.  All that energy.  Makes you want to take a load off, doesn’t it?  Well, while you’re sitting there, you’re gonna earn a chance to  feel like you’re right there next to the guys when they step up to the winners’ podium … all without leaving your computer!

The charitable foundation created to support our National Team athletes, the Potomac River Sports Foundation (PRSF), figures our team still needs about $7,500 to fund our World Championships effort this year.  Basically, each boat costs about $1700 to rent and transport. The USRowing fee is $1,625 for each athlete. Add another $1300 for coach’s room, board, gear and flight. Well, you get the picture. Being an elite level rower ain’t cheap, folks!

Since we’re pretty sure none of us can cover the entire amount today, tax deductible or not, how about we do this thing together?  Fiddy from her.  A hundy from him. A couple Gs from you. And so on.  That way, we’ll all feel like we’re part of it when Brendan, Rob and Nader take those winning strokes across the finish line!

(Of course, if you do throw down the entire $7,500, just don’t tell us, so we’ll all still feel like we did something.  Thanks.)

Okay, so.  Got your credit card ready, PBC? (Come on! They need you! And it’s tax deductible!)  To give using PayPal, click here.

If you would rather pay by check, just make it payable to Potomac River Sports Foundation, and then mail it to Paul Knight at the following the address:

Paul Knight, Treasurer
Potomac River Sports Foundation
c/o Nossaman LLP
1666 K Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20006

By the way, you can give to the PRSF all year long!

Best of luck to Brendan, Rob, Nader, Reilly and Deb! GO, PBC!!!

Stay tuned for a charitable group hug mid-August.

Give to the Potomac River Sports Foundation

Support Potomac Boat Club’s National Team athletes with tax deductible donations to the Potomac River Sports Foundation (PRSF)!  The PRSF is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity.

To donate through PayPal, click here.

Donations made by check should be made payable to Potomac River Sports Foundation, and mailed to Paul Knight at following the address:

Paul Knight, Treasurer
Potomac River Sports Foundation
c/o Nossaman LLP
1666 K Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20006

Any donation – whether large or small – is greatly appreciated, so let’s help all of our deserving athletes and coaches realize their National Team dreams!

Erik Meyers, President, PRSF
Paul Knight, Treasurer, PRSF
Matt Madigan, Director, PRSF
Reilly Dampeer, Head Coach, PBC Open Sculling Program