Thursday 30 January 2020

2020 is our 15th anniversary year

As the end of January 2020 approaches, the summer racing season ahead is getting closer for our 12+ teams.  We are now in the middle of a 5-year plan to modernize the club and take that next leap forward.    We are very excited for the future and growing our unique and well known brand of accessibility for people of all abilities, in a fun, fair, supportive, safe, and non-profit environment.  We are currently still based on Ashbridges Bay in the east end of Toronto, but will be expanding over the years beyond these shores.

This year we are using TeamSnap for all our paddlers registrations for teams, rather than Survey Monkey which we have used for over a decade.  It now incorporates registration, waivers, etc all in one, and allows for tracking of scheduled practices and regattas, as well as enabling easier team and club-wide communications.  We are also now using Zoom account for online meetings and conference calls - available to all teams.  We also use it for partner meetings.

Our team programs have mostly been finalized now, with budgets set, as well as coaches hired and team co-captains identified.  To finish this first blog entry in a loooong time, here is a list of details and status for our 12 core teams.  Questions?  Contact Tim@RustyDragons.ca

2020 Rusty Dragons teams (v4 - Jan 22, 2020)
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*** ALL teams are looking for new paddlers.  This is a summary of the differences between the teams - which are all very similar, but just different combinations of practices dates/times and regattas (races).



1. PINK CRUSADERS & SUPPORTERS

* Team for breast cancer survivors AND anyone else (men or women) interested in joining.
 - Co-Captains: Nancy Martin & Geri Arellano-Sison.
 - Coach: Tim MacFarlane. 
 - 20 practices: Wednesdays 7-8 PM (May 6 to Sept 23).
 - 4 regattas: 
   > Peterborough (Sat June 13), 
   > Canada Day (Wed July 1), 
   > Guelph (Sat Aug 8), 
   > Christie Lake (Sat Sept 26).
 - Cost: $391  ($370 early bird until Feb 15).
 ==> Registration link: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/221331

2. MOTLEY CREW

* Mixed-gender team with many experienced paddlers.
 - Co-Captains: Anitha Cyriac & Janelle Rose.
 - Coach: Peter Polyzotis.
 - 20 practices: Thursdays 7-8 PM (May 7 to Sept 17).
 - 2 regattas: 
   > Peterborough (June 13), 
   > Stratford (Sept 19).
 - Cost: $313  ($295 early bird until Feb 15).
 ==> Registration link: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/220405

3. GUNS N ROSES

* Mixed-gender team with many experienced paddlers.
 - Coach: Natalie Wong 
 - Co-Captains: Shalini Venkataramaiah & Babar Awan.
 - 21 practices: Thursdays 7-8 PM (May 7 to Sept 24).
 - 4 regattas: 
   > Canada Day (Wed July 1), 
   > GWN Sport (Sat July 11), 
   > Woodstock (Sat Aug 8), 
   > Christie Lake (Sept 26).  
 - Cost: $432  ($412 early bird until Feb 15).
 ==> Registration link: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/220448

4. ONE GORGEOUS BOAT

* Mixed-gender LGBTQ and Ally (others who like this time slot) team with many experienced paddlers.
 - Captain: Dana Quinn.  
 - Coach: Gary Pang.
 - 18 practices: Sundays 12:00-1:15 PM (May 10 to Sept 6).  Extra 15 minutes each practice!
 - 2 regattas: 
   > Canada Day (Wed July 1), 
   > GWN Challenge (weekend of Sept 12-13).
 - Cost: $381  ($363 early bird until Feb 15).
 ==> Registration link: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/221338

5. U OF T LIBRARY OF CONQUEST

* Mixed-gender team focused on staff at the various U of T libraries in the GTA.
 - Co-Captains: Jack Leung & Christina Santolin.
 - Coach: Ann Forbes-Arndt. 
 - 8 practices: Fridays 7-8 PM (May 8 to June 26).
 - 1 regatta: 
   > Canada Day (Wed July 1).
 - Cost: $166
 ==> Registration link: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/221345

6. DRAG'N ANGELS

* Mixed-gender LGBTQ team that moved from Sunnyside to Ashbridges Bay last year.
 - Co-Captains: Kevin Donovan, Yvonne Falke, Peter Kamphuis, Patty Barclay.  
 - Coach: Bethany Yam 
 - 18 practices: Tuesdays 6-7 PM (May 5th to Aug 4th)
 - 3 regattas:
   > Port Perry (June 20)
   > Hamilton (Sat July 4)
   > Woodstock (Sat Aug 8)
 - Cost: $TBD
 ==> Registration link: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/221344

7. LET HER RIDE

* LGBTQ team for women professionals.
 - Captain: Jacki Lewis
 - Coach: Catharine McInnis 
 - 18 practices: Wednesdays 6-7 PM (May 13 to Sept 23)
 - 2 regattas:
   > Canada Day (Wed July 1)
   > Christie Lake (Sat Sept 26)
 - Cost: $297  ($280 early bird until Feb 15).
 ==> Registration link: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/221845

8. HARBORD VILLAGE

* Neighbourhood team that is loosely based on Harbord Village (Bathurst/Bloor to Spadina/College) but is open to anyone who likes this time slot.
 - Captain: Kate Lushington.
 - Coach: Caroline Cook. 
 - 7 practices: Thursdays 6-7 PM (May 14 to June 25).
 - 1 regatta: 
   > Canada Day Regatta (Wed July 1).
 - cost: $155  ($145 early bird until Feb 15).
 ==> Registration link: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/221342

9. BEACH DRAGONS

* NEW Neighbourhood team that is based on Beaches and Upper Beaches are in east end of Toronto, but is open to anyone who likes this time slot.
 - Coach: Tim MacFarlane. 
 - Captain: TBD.
 - 6 practices: Tuesdays 7-8 PM (May 19 to June 23).
 - 1 regatta: 
   > Canada Day Regatta (Wed July 1).
 - Cost: $146  ($136 early bird until Feb 15).
 ==> Registration link: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/221843

10. SPIRIT DRAGONS

* Team for youth and young adults with an intellectual/developmental disability, and their families, friends, and supporters. 
 - Coach: Ann Forbes Arndt & Tim MacFarlane. 
 - Co-Captains: TBD. (There is a big committee of 10-12 people).
 - ?? practices: Saturdays 1-2 PM (dates TBD).
 - 1 regatta: 
   > Canada Day Regatta (Wed July 1).
   > Possible option for Welland (Sat Aug 29).
 - Cost: $TBD.
 ==> Registration link: 

11. RUSTY BELLES

* Women's collective team who form from above teams generally for extra races on the side.
 - Co-Captains: Lolita Uy & Kelly Ziger.
 - Coach(es): TBD.
 - ?? practices: TBD (possible some Tuesdays 7-8 PM).
 - 2? regattas: (each separately organized)
   > Toronto Women's Regatta (Brampton) (Sun May 24).
   > Canada Day Regatta - Women's Race (Wed July 1).
 - Cost: $TBD (for each separate event).
 ==> Registration link: 

12. BARRACUDAS

* Mixed-gender team restricted to members of above teams who want more racing.  Interested paddlers will meet in February to plan what they want to do.
 - Co-Captains: TBD.
 - Coach(es): TBD.
 - ?? practices: TBD (likely Mondays 7-8 PM -ish, or Saturdays).
 - ? regattas: TBD
   > Possibly Canadian Championships in Welland (July 24-26).  Includes 5 race distances this year.
 - Cost: $TBD.
 ==> Registration link: