Welcome PCRA parents! Each and every one of you is a vital part of making our community rowing program a success. We need your help to make each PCRA event a rewarding and positive experience for you and your rower.
On this page you you will find out a little more about the Parents Association (PA) and how you can get involved. Please contact us (Sarah, Kristen or Anne, your co-presidents) with any questions or to volunteer. We are ALWAYS happy to hear from you!
How can I get involved?
The Parents Association is a 100% volunteer operation. Our Regattas have a festive spirit – this would not be possible if it were not for the PCRA PA Volunteers! All rowers enjoy support from the riverbank, the food and a place to hang out with friends! Parents Association also supports the club, coaches and athletes in various functions throughout the year. Not only will you helping PCRA when you volunteer but, there is the added benefit of making lots of new friends!!! There are plenty of opportunities to help even if you cannot be at the hospitality tent. Below are descriptions of some of the opportunities we have for parents, no experience is necessary! Even you are not ready to take on a leadership role, you can sign up to shop, cook, clean and cheer at every regatta. Look at your calendar and decide how your family wants to be involved.
Co-Presidents
Kristen Timmermans and Anne O’Beirne – The PCRA PA Co-Presidents oversee all PA activities including regatta planning and hosting, special events, and more! Our email address is parentsrowingassociation@gmail.com. Please email us with any questions or concerns and we will respond promptly.
Treasurer
John Puchalla
Parents Association Treasurer manages all the PA’s finances, including collection of dues, bill payment and reimbursement of expenses. The best way to reach John with questions or to submit expenses is by email at pcratreasury@hotmail.com.
New Families Liason
Helps new families transition into Race Team… so many questions!
Development/Recreation Team Liason(s)
Coordinates with PCRA PA Co-Presidents and Treasurer for all Development/Recreation Team events.
PR Liaison
Perhaps you are a reporter at heart. Help the PCRA community become more informed and more cohesive than ever. Profile coaches, rowers and parents as well as provide updates on the fun and festivities at our regattas. Writes PR for regattas and events. Fact checks with coaches and submits press releases to the PCRA Board Member who is responsible for PCRA Public Relations.
Volunteer Spot Coordinator (signup.com)
This volunteer reviews the official regattas schedules and PCRA race line-ups to create a timeline for needed volunteers. And then coordinates with the Menu Planners and Regatta Supply Coordinators to post relevant volunteer spots on signup.com
Towing
We are looking for families who are able to tow the chuck wagon to and/or from our regattas. If you are willing, but unable because you do not have a trailer hitch, the PA may pay for one to be installed on your vehicle. Some perks are...we pay for your gas and can pay for overnight hotel accommodations and you might be able to park closer to the venue.
Menu Planning
These volunteers assess the regatta schedules and plan the appropriate meals and create the shopping lists for each regatta.
Regatta Supplies Coordinators, Shoppers, Packers and Cleaners
These volunteers keep an inventory of all PCRA supplies. They shop for all of the items needed for each regatta. They deliver the supplies and often help load them into the chuck wagon (usually on a Friday afternoon).
Additional volunteers sign up at VolunteerSpot to help with everything that goes into making sure the chuck wagon gets loaded and unloaded for each regatta and to make sure it is ready for the next regatta! Look for an email with sign up information.
Regatta Captains
This is our most important job! Unfed kids do not row well and are grumpy to boot. This is a team effort, no one ever does this job alone. The day will be broken down into two shifts, early and late with two captains for each shift. These “Captains” are the ‘go to’ people at the hospitality tent on the day of the regatta. They are ones who keep the hospitality flowing from setting up, to cooking, to the clean up and packing (except for when their children are rowing). As usual, we will have parents sign up to volunteer throughout the day to assist the Captains in all of these duties.
Photographers
Photograph regattas and events, and post photos on website for all to enjoy. All photographers are invited to upload their photos to our archives.
Videographer / Video Editor
Take video of regattas and events, edit raw video and post production on website for all to enjoy. Everyone is invited to share high res video and still footage for use in the videos, but they are edited to be glimpses into the events – not all video footage will be used.
Special Events
Every year PCRA hosts several community events to raise spirit and sometimes to raise funds to support the capital expenditures needed for the program. These include the Grab Bag Regatta, Holiday Party and impromptu pizza parties and community out reach.
Grab Bag – The Grab Bag is the most fun event of the entire year. All PCRA rowers: Recreational & Development Team, Race Team (Intermediate & Varsity) and Masters compete in mixed boats against each other in all events on Orchard Beach Lagoon out of our very own boathouse on Glen Island.. On land, there is plenty of food at the hospitality tent, silent auctions, and guessing games and fun awards from the coaches. Additional volunteers will be needed both to plan and on the day.
Holiday Party – Each year, during the winter season we gather for a Holiday Party which is a fun event for all the rowers!!!
End of Year Dinner Coordinator - All Senior Parents are invited to participate in organizing the End of Year Dinner. This is an event all for Race Team and their families. It is held on a week night in May at an offsite location (usually NYAC). The dinner will celebrate and recognize our graduating seniors and all of the PCRA Youth Team.
Fundraising
This is a communications job which includes planning and implementing all fundraising efforts for the Parents Association including Holiday Pie Sales and The Ergathon. In the fall we have an annual Holiday Pie Sale fundraiser. The major fundraiser for PCRA is at the start of the Spring Season when the entire club participates in the clubs’ biggest fundraising event – The Ergathon.
PA Dues
Prior to each rowing season, the PCRA Parents Association will re-evaluate the funds necessary to accommodate the upcoming season based on the team's regattas and events. The goal is always to keep the dues at a minimum. Costs associated with the parents association include, but are not limited to, the cost of food at regattas, the upkeep and storage of our equipment (chuckwagon, grill, tents) as well as event costs for rower socials such as our annual holiday party and grab bag regattas. Payments can be made in many forms (Cash, Check, Credit Card), but the preferred method of billing is via Paypal. All parents will be billed at the beginning of the season and payments are due by the first regatta. You will be billed directly via Paypal to the email you have provided on Blue Sombrero. If you have any questions about dues please email John Puchalla at pcratreasury@hotmail.com.