To our Norwalk River Rowing and Wilton Crew Community:
Last night we held the Norwalk River Rowing annual meeting followed by a meeting of your Board. We concluded as a community that we should suspend all rowing programs at the Boathouse until at least Monday, March 30 and evaluate appropriate actions thereafter. Fairfield University has also suspended its program for the season as have many college programs, high schools and clubs in the area. We do this with heavy heart, but believe we should do our small part to try and slow the spread of the Covid-19.
We athletes however need to continue to enjoy the benefits of training and to that end our coaching staff will develop training plans for each of our program members to follow at home. For the athletes who participate, this will include interactive reporting of results and accomplishments. We look to exit this period in better shape than we entered it, and be ready to take on any competition. To enhance the training potential NRR will provide ergs to members who are in good standing, pick-ups this Monday to Wednesday afternoons at 4PM to 5PM and by appointment.
As a small not-for-profit business with limited financial resources and alternatives we ask that members please continue to join and pay for programs so that the Club can continue to meet its obligations to its employees, vendors and suppliers, insurance and banking partners. We are aware that the change in services and access is unfortunate and will work to provide either future credit or additional training weeks in an equitable fashion to compensate for the on-site suspension of rowing activities. Note, we will return or forgo the collection of any Regatta Fees for the season until we are sure to attend. We will, once the coast is clear, plan at least some local regattas to demonstrate our talents and athleticism.
Thanks all those members of our community who will continue to support our rowers, their families, our staff and this incredible collection of people who feel so passionately about their relationship to our organization. From our most senior Master Oarsmen to our newest Development Team rowers to our exciting new Wilton Crew, I know that one thing we will miss most during this hiatus is the team spirit and camaraderie we share at the Boathouse.
During the pause in on site activities, we will work on some long term priorities and agenda items at the Club. We will also make sure to give everything a very complete cleaning before we again open the doors to programs.
NRR will reopen as soon as we are confident the risk to the community has dissipated. We will look to the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control, The Connecticut Department of Health, the health professionals on our Board and local school systems for ongoing guidance.
On a personal note, I wish each of you and your loved ones the best over these coming weeks, good health and thanks for your great strength and support.
Train Harder at Home, Row Faster and Go Further, Jeff
Jeffrey F Thompson
Executive Director
Norwalk River Rowing Association, Inc.
203-866-0080
