February Newsletter

Posted byAdministratorPosted inCoach Notes, Learn to Rowers, Member InformationTags:, , ,

Contents

  • GRC Mission and Vision – We Want Membership Feedback
  • Gryphon Rowing Snow Shoveling
  • Jr. Gryphons Rowing Camps – Registration Opening Soon
  • Highschool Rowing Update
  • Coaches Attend Purcerverance Retreat
  • Summer Coaching Positions – Applications Now Open
  • Coaching & Coach Boat Driving Opportunities – Learn to Row Program
  • Coast to Coast Indoor Rowing Day
  • Volunteering at GRC
  • SHOE DRIVE!

Mark Your Calendar

  • February 22nd (9am-12pm) – Coast to Coast Indoor Rowing Day in Canada
  • February 17th-28th – Shoe Drive at University of Guelph (see end of Newsletter for more details)
  • Saturday March 1st – Nancy Storrs Ontario Indoor Rowing Championship

GRC MISSION AND VISION

WE WANT MEMBERSHIP FEEDBACK

We’re excited to share that the Guelph Rowing Club is actively working on our Strategic Plan! The next step in our process is to evaluate our Vision and Mission Statements. We want to ensure they are representative of our club, its goals, and our shared beliefs. 
Please share your thoughts in this survey.  Membership feedback is a valued part of the process.

GRYPHON ROWING SNOW SHOVELLING

Our University rowers have been hard at work—not just in the erg room, but in the community!

As part of their fundraising efforts, athletes are providing snow shoveling services to a total of 12 houses. During reading week and leading up to it, a small group of athletes in Guelph went above and beyond, tackling record-breaking snowfall to ensure driveways and walkways were cleared.

This initiative showcases the commitment and teamwork that define our rowers, both in sport and in service.

Junior Gryphons Learn-to-Row
and Skills Development

Registration Opening Soon!

After a successful pilot season, our Junior Gryphons Learn-to-Row and Skills Development programs are back for another great summer! These programs introduce youth to rowing, focusing on technique, water safety, and fun.

🚣 Ages 11-14: Morning sessions, starting with Learn-to-Row Camp and follow-up Skills Development program.

🚣 Ages 14-17: Afternoon sessions, featuring a Learn-to-Row program with a follow-up Skills Development program.

Participants learn parts of the boat, boat handling, and rowing technique. Our programs are taught by qualified counsellors trained in first aid and Learn-to-Row coaching.

📅 Registration opening soon!

🔗 Learn more:  Details here.

HIGH SCHOOL ROWING

The High school program continues 4 days a week in the cozy confines of the GRC boathouse. In what was mostly a nod to the laws of electro-physics and erg monitors not working properly we took a couple days off in January (training from home) when the temp dipped below -23.  

Once moving in the mornings, athletes warm up and have been training with ergs, bikes and weights, along with a few tank sessions at the Don Rowing club in Mississauga sprinkled in on weekends.

Our small but enthusiastic group of 13 is looking forward to the Nancy Storrs Erg Championships in early March prior to March break, with the on water Spring season just around the corner.

COACHES ATTEND PURCERVERANCE RETREAT

Five of the GRC coaches attended the Purcerverance Coaches Retreat held in St. Catharines on Sat. Feb. 8. The retreat was organized by Mary Rao and Mike Purcer. Mark Henry was one of the guest speakers and his topic was Technique Review. Three rigging sessions, coach collaboration discussions, coach mentoring, video review and other topics filled the day. Thank you to the GRC board and David Barker the coaching lead for supporting this learning and networking opportunity.

From Left to right;  Pat Weir, Jack Wilhelm, Mark Henry, Brian Sulley, Siobhán Crean, Pearl Schachter.

SUMMER COACHING POSITIONS

The Guelph Rowing Club is seeking qualified candidates for paid summer coaching positions, including roles for both experienced and junior coaches.

SUMMER CLUB COACH (one position to fill)

  • Hours: 30-40 hours per week, $19.00/hr
  • Dates: May 1 – August 29, 2025 (including early mornings, late afternoons, and Sundays) Note: Sundays only in June
  • Responsibilities:
    • Coach Learn-to-Row, Novice, Recreational, Masters, and Junior Gryphon programs
    • Manage equipment and boathouse care
    • Support site and boat maintenance
    • Assist with club events
    • Mentor and support Junior Gryphon coaches
  • Requirements:
    • Ontario Pleasure Craft Operators Card, First-Aid/CPR, and Vulnerable Sector Records Check
    • Bronze Cross Lifeguard Certification or higher
    • NCCP National Coaching Certification in progress
    • Strong communication, customer service, and organizational skills
    • Ability to work both independently and in a team
    • Rowing experience required; coaching experience an asset

JUNIOR GRYPHONS PROGRAMS COACH (three positions to fill)

  • Location: Guelph Rowing Club, Guelph Lake
  • Dates: July 7–August 22, 2025
  • Hours:
    • Week 1 (July 7–11): 5 mornings (8:15 am–12:15 pm), 20 hours
      plus 3 afternoons: Mon, Wed, Fri (4:15 pm–6:45 pm), 7.5 hours
    • Week 2 (July 14–18): 5 mornings (8:15 am–12:15 pm), 20 hours
      plus 3 afternoons: Mon, Wed, Fri (4:15 pm–6:45 pm), 7.5 hours
    • Weeks 3–7  (July 22–Aug 22)
      3 mornings Mon, Wed, Fri (8:15 am–10:45 am), 7.5 hours
      plus 3 afternoons: Mon, Wed, Fri (4:15 pm–6:45 pm) 7.5 hours
  • Salary: $18.20/hr
  • Responsibilities:
    • Teach Junior Gryphons Learn-to-Row to youth aged 11–17
    • Plan and deliver on-land and on-water sessions
    • Teach safety, boat handling, rowing techniques, and teamwork
    • Supervise and ensure safety during activities, including regattas
    • Guide  participants in skill-building and confidence
  • Qualifications:
    • NCCP Learn-to-Row coaching training (provided if not already certified)
    • Valid First Aid, CPR, and Vulnerable Sector Records Check
    • Ontario Pleasure Craft Operators Card
    • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
    • Enthusiasm for working with youth and promoting physical activity

Inquiries and to apply:
Please submit your questions and/or resume and cover letter to Mike Atkinson, VP HR, at matkinson@cogeco.ca by February 14, 2025, 4:30pm for the Summer Coach position and March 1, 2025, 4:30pm for the Junior Gryphons Coach position.

COACHING & COACH BOAT DRIVING OPPORTUNITIES – LEARN TO ROW PROGRAM

We are looking for individuals interested in coaching the Learn to Row (LTR) program this year or assisting with coach boat driving. If you’re interested, please reach out to jessica.rower@gmail.com by the end of March.

The program runs from June 2nd to June 29th, with the LTR regatta scheduled for July 5th. The following coaching times are still available:

  • Tuesdays/Thursdays: 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm
  • Saturdays/Sundays: 8:00 am – 9:15 am

If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you!

COAST TO COAST INDOOR ROWING DAY

Coast to Coast – Indoor Rowing Day in Canada is Saturday February 22, 2025. It will occur from 9 am to noon in your time zone.

It’s easy to take part. Get on a rowing machine at home or at a rowing club or fitness facility. Send us the number of participants and kilometers rowed and we will add them to the national tally!

https://www.facebook.com/Coast2CoastIndoorRowingDayinCanada

If you want to add your distance to the Club’s total, you can submit your distance rowed to the following link. For those who don’t have access to a rowing machine (erg), you can join us at the boathouse at 9 am and use a Club erg.  If you want to join us for a chilly, indoor row at the boathouse you can sign up at the link as well.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17G6Ups0PECfv1X35jM1zzPuwpZOnmXlv7OwDAl1jWug/edit?usp=sharing

VOLUNTEERING AT GRC

A Volunteer group of club rowers are busy labelling, cleaning, repairing and painting blades in a heated garage. We are looking forward to the new facelift for these oars in the 2025 season

Thank you to all the volunteers who have contributed their valuable time over the last year, especially the Coaches, the Board Members, Program Leads and people who stepped up and helped wherever and whenever needed,  you are crucial to the success of our club!The Board has asked that members contribute 10 hours of volunteer time and there will be many opportunities to pitch in and help this year. We will continue with our monthly work parties where we perform many tasks in order to keep the boathouse, the site and equipment clean, organized and functioning! We will also have many special events & regattas over the season where volunteers will be vital. (Don’t forget to record your hours in the Volunteer log book)

Update on Renewal Blade Project:Thanks to a small group of volunteers, 20 sets of sculling blades have been cleaned, repaired, painted with our club colours of golden yellow, labelled with coloured tape, and properly rigged.  They look great and will be ready for a Spring Row!See you in the Spring & stay tuned for the Boathouse Opening date – lots of volunteers will be needed!
*note: if you have projects that volunteers can help with, please contact peggybuchanan@rogers.com

SHOE DRIVE AT UofG

A couple of the Gryphon and GRC athletes have organized a shoe drive to support our Guelph community! The shoe drive will be collecting any gently used shoes you no longer need (no holes) from February 17th to February 28th on the university campus. These shoes will be donated to Hope House and Wyndham House and can be dropped off at the Athletics centre, Arena, or Fieldhouse on the University of Guelph campus. If you have any questions feel free to email mhergel@uoguelph.ca