Newsletter Topics

Letter from the Program Coordinator

Registration

Practice

Carpool

Volunteers

Fall Regattas

A Letter From The Program Coordinator

We are still looking for someone to chair/coordinate the Kings Head Regatta Food Tent. Coordination of this event involves getting volunteers to assist with the following tasks:

• Picking up the food for the event (most likely from Costco/BJs)
• Setup on Saturday Night/Sunday Morning
• Shifts for grilling and working the tent throughout the day on Sunday

Ideally we will provide bagels in the morning and hamburgers/hot dogs in the afternoon. I can get the volunteer in touch with the woman who runs the Kings Head Regatta for any additional questions. Also if anyone helped out with this in the past and could provide lessons learned it would be much appreciated.

In addition we are also still looking for one or two people to chair the Blue Jean Ball fundraiser. This is our largest fundraiser for the year which brings in nearly $15,000 to the crew program. If we do not have a committee to run this event by the end of September we will need to either raise the cost of rowing in the Spring or ask for donations from the families.

E-mail Kerry Cavalcanto at Crew.admin@GVCO.org if you are interested in volunteering or coordinating for us.

Some things may be repeated through the newsletter; we just want to make sure all the info is out there!

Great Valley Crew is open to grades 8-12.

Public, private, and homeschool students can all row for GV Crew! Spread the word to fellow friends and classmates who may be looking for something new and fun to try!

Important Dates:

Thursday, September 7 - Back to School Night at GVHS (tentative)

Sunday, September 10 - Registration CLOSES

Sunday, September 24 - Kings Head Regatta

Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays 3:45-6:15pm

Saturdays 10:00am-1:00pm

Rowers must attend all practices - your first commitment is to your team.

Keep an eye on the weather. Yes, we row if it's just raining. Weather that keeps us off the water would be lightning/thunder, windy conditions, rough or high water, and debris in the water.

As the weather gets cooler, dress in layers. Snug fitting clothing is better as long shirts that are not tucked in and loose fitting shorts/pants could get caught in the seat. Extra pairs of dry socks are always good to pack as well as a reusable water bottle, towels, and healthy snacks.

For those who need to carpool for after school practices, we will be setting up a list to help connect folks for carpools. Fill out this FORM ASAP if you want to participate in the carpool.

As you know, we need "all hands on deck" to keep GV Crew "afloat".

All puns aside, please consider where you may be able to help. The Great Valley Crew program has always been a parent-led program and needs the full support of all families in order to successfully continue. Below is a list of volunteer opportunities with smaller jobs under each committee. Contact crew.admin@gvco.org and let us know which committee is calling to you!



Program Director: Jay Cavalcanto - jay.cavalcanto@gvco.org

The program director works closely with the coaches and the GV Crew Board of Directors to see that everything runs smoothly for GV Crew.

Marketing/Communications: Kerry Cavalcanto - crew.admin@gvco.org

Sends newsletters, emails, and oversees social media and REMIND text messages.

Treasurer/Uniforms/Spiritwear: Dorothy Bickell (could use someone for uniforms/spiritwear)

Keeps track of income and expenses and reports back to program director and GVCO. Also orders/sells uniforms and spirit wear.

Hospitality Coordinator: Jenny Bevilacqua, Jennifer Nardi?

Coordinates refreshments and hospitality tent for regattas. Also, helps plan other team events like start-of-season/end-of-season picnics.

Carpool Coordinator: Darlene Phillips

Helps to connect families to carpool to and from practices.

Fundraising: Halle Schonherz, Pratibha Singh

Oversees several fundraisers for the team, including annual Blue Jean Ball.

The following are the dates for Fall regattas. Mark your calendars now!

·       September 24 - Kings Head Regatta

·       October 1 - Head of the Christina

·       October 8 - Overpeck Fall Classic

·       October 15 - Navy Day

·       October 20-21 - Head of the Charles (VERY EXCITING)

·      October 28 - Head of the Schuylkill

The GV Crew calendar is available here and will be updated throughout the season with practices, regattas, team meetings, etc.

✅ Start planning for practices on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. Consistency of attendance is critically important to a successful season.

✅ Looking for a few people to coordinate our Kings Head Regatta Food Tent on 9/24. This has the potential of being a large fundraiser for us. We need someone to lead this effort and will be looking for others to take shifts throughout the day. A Sign-Up genius will be coming out shortly but e-mail Kerry Cavalcanto at Crew.Admin@GVCO.org if you are interested in volunteering or coordinating for us.

✅ Looking for one or two people to chair the Blue Jean Ball. This is our largest fundraiser of the year (and a very fun event) with music, food, raffles and a silent auction. If we do not get a Chair for this event we will have to rely on additional donations from the parents. Again if interested e-mail Crew.Admin@GVCO.org.

GV Crew Spirit Wear is in the works. Stay tuned!!

For those new to crew, follow the drive around the back of the Frosty Freeze ice cream shop and along the river for about 300 yards to the boathouse. 

Questions about GV Crew? Additions to the newsletter?

Email crew.admin@gvco.org

Looking for

GVSD Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Graders

for the new 

GVFL Flag Football League

at our new GVCO Community Center complex

Teams will have 8-10 players and play 5v5.

Small rosters will allow for maximum participation.

2023 Season Info

Season starts 9/19 and ends the 1st week of Nov.

1 hour weeknight practice for the first 3 weeks of the season

1 hour long game on Saturdays

Student referees officiating the games

All practices and games will be held at the new

GVCO Community Center complex

51 N. Bacton Hill Rd., Malvern.

Registration is open to all Great Valley residents in grades K-2 for the Fall.

Cheer

Flag Cheer for Grades K-1

Registration is open for Flag football cheerleading. Athletes will be introduced to the GVCO cheerleading program and learn cheers, dance and jumps. They will cheer during the flag football games and perform at half time to all fans. Read more about this program.

Project Update

The sidewalks are in, the curbs and island are complete for the drop off area in front of the building, and the parking lot lights are being installed. It's been another few days of great progress at the site. Inside the facility, the drywall has been taped and sanded while the painters are scheduled for just after Labor Day. 

As Fall arrives, we anticipate opening the doors for the community's new center.

More construction pictures and news

It's time for everyone in our Great Valley community to GIVE BACK. The community's support over the past six years has been tremendous [Donor List 7/31]. Let's finish what we started, paying off the debt and moving forward with the next phase of the project. To do this, the support must continue and be more broad based.

We are asking for help from the entire Great Valley private, public and business community.

For further details on the project, how you can make a significant financial impact or information with regard to Naming Rights for the complex and areas throughout the project, please reach out to Keith Walsh at execdirector@gvco.org

Rendering of the 1st Phase of the new GVCO Community Center to be completed early Fall 2023

See the vision of our new Great Valley Community Center when all phases are finished. Find out some of what we plan to offer at a fully completed complex.