General News Rowing Center News Junior Program News
Adult Program News Development News
BIR in the Community
General News
BIR has successfully completed its search for a new Director of Rowing by hiring not one – but two – outstanding individuals. Amanda Pekasky will be joining the club as Director of Programs and Business Development, and Walker Hauptman will be coming on as Deputy Director of Rowing. Read more about them here. BIR members, watch your email for a message from Board President Jill Bamburg with more details on what they’ll be doing and how it was possible for us to hire them both!
Year of the Volunteer
We are so grateful to the many BIR members who are stepping into new volunteer roles, in particular to Scott Roesch, who has stepped into the role of Interim Treasurer, and to Sheelagh Carleton, who has agreed to serve as our first Community Engagement Committee Chair. We’re in the process of connecting with volunteers who selected areas of interest during the registration process, and we also recently reached out with a detailed Volunteer Request Form requesting some specific assistance across building maintenance, boat maintenance, and rowing safety. Please take a moment to review the list of needs and consider signing up for a job. We’d also love to hear from you if you have other ideas or ways to contribute. Please contact president@bainbridgerowing.org if you have a specific volunteer offer. We deeply appreciate the tireless volunteer work of our membership – YOU make it possible for rowing to change lives!
Dedication of the Karen Campbell
The June 2 dedication of the Karen Campbell 8+ was a huge success, thanks to the incredible organizing efforts of Jo Vander Stoep. About 50 people were in attendance to honor and celebrate this talented longtime BIR volunteer, including Karen’s husband, daughter and two granddaughters. Tom Armentrout led a round of tributes from many in attendance, with food provided by the BI Culinaires – Karol Danielsson, Chapple Langemack, Barbara Jeantrout, Ann Livengood, Maggie Smith, and Deb Lantz. See our social media post for photos.
Dedication of the Kim Kushions
On Sunday, July 14, 12-2 pm, we will remember beloved Mid-Morning Adult Program rower, Kim Kouns. Her kids and families will join BIR members to share stories and dedicate the “Kim Kushions”, which Adult Team rowers are enjoying as they take turns coxing this year. Mark your calendars – we invite your assistance and participation!
Rowing Center News
The Stan Pocock Rowing Center saw its most lively season yet this past spring, with Junior and Adult programs making full use of our fabulous facilities. Recent private event rentals have included wedding receptions, bat mitzvahs, milestone birthday celebrations, and nonprofit fundraisers. The SPRC continues to host the Rotary Club’s weekly Monday meetings, as well as a bevy of daytime Senior Center classes, including pilates, tai chi and line dancing. Looking for a place to hold a daytime class or host a business meeting? We still have some midday, midweek time slots available at very competitive rates. Be sure to keep the rowing center in mind for all of your event needs – the excellent amenities, fabulous staff, and spectacular waterfront location have quickly made it one of the best rental venues in the West Sound! Click here to learn more and inquire about daytime and private event rentals.
Click Here to Make a Donation to Bainbridge Island Rowing
Click Here to Reserve our Rental Venue for Your Next Event
Junior Program News
Wow, it has been a busy and successful spring season for the BIR junior teams! The juniors faced some challenging weather conditions at both the Covered Bridge Regatta in Eugene, Oregon and at Brentwood International Regatta in Canada. But, in true BIR fashion, they rowed with amazing grit and determination as they endured the stormy, spring weather. They posted numerous top finishes, had fun, and showed great team spirit. The team’s dedication and hard work throughout the season paid off at the USRowing Northwest Regionals regatta in Vancouver, Washington. Boys and Girls novice and varsity teams posted outstanding finish times, coming home with an abundance of hardware and qualifying three varsity boys boats and one varsity girls boat for the USRowing Youth National Championship Regatta in Sarasota, Florida.
The four varsity boats competed at Nationals June 6-9, where they all raced well in the warm, humid conditions and delivered incredible results. The girls varsity 4x placed 5th in the C final (21st in the Nation), the boys varsity 4- placed 2nd in the C final (18th in the Nation), the boys varsity 4+ placed 5th in the B final (12th in the Nation), and the boys varsity U17 4+ placed 5th in the A final (5th in the Nation)! Both the boys and girls varsity teams will be sad to say goodbye soon to a total of 10 graduating seniors, but we wish them all the best in their next life endeavors! Visit BIR on social media to see some highlights from the season.
Adult Program News
The Adult rowers enjoyed some welcome changes this spring, as BIR introduced a new Novice program for newer rowers and Learn to Row graduates along with a flurry of new coaching talent to support our growing team. While the Novice rowers have been getting acquainted with Eagle Harbor, the Masters have been burning it at both ends under the careful watch of Coach Grant Dull, with early morning practices now starting at 5:30AM and evening rows wrapping after 8:00PM. Always the steadying force at BIR, the Mid Morning Masters have held to their weekday routine. With Coach Jane Stewart on a months-long Alaskan sailing odyssey, competitive Coach Redge Campbell has stepped up to the challenge of slowing down for our largest contingent of recreational scullers.
Adult rowers have also had plenty of opportunities to take their blade work off island for some friendly competition, including a fair number of novice races. BIR sent boats to all the spring standards this year, including the Husky Open, Opening Day/ Windermere Cup, and the Covered Bridge Regatta, as well as the novice races at Green Lake. Ambitious organizers among the rowers even managed to squeeze in a quick scrimmage weekend in Portland hosted by Station L. The competitive contingent has certainly been busy this spring, all in preparation for NW Masters Regionals at Dexter Lake in Oregon. BIR posted outstanding times and finishes across the board at Regionals, punctuated by medals in 8 events! The crews will no doubt be thankful for a less structured summer come July, but the last few months have been a very fun ride.
If there has been a cherry on top of spring season, it has been the support of the Junior Coxswains during adult practices. These talented young people have been yelling at the adults like professionals, and we are all better for it.
BIR in the Community
BIR Juniors and Adults will be busy in the community next month, helping with post-event clean up at the Rotary Auction and supporting Bainbridge Island Downtown Association with set up and booth workers for the popular 3rd of July Street Dance on Winslow Way. This “paid volunteer” work helps raise funds for BIR while supporting our wonderful nonprofit community partners. It’s also a great way to meet new people and to proudly represent BIR. Interested in joining one of these efforts? There is always room for more helping hands! Email admin@bainbridgerowing for more details and to sign up.
Grand Old Fourth
Heading to the 4th of July Parade this year? Come ride along with the BIR float and help us share the love of rowing! Contact admin@bainbridgerowing for more information. If you’ll be joining the viewers along the parade route, be sure to give us a big cheer!
Development News
Gratitude to our Rowing Center Lenders
We are moving toward completion of the final punch list of our beautiful new home, and the Stan Pocock Rowing Center is hosting a full schedule of rowing and non-rowing events. Meanwhile, the lenders who have made the construction possible have been willing to step up to extended terms on the repayment of their loans. Their generosity has made it possible for us to make full use of our new facility BEFORE it has been fully paid off. We extend our deepest gratitude to the seven lenders who helped make our Rowing Center dreams come true!
Donor Recognition Medals
449 families, individuals, and organizations are now honored in a beautiful art installation in the rowing center stairwell. All have created an incredible legacy for the community. Thanks again to Maggie Smith and Ann Livengood for their ingenious design and to John Christiansen for his nimble installation technique. It’s not too late to see your name in the display – new donors will be added to the installation over time! Click here to make a gift to the Rowing Center today. A HUGE thank you to all who have contributed and been recognized to date.
BIR Annual Auction – Saturday, November 9th
Please join us at the Rowing Center for our annual celebration + auction fundraiser. It’s sure to be a spectacular evening of community and connection as we continue to support our mission of changing lives. Tickets will go on sale in early fall – stay tuned for more!
Alumni Reunion Row – Sunday, July 7th – 10am-12pm
Come one, come all to connect with friends and have some fun on the water. Please help us spread the word to BIR alums about this awesome annual event – we’re hoping for a big turnout this year! Pizza lunch and a tour of the rowing center will be included. There’s no cost to attend, but we’d like to have a general headcount ahead of time. Register here: Alumni Reunion Row Signup
Fall Invitational Regatta Sponsored by Brown Bear Car Wash – September 28th, 2024,
BIG NEWS! BIR will be hosting both adult and junior rowers from across the water to kick off the fall head racing season with the “Brown Bear Cup” regatta in beautiful Eagle Harbor. We’re deeply grateful to our new sponsor, Brown Bear Car Wash, for helping make this exciting event possible. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for details!
