My purpose in running for a Director position is to help guide the club as it grows over the next few years. Like any organization, we must adapt and change to meet new goals. Among them are growth in membership, improvement in competitive ability and improvement in facilities, including development of the downstream site and dock expansion. These are not easy tasks, and accomplishing them within the constraints of our resources, both human and financial, will be a challenge. My past experience in helping the club grow and in building the boathouse will be instrumental in getting us to the next level.
As members of a rowing club, competition is a given for most of us. Looking back over the last 30 years, our most successful periods were marked by consistency in both coaching and participation. While the particular mix of ages has longer-term implications, the availability of good coaching, such as we have now with Nicholas Lee, and regular participation and training, are the key to successful competition.
Growth in membership is generally beneficial for an organization, including ours. While some have advocated the recruitment of experienced rowers in the 20-40 age-group for the purpose of generating a competitive program, that may not be sufficient to maintain and nurture the unique spirit that is the NHRC. Our organization has too many facets to focus on only one element, however desirable. The members that have been most beneficial to the club are those who are interested, and participate willingly, in the entire operation, and row well, too!
On the subject of youth rowing in general, and the Hopkins’ proposal in particular, I am wholeheartedly in favor of exploring these options. Our facility is essentially unused from 8:30am until 5:30am the following morning. Having a small program, such as Hopkins proposes, with a dozen or so students and coaches, will provide a presence at the boathouse in the afternoons. It will also enable us to tap into additional manpower for our regattas, possibly share a coach, provide financial resources to further develop our property, and possibly attract new members.
The development of the downstream property is long overdue. We are fortunate that the Town of Oxford has not made us tear down the unoccupied cottage, which would significantly complicate any future development. As you all can see, we already have a bay-and-a-half of equipment stored outside, so a supplemental facility and additional docks and ramps would be put to use immediately. Stu Lathers, our esteemed architect, will provide additional detail at the annual meeting.
In conclusion, the NHRC has been an important part of my life for the last 33 years, and I have been instrumental in its growth from a single four rowing one day a week, using borrowed equipment, to a thriving 80+ member organization with its own boathouse and equipment. I would be honored to have you support me as a Director to help continue the growth of our organization.
Norman Thetford
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