To: VBC Members
With the weather quickly turning to spring, we are making preparations for the 2008 rowing season. The VBC Board has been busy with a number of activities since January and I wanted to bring you up to date on some of the developments.
Boathouses
The Downtown Boathouse Committee, chaired by Shannon Connor, has completed its report and recommendations. With all of the riverfront development activities and plans occurring downtown, we are going to be in a state of flux for a couple of years. We have been working with developers and city officials on the possibilities of a permanent VBC boathouse as part of a private development or on city-owned land. The good news is that the private developers and city officials are very eager to work with us. They view rowing as a very desirable activity for the new riverfront. Ultimately, we will have permanent and very functional facilities downtown.
The bad news is that we will be somewhat unsettled for several years. Our temporary boathouse at the old Richmond Raft Co. should be available until late spring or summer when it will be demolished by Rocketts Landing for the next phase of their development. We are beginning negotiations with Rocketts officials over lease terms for a renovated Power Plant building. The building is under construction for two restaurant spaces, harbor master facilities and restroom/showers. We would like to move back into the two levels we previously occupied. The building is expected to be ready between mid-summer and early fall. We hope to firm up an agreement that will provide facilities for a couple of years while we develop more concrete plans for long-term downtown facilities.
At the Robious Boathouse, things are changing as well. We have just signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with Chesterfield County over the use of park facilities. The county has also allocated $10,000 for materials to expand the boathouse (we will need to provide the labor) that will add a second bay. The VBC Board is also considering allocating funds to construct a third bay at the same time, effectively tripling our space. We hope to begin work within the next couple of months. When the expansion is completed, we will have very nice facilities for our programs in the county.
The Docks Are In!
Thanks to the VCU Crew Club and Chesterfield County, the docks are in the water downtown and Robious. Please thank Yuriy Levitskiy, VCU coach, for the crane and his team members downtown last Sunday. They made quick work of the installation and saved a lot of aching backs for VBC members. Chesterfield County put the dock in the water at Robious on Tuesday.
Please remember that with the cold water temperatures, we will be under winter rowing rules for awhile -- "four oars in the water". Also, be sure to check water levels before you row: http://virginiaboatclub.org/IsItSafeToRow.htm . Be careful and safe, particularly early in the season as you are getting your rowing "legs" again.
Get Out To Row Day
We'd like to get club members off their ergs (you've been erging all winter right?) and on to the water for an early season workout and a little fun. On Saturday, March 22 at 8:00 a.m. at the downtown boathouse, we invite you to meet for an early season row. We will organize sweep boats, a quad, doubles and anyone who wants to take out of single for a group row. We will keep it fun and informal and have refreshments afterwards. If you plan to come, please email me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) with your interest and we will do some preliminary organizing.
Rocketts Regatta
Despite all of the construction going on at our downtown facilities, we have decided to hold the Rocketts Regatta again on June 14 in conjunction with the James River Adventure Games. Rocketts Landing has agreed to be our prime sponsor. Put June 14 on your calendar and plan to participate. We will be calling on you to help with the event.
Fordham University Spring Training
The Fordham University crew team (from New York City) will be in Richmond from March 12 - 22 for their spring break training. They will be using the Robious facilities. It's great that we have some outside recognition of our wonderful rowing waters. On March 19 and 20, Fordham and VCU will be racing at our downtown boathouse. It would be great if club members could show up for the race to assist if needed and provide support to the teams. The races will be in the early morning (before 8:00), so plan to stop by for some collegiate rowing competition before you go to work.
Strategic Plan
With all of the changes going on in the club recently, the VBC Board has decided that it would be helpful to develop a strategic plan for our organization. The plan will help us to articulate our strengths and weaknesses, identify opportunities for club growth and expansion, and develop long-range goals, objectives and tasks to guide us in the future. The initial planning session will be held later this month and involve board members as well as representatives of various club constituencies. We will update you on the progress of this plan and hold a special general membership meeting this summer for your comments and input when a draft plan is completed.
Learn-To-Row and Coached Sweep Programs
We are in the process of developing our LTR program for this summer and planning a more organized sweep rowing program. VBC Vice President Steve Abbot is organizing those efforts (you have seen his recent survey) and has a lot of great ideas. If you haven't completed the on-line survey, please do so before Saturday: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=N2gHpHlpNQ29c9SORjnr9Q_3d_3d . We will have more information within the next couple of weeks.
A Final Word
Spring is always an exciting time of year to get back on the water, work out the winter kinks and look forward to a new rowing season. We have a lot going on with the VBC now and a lot of change, particularly downtown. Please plan to stay active with the club, both with rowing and volunteering with club activities. Only with your participation and support can we move the VBC forward and make Richmond a great rowing venue.
If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact me or any of the VBC board members.
See you on the water!
Mark Willis
VBC President
