On April 1st, CRI will once again host the “April Fools Monster Launch Rodeo”!  Past favorites such as the low wake race, and the “Big Turn” will return, as well as new events, such as a “Seat Racing Switch” (still looking for a clever name for that one)

Most exciting though, is that Regatta Northwest, Premier supplier of Survival Suits and other weatherproof outerwear for rowing coaches, has agreed to sponsor the event.  The overall winner of the Rodeo will win a brand new Floatation Jacket!

Please visit www.regattanorthwest.com and check out their products!

1st Annual

Heart of the Charles

sponsored by CRI

November 1, 2009

2 Miles - 9am Start

Singles - Doubles - Pairs - Fours - Quads

All are welcome! No  fee!

To register to RACE or VOLUNTEER contact:
Rachele Pojednic, Director of Outreach

617-779-8277

rachele@communityrowing.org

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, Oct. 16, 2009

CRI WELCOMES ROWING COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC DURING HEAD OF THE CHARLES

BRIGHTON, MA - Community Rowing, Inc., the growing nonprofit organization that promotes fitness and the benefits of rowing for all, is inviting members of the international, national, and local rowing communities to visit its new home in the Harry Parker Boathouse this weekend, in connection with a busy CRI week and Head of the Charles events in the Cambridge and Boston area.

Members of the public are also welcome to tour the magnificent new facility, on its one-year anniversary.

CRI’s Open House concludes a week of significant events at the nonprofit organization, the largest and most active community rowing organization in the country. The Open House will feature tours of the state-of-the-art boathouse , demonstrations, snacks, and a fantastic view of the river. Parking is free at the acclaimed building, located at 20 Nonantum Rd., Brighton, MA 02458.

The Open House concludes a week of events at Community Rowing, Inc. that celebrate 24 years of expanding rowing activities, as well as the anniversary of the opening of the new boathouse. Events included, announcement of the conclusion of a successful fund-raising campaign and establishment of an endowment, corporate team-building events, and a program featuring the “Great 8″ male celebrity rowers from around the world, who guided new rowers in CRI’s Outreach Adaptive program before participating in the Head of the Charles competition.

CRI also announced expanded programs, consistent with its mission to be “A Place to Row for Everybody,” and reduced costs for its many rowing programs for youth and adults.

Yesterday’s successful Great 8 event activities involved young women from the Boston Public Schools including Sienna DeSantis, Meagan Florentino, Jen Glen, Joyce Guada, Areeya Sathapornchaisit, Caitlyn McQuaid, Allison McNulty, Liz Gillespie, Jasmine Taibi, and Julia Cardoso.
Adaptive rowers who participated with the talented and articulate Olympians included Grace Van Dyke, Aiden Porter, Christina Gillis, Lauren Silva, Rich Nici, and Marina Shelton.

Community Rowing, Inc. is a nonprofit organization in Brighton, MA that delivers after-school programs to urban youth, promotes health and fitness programs to physically and mentally challenged members of the community, and promotes health and fitness for the entire community in Boston. Programs include one-time learning-to-row classes to year-round memberships. CRI was founded in 1985 by a group of Olympic and National Team Rowers with the goal of widening the circle of rowing and securing public access for the sport on the Charles River. Today the organization has about 30 programs, more than 3,000 participants both youth and adult, and a fleet of more than 170 sweep and sculling shells. Its annual budget for this year was $1.7 million. It is the largest and most active community rowing organization in the United States.

Learn more at www.communityrowing.org.

For more information, please contact:

Bruce Harold Smith, CRI executive director, 617.921.8788, brucehsmith@gmail.com

Ryan DC Banks, 617.599.9951, ryan@communityrowing.org

Tom Palmer, 617.755.7250, tompalmer@rcn.com

To download a PDF copy of this release please click here

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009

CRI AND HEAD OF THE CHARLES WELCOME ‘GREAT 8′ OLYMPIC ROWERS

BRIGHTON, MA - Community Rowing, Inc., the growing nonprofit organization that promotes fitness and the benefits of rowing for all, today is joining the Head of the Charles in an event that combines the celebrity and talent of some of the world’s greatest rowers with programs to spread fun and benefits of the sport to new participant groups.

Eight of the Greatest Rowers in the World will be at the Harry Parker Boathouse on the Charles River in Newton this afternoon for a multifaceted Rowing Outreach program. They will share their top expertise with US military veterans and adaptive athletes, including the physically disabled.

The “Great 8,” from all around the world, will also participate in a program for youths from the Boston Public Schools, similar to those Outreach efforts already under way at CRI, the largest and most active community rowing organization in the country.

The eight rowers are the world’s fastest scullers. They battle each other on 2,000-meter courses around the world and will row together at the Head of the Charles this weekend.

“We are delighted that these Olympians are willing to come down and share their skill and passion with locals like us,” said Bruce Harold Smith, executive director of Community Rowing, Inc. “I know the kids from Southie and the O’Bryant school are really excited to see these guys up close and hear what they have to say about rowing.”

Smith said CRI’s Adaptive program “will get a huge boost as we prepare athletes for the 2012 Paralympic team selection, rowing with people who have already won Olympic medals.”

Four of the accomplished Olympic athletes will teach Boston Public School students how to row on the Ergometer, the international standard for indoor rowing training and competition, while four others of the “Great 8″ group will get out on the water with rowers who are physically challenged.

The events will take place 4:30 to 6 p.m. today, with an hour for questions and discussion following.

Besides the “Great 8″ event with youth and adaptive athletes, CRI this week is hosting corporate team-building and announcing expanded programs with reduced costs to participants. The events lead up to the Head of the Charles competition this coming weekend.

The ‘Great 8′ are being brought to the events by Concept 2 Rowing. They are: Alan Campbell of the United Kingdom, Iztok Cop of Slovenia, Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand, Marcel Hacker of Germany, Lassi Karonen of Sweden, Tim Maeyens of Belgium, Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic, and Olaf Tufte of Norway.

Community Rowing, Inc. is a nonprofit organization in Brighton, MA that delivers after-school programs to urban youth, provides health and fitness programs to physically and mentally challenged members of the community, and promotes health and fitness for the entire community in Boston. Programs include one-time learning-to-row classes to year-round memberships. CRI was founded by a group of Olympic and National Team Rowers with the goal of widening the circle of rowing and securing public access for the sport on the Charles River. Today the organization has about 30 programs, more than 3,000 participants both youth and adult, and a fleet of more than 170 sweep and sculling shells. Its annual budget for this year was $1.7 million. It is the largest and most active community rowing organization in the United States.

Learn more at www.communityrowing.org.

For more information, please contact:

Bruce Harold Smith, CRI executive director, 617.921.8788, brucehsmith@gmail.com

Ryan DC Banks, 617.599.9951, ryan@communityrowing.org

Tom Palmer, 617.755.7250, tompalmer@rcn.com

To download a PDF copy of this release please click here

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009

CRI HOLDING ITS LARGEST-EVER CORPORATE TEAM BUILDING EVENT WITH SHIRE

BRIGHTON, MA - Community Rowing, Inc., the growing nonprofit organization that promotes fitness and the benefits of rowing for all, today is holding the largest corporate team-building exercise since its founding 29 years ago. The event, with a unit of Shire pharmaceuticals, will bring more than 150 employees onto the water at the year-old Harry Parker Boathouse for instruction by some of CRI’s 40-person coaching staff.

CRI, already the largest and most active community rowing organization in the country, has held 36 large corporate and facility-rental events since the beginning of its fiscal year, last Nov. 1. The programs provide space, education, and healthy athletic experiences for private or public groups, nonprofits, and clubs.

“Universities and other organizations can motivate their employees and staffs by helping them learn a new sport in an inspiring outdoor setting,” said CRI’s executive director, Bruce Harold Smith. “They can boost morale, build a sense of community, improve teamwork - and just enjoy a day of fun.”

The continuing growth and success of the Corporate Rowing and Facility Rentals programs at CRI have made possible expansion of access to more rowers and a reduction in cost to participants in 2010, which CRI announced this week. CRI is reducing or eliminating costs on six programs, including dropping the per-person Logbook Sculling membership from $400 to $375. The changes were announced as part of a week of events leading up to the Head of the Charles weekend in Boston and Cambridge.

Today, 18 eight-person boats filled with Shire pharmaceuticals’ employees will be launching from CRI’s new facility in Brighton between 4:30 and 6 p.m. to compete for the top spot on the podium. They will learn how to row and race, taught by CRI’s rowing experts.

“There’s a reason that everyone associates teamwork with rowing,” said Smith. “Nothing teaches people more about the importance of working together than trying to get an eight- oared shell across the finish line in first place.”

Corporate Rowing programs at CRI are available to everyone, no experience is required, and many companies participate as a way to enhance their Boston experience during meetings and sales conventions. “CRI provides an amazing and transformative experience that isn’t available anywhere else in the country,” said Smith. “Boston is a rowing town, and learning how to row is something everyone who visits the city remembers for a lifetime.”

Shire plc has offices in Cambridge, MA and worldwide. The group visiting CRI’s Brighton facility are from the U.S. headquarters in Pennsylvania.

Besides corporate team-building today, events this week include hosting of the “Great 8″ celebrity rowers from around the world, who will guide new rowers in CRI’s Outreach Adaptive program before participating in the Head of the Charles competition this coming weekend.

Community Rowing, Inc. is a nonprofit organization in Brighton, MA that delivers after-school programs to urban youth, provides health and fitness programs to physically and mentally challenged members of the community, and promotes health and fitness for the entire community in Boston. Programs include one-time learning-to-row classes to year-round memberships. CRI was founded in 1985 by a group of Olympic and National Team Rowers with the goal of widening the circle of rowing and securing public access for the sport on the Charles River. Today the organization has about 30 programs, more than 3,000 participants both youth and adult, and a fleet of more than 170 sweep and sculling shells. Its annual budget for this year was $1.7 million. It is the largest and most active community rowing organization in the United States.

Learn more at www.communityrowing.org.

For more information, please contact:

Bruce Harold Smith, CRI executive director, 617.921.8788, brucehsmith@gmail.com

Ryan DC Banks, 617.599.9951, ryan@communityrowing.org

Tom Palmer, 617.755.7250, tompalmer@rcn.com

To download a PDF copy of this release please click here

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009

CRI ANNOUNCES 2010 PROGRAM: LOWER COSTS AND INCREASED ACCESS FOR ROWERS

BRIGHTON, MA - Community Rowing, Inc., the growing nonprofit organization that promotes fitness and the benefits of rowing for all, today is announcing the start of new and more affordable programs that will make the exciting and rewarding sport of rowing increasingly accessible to all.

CRI, already the largest and most active community rowing organization in the country, is celebrating the first anniversary of the opening of CRI’s new home at the spectacular Harry Parker Boathouse by increasing access to the building, boats, and facilities for all - and by reducing costs for participants.

Starting after Thanksgiving, CRI is re-introducing the “Supporting Membership” for $95. The Supporting Membership provides access to indoor training equipment for 12 months of the year whenever CRI is open for programming.

At the same time, CRI is reducing or eliminating costs on six programs, including dropping the per-person Logbook Sculling membership from $400 to $375.

The changes for 2010, being announced a few days before the Head of the Charles weekend in Boston and Cambridge, are made possible thanks to the continued success of Corporate Rowing and Facility Rentals at CRI.

Supporting members will have access to erg workout machines and weight training at CRI, previously only available to participants in its Winter Training program. The Supporting Membership is a mandatory fee for all participants at CRI in 2010 for both on- and off-water programming.

As before, ergs and weights will be reserved for scheduled classes first, and then available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Costs will be reduced for the following programs:

Introduction to Rowing Reduced from $125 to $25 dollars per person
Competitive Men and Women Reduced from $885 to $810 per person for the entire year

Sweeps 1 and 2 All Semesters Reduced from $245 to $230 per person per semester

Logbook Sculling Reduced from $400 to $375 per person

Youth Winter Training - 5 Day Reduced from $615 to $510 per person

CRI Safety Program Fee Eliminated - Now ZERO!

With the reduction in fees, CRI hopes that more people will continue to enjoy the Charles River. CRI’s mission is to provide “A Place to Row for Everybody” in the Greater Boston community.

Today’s announcement comes during a week of events at Community Rowing, Inc. that celebrate 29 years of expanding rowing activities and the first anniversary of the opening of the Harry Parker Boathouse on the Charles River in Brighton. Events include corporate team-building, and CRI will welcome a team of “Great 8″ celebrity rowers from around the world, who will guide new rowers in CRI’s Outreach Adaptive program before participating in the Head of the Charles competition this coming weekend.

Community Rowing, Inc. is a nonprofit organization in Brighton, MA that delivers after-school programs to urban youth, provides health and fitness programs to physically and mentally challenged members of the community, and promotes health and fitness for the entire community in Boston. Programs range from one-time learning-to-row classes to year-round memberships. CRI was founded in 1985 by a group of Olympic and National Team Rowers with the goal of widening the circle of rowing and securing public access for the sport on the Charles River. Today the organization has about 30 programs, more than 3,000 participants both youth and adult, and a fleet of more than 170 sweep and sculling shells. Its annual budget for this year was $1.7 million. It is the largest and most active community rowing organization in the United States.

Learn more at www.communityrowing.org.

For more information, please contact:

Bruce Harold Smith, CRI executive director, 617.921.8788, brucehsmith@gmail.com

Ryan DC Banks, 617.599.9951, ryan@communityrowing.org

Tom Palmer, 617.755.7250, tompalmer@rcn.com

To download a PDF copy of this release please click here

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, Oct. 12, 2009

COMMUNITY ROWING, INC. WRAPPING UP $1.5 MILLLION CAMPAIGN: “THE PROMISE OF CRI”

BRIGHTON, MA - Community Rowing Inc. ., the growing nonprofit organization that promotes fitness and the benefits of rowing for all, today announced the launch of the public phase of its “The Promise of CRI” campaign to raise $1.5 million — with $750,000 Challenge Grant by an anonymous donor and more than $1 million already pledged.

As many Boston area non-profits continue to reel from the effects of the recession, CRI’s supporters have come through and delivered much of the $900,000 that will be needed to pay off costs of the organization’s spectacular new home, the Harry Parker Boathouse. Contributions will also go toward a new, $500,000 endowment that will enable CRI to continue to expand its programs to promote rowing as a healthy activity for all.

“CRI has helped to show that nonprofit organizations that deliver real value to the community can be successful regardless of what is happening in the economy, said Bruce Harold Smith, executive director of the nonprofit organization, which has more than 3,000 participants. “We’ve passed the two-thirds mark on the way to our goal, and we are hopeful that we will finish this effort before the end of the year.”

The “Strong Foundation Campaign” will retire CRI’s debt and establish a generous endowment to support even broader community access to the Charles River and the increasingly popular activity of rowing.

Today’s announcement comes at the beginning of a week of events at Community Rowing, Inc. that celebrate 29 years of expanding rowing activities and the first anniversary of the opening of the Harry Parker Boathouse on the Charles River in Brighton. Events include corporate team-building, the start of new programs that reduce costs and increase access to the river for youth and adults, and hosting of a
“Great 8″ team of celebrity rowers from around the world, who will guide new rowers in CRI’s Outreach Adaptive program before participating in the Head of the Charles competition this coming weekend.

Community Rowing, Inc. is a nonprofit organization in Brighton, MA that delivers after-school programs to urban youth, health and fitness programs to physically and mentally challenged members of the community, and promotes health and fitness for the entire community in Boston. Programs include one-time learning-to-row classes to year-round memberships. CRI was founded in 1985 by a group of Olympic and National Team Rowers with the goal of widening the circle of rowing and securing public access for the sport on the Charles River. Today the organization has about 30 programs, more than 3,000 participants both youth and adult, and a fleet of more than 170 sweep and sculling shells. Its annual budget for this year was $1.7 million. It is the largest and most active community rowing organization in the United States. Learn more at www.communityrowing.org.

For more information, please contact:

Bruce Harold Smith, CRI executive director, 617.921.8788, brucehsmith@gmail.com

Ryan DC Banks, 617.599.9951, ryan@communityrowing.org

Tom Palmer, 617.755.7250, tompalmer@rcn.com

To download a PDF copy of this release please click here