Radnor BoysÕ Crew Hospitality – Spring 2009

 

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Ògathered at the painted poleÓ

 

 

What is hospitality and how does it involve me?

The Radnor Crew hospitality tent and food are an essential part of a fun day at the regattas!  Each family is part of the Hospitality Committee and is asked to provide food and to help with organizational tasks at the races on a rotating basis.

 

This spring, we will be providing hospitality at 11 regattas:

 

Date                Regatta                        Race Logistics                         Hospitality Provided

March 15th      Manny Flick #1*        Boys & Girls together            Full hospitality (1)

March 22nd      Manny Flick #2          Boys & Girls together            Full hospitality (2)

March 28th      Cooper River Sprints                                                  No grill, light food

March 29th      Manny Flick #3          Boys race in morning              Full hospitality (3)

April 4th          Cooper River Sprints                                                  No grill, light food

April 5th          Manny Flick #4          Boys race in afternoon            Full hospitality (4)

April 19th        Manny Flick #5          Boys race in morning              Full hospitality (5)

April 25th        NJ Scholastic Championships                                   No grill, light food                                                           

May 3rd           Phila. City Champs    Boys & Girls together            Full hospitality (6)

May 10th         Dr. White                    Freshman/Novices only          Attendees to organize**

May 15th/16th  Stotesbury Cup          Boys & Girls intermixed         Full hospitality *** (7)

 

Full Hospitality means that we provide food (grilled food, lunch, snacks, and drinks) for the boysÕ team as well as their family and friends who have come to watch and cheer on the team.  We generally plan to feed approximately 80 people each week.  We set up tents, grill food and have a wonderful day at the river.

 

  *   FYI - The race schedule is usually posted online on Thursday night on  

        www.phillyflicks.com so you can see when your child will be racing.

** Dr. White is a regatta for Freshman & Novices only. Once it is determined who will be racing that day, I will contact parents to organize the hospitality/food.

*** Stotesbury Cup is the largest high school rowing event in the world.  It takes place over a two day period – Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th.  We will most likely just be providing full hospitality on Friday.  Assignments have been made for this although understandably not everyone will be available to help that day.  As the date nears, we will work out who can switch with those who are unavailable.

Where are the regattas held?

The Manny Flicks, Philadelphia City Championship, Dr. White, and Stotesbury are held on the Schuylkill River at Boat House Row. Cooper River Sprints and NJ Scholastic Rowing Championship are held in NJ.

 

Where do we set up our hospitality tents?

Our ÒspotÓ at the Schuylkill River is near the painted pole – a telephone pole painted with stripes on its middle that is located to the east (towards the city) of the St. JoesÕ boathouse.  We set up our tent alongside the Girls Team and do some coordination with them but basically keep our food and tasks separate. 

 

Directions and Parking - Boat House Row

Traveling East on Rt. 76, take the Lincoln Drive exit, cross the river and get onto Kelly Drive.  Stay on Kelly Dive towards the city and follow the river.  When you get to the point where Kelly Drive is closed, parking attendants will direct you where to park.  YouÕll need to walk back down to the river so be sure to wear good walking shoes and comfortable clothes. Parking passes are usually available for the trailer tower and the families assigned to set up. These passes allow you to park right along the river area. They will be available for pick up in the trailer on the day before the race.  They are in a marked envelope taped to the left of the door.

 

Directions to Cooper River

From center city Philadelphia, take 676 East to Ben Franklin Bridge. Follow Route 30 East to Route 70 East. Follow signs for Cherry Hill. Bishop Eustace Prep will be less than a mile on your right. Please follow the signs for parking.

What can I expect on race day?

Regattas are fun and exciting to watch!  They can be long as there are many races throughout the day.  Spectators should dress for the weather (it is always much chillier at the river) and bring chairs, blankets, binoculars, etc.

 

How do we get everything to the river?

We are fortunate to have a hospitality trailer.  This makes transporting our food to the river much easier. Let me know your comments and suggestions throughout the season, so we can keep improving our plan as we go along.

 

The trailer is co-owned and shared with the Radnor Girls Crew Club.  When not in use at the regattas, it resides at Radnor High School.  Turning into the High SchoolÕs main entrance off of King of Prussia Road, the trailer will be alongside the equipment storage building in the first parking lot on your left.  For each race, the two clubs will coordinate towing responsibilities according to each teamÕs race schedule.  The list above shows when the boys race at each regatta.  The team that races in the morning will tow the trailer to the river and the team that races in the afternoon will return it to Radnor High School.  WeÕll split the responsibilities on the intermixed days.

 

The trailer will be leaving Radnor High School at 6:00AM on race days, towed by either the girlsÕ or boysÕ team driver assigned to that shift.  If you are assigned to food items, those items must be loaded onto the trailer before 6:00AM on race day morning (certainly many items can be loaded on prior to race day morning).  Otherwise, you are responsible for bringing your food to the river.     Inside the trailer are coolers marked for the boys (RBCC).  Please place items that need to be kept cool in the coolers (with ice) and other items on the shelves/containers marked RBCC.  Be sure to lock the trailer upon leaving.  Please clearly label everything you bring with RBCC.

 

Whenever it is your turn to bring food, please plan on bringing that food to the trailer at RHS.  We purchased the trailer so that no one will have to carry their food down the big hill at the river.  We also purchased really good coolers which keep food cold for days.  If your food items need to be refrigerated, please bring ice to put in the cooler on Saturday to avoid having to manage on your own on Sunday.

 

Thanks in advance for your patience and help.  The only way we can accomplish this huge task is with assistance from everyone.  We are looking forward to a wonderful season. See you at the river!

 

Nadine Champagne                

Hospitality Chair

Home:  610-525-7958

Cell:  610-203-0157               

Email:  khourichamp@earthlink.net

 

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