Row New York

Many of you are aware of the various programs that Community Rowing Inc. up in Boston have, notably the G-Row program. G-Row brings rowing to inner city girls that otherwise would not have the opportunity to row. In it's decade of operating, all of the girls that have stuck with G-Row have gone on to college.

More impressive, G-Row gave the inspiration for Row New York which basically does the same thing for girls in New York City. This weekend, Row NY hosted a conference about outreach programs. It included how RNY got started, the problems they ran into, the lessons they learned, and how the very successful program now operates. I found it to be incredibly insightful and the people I met there were great. The staff at RNY are very passionate not only about the girls, but about what they do. I was very impressed with the fervor with which they all do their jobs and how fun they seem to make all the work.

New Bedford Community Rowing isn't G-Row or Row New York, but we ARE trying to bring rowing to kids that otherwise would not have the opportunity. There are more and more of these programs popping up around the country and this is fantastic news!

They say that you can't throw money at a problem to fix it, and for the most part I completely agree. However, with the Rowing Outreach programs, I may have to disagree. People want to get involved and already are. The kids are interested in rowing and what it can lead to. The water awaits, and many cities (certainly New Bedford) are supportive of the endeavors. But the funding is the hard part to find. Sponsors are the missing link to allow the programs to buy boats, build a boathouse, acquire ergs, pay coaches and tutors. These programs change lives and there is no question about that. Now if we can just find the donors! I think we may just be the exception to the above saying...

Thanks for all of the wonderful staff at Row New York: Amanda Kraus, Previn Chandraratna, Kathleen Klock, Melissa Pancoast, Jennie Trayes, Nathan Young, Michael Eichler and Ryan McCarthy. You were all great this weekend and I enjoyed every minute of it!