Mendota Rowing Club News

2024 Annual General Meeting

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 19:09:42 GMT

The 2024 Annual General Meeting is Sunday, March 3rd at 2:00 at the Monona Public Library. Please bring a dish to pass/share, beverages will be provided.

Volunteer Opportunity

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 17:36:16 GMT

Here's an opportunity to volunteer at upcoming Badger football games: MRC has signed to manage a 12-14 person concession stand at the Badger football games on October 28 (Ohio) and November 11 (Northwestern). These concession stands are major fundraising events for the club. We typically make over $2,000 per game. If you would like to sign up, please use this link. If you have any questions, please text me at 202-604-8017. All volunteers must be at least 16 years of age by April 2024.

Thank you for volunteering.

Laura Scandurra
MRC Volunteer Coordinator

Annual General Meeting

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 21:07:07 GMT

Annual General Meeting

This year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at the Monona Public Library on Sunday, March 5^th at 1:30. All are welcome.

Join the Board of Directors

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 21:06:12 GMT

We are currently seeking any volunteers who may be interested in joining the Board of Directors. Mendota Rowing Club is an organization largely run by its members. All of Mendota Rowing Club's leaders volunteer their time and talents to run our club and further enrich our organization. In general, the BOD has general oversight of club operations, committees, and finances. Elections are held at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will be on March 5^th, 2023.

As a member of the Board, you would be asked to attend the BOD meetings which are held the second Tuesday of each Month. Each board member term lasts for three years.

This year we also have a specific need of someone who is willing to be the club treasurer. The treasurer is responsible for the club's monthly and annual budget and for keeping the board informed of the current budget status. They are also responsible for processing membership dues and other fees, reimbursing for club expenses, communicating with the club's accountant about filing taxes, and making sure the club's bills get paid.

If you have any questions about the Board of Directors or are willing to volunteer to be a member, please contact Julie Lanear at jlanear@mendotarowingclub.com.

Winter Strength Training at Crossfit Recursive

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 20:36:42 GMT

Still time to sign up!!!

Masters Click here: 12 Week Winter Cross Training for Rowers

December 5th - March 3rd with no classes December 26th - 30th
Tuesday/Thursday 6:00am - 7:00am
Cost: $359/person (billed every 4 weeks)

Juniors (no Middle School) Click here: 12 Week Strength Program for HS Rowers

December 5th - March 3rd with no classes December 26th - 30th
Tuesday/Thursday 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Cost: $299/person (billed every 4 weeks)

Winter Training Kick-off Social for Masters

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 20:35:13 GMT

Winter Training Kick-off Social for Masters

Team Mendota will officially kick off winter training at our beloved boathouse Monday December 5th.

To stoke the training fire under those chilly erg seats and present the plan Coach Heather and Coach Carlee would like to gather with you all for a CLUB SOCIAL!

When: Thursday November 17th - 5:30-7:00pm
Where: Bear & Bottle - 601 N. Sherman Ave. Madison

A table has been reserved for our group and you can order snacks and beverages if you wish.

MRC Team Gear

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 20:34:16 GMT

Mendota Team Gear

Below is the link to order your team spirit wear (makes a great gift)!

https://simplyswimming.net/mendotarowingclub

If you select curbside pickup all orders will be picked up and delivered to the boathouse for pick up!

Apparel Order Deadline: Sunday, November 20th @ 11:59pm!

When checking out, please make sure you enter both your billing and shipping address. After checkout you should receive an e-mail confirming your purchase (it may end up in your junk e-mail). If you do not receive an e-mail confirmation, please contact info@simplyswimming.net to make sure your order processed.

If you have any questions or problems with the website, please contact them either by e-mail (info@simplyswimming.net ) or phone (608-836-6649).

UW Football Concession - Volunteers Needed

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 20:32:18 GMT

UW Football Concession on Nov 26

We are looking for a total of 11 people to manage a concession stand at the UW Badger game on Nov. 26. (Start time will be announced one week before the game. Gates open 90 minutes before the game starts.)

The concession team needs two groups of volunteers:

concession team lead plus three volunteers to arrive two hours before gates open to prep the stand, do inventory and volunteer for one of the positions listed below
Seven volunteers to arrive one hour before gates open to help prep and volunteer for one of the positions below

During the game, we will have these positions for the eleven volunteers:

Run register: 5 volunteers
Prep hotdogs and brats: 2 volunteers
Prep nachos and pretzels: 1 volunteer
Drinks: 2 volunteers
Floater (provide support where needed): 1 volunteer

The stand closes 5 minutes into the fourth quarter. Cleanup is pretty quick when everyone pitches in but if you need to leave early, we can accommodate that. Just let us know in advance. Total time commitment will be about 5 - 6 hours.

You can sign up here if you are interested in this fun event. Contact Laura Scandurra at 202-604-8018 with questions. We rely on our club members to volunteer for these and other events to defray our costs and keep our dues down.

MRC Fundraiser: Coffee Sales

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 20:31:19 GMT

Colectivo Coffee Sales

Mendota Rowing Club Members will be “hitting the streets” selling Colectivo coffee, tea and cocoa to alumni, friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers through November 29. Colectivo products make excellent holiday gifts for all plus if you need more volunteer hours, selling coffee is a great way to get them. This year, our goal is to raise $2000 and we need your help to reach this goal. If you sell $500 or more, that will satisfy all of your volunteer requirements through March 2023 (not a bad deal).

If you are not able to connect with Fran in person, place your order form and money in an envelope in the black lock box downstairs in the boat bay no later than noon on November 29. Please write “COFFEE” on the outside of the envelope. Alternatively, you can have people order and pay online here. Please note that $.50 is added onto each item ordered online because of the additional fee we pay for credit card purchases.

Orders not paid for by noon on November 29 will be cancelled.

Your order will be ready for you to pick up on December 15.

Contact Fran by email if you have questions.

2022 MRC Colectivo Order Form.pdf

2022 Colectivo Products.pdf

MRC Announcements June 13 2022

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 18:29:25 GMT

Trailer Driving: Have you ever wanted to try driving the trailer to regattas? Now is your chance! We will be doing some trailer driving instruction Sunday, June 19^th following the Minneapolis Sprints. If interested, please contact Julie Lanear at jlanear@mendotarowingclub.com

Master practice Saturday June 18th 8:00-10:00am is canceled due to regatta travel. There will be a few 1x’s left in the boathouse so independent scullers unite!

MRC Announcements May 31 2022

Tue, 31 May 2022 19:07:17 GMT

It's Racing Season! We are headed to the Minneapolis Sprints June 18. If you are interested in racing, please contact Coach Heather immediately. (hswan@mendotarowingclub.com)

We have also secured a trailer driver for the Chicago Sprints July 8th-10th! If you haven’t already notified Coach Heather (via survey) of your interest in racing please do so by June 10th.

SafeSport Training Requirement. A reminder for all rowers wishing to race this year - USRowing requires all individuals 18 years and older to complete Safe Sport training. You can access the training by logging in to your personal profile on https://membership.usrowing.org. Log in with your member number and password, click the SafeSport button in the menu bar on the left-hand side, and from the Catalog tab select the course for “Adult Athlete.” The thumbnail is green with a woman boxing. The course should take no more than half an hour to complete. You will not be able to race unless you take the course.

Additional Practice Opportunities. The summer is almost here and we are gearing up our practice schedule. Adult practices are available Tuesday (Competitive), Wednesday (Competitive/Rec) beginning June 8th Thursday (Competitive), and Saturday (Competitive/Rec) mornings. Adult Novice/Rec practices will be available Wednesday and Friday evenings beginning June 8th. (no novice on Saturday mornings). Please sign up for practices here.

National Learn To Row day is June 4^th. The boathouse will be open from 12 – 4. We will be providing tours and the opportunity to row in an 8. Please consider volunteering at the boathouse and spread the word!

Volunteer opportunities. We have many volunteer opportunities available – National Learn to Row day, Learn to Row classes, and concession sales at Forward Madison games. A volunteer calendar is available on our website with links to sign up to participate. This is a great way to help our club and fulfill volunteer hour requirements.

Amazon.com Will Donate to MRC

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 02:18:26 GMT

Did you know you could support Mendota Rowing Club just by shopping on Amazon? Just shop on Amazon Smile and designate Mendota Rowing Club as your charity. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases. Smile.amazon.com

Rowing Marathon Training Program

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 15:45:32 GMT

Do you want to row a marathon? Check out Coach Carlee's Rowing Marathon Training Program.

Another Opportunity to Purchase MRC Team Apparel

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 18:50:50 GMT

In addition to our JL Racing MRC Team Store you can order other MRC items from SimplySwimming.Below is the link to order:

https://www.simplyswimming.net/mendotarowingclub

Order Deadlines:
Apparel Deadline: Sunday, May 1^st @ 11:59pm!

Projected Delivery Date:
Tuesday, May 17^th
(Julie Lanear will be picking up orders & handing out)

When checking out, please make sure you enter both your billing and shipping address. Our system requires both to process your order. After checkout you should receive an e-mail confirming your purchase (it may end up in your junk e-mail). If you do not receive an e-mail confirmation please contact us to make sure your order processed in case your credit card declines or your billing address doesn’t match correctly the order will not process and you may not receive an error message via our website.

This is a team distribution; if you would like your order shipped directly to your home please select shipping at checkout!

If you have any questions or problems with the website, please contact us either by e-mail (info@simplyswimming.net ) or phone (608-836-6649). We are happy to help however we can.

Spring Equipment Fundraiser

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 18:39:00 GMT

Rowing with well-maintained equipment is a joy. Replacing worn oarlocks, getting new sets of oars and even buying a new boat periodically keeps our fleet smooth, safe and fast. But did you know that our dues only pay for a fraction of equipment costs? The remainder of the funds come from generous donations from folks like you, who know how important it is to keep our equipment in good shape.

With this in mind, this spring we are providing you the opportunity to “buy” some new equipment for the boathouse. We have generated a list of parts, tools, supplies and equipment that are needed. Please look over the list and consider pledging the cost of one (or more!) of the items listed. You may even wish to contribute toward a new midweight double, to be purchased later this year. Your generosity will be very much appreciated!!!

This fundraiser will only be active for TWO WEEKS, so do not delay in getting in your pledge!

Here's how it will work:

Between now and April 20^th, open the “Equipment Fundraiser” Google Spreadsheet
Put your name on the line next to the item you would like to fund. If you wish to remain anonymous, enter "anonymous" on the line, and email fbreit@mendotarowingclub.com with your pledge amount.
If you would like to contribute to the purchase of a new 2x/2- put your pledge amount and name on the New Boat spreadsheet. If you would like to match all boat pledges made during this fund drive, list the matching amount.

· You will be invoiced for your pledged amount.

Thank you in advance for your tax-deductible contribution to keep our club equipment in great shape!

Spring and Summer Programming 2022

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 18:38:02 GMT

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the recent survey, your responses are important and so helpful in shaping Mendota's Masters 2022 rowing program.

Once mother nature decides to release the icy grip on our lake and water and air temps rise there will be (3) coached springtime practices per week,time TBD.

Currently land practice is offered Monday (captain led) 5:45am-6:45am, Wednesday 5:45am-6:45am (coached) and Saturday's 8-10:00am combined practice with the Juniors (coached). Consider getting your booty back into the swing!

Beginning in June and through the summer (4) coached practices will be offered per week, time and day TBD. Private or semi private coached sessions for water or land training outside of club practices can also be scheduled, please reach out to Heather with questions.

Coached practices will be categorized by competitive, recreational and novice. Competitive practices will be rigorous focusing on building speed and using technique to increase rowing efficiency (recreational rowers may attend these practices).

Recreational practices will help increase rower technique and athleticism (novices with a minimum of 3 months rowing experience may attend these practices).

Novice practices will be for those just starting out. A minimum of 2 rowers will need to be signed up for any practice to be held.

Erging workshops are being planned and during the summer we will offer a club wide mid week later morning coached practice so stay tuned!

Summer regattas with the most interest:

Minneapolis Sprints - June 18th (Youth-Masters)
Chicago Sprints - July 8th-10th (Juniors-Masters) *The Lanear family is not available to drive the trailer for this race.
Michigan Club Invite, Ann Arbor MI - July 16th (Youth-Masters)
Midwest Summer Sprint Championship, Nashport OH - July 30th
Master's Nationals, Sarasota, FL - Aug 18th - 21st (Masters) *We will train for this race however participation will be on your own.

Until a Masters head coach is hired Heather will act as Masters head coach with the support of the other Mendota coaches.

Lastly, now that COVID has released its grip we will begin to plan some club wide socials like 'CREW and BREW' and National Learn to Row Day on June 4th. If you want to be on the planning committee or participate in other volunteer opportunities please reach out, your help and support is vital!!

MRC Team Store is Open til April 21

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 18:35:37 GMT

The Mendota Rowing Club online team store opened today. Everyone MUST get their order in by April 21. For individual orders after April 21, pricing and shipping will be different than a team purchase.

Orders are set to ship individually so please be sure to enter a valid shipping address with your order (orders cannot be delivered to a PO Box).

If you plan to race you will need to purchase a unisuit or tank top.

Click here to order.

Orders take 4 to 8 weeks for delivery. .

If you have any questions please contact me at: fbreit@mendotarowingclub.com

Answers to common questions can be found at https://jlrowing.com/pages/faqs. Sizing information can be found here.

Fundraiser for Stem-to-Stern

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 18:34:28 GMT

We're excited to announce that we've partnered with Campfire Coffee for a fundraiser to support our Cynthia R. Cauthern STEM-to-Stern program! Please see the website https://www.welovecampfire.com/mendotarowing to support. Half of the money raised from purchasing this coffee goes directly to our efforts to make our club more accessible, diverse and competitive. The fundraiser wraps up Friday April 15 so don't delay.

You can also donate directly to the Cynthia R. Cauthern STEM-to-Stern program here.

Please support and please share with your friends/network!"

Singles practice starts this week!

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 14:58:02 GMT

Thanks to the efforts of our coaches and board of directors, we can now offer single sculling practice! Our goal is to get as many members as possible certified as independent scullers. Once you're certified, you can take a single out on the water any time. You can row on your schedule, with all the physical distancing you could ask for (unless a duck comes to visit).

It's a bad time for putting nine people together in a boat, and we are so grateful to the coaches and the board for working this out. MRC is lucky to have such a determined and adaptable group of leaders. Go Mendota!

Winter Training at MRC

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 20:13:29 GMT

In rowing, people often say that you earn your medals in the winter and pick them up the following summer. Winter training is essential to building fitness so you can hit the water at full speed when the dock goes in.

Whether you are a seasoned rower or new to the sport, indoor training on the erg (rowing machine) is one of the best ways to get fit.

Winter training is part of an annual membership, but is also offered as a separate $190 membership for the December to February season. We meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-7am and Saturdays from 7-8am. Practice starts December 2.

Join now and get fit.

Support MRC: Buy Colectivo Coffee from Us

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 16:32:08 GMT

Mendota Rowing Club Members will be “hitting the streets” selling Colectivo coffee, tea and cocoa to alumni, friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers through November 27. This year, our goal is to raise $2000 for the club's equipment fund. Help us reach this goal.

Colectivo products make excellent holiday gifts for all. Order online.

We are not able to ship orders. Your order will be ready for you to pick up on December 4.

If you have any questions please contact Melissa Austin.

Product Descriptions
Order Form for MRC Members

PowerPoint Presentation from the 2019 MRC Annual General Meeting

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 20:59:38 GMT

If you missed the 2019 MRC Annual General Meeting you can access the PowerPoint presentation here.

2019 Learn to Row Class Information Is Available

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 18:06:03 GMT

Learn to row this summer with Mendota Rowing Club. Information and class schedules can be found here.

National Learn to Row Day: June 1

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 18:03:17 GMT

Join us June 1 at Mendota Rowing Club for a free event sponsored by USRowing and Concept 2! Rowing clubs all over the United States will open their doors to share the excitement of rowing. We'll show you the mechanics of the stroke on indoor rowing equipment and then take you out on the water in our 8-oared racing shells.* Competitive and recreational rowers range from 12 to over 90, so it is never too early or too late to learn to row! Registrations is required.
Register here

*Conditions permitting

MRC Has Boat Rack Space Available

Sun, 25 Mar 2018 21:29:59 GMT

Mendota Rowing Club has space available for $300/year for personal single sculling boats. All boats are stored safely inside 12 months a year and can be accessed at your convenience. You can sign up for boat storage here.

Rack Rental Requirements

When you store your boat at MRC you are required to have an Independent Sculler Membership which is an additional $300. Click here to join.
In addition, you must be certified as an independent sculler which requires you to pass both a practical test and a written test. These tests are to ensure that you can safely take a boat out on Lake Mendota without a coach present. Contact a coach to set up a time for your certification.
You should also be familiar with the contents of the Sculler's Manual and the Lake Mendota traffic pattern.

2018 MRC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - March 24

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 20:33:35 GMT

When: 03/24/2018, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Location: Goodman South Madison Library - 2222 S Park St, Madison

Let's get ready to row. Please join us at the Annual Meeting to learn and discuss the plans for the upcoming rowing season and to meet new members and visit with the old.

PLEASE BRING A DISH TO SHARE and we will provide the drinks. See you there!

Midwinter Meltdown Indoor Regatta January 20, 2018

Thu, 07 Dec 2017 21:50:45 GMT

Join us in January 20th for the 2018 Midwinter Meltdown at Porter Boathouse, UW-Madison, 680 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI.

Events include 1000m, 2000m, 6000m and relays.

More Info

Winter Training Begins December 2

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 14:57:59 GMT

The winter training season at Mendota Rowing Club begins on Dec. 2 and runs through March.Practices are:

Monday and Friday: 6:00 am to 7:00 am

Wednesdays: 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Saturday: 7:00 am to 8:00 am

If you are not a member and would like to join us for the winter click here.

Yoga classes added for the winter

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 16:41:59 GMT

Join us for the winter sessions of Yoga at the Boathouse. You won't be sorry. Sign up here.

Concept 2 Ergometers on Sale Now!!!

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 19:50:06 GMT

MRC has a super sale on Concept 2 Ergometers. Check it out.

National Learn to Row Day: June 3

Sun, 02 Apr 2017 21:50:50 GMT

Join us June 3 at Mendota Rowing Club for a free event sponsored by USRowing and Concept 2! Rowing clubs all over the United States will open their doors to share the excitement of rowing. We'll show you the mechanics of the stroke on indoor rowing equipment and then take you out on the water in our 8-oared racing shells.* Competitive and recreational rowers range from 12 to over 90, so it is never too early or too late to learn to row! Registrations is required.

*Conditions permitting

2017 Learn to Row Class Information is Available

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 01:09:18 GMT

Learn to row this summer with Mendota Rowing Club. Information and class schedules can be found here.

MRC at the Head of the Charles

Fri, 28 Oct 2016 15:42:41 GMT

Mendota Rowing Club was well represented at the 52nd Head of the Charles in Boston rowing in the Women's Masters 4+, Men's Masters 4+, Women's Club 4, and Women's Masters 8+. Our Women's Masters 4+ (Elizabeth Parker - coxswain, Nancy Jarvis, Mary Moody, Martha Laugen, and Megan Neuman) finished 11th and qualified for next year's event. Well done, team.

MRC Wins Six Medals at the Head of the Rock Regatta

Sun, 16 Oct 2016 12:58:34 GMT

Congratulations to our rowers for bringing home the medals at the Head of the Rock Regatta -- two gold, two silver and two bronze.

Full results

MRC Wins 11 Medals at the Tail of the Fox Regatta

Wed, 05 Oct 2016 20:07:44 GMT

Congratulations to our novice, advanced, and competitive rowers for bringing home the medals at the Tail of the Fox Regatta -- five gold, two silver and two bronze.

Full results

The Learn-to-Row Volunteer Coordinator Position Available

Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:03:19 GMT

Learn-to-Row Volunteer Coordinator Position Available
The Learn-to-Row (LTR) Volunteer Coordinator position at Mendota Rowing Club is currently available for the 2017 season and beyond. This position includes a reduced-fee membership depending on the amount of responsibility undertaken. The LTR Volunteer Coordinator recruits and trains volunteer instructors and teaches at least one class. See a full list of duties below.

Resumés and other questions can be sent to Fran Breit (fbreit@mendotarowingclub.com). Please submit your resumé by December 1, 2016.

LTR Volunteer Coordination Tasks:

Updating the LTR Instructor and Student manual as necessary
Training instructors and certifying launch drivers as necessary
Ensuring all lead instructors have completed the Safe Sport training
Recruiting volunteers to run the classes. A launch driver as well as two coxswains are needed for each class. One of these three individuals is expected to be "lead instructor" and to take responsibility for instruction and direction within each class.
Collecting and distributing substitute list for the use of instructors when needed.
Greeting all classes on first day of class. Helps instructors with any last minute registrations, collects checks, waivers, and swim tests.
Teaching at least one class during the summer.
Teaching additional classes if lead instructors cannot be identified, but no more than 2.
Acting as a substitute LTR instructor
Serve on the LTR Committee (as do all lead instructors)
Taking and preparing LTR Committee meeting minutes
Working with Novice coach during 2 week free boot camp in April and during season to smooth transition of students from LTR to Novice group
Submitting class photos for MRC social media (FB, Twitter, and Instagram)
Assisting with National LTR Day (first Saturday in June)

Learn to Row Graduates

Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:08:56 GMT

Congratulations to the June and July Learn to Row Graduates! Nice work and we look forward to seeing you at Novice Practice.

Congratulations to the May Learn to Row Graduates

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 19:42:53 GMT

Congratulations to the May Learn to Row Graduates! Nice work and we look forward to seeing at Novice Practice.

Joe Azzara
Autumn Brower
Christina Brunnquell
Celia Carroll
Laura Debroux
Jennifer Dreyfus
Keith Dsouza
Renee Earley
Nan Fey
Cynthia Hirsch
Gary Hooper
Brian Jelinek
Jackie Knepper
Sarah Lawton
Celia Luner

Jennifer Marino
Nicole Mccue
Anne Mchale
Michael Miller
Carol Mitchell Rybak
Christine Patton
Katherine Rybak
Rachel Sarow
David Southard
Katy Thostenson
Abbie Vance
Karen Vanderwolf
Harrison Waala
Brady Williamson
Elise Ziemendorf

Success! National Learn to Row Day

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 19:41:27 GMT

National Learn to Row Day had an incredible turnout of guests and club members, fantastic weather, great snacks, and good camaraderie. It was a great day of collegial connection with Camp Randall Rowing Club coaches and rowers as well. May all these good things continue and build! Thanks to all the volunteers, and in particular to Sarah Howard who did a fabulous job of organizing and keeping things running smoothly.

Thank You

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 19:34:38 GMT

Thank you to:

Cory Berkbigler and Liz Klapheke for being our dedicated coxswains this spring. We love you.

Janet Balster, Sarah Howard, Casey O'Keefe, Nicki Paulson, and Nick Van Sciver for helping out at the Madison Water Sport Expo.

Fran Breit, Kathy Campbell, Nancy Jarvis, Mary Moody, Laura Robbins, and Clarisse van der Fetz for helping with our garden.

Ben Bradford, Fran Breit, and Nancy Jarvis for participating in Rent-a-Rower.

Aldrin Abastillas, Kurt Amann, Fran Breit, Kathy Campbell, Harlan Hall, Nancy Jarvis, Mark Ketilson, Casey O’Keefe, Mireille Raby, Todd Thompson for your generous donation to the MRC Boat Fund.

Kathryn Pereira, Nancy Jarvis, Nick Van Sciver, Sarah Howard, Harlan Hall, and Ben Bradford for teaching our May LTR students.

Swim Test Changes

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 19:29:49 GMT

Swim Test Changes - If a member is not able to pass a swim test the following option is now available to them.

If a dedicated coxswain is not able to pass a swim test, they may take the test wearing a life jacket, life vest or their own automatic inflatable floatation device. The coxswain must wear a life jacket, life vest or their own automatic inflatable flotation device at all times while in a boat.

If a rower is not able to pass a swim test, they may take the test wearing a personal automatic inflatable flotation device. The rower must wear their own person automatic inflatable flotation device at all times while in a boat.

Personal automatic inflatable flotation device must be accompanied with a new cartridge when participant is in a boat.

MRC Rule Changes

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 19:28:56 GMT

Please take note of the following changes to the Club Rules:

As the board of directors and coaches continue to fine-tune the rules of the club we discovered that we have not clearly stated the consequences for not adhering to them. As a result, the board has approved the following addition to the club rules.

If a rower violates¹ any of the club or sculling rules (set forth in the Sculler’s Manual) the consequences will be as follows:

First violation -
Rower will get a warning.

Second violation -
Rower will not be boated for two weeks. If the rower is an independent sculler he/she will not be allowed to scull for two weeks. If a regatta is scheduled during those two weeks he/she will not be allowed to race.

Third violation -
Rower will be considered for membership suspension.

¹Infractions are at coaches' discretion with appeals to the board.

Remember all members are required to read the Club Rules and in addition, scullers are required to the read the Sculler’s Manual annually. The rules are meant for your safety, the safety of our equipment and the security of our boathouse. If you have not read the rules this year now would be a good time to do it so you don’t find yourself in violation.

Rent a Rower

Tue, 03 May 2016 16:57:58 GMT

Let's Get Hal Back on the Water!

Our beloved Vespoli 4+ Halapeño suffered a nasty blow last fall that cracked a rib and made a rift in the hull, rendering it unrowable. We have been given an estimate for repair estimate of $2900 by our hull repair shop in Chicago. We want Hal back!!

In the next 6 weeks, we need to raise funds to pay for the repair. If we all pitch in we can do it! We can get Hal back on the water in time to rip up the Chicago Sprints.

To reach our goal: 48 members need to earn/contribute an average of $60 each

That is a lot of money, but…this is where RENT-A-ROWER comes in!

Two ways to make our goal:

Members can “earn” money by volunteering their muscle/skills/talents to family, friends and neighbors, who in turn make a donation to MRC (“Rent-a-Rower”).
Members can contribute money directly to the fund.

Dates: 4/11/16 through 5/23/16 (6 weeks)

Rent-A-Rower:

For rowers who wish to donate their muscle and talent:

Rowers send notice to friends, family, neighbors announcing list of tasks rower is willing to do.
Rowers and customers schedule jobs.
Rowers complete tasks, and friends, family, neighbors make a suggested donation of $15/hour to MRC.

To reach your goal: 4 hours x $15 = $60

Some suggested tasks for Rent-A-Rower:

Yard Work (raking, weeding, planting, mowing, turning over garden, mulching)
Windows (ground or step ladder only)
Cleaning garage, basement
Interior Cleaning
Painting
Stacking wood
Polishing silver
Wash, vacuum car
Dog walking
Cooking dinner/baking (you donate ingredients)
Moving furniture, boxes
Specialties:
Bike repair
Computer help
Mending, hemming, alterations
What is your specialty?

Important:

All checks should specify “MRC Donation, Boat Repair Fund” so the fundraising can be tracked.

Here is a sample note you could send to friends, neighbors and family:

Subject line: Rent-A-Rower

Hi ______

I row with Mendota Rowing Club (MRC), a community rowing club located in James Madison Park. Last fall one of our rowing shells “Hal” was damaged in an accident. We are raising money for the repair so we can get Hal back on the water, and hope you can help.

Through our Rent-A-Rower Fundraiser, I will do any of the tasks listed below for a suggested donation of $15 per hour. All funds go directly to Mendota Rowing Club.

(List all tasks you are willing to do)

If you have tasks to do, please contact me and we can work out a convenient time. If you require more than one person, please let me know. There are plenty of strong folks at Mendota Rowing Club.

By the way, MRC offers Learn To Row classes all summer if you are interested in trying something new! http://mendotarowingclub.com/LTR

Your friendly Rent-A-Rower,

Questions: contact Nancy Jarvis - njarvis@mendotarowingclub.com

National Learn to Row Day

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 19:26:07 GMT

Join us for this free event sponsored by USRowing and Concept 2! Rowing clubs all over the United States will open their doors to share the excitement of rowing. We'll show you the mechanics of the stroke on indoor rowing equipment and then take you out on the water in our 8-oared racing shells if conditions permit. Competitive and recreational rowers range from 12 to over 90, so it is never too early or too late to learn to row!

Thank You!

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 19:10:56 GMT

Nancy Jarvis for logging more than 60 volunteer hours in April.
Harlen Hall for working behind the scenes to get our dock ready.
Casey O'Keefe for matching 20 cents to the dollar for all donations made to the Hal repair fund.
To our coaches for a successful April Learn to Row session.

Congratulations to the April LTR graduates

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 19:38:11 GMT

Congratulations to the April LTR graduates: Aldrin Abastillas, Aaron Jahncke, James Kreft, Laura Robbins, and Joe Wu.

Pre-season Open House

(Past member) — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 18:37:09 GMT

Saturday, March 26th from 9am-noon!

We are busting open the doors of historic Bernard's Boathouse to let the fresh air -- and fresh people -- in! Come and see what makes rowers so stir-crazy this time of year: sleek racing shells waking up from their winter sleep, sparkling new lesson plan ideas for on-the-water rowing instruction, indoor rowing machines humming, keeping us fit and limber. Want to know more about rowing in 2016? Want to take a peek at what's going on inside that white boathouse? Stop in! Questions? Contact info@mendotarowingclub.com.

New Website

(Past member) — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:11:06 GMT

Mendota RC's new website is live!! The look and feel of the site has been updated and some new features have been added. Check it out and pass any suggestions you have for improvement on to the Board of Directors.

Team Stuff

(Past member) — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 21:41:01 GMT

Morning rowers have been testing out a new app to track attendance and plan boatings for upcoming practices and regattas. It's called Team Stuff, and so far, it's been great.

Morning rowers log into the app, so that coaches can easily manage rower contact and emergency information, as well as side preferences and sculling ability. Rowers can also indicate their attendance or absence from any practice or scheduled regatta from their home computers or smart phone with just a few clicks. Coaches can then link to a related app called Coach Stuff to set lineups, create a workout plan, and keep notes on rowers and coxswains. The app is currently free of charge - and we all hope will stay that way. It's not perfect, but according to Martha "This is easier than maintaining a single Google doc, plus more secure as each rower has their own individual log in and user identity".

For those interested in the morning program, you can get started on Team Stuff by taking a look here: Sign up as a member of the Mendota team. Once you set up a profile, you can look at Schedule and RSVP for practices. The default setting is "Yes, I'm attending" so please RSVP for the week by 7pm on Sunday evenings. Happy Rowing!

An Attitude of Gratitude

(Past member) — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 21:40:21 GMT

With your time, talents, and contributions, we are laying the foundation for another 40 years of a strong Mendota Rowing Club! Here's a recap of happenings around the boathouse, for which we are so grateful: Dock-In and Raising the Dock: Please forgive us for not having all the names of those who helped - it's a good problem to have, but Allison will make sure to keep better track at future events to ensure you're all mentioned properly! In addition to those who helped on dock-in and raise-the-dock days, we want to give a special shout out to Harlan, Natalie, Andy, and Ben for donning waders and hopping in the lake. Equipment & Beautification: Nancy has also been hard at work on oars, and other equipment repairs. Nancy, Kathryn, Harlan, Casey, and David have been ensuring our launches are in working order, too. Amy is applying for a grant for plants, with help from Ben, Fran, and Allison come planting time. Photo Archiving: Jennifer, a professional archivist, is working with Chad to preserve our hard copies of Mendota photos. Paul, Cory's husband, has graciously offered to donate his digital photo archive, as well! Donations: Flat Screen and Apple TV from Fran, which Ben graciously helped install. Photo frames from Kathryn, Fran, Jennifer, Elsa, Martha, Casey, Nancy, Som, Amy, and Allison. New towels from Mireille and a replacement megaphone from Fran. Membership Committee: Matt, Erin, Emily, and Michelle have been recruiting new members, creating ideas for swag. Publicity: Amy, Cory, Som, Mireille, Mark Ketilson, Elsa, Anna, and Martina are working projects such as social media, a new website design, photos, and this newsletter. Fundraising: Nancy and Fran made pogies, for sale now at the boathouse. National Learn to Row Day, morning of June 6th: Kathryn, Oliver, Laurie, Mireille and Amy are leading this big event, and volunteers continue to sign up! 40th Anniversary Reception, afternoon of June 6th: Cynthia, Peggy, Amy, and Allison are hard at work. Special thanks to Ben, Cory and her husband Paul, Som, Chad, and Alida for their donations thus far. Adult Advanced: Fran is the Adult Team head, and is working hard with Lead Coach Martha, and coaches David, Sarah, and Alyssa on all things competition-related. Chad, Fran, Som, and Kathryn are on a Coaching Committee, with a special focus on finding someone to fill Matt's shoes when he moves in July. Sculling: Thank you to Matt for keeping an eye on the water temps, and for coaching both advanced and new scullers. We will miss you when you go on to graduate school. Novice: Alyssa has begun the Novice Bootcamp! She welcomed the help of David, Mark Leahy, and Andy Miller. Learn to Row: The program has begun, and it couldn't have gotten off to a great start without the help of our volunteer instructors - Ben, Harlan, Kathryn, Sandy, and Sarah. As you can see, there is no shortage of things going on at the boathouse! Volunteers and new ideas are always sought and appreciated. Thanks for all you do!

40 years on Lake Mendota

(Past member) — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 21:38:55 GMT

The boathouse is alive with the sounds of Adult Advanced, Sculling, Novice Bootcamp, Learn to Row, and countless volunteer hours during this 40th anniversary year of Mendota Rowing Club! The water is warming up, the days are getting longer, and here at Mendota, we are ready for summer in Madison.

Please join us in celebrating 40 years of Mendota Rowing Club on June 6, from 3-5p, and register online ($20/ticket). Food, drinks, special guests, music, a slideshow, and camaraderie are included.

Our members, board, and coaches are busy keeping our club running smoothly, looking sharp, and serving our Madison community. We would like to sincerely thank Tim McDowell for the extensive work he did as a Treasurer to the Board for more than 2 years. His experience and expertise was extremely valuable and will be missed. A further thank you to Mark Ketilson, our new Treasurer, Andy Troyanowski, our new Secretary, and to Amy Van Aartsen who recently joined the Directors!
Happy 40 years of rowing on Lake Mendota.

Allison & The Board of Directors