GREATER COLUMBUS ROWING ASSOCIATION INC

PROMOTING THE SPORT OF ROWING GCRA'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE THE SPORT OF ROWING IN CENTRAL OHIO BY PROVIDING ADULT ROWING OPPORTUNITIES AT ALL LEVELS, FROM BEGINNER TO COMPETITIVE LEVELS. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING ROWING EQUIPMENT AND STORAGE FOR MEMBERS TO ROW, OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE HOSTING MULTIPLE LEARN TO ROW SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND OUR PARA-ADAPTIVE ROWING PROGRAM (PARP), BOTH OF WHICH PROVIDE ROWING INSTRUCTION TO ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO ORGANIZE AND PROVIDE TRANSPORT FOR MEMBERS TO COMPETE IN REGATTAS, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY. OUR MEMBER FEES ALONG WITH MEMBER DONATIONS AND MINIMAL PROGRAM REVENUE SUPPORT THE OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE ASSOCIATION AND MEMBERS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO MANAGE DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. IN 2024, THE ASSOCIATION CONTRACTED WITH A COACH TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FOR ALL MEMBER SKILL LEVELS, FROM NOVICES TO THOSE COMPETING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. SMALL AND LARGE GROUP SESSIONS WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. THE COACH ALSO SUPPORTED OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS BY LEADING OUR COMMUNITY INDOOR ROWING PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY LEARN TO ROW WORKSHOPS, INTRODUCING APPROXIMATELY 80 AREA ADULTS TO THE SPORT. OF THESE, 36 CONTINUED WITH OUR COMMUNITY WINTER INDOOR TRAINING AT A NOMINAL FEE.

EXPANDING PARTICIPATION THE 2024 LEARN TO ROW PROGRAM PROVIDED INTRODUCTORY ROWING INSTRUCTION TO MORE THAN 50 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ALLOWING THEM TO GAIN ENOUGH COMPETENCE IN THE SPORT TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION TO CONTINUE THE LIFE-LONG SPORT OF ROWING. THIS PROGRAM ALSO OFFERS STIPENDS TO COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE AS COACHES AND COXSWAINS, AN EXPERIENCE THAT ALSO HELPS THEM TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND INSTRUCTIONAL SKILLS. GRADUATES FROM THE LEARN TO ROW PROGRAM WERE ELIGIBLE TO JOIN THE ASSOCIATION AT A 50% DISCOUNTED FEE. MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO PLAN, IMPLEMENT, COORDINATE, AND ASSIST THE LEARN TO ROW PROGRAM.