PRINCETON, N.J. - USRowing will host approximately 100 coaches and non-profit leaders in its third-annual "Changing the Tide - The Challenge and Opportunity of Rowing Outreach" conference on February 13-14 in Washington, D.C.
The conference opens on Friday with an evening reception at Potomac Boat Club, where 2008 Olympic oarsman David Banks will talk about his experiences last summer at the Olympic Games in Beijing and his current work coaching the Trenton (N.J.) YMCA crew.
Saturday's interactive workshop, which will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Copley Formal on the campus of Georgetown University, will address the challenges and opportunities of bringing the sport of rowing to the youth of urban America. Key speakers include Jay Coakley, Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado and author of the textbook Sports in Society; Simon Dickie, Youth and Community Manager of the Amateur Rowing Association of Great Britain; Greg Roberts, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Muhammad Ali Center; Steve Stenersen, President and CEO of US Lacrosse; Uwe Brandes, Managing Director of Initiatives at the Urban Land Institute; and Glen O'Gilvie, CEO of the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. In addition, several speakers from rowing programs across the country will provide first-hand information from their experiences.
Sessions include The Issues of Stand-Alone "Outreach" Crews; Conversations on Race, Class and Rowing; The Politics of Rowing, Community Organizing and Waterfront Development; Integrating an Existing Crew Program; Conversations on Fundraising and Development; and Creating a Summer Outreach Program.
If you are interested in attending the workshop, please register in advance at www.regattacentral.com by clicking on the USRowing button under "Camps & Clinics." The registration fee is $100 per participant. (Fee waivers are available for programs that may not be able to afford the cost by contacting USRowing at 1-800-314-4ROW.)