Nereid News, 3/23/07

In this edition:
- OK to row singles
- Nereid presents to Mayor and Council
- Opening Day, April 14
- Kearny Crew hosts Passaic River Sprints, April 14
- Passaic River Paddle Relay registration opening soon
- Nereids can row, but can they paddle?
- Members sought for Buildings & Grounds Committee
- Nereid Class offered at Montclair Adult School
- St. Patrick’s Day Erg Race canceled

Upcoming events schedule

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Singles rowing OK'ed by Board

Now that the weather is turning warmer, we have decided to allow rowing in singles.

Because the weather is still changeable day to day, we urge everyone to use caution in going out alone. The water is still cold - check the thermometer. When in doubt, opt out.

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Nereid presents to Mayor and Council

On Tuesday evening, March 20, 2007, at a regular public session, members of the Nereid board of Directors gave a presentation on the current status of the park project to the Rutherford Mayor and Town Council. The presentation was very well received and resulted in a number of positive resolutions for the Council to vote on at their next session, March 27.

Presenting for Nereid were George Freimarck, Leigh Hermey and Bob Hoguet, along with the Landscape Architect for the project, Michael Hakim. Resolutions proposed include allowing Nereid to proceed with seeking additional funds (such as Green Acres grants, which have to be applied thru the Town), reviewing the lease agreement with Nereid to provide longer term security, and continued cooperation with Boro Engineer, Police and Fire Departments to achieve the park.

George Freimarck
President

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Opening Day - April 14

We are planning to officially open the rowing season at Nereid on Saturday, April 14. On Opening Day members can:

* Complete membership and waiver forms and pay
* Learn about rowing programs for the year
* Greet potential new members

Stay tuned for more information on the program of the day.

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Kearny Crew hosts Passaic River Sprints on April 14

Hello Nereids,

On Saturday April 14, 2007, the Kearny Crew Team will be hosting their annual Passaic River Sprints at the Kearny Boathouse (finish line). This is an invitational regatta where all the high school teams from the river can come together for one day of racing. Scott Fuchs, Kearny Men's Head Coach, is asking for volunteers for race day. Many volunteers are needed to help with the efficient operations of the regatta. We need you and your rowing expertise and we welcome family and friends as volunteers. Many positions need to be filled including launch drivers for officials and safety boats, officials, dock master, starters, finish line, announcers and results posting.

They ask that if you can volunteer your time, to come to the meeting that they are holding on Wednesday March 28 at Nereid BC at 7pm. Please send a confirmation email with any skills that you may have (ie launch driver) to sfuchs@kearnyschools.com and mckennajoh@gmail.com.

If you would like to come and watch the races, which I encourage everyone to do, the best viewing points will be anywhere from the Gazebo area in North Arlington to the Kearny Boathouse. Many spectators stand on the Rutgers Street Bridge in Kearny to watch the races come down the river and through the bridge. The Kearny crew team also sets up a nice Picnic area in the park just south of the Kearny Boathouse.

In regards to members rowing out of the Nereid Boathouse that day, we ask that no rower come south of the Lyndhurst bridge. We are using the area from the top of the course to the Lyndhurst bridge as a warm-up area. We thank everyone for their cooperation.

We also thank you for your continuous support with the High Schools Crews on the River.

All the Best and Go Nereid!!!,
John McKenna

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Passaic River Paddle Relay registration to open

On behalf of the Lower Passaic & Saddle River Alliance, I am pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Passaic River Paddle Relay! The event will take place on Saturday, May 12, 2007 and will start from the Nereid Boat Club in Rutherford at 9:00am and end in Riverbank Park in Newark at approximately 12:00pm. For those of you that participated in the previous Paddle Relay, this year the race will follow the same course as last year with a few small changes. As with last year the course will be 8 miles long divided into three legs; teams will consist of six (6) paddlers, with two (2) paddlers per canoe each leg. There will also be an individual kayak portion of the race.

After the race, competitors and spectators are welcome to stay and enjoy “Art and Music in the Park”, the 100th anniversary celebration of Riverbank Park in partnership with SPARK Friends of Riverbank Park, which begins at 10:00am at Riverbank Park in Newark. The celebration will feature the Paddle awards ceremony, live music, dance performances and art displays from local Ironbound residents, along with animals from the Turtleback Zoo, educational activities, face painting, food and much more.

Paddlers of all skill levels are invited to participate in the event. We are planning a training day for less experienced paddlers a few weeks before the event.

All interested paddlers should contact me as soon as possible. I will have registration material available shortly.

Tom Pietrykoski
Chairman, Lower Passaic & Saddle River Alliance
TPietrykoski@pvsc.com
973-817-5735

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Nereids can row, but can they paddle?

Since Nereid is hosting the start of the Paddle Relay, it would be great if we had a relay team participating in the race. As Tom explains above, we need at least 6 paddlers to form a team. Canoes will be provided by the relay organizers.

If you are interested in joining the Nereid paddle team, please let me know or email nereidsec@hotmail.com.

Marc de Mul
Vice President

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Nereid's Buildings & Grounds committee

The club is in dire need of volunteers to help with gardening, yard work, basic house maintenance, etc. If you enjoy gardening and repairing stuff around the house, please contact Claire. We have a couple of jobs coming up, including mulch spreading at 550, gardening at 350, and replacing the boat bay garage doors. Nereid needs you!

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Nereid Class offered at Montclair Adult School

Nereid is offering a mini-course on rowing through the Montclair Adult School this March. The class, which is entitled "Introduction to Sculling and Rowing," is taught by George Freimarck on two Monday nights from 7-9pm. The March 19th class was held at Nereid Boathouse and the March 26 class will take place at the Montclair High School erg room. George Freimarck

The course listing can be found on page 41 of the School's Spring Catalogue which was designed by Nereid member Suzy Kass! Registration is done through the Montclair Adult School and can be done online at http://www.adultschool.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=1013&courseid=448 .

If you have friends who have ever wanted to get a taste of what Nereid and sculling is all about, please alert them to this class. While it is geared toward the parents of current Montclair HS rowers, all adults are welcome. They won't do any rowing in the 2 classes, but will get oriented to the Boathouse and rowing technique through erging and videos. This is a great opportunity to expose non-rowers to sculling and provide a preview of Nereid's "Learn To Row" classes.

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St. Patrick's Day Erg Race canceled

Due to the winter storm last weekend, PRRA was forced to cancel its annual erg race.

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Previous newsletters

2007
Nereid News, 3/16/07
Nereid News, 3/9/07
Nereid News, 3/2/07
Nereid News, 2/23/07
Nereid News, 2/17/07
Nereid News, 2/9/07
Nereid News, 2/2/07
Nereid News, 1/26/07
Nereid News, 1/18/07
Nereid News, 1/12/07
Nereid News, 1/5/07
 

2006
Nereid News, 12/22/06
Nereid News, 12/15/06
Nereid News, 12/8/06
Nereid News, 12/1/06
Nereid News, 11/17/06
Nereid News, 11/11/06
Nereid News, 11/2/06
Nereid News, 10/27/06
Nereid News, 10/20/06
Nereid News, 10/13/06
Nereid News, 10/6/06
Nereid News, 9/29/06
Nereid News, 9/22/06
Nereid News, 9/15/06
Nereid News, 9/8/06
Nereid News, 8/11/06