Regatta Volunteer Info

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Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA)

Volunteer Positions 2024 Season

What is a VASRA Volunteer Job
Each VASRA Regatta requires an army of volunteers to successfully support the student rowers. As a result, VASRA requires all Schools participating in any given regatta to provide volunteers to help fill the support jobs. This is a mandatory function and lack of participation can result in school fines and even disqualification from participation in VASRA sponsored events. Forest Park Crew asks each parent to sign up for at least one VASRA support job in the season.

VASRA Volunteer Jobs are all located at Sandy Run Regional Park. Volunteers for all VASRA regatta jobs MUST sign in at the VASRA volunteer desk near the headquarters building at the park about 30 minutes before your shift start time. If you don’t sign in Forest Park Crew does not get credit for your work and the school can be fined for your absence. PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN IN

VASRA also understands parents want to watch their rower race. If after signing up for your VASRA volunteer position you find that it conflicts with when your rower is racing, you can ask to be temporarily released from your duties to watch your rower race. Please work with the Volunteer Coordinator on the day of the event and then please return to finish your shift promptly after your rower’s race completes.

How to Dress – Most of the volunteer jobs are located outside so please anticipate inclement weather and wear layered clothing. A hat and gloves are also strongly recommended. The smart dresser wears an outer layer of waterproof clothing if rain is in the forecast. You may wear your school colors while performing your volunteer position. Please note if your job is on the river do not wear Red. “Red is used by the referees to indicate danger so – wearing red on the water, may confuse the athletes and cause them to stop rowing.”


Parking – Volunteers are allowed to park at Sandy Run Regional Park for Free, please let the parking attendants know you are a volunteer when you approach the park, and they will direct you further. Since there are dozens of volunteer positions FP-Crew has decided to only explain the function of the jobs we as a club have been assigned to perform during the 2024 Season. Please see the following for these explanations.

FP-Crew has been assigned (28) VASRA Volunteer jobs for the 2024 Season.

Below are the volunteer positions Forest Park Crew has been assigned.

Concession Positions10 Slots Assigned for the Season
Launch (Boat) Driver Positions8 Slots Assigned for the Season
Dockmaster Assistant Positions5 Slots Assigned for the Season
Stakeboat Holder Positions4 Slots Assigned for the Season
Set-up Helper Positions1 Slot Assigned for the Season

Here is the Link to the sign-up Genius for the VASRA Volunteer Jobs:

Link to: Sign-Up Genius for VSRA Jobs FP-Crew

Concession Positions (10)

Location of Job: At the Boathouse or the Finish Line near the Grandstands

Duties:

○ If you have a Morning Shift:
■ You’ll help set up the concession stand.
■ You’ll prepare / sell food, T-shirts, programs as assigned.

○ If you have an Afternoon Shift:
■ You’ll prepare / sell food, T-shirts, or programs as assigned.
■ You’ll help break down and clean up the concession stand.

Dock Master Assistant Positions (5) 

Location of Job: Both Coaches and Recovery Docks are located at the bottom of the Hill at Sandy Run Park.

Duties:

○ Help the rowers get safely into boats to start the race at the Coaches dock.
○ Help the rowers get safely out of the boats after the race at the Recovery dock.

Launch Boat Driver Positions (8)

Location of Job:All Launch Boat driver jobs begin at the launch boat dock located at the bottom of the hill
at Sandy Run Park.
Please Note: Personal Flotation Devices will be provided and must always be worn while
on the docks and the water. Please do not wear red clothing.

Duties: You will be assigned to drive a Regatta Marshall.
o This means traversing the entire racecourse as needed to support the Marshall.

Duties of Referee Driver:
o You will be assigned to drive a Referee.
o The Referee will be standing in the boat while following races – because of this, these
drivers are generally more experienced since the Referee is standing during the race.

Duties of Dam Guard Driver:
o You will patrol the water at the lower reservoir (near the dam) to ensure the safety of
rowers and to prevent the shells from venturing too near to the dam.

Stakeboat Holder Positions (4) 

Location of Job:Start Platform, where each race begins.

Duties:

○ Help align the boats to be in proper position for the start of the race.
○ Help keep the boats properly aligned as they get set in their racing lane.
■ Please Note:
● Personal Flotation Devices will be provided and must always be worn
while performing this role. Please do not wear red clothing.
● An outer waterproof layer is advised.
● This job has no shade, so we recommend a hat, sunscreen and some
folks wear waterproof gloves and sunglasses as well.

Set-Up Helper Positions (1) 

Location of Job: At the Launch boat docks at the bottom of the hill at Sandy Run Park.

Duties:

○ Help the Set-Up Driver examine the course before the day’s activities and adjust the
course as needed before racing begins.

Pasta Party

What’s a Pasta Party?
The night before every regatta FP-Crew conducts a Pasta Party. It’s a chance for the rowers to gather, (Bring an assigned pasta dish / salad / bread / healthy drink) and get loaded up with Carb’s the night before an event while also spending some quality time bonding with their teammates. In past years these events have been a real success for moral and esprit de corps. It’s a two-hour event that starts promptly at 7pm and ends promptly at 9pm. Rowers help with clean up duty.

There are two Parent Volunteer positions to support a single Pasta Party

1. The Host Position
 This person agrees to provide the location for the students to gather and the utensils,
cups, paper plates and napkins to support the event.

2. The Chaperon
 This person agrees bring whatever dish their rower has been assigned and stay at the
host location to help the host sponsor the event.

Sponsor a Pasta Party 8 Slots this season
Chaperon a Pasta Party8 Slots this season

Here is the link for the Sign-Up Genius to become a pasta party Host or Chaperon.
Host or Chaperon an FP-Crew Pasta Party 

Tag Day Fundraiser

What’s Tag Day?
Tag Day is an FP-Crew door-to-door neighborhood fundraiser used to generate revenue for the Club. Parent Volunteers agree to drive students to a pre-assigned neighborhood where rowers can solicit support for Forest Park Crew. These funds help:


1. Reduce the cost of Winter Conditioning Training (Cost in 2024 is down $120.00 from 2023)
2. Keep Crew annual tuition down. (This years tuition is $225.00 Less than 2023)
3. Purchase equipment as needed to support the team.
a. As an example, a single shell (8-person boat) can cost $20,000.00.
4. Purchase food and supplies to support the team on regatta days.
5. Pay costs associated with away regattas.
6. And much much more.

Tag Day Driver (Morning Shift 8am-12noon) 10 Slots this season
Tag Day Driver (Afternoon Shift 12noon – 4pm)10 Slots this season

Here is the link for the Sign-Up Genius to volunteer as a Tag Day Driver.
Volunteer as a Tag Day Driver