"Do we still show up if the Weather is bad?" The answer is YES, always
come to the boathouse unless you get a call canceling. We will go out if it is raining, snowing,
etc. Only wind or lightning keeps us
inside. But come anyway, we'll decide when you get there. The cox makes the
final decision, in consultation with the boathouse staff if needed.
“Why do I always have to include my phone number and which side I
row when I sign up for rowing? Can’t you
just keep track?” The schedule is sometimes done far from the
central database. So you must ALWAYS
INCLUDE this information for the scheduler. (Who is frazzled enough.)
“It doesn’t matter if I’m a few minutes late, right?” WRONG!!! We stick to a time schedule, and if you are
late everyone waits for you…and then no one gets to row the full hour, as we
still have to dock on time.
“Is it a problem if I need to be back on the dock a little early?” YES, this is a
problem. Don’t sign up to row if you
can’t stay until it’s over.
“What’s this ‘Captain’ thing?
I don’t want to make phone calls…I just want to row.” Unfortunately, we need to
CONFIRM ROWERS the night before to avoid no-shows, which leaves everyone else
stranded on the dock. Everyone takes a
turn being ‘Captain’ and making calls to remind rowers to show up. If you aren’t willing to do this once in a
while, you can’t row.
“I have an injury / job interview / big exam next week and
am not sure I will be able to row.
Should I sign up anyway, and then cancel if I don’t feel up to it?”
“What is a good reason for canceling, anyway?” There are several acceptable reasons to cancel once you have committed to row, including:
1) un-anticipated injury (if you anticipated it, you shouldn’t have signed up)
2) being pinned by a heavy object
3) profuse bleeding (minor bleeding doesn’t rate)
4) your spouse is in active labor (the Dylan Voorhees clause),
5) a death (preferably your own.) Get it? THIS IS A COMMITMENT.
”If I have to cancel, can I just ask any rower to sub or do I have
to contact an alternate from the list?” The answer is, PLEASE CONTACT LISTED
ALTERNATES. Those people signed up for
the time slot and did not get it…you got it instead, and it is now their turn. We try to give everyone the same opportunities,
based on availability. (We also try to
match for skill level, but can’t always.)
And for safety reasons, we don’t use novices as alternates. Please help us by using this system.
“If the listed alternates aren’t available, can I just ask any rower?” CONSULT ELLEN OR DAVID if
this happens…they may be able to suggest someone. You cannot use novices as alternates. Otherwise, if you can’t get a replacement you
have to cancel the boat.
“Why can’t novices be alternates anyway?” For SAFETY
REASONS, we do not use LTRs or novices as alternates. We need to know that alternates can replace a
rower of any experience level, so limit alternates to experienced rowers. Also, in the morning when
the river is crowded, experienced rowers need to dominate…that’s a rule we
can’t break. Later in the day, it’s ok
to have a higher novice ratio.
“I keep being assigned to a seat I don’t like in the boat. Can I tell the cox to move me?” You can certainly discuss this with the coxswain. However, realize that
1) every seat is equally important,
2) each seat requires a set of strength, skill, and personality, and the cox will carefully match for these qualities, meaning that seat assignments are not random, and
3) THE COX IS THE
BOSS, and if they ask you to do something…take it as a command. (Even if they ask you to jump in the water
and swim.)
Lastly, “so if I come late, or don’t show up when it’s raining, or cancel when
I don’t feel like rowing, or don’t follow the alternate system, or I complain
to the cox…what difference does it make?” Rowing is the ultimate group
project. If you get a reputation for
standing people up, or bending the system, people won’t want to row with
you…and that will be taken into account.
This is a lesson in LEADERSHIP and GROUP PROCESS. We are only as strong as the weakest link,
everyone is important and the group relies on each individual...together...to
do their part.