Western Reserve Rowing Foundation Minutes

May 29, 2001

Carnegie-Fulton Library



  1. Roll Call Introductions

Kathryn Kaczmarski-WRRF Caroline Hoepp-WRRA/CSRA

Jeff Jensen-WRRF Pat Monroe-WRRF

Chris Sheridan-WRRA/CSRA Jeff Renston-WRRA

David Werner-St. Ignatius Jim Mack-WRRA

Laurie Ronis-Shaker Chris Petryshyn-CSU

Kevin Daulhausen-WRRA/Shaker Cathy Petryshyn-WRRA

Peter Gozar-WRRF Dan DiAngelo-CSU



  1. Approval of Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 5:45 p.m.

The minutes from the 4-24-2001 meeting were approved. One exception: Pat Monroe clarified the pricing for the youth summer rowing camps an-d the April minutes will reflect the changes.


  1. Reports from Committees

The three committees that have been formed to organize the boathouse site and fund raising program are making great strides. A July 26, 2001 meeting open to the public has been scheduled to communicate the progress made to this point. This would be a great time to get the schools and parents involved.


Pat Monroe has distributed fliers about the Youth Summer Rowing Program to only 5 interested parties so far. The affiliates were given the fliers and asked to distribute them to all interested parties. We need to get the word out to more people about the program.


No report

Last month’s minutes were posted on the website and all future minutes will be posted there for anyone to review. The website address is www.wrra.cc.

The safety exam was the big topic of discussion. A number of emails have been distributed amongst the members stating questions, inaccuracies, and displeasure with the exam and many of its questions. The exam has raised many questions and suggestions have been made demanding revisions. The entire exam process and test design needs to be looked at.

An ad hoc committee has been formed of volunteers that will look at the entire process; Jim Mack, Tim Marcovy, Chris Petrynshyn, Kathy Whitford, and Beth Ann Benetz. A different process and approach needs to be looked at and until that time all former qualifications and designations stay the same.


The launches need work. With SRL beginning the problems with them need to be addressed as soon as possible. The SRL boats are falling apart, the Moseley and Propp specifically are in dire need of work. We can’t continue to have a program like this if we can’t give these participants decent equipment to row with an understanding that the wear and tear on the equipment from these rowers is more than normal.


Dave Werner discussed the Head of the Cuyahoga (HOTC). Weather and river traffic put a damper on a half decent event last year. This years’ is going to be even better, but we need twice as many volunteers as we had last year.

450 invitations were mailed out this week. A series of meetings are being held once a month on Tuesdays, June 5th, July 3rd, Aug. 7th, and Sept. 4th from 6:30-8:00 at the Carnegie Fulton Library for those interested in helping out.


At the June meeting, the media stuff and the sponsorship information will be available.



  1. Reports from Member Organizations

They survived their season and are looking forward to next year.

No report

The crews finished up at the Dad Val’s in Philadelphia. New officers have taken over. Everyone is looking forward to the fall season.

They won in Marietta and expected to do well at the Midwest Regatta but did not do well at all. At Erie Mercyhurst, they were the overall points leader out of 28 teams.

Their season’s awards picnic is this weekend. They are still looking for either a new or used eight. They must check with Don Saer to see if there is adequate storage space in the boathouse to accommodate a new shell.

The SRL season is underway and everyone went through the safety orientation program.


The new coach Kurt Butler is here. Those that have worked with him are very pleased with his abilities to this point. The workouts are challenging and he is a very good instructor.


The charter by-laws are still being revised. Jim Mack et al. are proceeding with the revisions.


The damaged Western Reserve (4) is being sold as is. The association is waiting on insurance estimates until selling it for what it is worth.

They had a very disappointing season, but will aggressively recruit new rowers for the upcoming season. Thanks to all the organizations that helped them out this year.


On a side note, Dan DiAngelo reported that there are 12 students enrolled in the Baldwin Wallace learn to row program this summer. If all goes well this could become a fixture in BW’s physical education curriculum.


  1. Boathouse Operations Report

No formal report. However it was mentioned that the alarm for the old wooden boathouse is not working because the barn door at the north end is being fixed.

Some chargers to the cox boxes are not working.

Launch equipment from a launch was removed one evening and not replaced, in fact it can’t be found.


  1. Treasurer’s Report

Harry Fisher was not at the meeting but reported that a full financial report will be given at the next meeting. The WRRF budget will be available for the June meeting. Harry is working with the IRS to see what can be done about our recent late filing fine.


  1. Old Business

No old business to discuss.


  1. New Business

Peter Gozar said that we may be looking into getting the old wooden boathouse painted. It should definitely help us in our visibility. We will be looking into trying to find ways the get paint or stain donated for us. He will report on progress if any at the next meeting.


  1. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m..



The next meeting is June 26th at 5:30 p.m. at the Carnegie Fulton Library.

Minutes are respectfully submitted by:

Jeff Jensen, WRRF Secretary