Author: Barbara Agnew

ON THIS DAY – 10 YEARS AGO

Mike McD writes: The Project committee held their 11th meeting tonight, when it was noted that the boat had had its final coat of varnish and was now complete (see below). During the day we had a visit from a very enthusiastic Echline Primary 3 and their teacher, Miss McCulloch. In the following weeks they sent us drawings of the boat which we put on display, and suggestions for names which went into the ‘hat’.

We discussed the final arrangements for holding a Public Meeting on the 22nd, to start a Rowing Club, and agreed that the present Project committee would continue until the AGM in June. it was agreed that we would invite members of Port Seton to the meeting to describe their experience of forming a Club. While John H was still looking for a suitable trailer, Stuart offered the use of his trailer so that we could put the boat outside on the Saturday before the meeting.

On the matter of oars, Mike had been given a contact at Edinburgh Rowing Club by David Rennie, a member of QBC, about some old/broken oars in a store at Broxburn. (We subsequently picked up 10 oars for a small donation.) Mike had also arranged to buy six lengths of timber from Inzievar, Fife, which Ranald and he later collected.

We also discussed the programme for the official Launch and naming ceremony on Sunday 17th April, with invites to be sent out by 4th March. This would be preceeded by a parade of the boat round the town, and a Ceilidh on the Saturday night. We also planned for another music night on 4th March (Music to Rock your Boat 2) to keep the funds coming in.

Ranald and Mike had been exploring Port Edgar, and found an empty shed in an ideal location. They would make further enquires with the Council..

Marianne writes: Below is the subgroup paper that went to the Committee at the last meeting for your input.  

Your Actions Are:

1. review membership
2. sign up for subgroups

  The point of this exercise is to update the groups, so let me know using hollycherry1004@hotmail.co.uk where your name should/shouldn’t appear and I’ll amend the paper so we have an accurate record.  Feel free to give yourself a new challenge and join a new group!

Subgroups are a valuable way of getting tasks done, and allow club members to use their skills, expertise and enthusiasm to contribute positively to the Club. Some subgroups will be permanent (standing subgroups such as the Technical subgroup), others may be time-limited to tackle specific tasks, e.g. Regatta subgroup.

Guidelines for operation of subgroups
All subgroups must:

1. be approved by the Committee;
   
2. be open to all members to join;
   
3. report to each Committee meeting by email (nil return is fine) via a nominated person;
   
4. ensure ALL expenditure is approved by the Committee prior to spending (and receipts provided to the Treasurer).

Prior to the AGM, all subgroups will submit a report of the year. It will be up to the new Committee to re-establish subgroups as required, though most groups are likely to continue.

The existing groups are:

1. TnT Group (Technique and Training)	To develop and improve club training activities. Crew selection for regattas etc.	Anne P, Anne F, Mel, Marianne, Maria, Lesley
2. Cox/Skipper Training	To advance cox and skipper skills.	Peter, Rachel H, Mike McD, John H, Donna, Rory
3. IT	To support the club in IT matters	Mike B, Barbara
4. Social/fundraising	To organise social and fundraising events.	Lorna, Tracey, Val, Steph, Marianne
5. Technical	To carry out boat and accommodation maintenance and repairs as well as alterations, improvements, additions etc.	Anne F, Steph, Mike B, Mark, Douglas, Alistair, John H, Keith, Alan S
6. QRC Regatta/ RowAround	To organise the QRC regatta/ RowAround	Dónal, Stevie W
7. Youth Development	To develop and promote youth rowing, and the integration of youth rowers into club life.	Peter, Louise, Rachel H, Marianne, Dónal
8. Greening	To continue and coordinate club greening efforts	Rachel, Keith, Stevie W, Gabe
9. Club Development	To investigate and make proposals for: amending constitution, SCIO charitable status, funding options, new premises	Alan S, Steph, Anne F, Beth, Keith
10. QRC 10th Anniversary	To mark this milestone in the club’s history.	Dónal, Peter, Stevie W

The Return to Rowing group will continue as John H, Maria, Anne P, Anne F, Marianne, Dónal. The remit will remain to be ‘to establish and revise Covid-19 procedures and protocols with respect to rowing and the Shed’.

Mike McDowall writes: Actually, it was back on 26th November 2010 that the hull was built and primed. and we organised a group of High School pupils to help take the boat off her frame, carry her out through the back door and turn her the right way up.

In December and January all the work on the gunwales, stemheads, thwarts, etc, took place. Meantime the committee was arranging for another music night, the launch, and a ceilidh to follow, as well as a boat name competition. We were also on the lookout for a trailer, boat cover and of course – oars!

Weekend visits by the public were still encouraged.

It WAS on this day that we issued a press release:

And here is the progress made by 17 January:

For more build photos, click here.

Marianne writes: You may already have seen my posts on WhatsApp, but British Rowing are running a daily rowing workout challenge, ROW31, during January.  Primarily aimed at those with a rowing machine, you can do alternatives for the rowing part if you don’t have one, eg go for a wee run, jog on the spot or cycle. So far, me, Mel, Lesley, Sharon, Beth, Dónal, Jennifer and Lorna are signed up, but we’d love to share the pain gain!   

Sign up via their website https://www.britishrowing.org/ or on Facebook to receive the daily link direct your inbox.  There is a nice wee ROW31 community on Facebook, including rowers from Troon, North Queensferry, Broughty Ferry and Cromarty.

Links below to yesterday and today’s workout for those who have just signed up today, so step away from the trifle/cheese and get on to the ROW31!

Club captain Dónal writes: As we say goodbye to 2020, a year like no other, and look forward to what 2021 has to offer us I’d like to wish all at the Club a Happy and Prosperous New Year and hopefully one with more rowing.

The last year did not turn out as we had planned. Little did we know that after the Ceilidh in February that we would be curtailed to such an extent, both on and off the water. There was so much to look forward to in 2020 with the Row Around Scotland taking place but alas by the time it was to happen it had to go virtual. It did mean of course that we learned a lot about the coast of Scotland that we might not otherwise have known.

Throughout the pandemic the social aspect of the Club has been kept going thanks to the tremendous effort of Val, who organised the Virtual Shed Social – a heartfelt thanks to Val for doing that. We even had a Social on Boxing Day and Hogmanay, and it is always great to see everyone, sometimes with a bacon butty or perhaps a glass of wine. 

We were back on the water albeit briefly and a thanks has to go to the Return to Rowing Group with resident Fun Sponge/Covid Officer Marianne keeping us all right as to when we might be able to row. Our rowing lasted a number of weeks  before we were put in to Level 3 which meant we were off the water again.

Here’s hoping that 2021 sees us out on the water again, Rowing under the three magnificent structures we are lucky to have on our doorstep. Here’s also to being able to meet up restriction-free for Bacon Rolls in the shed.

Wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year with lots of rowing.