Weekly News and Announcements
November 9, 2005

COACHING SCHEDULE

No more coaching coaching on the water this year. Happy erging!

LAST CHANCE TO BUY TICKETS ONLINE FOR THE END OF THE YEAR PARTY

Go to www.a2crew.com to buy your tickets to celebrate the end of another great season. We have to pass our final count on the caterer tomorrow, so this is your last chance to get tickets before registration is closed. Please register by 10am on Thursday. The party takes place on Sunday, November 13 from 3-5pm at the Gladwin Center Barn, located at 4105 W. Liberty Road on the west side of town. Feel free to come with a story to share or even create your own award to pass on to another member. We look forward to seeing you there!

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.

WINTER ERGING PROGRAM: SIGN-UP CALL

General: AARC will run a Winter Erg Training Program again this off-season. Sessions will be held at the Boathouse (BH), which is unheated; dress warmly (layers), and bring water. Erg training is more fun with a group: we have structured workouts which we do together, motivate each other, test together, and improve together. Please note: Use of the ergs at the BH in winter requires fees, which go to BH utility costs, erg maintenance, purchase of an erg for the club each year, coaching, and Club overhead. It is a great workout, and program participants last year say it was well worth the cost.

What: The plan is to learn (or re-learn) how to use the erg as a fitness and training tool for rowing. Each night/pair will have a workout which is part of a development program that will run throughout the winter. The workouts will be developed by the AARC coaches. Over the course of the winter workouts will increase in duration and intensity; they are intended to be demanding, and periodic progress testing will be held. Some sessions will be supervised by AARC coaches. They will instruct in proper technique, explain and lead workouts, and otherwise motivate us to improve. If you do this program, and take it seriously, your fitness level will improve and you will gain a deeper understanding of some basic elements of on-water rowing (slide control, ratio, power application, to name a few). The weekly and daily workouts will also be posted on the AARC website for individuals wishing to work out on their own.

When: The program will formally start the week after Thanksgiving, Monday, November 28 and run through March of next year. Practices will run Monday-Friday from 6 to 7 PM, and Sundays from 4 to 5 PM. If specific interest warrants, we can schedule Saturday sessions, or two Sunday sessions, or additional weekday evening sessions.

We hope that individuals will commit ahead of time to at least two sessions per week. Last year we had two committed groups who worked out for most of the four-month period; one on MWF and the other TTHSu; many participants did three per week. If there is sufficient interest we may be able to develop separate workout plans and schedule times for the "committed groups" and for other drop-in participants so as to meet the needs of both groups.

Since we have limited equipment (8-10 ergs), this program will be run with a sign-up process for the committed groups; drop-ins cannot be guaranteed a seat with the committed groups, and the shorter workout time precludes switchouts. The sign-ups will generally run one month at a time with weekly updates. A drop-in process will be developed and communicated as we proceed and gather a better idea of how many committed seats we have each week and session.

We all understand that we will have times we cannot make it, and may even be out of town for a week or two. We did, however, have some very fun Holiday rows (Thanksgiving morning, Dec 23, and New Year's Eve) for the very hardy and the very odd.

Cost: The cost for individuals commiting to three workouts per week is $35 per four week period. The cost for commiting to two workouts per week is $25 per four-week period. Pro-ration of weeks will be at $10 per week for either 2 or three workouts per week. The cost for a single night drop-in will be $5.

Sign-Up: SIGN UP STARTING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11. Pease send an email to Mike Taft at yazbo822@comcast.net, who will be coordinating the program. Please specify the following information: 1) Committed group Y/N; 2) Prioritize your workout days (i.e., T/TH/Su preferred, M/W ok, no Sa/Su, etc.); 3) Indicate flexibility for attending other days or days lower on your priority list; 4) Interest in any specific other sessions and times not shown above (i.e., want a Sat 9am session, etc.). The slots will be filled first-come, first-served, and other alternatives will be developed based on interest.

Any questions, please contact Mike Taft at yazbo822@comcast.net.

ERGING IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS

The boathouse will be open from 6-7 PM for the next three weeks on M, Tu, W and TH for drop-in erging for anyone wishing to get a head-start on the winter erging program, or otherwise not wishing to squander all that good fitness they acquired over the last few months, to paraphrase Tom Rutherford. Novices please contact Mike Taft at yazbo822@comcast.net who will set up a specific date or two to do an erg introduction session durign this period (basic technique, use of the monitor, etc.).

TIME FOR YEAR END FINANCIAL CLOSURE

To ALL AARC Members: Please submit expenses for reimbursement/payment to either Janet Goldberg (keech@umich.edu) or Karen Berna (karendmarks@sbcglobal.net) by no later than December 5, 2005 in order for payment to occur in this fiscal year. In addition, please submit any payment for outstanding rowing, regatta, and/or merchandise fees, or any other outstanding debt to AARC (mail to: PO Box 3128, Ann Arbor, MI 48106) by no later than December 16, 2005. Contact either Janet Goldberg or Karen Berna if you have questions.

Thank you in advance,
Karen Berna & Janet Goldberg
AARC Co-Treasurers

GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK

Even though the season is over and things are quiet around the boathouse, the AARC Board is just getting ready for a new season of hard work. We're beginning the process of learning from the 2005 season and planning for the 2006 season. We have a lot to do between now and next April to ensure a successful 2006 season.

We need help from you! We need your thoughts about how the 2005 season went. Tell us what went well this past year. How did our programs work for you? What was good about the coaching? In what ways did the club's administration work for you? Also, tell us what could be improved. What do we need to work on? What are your ideas for making the club work better?

Email your feedback to Will Mackintosh at wmackintosh@gmail.com by Friday, December 2. It will be distributed anonymously to the rest of the board's planning committees. We look forward to hearing from you!

AARC MERCHANDISE AT END OF THE YEAR PARTY

AARC's stock of t-shirts, sweatshirts, and accessories will be available for sale at the party this Sunday, so bring your wallets! You may purchase items by check or cash on Sunday. If you'd like to reserve your items today for pick up on Sunday, or would prefer to pay by credit card, place your order online at http://www.a2crew.com/merch.html. Additionally, information on ordering AARC jackets will be available at the party. (Sorry, the AARC baseball hats are not yet available online, but will be available on Sunday!)

2006 AARC CALENDAR COMING SOON

The 2005 calendar fundraiser was such a success we're doing it again. Proceeds from the sales go to help the club provide quality programming and equipment. A draft of the calendar will be unveiled at the End of Season Party, so be sure to come and get a glance. Watch this space in the weeks to come for more information on the calendar price and ordering your copy!

WYANDOTTE RECAP

The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashing
When afternoon came it was freezing rain
In the face of a hurricane West Wind

Starting with a thunderstorm, then winds building through the morning; the regatta was cancelled before it started. High winds blowing upstream, plus current flowing down stream created unsafe conditions on the course. This was particularly disappointing because it was the last race of the Fall season and the club had some very competitive crews ready to race. We had some great rows in preparation and look forward to April and the Sprint season.

--Ron Woodman

ADDENDUM TO FROGTOWN RECAP

It was not doubles but pairs being held up by the freighter. Rob Durham and David Crouse competently took second in that race behind some younger, strong men from DBC. Keeping a pair straight and upright can be a challenge in almost any conditions and to do so in rough water deserves some note. Congradulations should go out to Rob Durham and Rom Rutherford who steered their respective boats clear of danger and across the finish line in a timely manner.

CALENDAR

Friday, November 11: Sign-up Deadline for Winter Erging. 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.

This email is available online every week at http://www.a2crew.com/news. Previous weekly emails are also available online at http://www.a2crew.com/news/archive.html.

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