Mission

The mission of the Raleigh Charter Crew Boosters is to support the activities of the Raleigh Charter Crew team and coaches by providing planning, logistics management, food, transportation, chaperoning, lodging, and equipment maintenance. This allows the student athletes and coaches to focus primarily on training and competition. The Crew Boosters consist primarily of the parents and families of the rowers.

Board of Directors

Leadership of the Crew Boosters is provided by the Board of Directors. The board has regular meetings prior to as well as throughout the rowing season to organize and plan the activities of the team. Coaches, team captains and interested parents are always welcome to attend the board meetings as well. The Board of Directors for the Fall 2008 season consists of the following members:

  • President: Kathy Garnier
  • Vice President: Steve Fitzgerald
  • Treasurer: Drew Garnier
  • Secretary: Tony Ivosic
  • At Large: Melinda Thompson
  • At Large: Eve Zuber
  • At Large: Megan Jones

Travel

The team typically competes in 3 to 4 regattas during each season. These regattas are located throughout the Southeast and often require multiple hours of travel each way combined with an overnight stay. The team typically travels by charter bus or multi-passenger van depending upon the number of rowers participating in a particular event. Since regattas begin early in the morning, the team travels to the regatta site the afternoon prior to the event and stays in the team hotel overnight, chaperoned by parents. The team usually loads the boats and equipment onto the team trailer the day prior to travel. Depending on the day of the regatta, it is sometimes necessary for the team to leave school prior to the end of classes. After arriving at the regatta site, the team rigs the boats and occasionally has a chance to row the regatta course prior to storing the boats and heading to the team dinner. The coaches go over the next day’s agenda and everyone tries to get some rest before the alarm rings. After an early breakfast, the team heads for the regatta site to complete preparations for the day. The parents assist with setting up the tents and laying out the food. At the completion of the regatta, the tents are taken down, and all equipment is loaded onto the trailer or into the bus for travel back home.

Communication

There is often a need to communicate information about practices, regatta logistics, results and meetings among the entire Raleigh Charter Crew community. The primary means of communication is through the RCHS Crew Yahoo group. Membership is required to belong to the group. The crew boosters also maintain this website to communicate information about the team and to publish photos and news.