How You Can Get Involved
With Access-based Rowing

Seattle is ready for and needs programs like Rainier Valley Rowing. There are numerous underserved communities in town who don’t have access to a significant portion of Seattle’s greenspace because they have barriers to accessing boating and water activities. Additionally, there are many important life lessons and skills are derived naturally from the sport of rowing and it is time we make them more accessible to more of Seattle’s young people.

The Rainier Valley Rowing program model is the next step in the evolution of access athletic programs.

Rainier Valley Rowing can make a real difference for many young athletes and for the sport of rowing and you can be a part of that. Here’s how:

Join the Access Rowing Committee:
Consider this an official invitation. The Access Rowing Committee has the opportunity to shape this program and others to follow. Committee member activities include:

  • Attend meetings once every 6 weeks
  • Offer advice and feedback about program development and directioning
  • Assist in program evaluation and growth plan
  • Direct staff to resources: participants, equipment and community contacts
  • Help put on an annual event (starting 2009) and assist in developing innovative fundraising strategies
  • Serve as a Pocock Foundation board liaison

Volunteer for Access-based Rowing:

  • Be an advocate, telling others about the program and helping to enlist partners in the project, such as finding someone to provide healthy snacks for the rowers.
  • Help create, plan and organize the new Corporate Rowing League—an opportunity for adults to learn to row with friendly competition and networking as part of the process. This program will likely take place at the Pocock Rowing Center and will raise funds and advocacy for Access Rowing and bring new rowers to the Center.
  • Help identify junior rowers who would be good advocates for rowing and be willing to work with the program director in recruiting program participants by sharing their experiences as a rower.
  • Help raise financial support.
  • Help create, plan and produce a fund-raising breakfast to engage community interest and support for the program. This event will take place in early 2009.
  • Be a chaperone for regattas. There will be one away regatta—Junior Regional Championships.
  • Let us know your ideas! As this is just the beginning, there will be other opportunities to volunteer as we go.

Get Your Team involved as a Community Partner:
Rowers know best about the power of synergy. While each individual volunteer can make an impact, a team of volunteers truly is more than the sum of its parts.

Interested individuals should contact Program Director Karla Landis for more information and to see any of these opportunities might be the right match for you.