Weekly News and Announcements
November 2, 2005

COACHING SCHEDULE

Scott will coach a practice from 9:00 to 10:00 AM on Saturday, 11/5. Boats racing at Wyandotte are encouraged to come out, and other rowers can fill in empty seats or make a whole boat of non-racers.

No other coaching next week; happy erging!

END OF CLUB SCULLING

Club Scullers: The river temp has reached the below 50 degree mark. As per the AARC Sculling rules all club singles are now out of service. See you on the ergs!

SIGN UP FOR END OF THE YEAR PARTY

Countdown: 11 ... 10 ... 9 ... 8 ...

Less than two weeks until the end of season celebration. We know your calendars are already marked, so be sure to let us know you're coming (and if you're bringing a guest). In fact, just go ahead and buy your tickets today. You can pay through our online system (www.a2crew.com) by check until Nov. 2nd and by credit card until Nov. 8 and then we'll have to send in the final head count to the caterer, so please don't delay. We'll have delicious food and drinks (BYO alcohol) and great stories from the season. Can't wait to see you there!

WYANDOTTE INFO

The American Heritage River Fall Classic Regatta will be taking place this Sunday November 6th. For those of you going we need your help with de-rigging. This will take place this Saturday at 10:00 am. For those of you who would like to row there will be a brief row from 9:00 - 10:00 am Saturday morning. Race boats are welcome to come and row with their set boats but those not racing are welcome as well. They will try to create a non-race boat. De-rigging will take place after the row.

Be prepared for the weather. The weather forecast is predicting a high of 59 degree with possible showers. Remember to bring a change of clothes, food, sunscreen, extra socks, warm clothes, and chairs if desired.

Please arrive in Wyandotte by 6:30 am. It is important that all of you are present at this time as we need all the help we can get re-rigging the boats. Also please make sure that your waivers are signed and handed in by no later than Friday evening.

There will be no need to re-rig the boats after the race but we will need to unload the trailer on Monday at 6 PM at the boathouse.

The course Map can be found at http://www.wyandotteboatclub.com/course.html

Directions:
A. Take 1-75 to Eureka Exit #36. (After exiting If you were traveling south on 1-75, turn left. If you were traveling north on 1-75 make a right.)
B. Proceed east on Eureka Road to Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte. (You will pass Dix Road and Fort Street)
C. Turn right on Biddle Avenue.
D. Proceed south on Biddle Avenue through beautiful downtown Wyandotte. One block past Eureka Road, turn left to the river. This is Pine Street. (Portofino Restaurant is on the (left) corner.) We are immediately on the right.

If you have any additional questions please contact Rachel Cox at rachelandrianna@hotmail.com or Jeff Jones at jfjones@umich.edu. Thank you.

END OF THE SEASON WORK PARTY

Come down to the boathouse on Saturday 11/12/05, from 8am-1pm, to pack up the boathouse for the winter. We have to derig all boats and clean them, clean up boathouse and grounds, and remove and put away 2 launches. Tom will definitely think of more projects for us as well! We hope and expect to see all the membership for this fun occasion.

AARC NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING

The November AARC board meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 8th at 6:30 PM at Karen Berna's house. Please notify either me (wmackint@umich.edu) or Sarah (marsh.sk@gmail.com) if you would like to attend and if you have an item that you would like to place on the agenda.

Will Mackintosh
Secretary, AARC

ARGO PARK WORK DAY

Come be good neighbors at the Argo Park Work Day, Saturday, November 5, 9am-noon. Meet at Amherst and Longshore streets (across the river) to help cut and remove invasive plants from Argo Park. Natural area Preservation staff will direct all who come, in removing invasive shrubs, helping the indigenous species to regain a foothold in one of Ann Arbor's best examples of an Oak- Hickory forest. It will be a great workout before Wyandotte.

HURON ROWING FUNDRAISER

Come to the Huron Rowing Assoc. Fundraiser on November 16, 2005. It's Mongolian BBQ Grillin for Tips. See attached flyer for more info.

FROGTOWN RECAP

The races got off to a rocky start with a huge freighter being pulled by a tugboat down the Maumee River first thing in the morning. If that wasn't enough, during the morning of the regatta (yes during the regatta) low and behold the body of a missing Ann Arbor Resident Doctor was found in the river. The races were delayed an hour or so, the spectators were moved and the body was fished out of the water. However, before the body was found Andrew Whelan took the gold in the Men's Masters Singles. In the meantime, several of our AARC members who competed in the singles and doubles events were stuck out on the water without knowing what the hold up was. Once the races were underway again the officials began to quickly send out one boat after the next attempting to make up for lost time. While this was all happening the winds were gusting above 25 miles/hour and the weather was rather chilly. The winds were so strong several boats had tipped and/or sunk. In fact some of the coxswains were so true to their boats that they were voluntarily jumping into the frigid Maumee River to put themselves in between the boat and the rocks to prevent a crash. Needless to say the course had been shortened later in the day for safety issues.

In the meantime our novice boat which was supposed to be racing mid afternoon had missed their race due to their boat and coxswain being out on the water. Thanks to our coach who was able to finagle our novice boat into a Masters Race later on in the day. Our appreciation goes out to Kevin! A big thanks also goes out to our Coxswain Pam Besterman who agreed to coach our boat last minute while our original Cox was still out on the water. Unfortunately, one of our AARC boats racing in the Women's Masters 8+ ended up water logged and came close to sinking. Another one of our AARC boats in the same event with several novices took the bronze metal. Great job ladies! One of our Men's Masters 8+ also won a gold after being the only boat racing in their event. Overall it was quite a wild ride for those AARC members who had raced that day. For those of us who did brave the high winds, huge freighters and dead bodies in Frogtown, we won't be forgetting our experience anytime soon. And a special thanks to our Coxswains who dared cox on that day, what a challenge!!! We also can't forget how thankful we are for Tom Kraft for driving the trailer and to Head Coach Kevin Alschuler for keeping it all together that day! It wouldn't have been possible without you guys.

SPEAKMON RECAP

From Mike Taft:

AARC competed at the Speakmon Regatta in Columbus, OH on Saturday, October 30. A mixed masters eight took to the river against a field of mostly younger crews and finished a strong second to earn a silver medal. Carl Anderson also rowed twice in singles events, garnering a bronze medal in the first that had him so excited that he promptly registered to row a second race. Thanks to Mike Johnston and Huron Crew for transporting our boat for the race, and to Pat Shumate for coxing.

From Carly Gomez:

Last Saturday in Columbus, we had perhaps the perfect day for rowing! Sunny, clear blue skies, beautifully colored leaves, calm water, and the lone boat from AARC had a great day! Carly, Mike T, Michael C, Tom K, Barb, Michelle, Janet and Karel were the die hard rowers who made the trip, with Pat Shumate as our coxswain. We were pampered by the Huron rowing team, who trailered our boat for us, carried it to the slings for us, and the Huron parents fed us! We also had our fans- Coach Laura showed up just for us, Michael's Mom (even though she is Buckeye), and all the Huron and Pioneer kids!

In a field of 6 teams mostly younger than our boat, we placed 2nd to take the Silver. It was a great race- strong and steady, and we showed that with 5 women and 3 novices (well not really novice anymore), we are strong contenders! It was a great reflection on all the hard work that the rowers and our coaches have done all season. Lets get excited for Wyandotte, our last regatta of the season!

CALENDAR

Saturday, November 5: Argo Park Cleanup
Sunday, November 6: Wyandotte
Tuesday, November 8: AARC Board Meeting
Saturday, November 12: AARC End of the Season Work Party (8 AM - 1 PM)
Sunday, November 13: AARC End of the Year Party
Wednesday, November 16: Huron Rowing Association "Grillin for Tips"
Saturday, November 19: Michigan vs. Ohio State Dual Regatta, 8:30 - 11 AM, Argo Pond
Tuesday, December 13: AARC Board Meeting
Sunday, January 22: AARC Board Meeting
Tuesday, February 14: AARC Board Meeting
Tuesday, March 14: AARC Board Meeting

ITEMS FOR THE WEEKLY NEWS

To submit items for inclusion in the Weekly News, please email Will Mackintosh at wmackintosh@gmail.com by Wednesday morning at 9 AM. Please include the words "weekly email" or "weekly news" in the subject line.

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