Twin Races

I feel like this could be a good CrossFit activity because, well, you never know when you just might have to run across a field with another human being on your back. In fairness to Melissa and Karry (pictured behind Kate and me), they did win the first race. This just happens to be the one caught on camera. I also think Karry needs to re-think her strategy of blinding Melissa with her hat. And you thought we were always serious at Row New York! Okay, maybe nobody every thought that.

Row New York Staff Retreat

The Row New York staff just returned from our annual staff retreat where, thanks to the Dubin family, we got to spend three days on the water reflecting on the past year and planning for the upcoming summer and school year. Besides eating abundant amounts of home-cooked food and rowing (Melissa and Jennie pictured above), we reviewed our core values as an organization, calendared the entire year (grueling, but a good practice), talked about our goals and plans for the girls and all of the other people we work with. It was amazing to work together without interruption, to take the time to focus on what we do, why we do it, and how to do everything better.

Row New Yorker Graduates from SUNY Buffalo

Fran started with Row New York at the beginning of her junior year. I knew her well because she spent most of her novice fall in the training barge and I spent most of my weekly coaching time with the novices in the barge. Fran was quiet and sports were very new to her. Slowly, but surely Fran transformed into a strong, lean, leader of the Row New York team. By the spring of her senior year a common refrain in the van or office was, "Fran, stop talking!" Our no longer quiet Fran headed off to SUNY Buffalo and graduated last month. She is pictured here with her team. Congratulations Fran!

Adaptive Rowing Training at Row New York

Rachele Pojednic, Community Rowing's Director of Outreach, came down from Boston yesterday to spend the day with Row New York and share the ins and outs of adaptive rowing as we prepare to launch our own adpative program for people with disabilities next month. Thanks to a generous grant from the JE & ZB Butler Foundation we have purchased equipment, run a staff training, and lined up four groups to bring their participants out to the boathouse.

Big thanks to Rachele for her time and expertise!

Row NY Seniors ALL Accepted to College!

We are happy to report that, once again, all of our seniors have been accepted to college. They will be attending Oklahoma City University (full rowing scholarship), Macalaster College (full academic scholarship), Bryn Mawr (full scholarship), Stetson University (full scholarship), Iona College (partial scholarship), Queens College (partial scholarship), and Cazenovia College. Four of the seven will be rowing in college. Congratulations!