The 2010 Spring Season is over.
The Fall Season will be here soon.
Check out the message below from Jim Nierle
Get ready for some action!! Sign up now!!
Be the first on your block to get the best shift!!
Does it feel
like Spring yet? Well, last Monday Punxsutawney Phil rose to nature's call
and emerged from his burrow.
Regardless of
whether Phil saw his shadow, every year he barks out the same ancient
command: "Ready all, Row ! "
He
thus proclaims the official beginning of the spring crew (rowing) season,
and provides a secret signal to us Knights of St John Bosco council to prepare
to embark upon our principal fundraising effort of the entire year:
Regatta Parking.
This spring,
as our forefathers have done since time immemorial, we shall once again
demonstrate a level of endurance and parking excellence beyond that which
scientists, philosophers, and prognosticators (even Phil), had previously
thought humanly possible.
WHY
SO EARLY?
This call for volunteers is going out early
to give everyone the ability to plan and commit, because I know the springtime
is chockablock with many events and demands on your time. For that reason I
have included the entire schedule and all signup sheets at once.
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
Our council's management of parking at the
Sandy Run Rowing facility on the Occoquan River accounts for 40% of St John
Bosco council's income for the entire year. These funds allow us to do the
many important and generous things we do for the church community and our
local community. If we lost this income without another fundraiser to
replace it, our good works would be severely curtailed.
The
event organizers provide us a nice monetary compensation, and we ensure order
and safety and comic relief (Brou and Jim B.) and enhance the entire
experience for the young athletes and the spectators.
WHAT
IS THE BENEFIT TO ME?
Perhaps most important, this project provides
a great opportunity to get outside and work side by side with our fellow
Knights (FRATERNITY) in a charitable
endeavor (CHARITY) I don't know about
you, but that is one of the main reasons I joined the K of C.
But none of the good can happen unless each
of us steps up and helps out.
OKAY,
YOU CONVINCED ME! WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
We are 300 brothers strong in St John Bosco
council. (remind you of any other group?)
Our
council has committed to supporting 8 high school and 2 college
regattas between 27 March and 15 May. That is about 180 "shifts"
that we must fill.
So
if each of us who is physical able steps up and fills AT LEAST one shift, we
have this covered, can-do-easy.
Please
take a look at the schedule below and let me know when you would like to
fulfill your commitment. Just shoot me an email and let me know the
date and time.
Although the whole season is laid out, we
REALLY need to have those first few regattas filled first. Especially that
first weekend of 27-28 March when we have both a high school and college event
on Saturday and Sunday.
I will also have the sign up lists to the
monthly business meetings in Feb, Mar, Apr, and May.
HEY, THIS SOUNDS COOL. TELL ME MORE
-
No
experience is necessary!
-
"Cash collection" = taking $10s and $20s
from the cars. How easy is that.
-
"Parking" = showing drivers to a
space. (ever wanted to be one of the guys at the airport waving the plane to
the gate? same thing - I'll provide the mickey mouse earprotectors and
orange cones - you supply your own sunglasses - and you can fulfill your
boyhood fantasy. )
-
You get a walkie-talkie
to carry around. What guy doesn't love using a walkie-talkie?
-
Morning crews get coffee
and donuts; noon and PM crews get soda and
KFC chicken.
-
It's a chance to show off your K of
C officially licensed hats, shirts, jackets... or your cowboy hat, duster, and
boots - not that there's anything wrong with that.
-
And this year we will also be offering
addl tangible rewards for those who participate. More on
that coming soon.
-
Phil will be making unannounced
appearances throughout the season, so don't forget to bring your cameras.
Yes, your
teens can come along and help out. There is so much
good that can come from that, I cant even put it into words. I believe this
is a qualifying activity for the "service hours" that teens need for
confirmation, etc.
If you have ANY questions about Regatta
Parking or Punxsutawney Phil, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Hope to hear from ALL
of you soon.
Vivat Jesus!
Jim Nierle
760-712-2050
Some answers to FAQs
Ø
Pets are not
allowed in the park on regatta days. The only exceptions are animals trained to
assist individuals with disabilities.
At all other times, pets must
be on a leash.
Ø
Be prepared to
walk. The parking lots, boathouses and racecourse are spread over a hundred
acres. Trails range from 3/10 to ½ mile. No bikes on the trails.
Ø
If you require
special accommodations, please contact the park at least 10 days in advance of
the event for an American With Disabilities application.
Ø
We do have
handicap parking areas for those with DMV tags.
Ø
On most regatta
days, a van service will to take you to the grandstand area. There is a fee for
riding the van.
Ø
On championship
regatta days, you may be assisted to park off site and ride a shuttle bus to the
regatta site.
Ø
No one may
spend the night in the park.
Ø
No one may cook
food in the park. Food vendors must obtain written permission from park
management.
Ø
Unless you have
a pass, you will be charged an admission fee to enter the park on regatta days.
Ø
If you are
dropping off rowers, food or equipment, you must follow the directions of the
parking crew. You may not be able to drive into the park and will need to carry
what you have.
Ø
On extremely
busy days, to pick up someone, you may have to park and walk or ride in to reach
them. If you bring a pet, you will not be allowed in the park (see pet rule,
regatta days).
Ø
State law
prohibits alcoholic beverages.
Ø
The Occoquan
Reservoir is a public water supply. There is no swimming or cox tossing allowed.
Violators are subject to disqualification, fines and ejection from the park.
Spring Schedule
| Date |
First Race |
Name |
Size |
| 27 March |
|
Polar Bear Regatta |
Medium |
| 28 March |
|
Occoquan Sprints (College) |
Medium |
| 3 April |
|
Walter Mess Regatta |
Large |
| 10 April |
|
Darrell Winslow Regatta |
Large |
| 17 April |
|
Smokey Jacobs Regatta |
Medium |
| 24 April |
|
Al Urquia Regatta |
Large |
| 1 May |
|
Ted Phoenix Regatta |
Medium |
| 2 May |
|
Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Championships |
Very Large |
| 8 May |
|
VA State Rowing Championship |
Very Large |
| 22 May |
|
Occoquan Classic Regatta |
Small |
| |
|
|
|
In case of inclement weather, and if you are concerned if a regatta has been
cancelled, either you will be contacted, or for High School Regattas, you can go
to the NCSRA web site at
www.ncasra.org for the most up-to-date information.
For those of you who are new to the Council, or new to the
Regatta Parking business, the following pages are designed specifically to enable you, the council
member volunteer, to know how to get to Sandy Run, what your duties are, and
what your shift times will be.
Specifically, we have a page for Site Captains,
a page for Parking Volunteers, and a detailed
Watch Bill so you know what times and dates you
have volunteered for, or which volunteer slots are open, just waiting for you to
volunteer.
And here's something for you all -- a
Site Map of the Sandy Run area. Now you know
where everything is.
Please refer to these pages often -- we'll try to keep them as up to date as
possible.
Site Captains
Parking Volunteers
Watch Bill
Site Map
| 
To Contact Us: