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The "meeting highlights" listed below are intended to keep members informed of the workings of Whaling City Rowing. The actual minutes are on file with our secretary. WCR members are encouraged to read the highlights and to consider what skills, volunteer time and suggestions you might have to make our community enjoyable for all.
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March 6, 2008

In attendance:
Kevin, Pattie, Bethany, Dave, Sarah, Louie

Save the date:
Youth Whaleboat Challenge – May 3, 2008
Rowing Festival – June 7, 2008
Independence Day Whaleboat Races – July 5, 2008
WCR Members’ Party – August 23, 2008
Foliage Row (tentative) – October 19, 2008

Updates:

Boathouse

There’s a link to city boathouse project proposals on the WCR website. The proposed structure has frame construction and a rooftop observation area.

Finances

Memberships have been coming in more quickly than last year.

Rowing Festival, Renamed as the "Apponagansett Challenge" (Note: Minutes on this section have been edited by Kevin to reflect this change.)

Bethany reported on a meeting of the Apponagansett Challenge committee held in February. Logistical arrangements are still a bit sketchy at this point, but each person at the meeting (Cyn, Bethany, Sarah, Louie) has taken on an aspect of the organization. A similar Festival is being held in Belfast, Maine this July.

Kevin passed out fliers for the Apponagansett Challenge and other WCR events at the Snow row at the beginning of the month. Kevin is willing to work on the Apponagansett Challenge promotion, including contacting other boat clubs. Website material is ready to go.

The structure of the races was discussed at length. Louie has recruited three people to help with the racecourse. He proposed having three course lengths (12, 6, and 3 miles) to target different groups of rowers (kayakers, rowers, and beginners, respectively). These lengths have been used successfully at the Bird Island race, but require that the first racers leave at 8 a.m. Kevin suggested shortening the middle length so the whaleboats aren’t out for such a long time. The stretch between Round Hill and Mishaum Point can be rough later in the day. Boat categories will follow the Bird Island model.

Logistics for the race were also discussed. Louie would like to recruit local people to be stationed in their boats along the race course. Kevin thinks that preliminary logistical arrangements made last year can be repeated (bathroom access, etc.). The Harbor Master, Park Department, and Sheriff’s Department need to be contacted. The Coast Guard will need a final route map at least 60 days prior to the event. Ralph will make the map. Boats will launch from the beach area rather than the designated launch area.

Awards will be made following each race rather than at the conclusion of all the races. Awards will be framed print-outs with the race graphic and text.

The name of the festival was discussed. Nautical charts show Apponagansett rather than Padanaram. Since the structure of the event has taken on the flavor of a race more so than a "festival" calling the event the "Apponagansett Challenge" instead was discussed. (Note: A final sense of changing the name to the Apponagansett Challenge didn't emerge until days later, so this paragraph has been edited by Kevin to reflect the name change.)

Activities other than the race were discussed. Ideas on the table included a scavenger hunt in the inner harbor, an obstacle course, and an opportunity to try other types of boats. A consensus was reached to keep things simple, with just the opportunity to try other boats in addition to the races. Rowers will be attracted by a new and different location for the races. Osprey Kayak might be asked to set up a display.

Registration costs were considered. Individual registration will be $25 in advance (by Saturday, May 24) and $35 on the day of the race. From this, approximately $5-6 will go toward t-shirts and about $10 will cover breakfast (fruit, bagels, coffee) and a box lunch.

Pattie will supply the volunteer chart that we’ve used in other races to help with volunteer sign-ups.

Kevin will ask his wife to help design a graphic for t-shirts.

Youth Whaleboat Challenge

The Challenge is shaping up well. There should be more teams participating this year than there were last year. So far, Stang will field three teams, Old Colony two teams, ORR two teams, and Tabor and St. Vincent’s one team each. Participation and sponsorship letters have been sent out. The website has been updated to include information on the Challenge. Coffee and donuts will be sold at the Challenge.

Ralph and Mary’s Slide Presentation

Ralph has offered to do a slide presentation on his and Mary’s trip last summer. The talk will be a potluck for members (BYOB). Dave can provide a projector. Ralph will choose a date and location.

August Clambake

Ralph will be away on August 23, the original date for the clambake. He proposed the Saturday or Sunday following July 4 as an alternative. After discussion, a consensus was reached to keep the date of August 23 but find an alternative location.

Independence Day Whaleboat Races

Dave will continue to organize the Independence Day Whaleboat Races. The race will be structured as it was last year.

Boat Maintenance

All three boats have gone in for maintenance. The Buzzards will get the boat currently at Steve’s house back in the water.

New Business:

A discussion was held regarding cross-memberships between rowing clubs and organizations. No decisions were reached at this time.

WCR is donating a sunset row to be auctioned at the Whaling Museum’s August fundraiser. Last year’s row was sold, but never collected.

Open rows for the spring and summer were discussed. March and April are tricky due to practice for the Youth Whaleboat Challenge. Ideally, there would be one morning open row and one evening open row, with two boat steerers on call for each row. Suggested times are Thursday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. Bethany will e-mail teams to re-set the schedule for the spring.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 3 at 5:30 p.m.

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January 24, 2008

Present: Cyn Spence, Pattie MacMillen, Bethany Sylvia, Liz Labelle, Dave Prentiss, Sarah Parks

Dates to Save!

Youth Whaleboat Challenge – May 3, 2008
Rowing Festival – June 7, 2008
Independence Day Whaleboat Races – July 5, 2008
WCR Members’ Party (tentative) – August 23, 2008
Foliage Row (tentative) – October 19, 2008

Updates:

Finances

Pattie will be sending out membership renewals on February 1, 2008. Pattie passed out a list of gifts to date. She sent a reminder e-mail to the membership shortly before the meeting. Insurance payments have gone up slightly (to $1,300) and will be due shortly.

Rowing Festival

Cyn reported that the Rowing Festival committee has met several times. We’d like to have a Save the Date flyer available soon, preferably before the Snow Row on March 1. Apponagansett Park in Padanaram is the planned location for the Festival.

Youth Whaleboat Challenge

Informational letters about the Youth Whaleboat Challenge have been sent to schools and other groups, including the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club. Liz has made contact with the six schools that participated last year and will next try to contact New Bedford, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven High Schools.

Independence Day Whaleboat Races:

Dave reported that organizers of the annual SummerFest are struggling this year . If by some chance SummerFest is not held this year, the Independence Day Whaleboat Races could proceed with an event permit from the city. Dave may not be able to continue organizing the Races due to Zoological Society commitments; he will notify the board at the next meeting.

New Business:

The board discussed whether to issue a statement on the use of PFDs during the winter season. Consensus among the board members was to require PFD use by boatsteerers and recommend PFD use to rowers during the winter rowing season.

West Marine lost the order for the second dock box we intended to use at Pope’s Island. The next size up from the box we currently have is much longer. Once more money comes in through the Annual Appeal and membership dues, Pattie will order a second dock box of the size we currently have and a longer dock box to replace the tall shed. Bethany is working on getting a stencil to use on the dock boxes.

Once boats begin returning to Pope’s Island Marina, Cyn will post a wish list for items, especially new bumpers.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 6 at 5:30 p.m.

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December 20, 2007

Present:

Cyn Spence, Pattie MacMillen, Bethany Sylvia, Liz Labelle, Dave Prentiss, Sarah Parks

Save the date:

Youth Whaleboat Challenge – May 3, 2008

Rowing Festival – June 7, 2008

Independence Day Whaleboat Races – July 5, 2008

WCR Members’ Party (tentative) – August 23, 2008

Foliage Row (tentative) – October 19, 2008

Rowing Festival

Cyn provided an update on the spring Rowing Festival scheduled for June 7. Planning meetings will be held at her house on Tuesday evenings. Bethany is working on a brochure for the Festival.

Youth Whaleboat Challenge/Youth Programs

Liz reported that she and Kevin met and spoke about WCR’s youth program and concluded that due to the difficulties of organizing general youth programs (conflicts with high school sports, liability, transportation, etc.) it is best to concentrate efforts on the Youth Whaleboat Challenge. There was general agreement among board members that the idea of partnering with youth-focused agencies to provide other youth programming is worth pursuing, but that board members’ time is currently too limited to organize such programs. Kevin’s expertise and contacts will be invaluable when the board decides to move forward with more aggressive youth programming.

Liz also reported that she plans to start organizing the Challenge earlier this year and will build on contacts and connections she made last year. The general plan is for Pattie to mail information to the schools in January and Liz to follow up with specific individuals. Other recruitment ideas included sending information to local agencies (YMCA, etc.), sending information to school system directors of after school activities, and hosting an informational night for teachers and school administrators. The recruitment letter will also be sent to WCR membership in e-mail form.

Independence Day Whaleboat Races:

SummerFest will be organized through the city’s tourism office. The Whaleboat Races are quite self-sufficient, so changes in SummerFest organization won’t likely affect WCR.

Finances

WCR Members are encouraged to contact Pattie for this (very encouraging!) report.

New Business:

The board discussed the possibility of sponsoring ticketed social and/or special rowing events for members. Ideas that were accepted included a party in August and a foliage row in October. Further discussion will be held at future meetings.

Cyn reported that the city is considering two possible boathouse designs to be built upriver on the Acushnet. The boathouse is intended for shells and the mayor hopes to build interest in a regatta. It’s possible that WCR may be able to use the building for meetings or storage.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 24 at 5:30 p.m.

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September 13, 2007

Present: Cynthia, Sarah, Kevin, Liz, Mike, and Dave

Pattie sent her report by email: (Members may contact Pattie for her report.)

The board discussed preparations for the annual meeting. The Board agreed to recognize Samantha Baptista and AquaPoint at the annual meeting for their outstanding service to WCR.

Liz and Kevin have met to discuss youth programs. They are looking to do this in the spring. They will send out letters to a couple of youth agencies to see if they are interested. Liz will send out a letter now for the Whaleboat Challenge.

One new dock box has been purchased and set up at the boats. Another one is on order. We also have a new box at the Lloyd Center.

The second boat will be brought to the Lloyd Center tomorrow for the Slocum's Regatta, then it will be brought back to PIM for Monday’s boatsteering class.

Adjourned.

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August 14, 2007

Present: Cynthia, Sarah, Bethany, Dave, Mike, Pattie and Kevin

Cynthia is taking out two boats for the SouthCoast Learning Network family members on Sunday at $10 per person.

The International Classic Yacht group will be in New Bedford on August 23rd. Our whaleboats will be available for them to row from 10am to 11am. Cyn, Dave, Kevin and Bethany will meet at PIM.

We have four teams signed up for the Slocum's Regatta: Gray Buzzards, Sirens, Hot Flashes and Bishop Stang. The board approved waiving the boat fee for the youth crew.

Kevin suggested looking at youth serving agencies such as Girls and Boys Club and Dennison Memorial to see if they would be interested in rowing programs He and Liz offered to look into this. We will CORI youth coaches. Dave will look into this.

Cyn will try to recruit two people willing to chair the rowing festival.

The Board approved buying two dock boxes. Pattie will arrange this.

Kevin will set up the donation page on the website. He will also put Giveline on the website. Mike offered to develop an e-newsletter.

Pattie gave the membership report: 8 non-renewals, 12 new members, 40 renewals, for total of 52 members.

Cyn and Bethany agreed to organizing boatsteering classes as a number of members have expressed interest in learning.

Pattie gave the treasurer’s report: (Members, please contact Pattie if you would like a copy of this report.)

The Board approved getting new WCR hats to sell. Pattie is working on this.

The Board approved getting a Fairhaven boat ramp sticker.

The Annual Meeting will be October 5 at 6:30 pm.

The Board approved recognizing Rodney Avila at the annual meeting for his outstanding service to WCR by his help with the IDWR.

Next Board Meeting: September 13, 2007 at 5:30 pm at Buttonwood Park Zoo.

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May 29, 2007

Present: Cyn Spence, Bethany Sylvia, Pattie MacMillen, Dave Prentiss, Ralph Eustis The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm.

The board discussed fund raising efforts and recruiting new board members. Cyn will send out an email to the membership seeking volunteers for the development committee and to recruit new board members.

The board approved putting Giveline on the website.

Bethany and Liz are doing to work together on keeping the boat schedule and they will look into using a better scheduling program and integrating it into the WCR website as a read-only image.

Cyn thanked all who helped make the Whaleboat Challenge a great success. Pattie mentioned that we have received several letters from the participating schools thanking us for the event and stating their interested in participating next year.

The board discussed the IDWR. The captain’s meeting will be July 5^th. All permission and assistance letters have gone out. Pattie and Bethany are working on getting information out. Cyn will contact Mystic Seaport. Many teams have expressed interest in racing.

Pattie reported that all IRS and state forms and issues have been taken care of. Pattie distributed a financial report on the Whaleboat Challenge. The sponsorships and registration fees covered the expenses for the event. Pattie distributed a membership report and year-to-date financial report.

The board discussed ways to build on the success of the Whaleboat Challenge and expand youth programs. The board established $100 per semester per team fee for schools to row (spring fee includes Whaleboat Challenge registration fee). Liz has agreed to contact schools about this.

The meeting adjourned at 7 pm.

The next board meeting is Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 5:30 pm at Buttonwood Park Zoo.

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Dave and Ralph will work on securing dock space for the coming year. The trailer repair (axle and frame) will cost about $1,000. The board approved the repairs. Ralph will arrange them.

Kevin and Ralph will write up work orders for each boat being taken to Edey & Duff.

The fund raising drive has brought in $3,195 so far. The board thanked Pattie for her work on this.

The rowing festival was scheduled for June 2. Kevin will see if we can hold it at Apponagansett Park. The board agreed to have a “learn-to-row” day. Pattie thinks there is a national day for this sponsored by US Rowing. She will look into it. Ralph has a friend who has invited WCR to row in Stony Creek, CT this spring. Ralph will get more information.

The pink oar sleeves need some repairs. Dave will look into where we get them. Summerfest is scheduled for July 7 and 8. Dave has received an email for a steering committee meeting.

Pattie asked for information on organizing the Whaleboat Challenge. Dave will ask Lucy about this.

The board reviewed membership fees and established the following fees: $120 annual members, $85 summer membership (May-October) and $45 winter membership (November-April). Kevin will revise the membership application on the website.

Cynthia is on the board of SEEAL and will apply for a grant for WCR. Both trailer registrations have been paid by Cynthia. Cyn is setting up an equipment box for each trailer. The older trailer has a broken axle. Ralph is looking into the cost of repairing it.

Pattie will work on getting new boat covers. Steve Sedgwick is bringing one of the boats to Edey and Duff for winter work. Kevin and Ralph will put together work orders for each of the boats. Pattie will pick up the oars to refinish them. The whaleboat challenge is scheduled for May 5^th.

The WCR page on the United Way volunteer website needs updating. Cyn will work with Kevin on this. Pattie has agreed to put together the year end fund raising drive.

October 26, 2006

One boat is presently in Hull since the Weir River race was last weekend and the Plymouth Harbor race is November 4^th. Another boat is at the Lloyd Center and the third boat is at PIM. The Lloyd Center boat will be returned to PIM within a month and the Hull boat will be brought to Edey & Duff for winter maintenance and repairing the pump. Cyn is working on getting a trailer license plate replaced and getting new lights for the trailer. The trailer at Niemic Marine needs to be moved soon. PIM has asked that we remove all items from the spare room.

Lady Maryland sent a thank you letter and t-shirts for the youth rowing they did this summer. They also asked to participate with two youth teams in the 2007 IDWR and have a two hour, two boat youth program later in the summer. The board determined a $100 fee for the former and a $300 fee for the latter.

WCR members rowed in the Head of the Weir and will row in the Plymouth Harbor race on Nov. 14^th.

Cyn and Pattie are working on a date for the fund raising event and will need volunteers to help with planning.

Cyn reported that the CBC staff didn’t have a chance to row the whaleboat but the location worked well. Cyn will renew the offer to take them out from PIM. The Herman Melville is now at the Lloyd Center. Three people completed the boatsteering course: Tove Bendicksen, Liz LaBelle, and Mike Eadie. Cyn would like to have a monthly continuing education session. Kevin agreed to chair a safety committee and work with Ralph on the safety manual. Cyn and he will get input from others to develop a safety and maintenance equipment list. Mark Lubbers is currently the chair of the Boats Committee. Bethany will develop a list of certified boatsteerers. The lock on the youth dock box is frozen and the cables need to be repaired. Cyn will take care of it.

The summer youth program went well. The parents were very supportive. The board discussed and approved the after-school program presented by Dave.

We had four teams and two boats at the Slocums Regatta. Everyone enjoyed themselves. The Working Waterfront Festival has asked if they could rent two boats for day. The board approved the request and set the rental fee at $300. Cyn will coordinate.

The Herman Melville is doing well at the Community Boating on Clark’s Cove. Two of three boatsteering sessions have taken place. Bethany will create a list of certified boatsteerers. The possibility of once a month, ongoing boatsteering classes was discussed.

Cyn reported that the summer program is going well. It may be extended through October. Dave has received feedback from teachers about the after school program. The board approved submitting a proposal to school systems. Teacher training will take place in the fall and student rowing in the spring, with the program culminating in the Whaleboat Challenge. Fund raising for the program will be referred to the Development Committee. The board thought that Whaleboat Challenge and the after school program should be combined for fund raising purposes.

Thank you letters have been sent for all those who helped with the IDWR. Dave said he would schedule a de-breifing meeting. WCR received a thank you letter from the Chamber/Summerfest committee. Pattie reported that 7 new members have joined since the IDWR.

An email will go out to the membership about the Lloyd Center regatta. WCR deadline for participation will be August 21. We will need to work out the logistics of getting the boats there and back. Cyn and Pattie met with contact Rebecca Lee and are working on a “whale race” fund raiser with a party afterwards.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 12 at 5:30 pm at Buttonwood Park Zoo, 425 Hawthorn St, New Bedford. Enter at main entrance.

The Herman Melville has been rowed over to Community Boating on Clark’s Cove. Ralph will put a larger cleat in the bow of the HM. Cyn has shelving that she will set up in the store room at the marina.

The summer program was rained out last week. It will be meeting every Wednesday until Labor Day. Lucy will collect $20 from each participant and send it to Pattie. Twelve people have signed up for it. Dave has been in contact with some teachers and administrators about the after school program. He is still collecting information.

Dave wrote an article about the IDWR for the Weekly Compass and race results were published in the Standard-Times. The Dartmouth Chronicle published an article on Dartmouth rowers in the IDWR and a press release on the Mystic rowers. Channel Six covered the IDWR. Kevin reviewed his work on the website and passed out an outline of remaining issues and questions. Kevin asked Pattie to review the website’s information on membership.

There were three IDWR boats that were interested in joining WCR. The boatsteerer for each boat is working on recruitment. The board agreed that as people consider joining we need to emphasize that all rows are member-driven; that is, rowers need to organize them and train to be boatsteerers. The board discussed the need to hold a boatsteerer training course. Pattie will send out an email on this.

Cyn thanked Dave and all the volunteers who helped with the IDWR. Dave returned the five marina pass cards to Cyn. Dave mentioned that holding the races off of State Pier is always a difficult proposition because of fishing boat traffic and pier activity. This year was especially difficult because there was so much activity. Dave will schedule a meeting to review the races and start planning for next year. Dave will send out thank you letters this week.

Cyn got the okay from Pope’s Island Marina to put a cleat on the dock. Ralph will take care of this Cyn will refurbish the safety kits. Kevin suggested we appoint a safety officer and the board agreed. Bethany will maintain a boatsteerer list. Dave suggested that we emphasize to new and current rowers that our goal is to make almost all rowers certified boatsteerers. This will allow for more open rowers and offer more flexibility. The board agreed.

The Whaleboat Challenge on Saturday went very well. Students from the Charter School and St. Vincent’s Home rowed to Palmers Island and held a harpoon sprint, with the St. Vincent’s team prevailing. Cyn thanked all who helped. Kevin has photos up on the website. See photos!

Kevin is continuing his work on the website update. It should be ready in a couple of weeks. Dave will sent board meeting summaries to him after each meeting. The Airset calendar is working well. Bethany is will continue to coordinate it and watch to see of a problem arises from scheduling conflicts (the calendar does not flag them). Kevin donated a $39 picture trail account to make it easy to post photos on the website. Board approves that the account be public so all can see the photos. Bethany is working on a WCR history for the website and Lucy is sending him photos of past events. Ralph is putting together a safety page.

Dave gave an update on IDWR. It looks like we will have 14 to 16 teams. All arrangements with the city, state pier and HDC have been made. Dave sent out a press release on the Mystic Seaport rowers that the Standard-Times used for an article.

We received a letter from Mayor Lang about an environmental advisory committee he is forming and asking us to participate. The board agreed that this would be a good idea. Cyn offered to attend the first meeting. Kevin suggested Lou Doherty be asked also and he is very knowledgeable in this area. The board agreed.

Dave mentioned the Community Service Award plaque for Kelley’s came in. He gave it to Cyn and she will present it. Kevin and Bethany will go with her and Dave will send out a press release once he gets photos from Kevin.

Kevin Lee is starting work on website and asked board members for suggestions. D’Arcy MacMahon gave an update on the Slocums River Regatta and Dave Prentiss gave an update on the IDWR. Cyn Spence stated that the rowers from Mystic Seaport came up last week to practice in the boats and are planning a few more practices before the races.

Both boats are now at Pope’s Island Marina. Cyn Spence, Dave Prentiss and Lucy Iannotti set up two dock boxes, one for recreational rowing and one for youth programs. Dave has sent out a press release on the IDWR and Lucy designed a race ad that the Standard-Times will run for free as part of Summerfest promotions. D’Arcy MacMahon has sent information to board members about the Slocums River Regatta.

Kevin Lee volunteered to update and maintain the website. Membership renewals have been sent out. Dave Prentiss is working on IDWR preparations.

Cyn Spence, Pattie MacMillen and Lucy Iannotti have met with staff and board members of the Community Boating Center and they are working on joint programs for the summer. Dave Prentiss volunteered to coordinate the Independence Day Whaleboat Races. He will attend the Summerfest steering committee meeting this week.

Cyn Spence informed the board that a support has offered to donate a boat slip at Pope’s Island Marine, which can hold at least two of the boats. Ralph Eustis will have the Gray Buzzards bring two boats over. The board finalized the membership renewal letter and Pattie MacMillen offered to help Cyn Spence mail them out. Cyn has been contacted by rowers at Mystic Seaport to participate in the Independence Day Whaleboat Races. She will follow up with them.

A representative from the Community Boating Center met with the board and discussed partnership ideas for youth programs. The board also discussed locations for the boats. Cyn Spence stated that she has received inquiries about the Whaleboat Challenge for high school rowers and the board agreed to hold the event in May or June. Cyn, Bethany Hawes and Lucy Iannotti have volunteered to organize the event.

The board has received notice from Kelley’s Shipyard that due to dredging and the installation of new docks, we will not be able to keep the whaleboats there in the future. The board identified a number of possible new locations and Cyn Spence agreed to begin investigating them. The board also agreed to publicly thank and recognize Kelley’s for their generosity and assistance over the years.

Cyn Spence reported that she has had informal discussions with the Community Boating Center about establishing a partnership with them for youth programs. The board authorized her to explore that possibility.