Your participation is crucial to the success of our individual and collective efforts as a Club. As we return to a more normal season, we want to keep everyone informed and connected. To achieve this, we will be sending out Currents newsletter more frequently this year. You can expect to receive it in May, July, September, and November. Additionally, valuable information is posted almost daily on the private WCC member's Facebook page. Make sure to check out 😍 Our Instagram 😍

If you would like to be involved in any aspect of the production of this newsletter or have content to share, please contact us. There are so many great stories at the Club, and we look forward to sharing yours!

PS. Don’t forget to pay the beer fridge!

Technical note… Gmail “clips” lengthy email messages. When you get to the clip, please select "view entire message." You will know you’ve come to the end when you get to the shout-out!

The 17th Annual Kumu'ohu Challenge 2023

The racecourse is on the relatively protected water of the Potomac River, beginning and ending in front of the Washington Canoe Club on the beautiful Georgetown waterfront. The OC1/OC2, surfski, and sea kayak course will be ~15 km, while the SUP and sprint canoe/kayak course will be ~8 km. Both races will be run concurrently.

More detailed information and registration information are on PaddleGuru.

Volunteers are essential for the success of this race. We have a range of tasks available (for both racers and non-racers). If you can help out, sign up.

There is paid parking along the Georgetown waterfront, including street parking and parking garages. Parking garage information: http://www.georgetowndc.com/transportation/parking. Allow extra time for parking and walking to the race venue.

The Kumu’ohu Challenge Race raffles and auctions have traditionally been very successful in raising much-needed funds for our Club. The funds raised go towards supporting our youth canoe and kayak sprint teams, providing the men’s and women’s outrigger teams with the necessary equipment to compete, and towards community outreach efforts. We welcome groups from the D.C. community to learn about the Club, proper paddling techniques, and to share in the joy of paddling.

If you know of a company or organization that would be interested in supporting us, contact Ivan Gale (ivangale@gmail.com) with any referrals or donations.

Many Thanks to WCC Kumu’ohu Challenge Organizers Lisa Man, Emilia Rastrick, Stuart Smith, Kyle Kosinski, and Ryan Key.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR

WCC will host Team River Runner (our long-time community partner), twice this year for their Biathlon fundraiser(s). You can participate by volunteering, forming a team or racing solo! Teammates can split the race so one person paddles and the other runs. It will be a crowded day so please plan your use of the club on May 7 accordingly.

Volunteers are being coordinated by Team River Runner.

Register to race 

On the morning of the cruise, you'll check in with Tim (Commodore) or Stephen (Vice-Commodore) or the other volunteers who will be there to verify you have claimed your craft. If a boat/board has not been checked out during the cruise, it may lose its rack space. At a later date (and as per club rules) we will move any unclaimed boats to temporary storage to give their owners a chance to come and claim them. After a to-be-determined period of time, any boats that are still not claimed will be considered abandoned and disposed of.

COST: $450. Per camper, per one-week session.

To secure your spot, half of the fee ($225) is due April 15th with the remaining balance due June 1st. If any week-long session does not meet a minimum enrollment of six, the session will be canceled, campers notified and refunds issued.

Questions? Contact us at SummerCamp@WashingtonCanoeClub.org

Download the flyer

There is a rec OC-6 email list and Google sign-up sheet. To be added to the list and get the link to the sign-up sheet, email Joe at josephlrc@yahoo.com. Please sign up ahead of time rather than just showing up so Joe can plan accordingly.

It has been more than two years since Lisa Ramm resigned from her post as WCC Entertainment Chair, a position she held for six years. Since then, we have been searching for another unicorn to fill her shoes. In the meantime, a group of enthusiastic volunteers has come together with the same goal of hosting social events that bring our members together and strengthen the bond within our community.

The current Social Committee members include Mo Fathelbab, Jay Gopal*, Grace Hong*, Carmela Leith, Patricia Linderman, Helen Quick, Trish Riggs*, Kevin Rooney*, Vicki Sliwa, Gloria Vestal*, and Suzanne Zweizig (*board members). The committee meets monthly via Zoom to brainstorm event ideas and assign roles.

We invite you to join us! To be added to the next meeting, or if you have an idea for an event, please email Entertainment@WashingtonCanoeClub.org.

A morning crew has noticed that the boathouse has been left unlocked a few times recently. So it seems like the perfect time to remind everyone that regardless of the time of day or night, if you are the last person to leave the club, it is your responsibility to lock up. Unlike the pedestrian gate, the front door does not lock automatically. It must be locked from the outside with the key. Conveniently, it’s the same key that unlocks the NPS vehicle gate under the aqueduct bridge.

All club rules and by-laws can be found on the website.

WCC Coaches: Rachel Shackelford, Cheryl Zook and Lisa Ramm (Women’s Outrigger), Nate Day (Men’s Outrigger), Joe Cafferata (Rec Outrigger), David Podloch and Gavin Ross (Junior’s), Thom Crockett (Master’s Kayak), and Kathy Summers (SUP)

Look for a schedule of upcoming races and news from the teams in the next issue of Currents!

You’ve all seen the big canoes on the dock, but have you ever wondered what it would be like to race in one? Perhaps you’ve joined the recreational group on Mondays but would like to take the next step. The WCC Women’s Outrigger team is seeking athletes with a desire to compete. While no experience is necessary, a willingness to learn and work hard as part of a team is. If interested, contact Lisa Ramm (lrramm@gmail.com) and Rachel Shackelford (rachelpualani@gmail.com).

In the wake of Women's History Month, we want to give a shout-out to all the inspiring women from WCC who competed on land and sea yesterday! Congratulations to you all!

If you know of a WCC member who should get a shout-out let us know.

The WCC Squad Locker stores have a wide variety of club-branded items for members of all ages (including infants and toddlers). All items allow for personalization through the ordering process. With embroidered items, you can put your name (or mantra) on the sleeve. If an item has a printed logo, you can get your name (or nickname) on the back or sleeve. Hats are personalized on the back band area. Both shops are periodically updated and changed, so keep checking back. If there’s something you would like to see offered, let us know.

Visit the Spring/Summer Store

Visit the Fall/Winter Store

Thanks to Bonnie Havens for all her hard work on the stores.

If you have an idea for a contribution to the next issue of Currents, please reach out to one of your newsletter team members at Newsletter@WashingtonCanoeClub.org.

We love hearing from you!