WRC Newsletter
Contents
Health and Safety Recruitment The WRC Committee is still recruiting a new Health and Safety Officer for the club. This is a rewarding position, and is a key volunteer role within the club. It does require a high level of responsibility. This role would be supported by the committee, senior members within the club, and a junior member who is keen to help with the role.  |
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the ideal candidate will be: He can be reached at: Safety@wellingtonrowingclib.org.nz Or 027-292-1129
Shocking News Recently one of our members received an electric shock from contact with a powerbar in the erg room located near the shelving. Disinfectant had been dripping on the powerpoint. The member was jolted but unharmed. While we can make an effort to ensure the disinfectant nozzle is closed, it’s also important to note that erg room ceiling leaks. To prevent other people from getting shocked, we have removed the powerbar from the shelves, and request that all members ensure there are no plugs or powerbars on the floor of the erg room to reduce this hazard going forward.
River Safety With squads traveling to rivers in search of flat water, the committee felt that it was timely to remind rowers that when boating from a pontoon, boat ramp, or river bank- ensure you boat bow first. Specifically have the bow of your boat pointing up stream. You can check the current direction by
Waimarino Exclusion Zone As you may have seen, work has started on deploying the concrete units that'll make up the new engineered reef. Going forward, this will be an exclusion zone for rowers. Please see the map below showing the exclusion zone. Please ensure rowing skiffs and coach boats stay at least 30 metres away from shore and 100 metres away from any tugs and barges adjacent to this area. The new reef will encourage the growth of plant life, algae, shellfish, snails, and kina, which in time will lead to more animal life in the area. |
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2024 SGM & AGM Dear All Club Members, We're excited to invite each of you to the upcoming Special General Meeting (SGM) and the 139th Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the Wellington Rowing Club. These will be held back-to-back on August 25th, in the WRC function room. Details to follow. This meeting is our opportunity to review the achievements of the past year, discuss upcoming initiatives, and provide input by voting on decisions that will impact our activities, finances, and strategic plans. Your participation matters. As well as being a chance for every member to have a voice in shaping the direction of our club, it's important that you attend so that the officers, Board and Committee have a positive endorsement of the work they do. Your involvement is what makes our club thrive. Join us at the SGM & AGM to ensure your voice is heard and to help us continue working together to make our club even more successful. See you there!
Waimarino Updates Access The WRA has started setting up the app based access for Waimarino, starting with key volunteers and coaches. Once these initial volunteers and main coaches have been set up they will be able to open the access to the wider membership. Please note that there is a one-time charge of ~$9+GST for setting up the app that WRC will invoice members for. Operational volunteers and coaches will not be charged for access. Please email secretary@wellingtonrowingclub.org.nz if you would like access.
Bollards Installation the WRA has provided the following update: The installation of bollards protecting the maneuvering space in front of Waimarino is now complete. The bollards have been installed to make the area a traffic free space. One where clubs can safely maneuver trailers and have skiffs out of the building, without having to risk vehicles driving through our operations. THE MANEUVERING SPACE IS NOT A CARPARK. YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ACCESS THE SPACE TO PARK YOUR CAR THERE. WRA & WWSC do not have exclusive use of the maneuvering space. (HCC or Taranaki Whānui may occasionally open the space to other users.) Clubs can access the maneuvering space to bring trailers in and out. Trailers can be parked in the trailer parks (but not overnight without permission). Temporary access may be granted for the purpose of loading or unloading another vehicle. However, cars are to be parked in the car parks outside the bollards. The bollard locks will hopefully be available to install this week. Meanwhile, if you need access to through the bollards please contact Gordon, Waimarino's interim facilities manager.
RNZ Coaching Conference RNZ will be holding a Coaches Conference in Wellington 14-15th September, This is a great opportunity for us to showcase Wellington as a rowing venue, to gain coaching skills, and broaden our rowing networks. Early bird pricing is in effect until July 22 For more details, or to register please see: RNZ Coaches Conference 2024 : RowingNZ
Update from the Board Dear Members, As well as our usual meeting topics, the Board focused their time on these key topics: Annual General Meeting - This is a requirement for the club and will be held on Sunday 25th August (please put this in your diary to attend). This year we will be presenting a revised constitution for approval (more on that below) and nominations for those who are wishing to contribute to the club by being part of the Committee or Board. In addition we noted that a Subscriptions sub-committee will review our annual subscriptions for next year and their work will begin once the end of year finances are complete. Information about subscription levels will also be provided at the AGM. We look forward to seeing the whole club there and joining us for lunch. WRC Constitution - WRC’s constitution was established in 2017 and has served us really well in that time. The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 requires us to re-register and submit a copy of our constitution, to ensure that we meet all the requirements of the Act. Given our constitution was already in very good shape, the changes that are required are minimal. As this is a key document for the club, we are required to present the proposed changes to our members for ratification at a Special General Meeting. This will done on 25th August along with the AGM. Copies of the proposed changes will be provided to you in due course. You can find out more here https://sportnz.org.nz/resources/incorporated-societies-act-2022-and-regulations/ WRC Strategy - Over the past few months the Board has been reviewing our strategy document. Like our constitution, this was another document that provided a long term view for the club and has provided excellent direction. Many of the actions items have now been achieved, which made a review necessary. The board has been reviewing the strategy to ensure that it remains relevant and has a long term view of the direction for the club. It’s still a work in progress, but I expect that you will see more in the next few months. Learn to Row/Corporate Season - This month Maria Chandler attended the meeting to update us on how the Learn to Row season was shaping up. As the Club major fundraiser for the year it was great to hear that the numbers of people who had expressed interest was high, and that a number of our experienced rowers and coaches had offered to assist in running the program. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of running a Corporate or Learn to row season for the club. It is a testament to Laurie Council and others who helped establish it, that it is still remains a successful programme that introduces new people to the sport and fun of rowing. A big Thank you to our volunteers coaches and Maria who does an excellent job of managing this for us. Maria is going to be overseas next year, which means someone else will need to run it next year. If this sounds like something you’d be keen to help out with please talk to Maria. Finances - As we come to the end of the year, we are in fairly good shape, this is only because we have managed our finances tightly over the past six months and Ange our Treasurer is doing a fabulous job of keeping us on track. Having said that, the Function centre income is down, and our insurance claims, repairs and maintenance on boats and trailers etc is up. Richard May has been doing a great job on the Grants, and we have received a grant for a new motor for one of our safety boats and some navigation lights. In addition he has submitted an application for replacing the Function Room floor. Thank you Richard for your efforts. Heath & Safety - Always an important part of our role, and that of the Committee. Please continue to report any incidents, no matter how minor, so we can address them. As a result of the incidents that have been reported the slippery floor at Waimarino is being addressed. Currently there is matting down to prevent slips until the floor is remedied. In addition, if you are doing a good deed and filling up the spray bottles to clean the ergs, please ensure the tap is closed properly. Last month a member received an electric shock due to the tap dripping onto the floor and into a powerbox. The matter has been addressed, however, it’s a good reminder that a small simple thing can actually turn out to be something much more serious. Finally - Thank you for all your support as I work to fill the gap that Chris Fry has left (I am conscious he has left big shoes to fill, somewhat like some of the shoes in some of our boats) and that of my fellow Board Members whose counsel I value. I also want to acknowledge and thank the work of the Committee and those helpers who worked hard to make our Prizegiving a successful event. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners, you represent us well and make us proud, on and off the water.
Lynda Jelbert -Acting WRC President
Legions Regatta Results Wellington RC Masters had a fine Saturday and Sunday of rowing at the Legion of Rowers North Island Masters Championships. Due to illness and obligations, an unfortunate number of unfortunate rowers had to pull out shortly before the event leaving race crew organizer Laura pulling out her hair. Despite these setbacks, her nimble crew rejiggering meant nearly forty rowers, two coxswains, and supportive partners slotted into roughly forty races. A special thank-you to MJ who, as Chief Sustenance Officer, deftly led the task of keeping dozens of rowers fed throughout the weekend. Racing courses from 250 meter sprints to 6,000 meter endurance efforts, WRC Masters acquired three silvers and nine bronze, with husband and wife duo the Smarts nabbing the sole gold in the sprint double sculls. As a closing note, for the NZ Masters Nationals in September, we would do well to take inspiration from the raw exuberance the Women's Novice Coxed Quad showed upon crossing the line 2nd in their first ever race. |