Hello everyone,

Here is the first equipment update of the 2006/2007 rowing season. But before I start, I would like to say thank you to everyone for an exciting 2005/2006 season. Much of that was made possible by the many people who came out to volunteer throughout the year. It was the extra hands and help that made so much possible last year. Of course, with another year now in front of us, I will be looking for people to be coming out still. I hope I will have the chance to work with many of year over the next twelve months.

1. Safety - Just reminder to everyone to use caution when using the shellbays and the docks. The extreme cold this past week has resulted in ice on some portions of the shellbay floors and the docks are always slippery when it's cold. Please be careful, because I would really hate for someone to slip and knock their head on a rigger or the deck. There is salt in a bag near the doors of shellbay 2. Help yourself.

2. Equipment: Currently both the America and the Ken Jaggards are out of service as they under-go much needed repair. The America is being completely refinished and the Ken Jaggards requires some reinforcement work under the seat deck. Thank you to Annette O'Shea and Jo-Anne Martin for taking charge of repairs on the America. The Ken Jaggard should be back in service for Saturday December 8th.

3. Ergs: Just a reminder the erg handles should be stored against the fly wheel after your workout, and all ergs should be stored in an upright position after use. In addition, please remember to wipe down your erg when done.

4. Volunteers: Because the equipment is in less demand and our numbers are fewer as a portion of the membership hibernates, winter at VRC is the time to complete big repair projects. There are boats to repair, blades to repair, and general work and maintenance to be done. If you're interested in helping out, feel free to contact me. In the meantime I would like to thank a couple of people I forgot to mention in my equipment updates this last year: Erin Hoess (who by her own count came out to help five times, and I forgot to mention all five) and Andrew Lane and Angus Dinsdale who recently changed the bungy cords on the Model C ergs. Thank you to all three.

That's all for now.

Kenzie Andrews

Equipment Manager

Vancouver Rowing Club