February 7, 2020
IT'S TIME TO REGISTER FOR SPRING
Register by February 14, 2020
Returning rowers must sign up by Friday, Feb 14 to avoid a $50 late fee.
New rowers can sign up after Open House but before Monday, March 2.

  • There is no experience necessary for you to row with us!
  • Boys & Girls Grades 8-12. Note: 8th graders can train and practice, but are not eligible to compete in the regattas.
  • There is NO TRANSPORTATION provided to practices in Delaware or to our regattas in Philly, NJ and DEL. There is a voluntary parent-led carpool for those that want to participate.
  • We row out of Wilmington Youth Rowing Association (WYRA) located at 500 E Front St, WILMINGTON, DEL 19801. 
  • Practices begin on February 19, 2020
  • PRACTICES are MONDAY-WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY 3:45-6:15pm and SATURDAYS from 10am to 1pm.
  • PLEASE NOTE:  This is a competitive rowing team, we need your full commitment to all practices and regattas. We need the whole team at every practice to ensure we can get on the water ever day the weather conditions allow. 
Important Dates - Mark Your Calendar
  • Coaches Meeting / Practice with all rowers - Feb 8 9:30-10:30am at Battle of the Cloud Park Cancelled
  • Feb. 14 Deadline for returning rowers registration

  • First Practice - Weds, Feb 19

  • Open House Dates for interested new rowers - Feb 24, 26, 28 & 29

  • March 2 - Registration deadline for new rowers
Cancelled - Meeting/Practice
this Saturday, February 8!
 All committed and registered rowers should attend this short coach's meeting and practice at Battle of the Clouds Park from 9:30-10:30am.
Regatta Schedule
Manny Flick 1 - March 15 - Schuylkill
Manny Flick 2 - March 22 - Schuylkill
Manny Flick 3 - March 29 - Camden
Manny Flick 4 - April 5 - Schuylkill
Manny Flick 5 - April 19 - Schuylkill
City Champs - May 2 - Schuylkill
Stotesbury - May 15th & 16th - Schuylkill
National Champs - May 22 & 23
CARPOOL INFORMATION
From Allyson Babcock, Carpool Coordinator:
Welcome to the Spring 2020 season! Here is some information regarding the optional parent-driven carpool for crew practices at WYRA in Wilmington, DE.   

I will arrange a carpool to cover the six driving shifts to and from WYRA on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, in which each family drives two shifts per week .  If there is interest, we can also coordinate a Saturday carpool schedule. Families are responsible to provide rides for rowers to and from regattas.


I will be sending out a survey next week to all registered rowers to start to organize our carpool for the spring season. 

If you prefer to not participate in the carpool, we still need you to respond to the survey.

Carpool guidelines:

The schedule of drivers will remain the same each week. Please answer the survey questions based on what your driving availability would be most weeks.   

On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: The carpool will leave from GVHS at 2:45 PM. The carpool is meant to return to GVHS after practice, however, drivers may decide, on an individual basis, to drop off their passengers at another convenient meeting place after practice. 

If, for any reason, you cannot fulfill your driving responsibility on one of your scheduled shifts, you must find another carpool driver to either trade driving shifts with you or to be your substitute.

If you have questions about the carpool please do not hesitate to contact Allyson Babcock babcock4@comcast.net or (610)733-3306. 
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE SPRING 2020

With our high school seniors graduating in June, it’s time for us to begin the transition our regatta responsibilities to new crew families. You’ll find these roles to be very rewarding in terms of building relationships with other crew parents and understanding the inner workings of the team. Allan and I have formed many great friendships within the crew community as a result.

Please contact me (Laura Brinton) at 610-574-5045 or laurasbrinton@gmail.com if you’re interested.

Regatta and Hospitality Coordinators
Volunteers Needed: 2
This role is responsible for regatta operations, including planning for hospitality, managing the tent and chuckwagon, and obtaining the required permits. On regatta day, this role ensures proper setup/teardown and coordinates food prep and grilling. 

Dawn Patrol and Chuckwagon
The Dawn Patrol and Chuckwagon roles are necessary for our ability to have a hospitality tent at regattas. In the past, the Chuckwagon Driver also participated on Dawn Patrol, but this is not an absolute requirement.

Chuckwagon Drivers
Volunteers Needed: minimum of 2
Transport the hospitality trailer (aka chuckwagon) to and from regattas on race day. Drivers need to be available early morning, usually between 6:00 - 6:30am. Race sites include the Schuylkill River near Boathouse Row, Cooper River, and, on occasion, Mercer Lake in Princeton. Must be able to back the wagon into congested areas. Ideally, the driver is available to transport both to and from the race site, but this could be a shared responsibility if coordinated in advance.

Dawn Patrol Team
Volunteers Needed: minimum of 4 - 5 
Assists with set up of the hospitality tent on race day. A team of 3 - 4 people is ideal, and we typically arrive on site before 7am. Set up takes approximately an hour. The fall season is 5-6 regattas in October and November, most often on Saturday. The spring season is 6-7 regattas between March and May, most often on Sundays. 
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL IMPORTANT CREW DATES ARE
NOW ON A GOOGLE CALENDAR?
You can access the calendar HERE.
Questions about GV Crew? Contact John Brewer at gvcrewpd@gmail.com
For additions to the newsletter: Email Robin Brewer at gvcrewm@gmail.com
GVCO Sponsors
The Chuck Barbera Team of REALTORS/ RE/MAX Partners with GVCO in “REALTORS Giving Back” Program
Over the next year, for anyone who contacts the Chuck Barbera Team at RE/MAX Fine Homes and signs them to serve in the purchase or sale of their next home, GVCO will receive 10% of the real estate commission received!

Just mention the "REALTORS Giving Back" Program and GVCO in order to qualify for this generous donation to GVCO. Refer friends and family to the Chuck Barbera Team at RE/MAX Fine Homes as well!

Let's DO GOOD TOGETHER!!!  
Great Valley Community Organization
Toss & Tailgate 2020
Tickets are on Sale for the Annual GVBL Fundraiser!

When: March 6, 2020
Where: The Desmond Hotel

Huge Cornhole Tournament, Beer Pong Challenge, Live & Silent Auctions, Great Food & Drinks.

Online ticket and auction bidding through the OneCause app. Buy your tickets today before the Early Bird Special ends!
Toss & Tailgate Auction Item: Hard Rock Punta Cana
Wouldn’t it be nice to get away to a sunny beach for a few days?

Toss & Tailgate 2020 is very excited to announce our first auction item for this year!

A 3 Night All-Inclusive Vacation for a family of 4 to Hard Rock Punta Cana!

*Sponsored by The Tropical Travelers

Challenger Gym open for Registration
Challenger Gym is an after-school program for school-age students of all grade levels with extra needs who might need a fun, non-competitive alternative to traditional community sports.

Dates:   Wednesdays, March 11, 18, 25, April 1, (no April 8), 15, 22
Time:  4:15-5:15
Location  :  GVCO  19 N. Bacton Hill Road, Malvern, PA

If you are interested in signing your child up as a participant   or   if you would like to become a high school volunteer, please email Wendy Morris  challenger@gvco.org

NEW GVCO COMMUNITY CENTER
Want a brand new GVCO Community Center with multiple courts, an outdoor field, a cafe, an elevated track and work out area, as well as multi-purpose rooms for other community programming, activities and events?

We have purchased the land, the property is fully engineered and the approval process is complete. The time is NOW.... Help us make it happen!

Give a little...GET A LOT!
GVCO has reached a major milestone & surpassed $2M raised for the new community center! The current total for the capital campaign is now  $2,293,121 !

Learn More:
CONNECT WITH US
Great Valley Crew