Learn-To-Row Programming!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Friday July 8^th, 2011

NEW BEDFORD COMMUNITY ROWING INVITES COMMUNITY TO LEARN-TO-ROW DAYS ON POPES ISLAND

Programs Will Offer Exposure and Instruction to Olympic Style Rowing for Ages 12+

NEW BEDFORD, MA – 7/8/2011 - New Bedford Community Rowing announced a series of Learn-To-Row Dates open to anyone in the Greater New Bedford Area interested in this unique sport. Located on the southeast corner of Popes Island, New Bedford Community Rowing has already had over 100 participants go through their Learn-To-Row Programs in its first year since starting up in June of 2010, and now offers competitive teams. Rowing not only offers socio-economic mobility and an outlet for personal growth, but youth rowers can gain scholarships to college and adults form lasting relationships while leading a healthier lifestyle.

Three dates for Learn-To-Row Days have been established: Sunday July 17^th, Sunday August 21^st, and Saturday September 10^th. In these Learn-To-Row Days, participants sign up for a 2 hour slot where the first hour is spent learning the equipment, terminology, and how to row on a rowing machine called an “erg”. The second hour, participants are mixed together with experienced rowers and paddle around the beautiful New Bedford Harbor together. Programs are for ages 12 and up although younger children may be taken on a case-by-case basis. No experience is necessary and the cost is $25 per person. There will be a raffle to give away an AT&T phone, and food and water will be available.

Additionally, New Bedford Community Rowing is offering a series of Learn-To-Row Classes. The classes each start on the Monday after a Learn-To-Row Day: Monday July 18^th, Monday August 22^nd, and Monday September 12^th. Classes meet twice a week for two hours and run for 3 weeks. The Learn-To-Row Classes are more in-depth and focus a bit more on the technical aspects of the stroke. Each class meets on Monday and Wednesday from 5:45-7:45 pm and is also for ages 12 and up. No experience is necessary and the cost is $65 per person. **NOTE** Anyone who attends a Learn-To-Row Day and wishes to continue rowing in the Learn-To-Row Class may apply the $25 paid fee toward the $65 fee for the class. All programs are located at the southeast corner of Popes Island, across the street from the hardware store. Registration can be done online at www.newbedfordcommunityrowing.org/sign-up/

ABOUT ROWING

Typically rowing has been a private school sport or otherwise limited to select communities. Having access to protected water is clearly a need, but the equipment is also rather expensive, thus helping to create this seclusion. However, Mayor Scott Lang along with Matthew Morrissey, Executive Director of the New Bedford Economic Development Council, Kristin Decas, Executive Director of the New Bedford Harbor Development Commission, and Bruce Smith, Executive Director for Community Rowing Inc. in Boston, have teamed up to bring rowing to Greater New Bedford. “Rowing has dropped the ‘elite’ and is now available to anyone who wants to try it,” said Smith.

“More and more towns are seeing community based programs pop up all over the country. New Bedford Community Rowing is just one of the newest examples of this growing sport.” stated Carolyn McGonagle, Director for New Bedford Community Rowing. “New Bedford has so much water that it just makes sense to build a club here.”

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People try out the sport for many different reasons; some just to stay in shape for other activities they’re already involved in. “I first tried rowing to stay in shape for basketball and baseball, but after trying it I just fell in love with the sport. Now I’m hooked.” said Andrew Pereira, one of the first kids to try rowing with New Bedford Community Rowing last summer. Andrew is a 16 year old student at New Bedford High School about to go into his senior year. He has not only been recruited by highly regarded colleges such as Northeastern, Syracuse, and Harvard, among others, but he was recently invited to train with the US Rowing Junior National Team Development Camp in Pittsburgh, PA.

ABOUT NEW BEDFORD COMMUNITY ROWING

New Bedford Community Rowing is a non-profit organization that focuses on making rowing accessible and affordable to everyone in the Greater New Bedford Area. NBCR promotes health and fitness and delivers an after-school program for urban youth including free tutoring and college preparations. Programs range from one-time Learn-To-Row Days to competitive team memberships. Started as an initiative from Mayor Scott Lang’s Office, NBCR is located on Popes Island with plans to move upriver where permanent docks at the end of Sawyer Street are in development. The Acushnet River will soon be home to a 2,000 meter race course and the New Bedford Harbor is already home to a 5,000 meter “head” style regatta to be held every October. To learn more, contact Director Carolyn McGonagle at 508.717.4013 or carolyn@communityrowing.org or go online to www.newbedfordcommunityrowing.org

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