Board of Directors Meeting: December 2025

OperationsProgramsCoxingCoachesFinanceBoard
Written By Rachel Freedman

Meeting Details

Date + Time: Sunday, December 7, 2025 | 1603-1734

Location: Virtual

Attendees | Voting

Anne Diggs, President
Sujitra Pookpanratana, VP of Operations
Barbara Brocker, Treasurer
Jodi Heidmous, Secretary 
Stephanie Acerra, At Large Director 
Andy Rabus, At Large Director
Kena Holmes, At Large Director
Erica Prakop, At Large Director
Karen Zareski, At Large Director (Outgoing)

Non-Voting

Andrea Fuller, Communications
Meris Steele, Safety Committee
Monica Freedman, Safety Committee
Dominique Carlier, DEI Rep
Bob Reichart, Director of Coaching
Susan Driano, Sculling Rep
Tieran Settles, PM Sweep Rep
Sherman Anderson, CARP Rep (Outgoing)
Courtney Dell, Junior Parent Rep

Absent

Jennifer Perkins, VP of Programs (Voting)
Cullen McDonald, Finance Director (Voting)
Rebecca Hollins, Comp Sculling Rep
Jacqueline Battistini Comp Sweep Womens Rep
Jamie Nelson, Comp Sweep Men Co-Rep
Andy Waiters, Comp Sweep Men Co-Rep
Bethan Banakos, AM Sweep
Alicia Morales, AM Sweep
Taylor Eling, Sunday Rowing
TBD, CARP Rep
TBD, Sun’s Up Sweep
TBD, ACBA Rep 
TBD, INR Rep
Michele Hill, Juniors Head Coach

Meeting Agenda

Intent and Opening Comments

Operations End of the Calendar Year Review

  • Vote on Equipment Maintenance Policy

Coxswain Training and Certification Update

Communications Update

Treasurer Update

Safety Committee

  • Vote on CRC Cold Weather Guidance

Board Transition

Adjournment

Meeting Minutes

Managerial Opening Comments/Concerns

  • For Secretary Transition Bob Polin was not present to record the meeting minutes for the October or November Meetings

    • ACTION to Secretary – Resolve incomplete records with Bob before turnover is considered complete.

Meeting Intent from the President (Anne Diggs): this is the Board Transition meeting; goal is to close old business from 2025 allowing for full transition to 2026 and new business.  

President’s Opening Remarks:

  • Gratitude and status update on the CRC-wide action to provide comments to the city on the RFK Project border.  200+ Active members, Alumni, Junior Parents, and Friends of Rowers have participated in the campaign to include ACBA footprint in the RFK development plan.  Noted strong participation from NACAWPA and no participation from Stokes, Bishop Ireton or Gonzaga programs yet.

  • Gratitude and status update on the ABCA Bathroom and Shower Facility Renovation Fundraiser.  

VP of Operations End of Year Review (Sujitra Pookpanratana)

  • Old Business – For VOTE – CRC Equipment Maintenance Policy. (Enclosure A)

    • Second presentation to the Board.  Feedback to policy added

    • Two notes on boats (Sammie and Standard) from Kena Holmes and Erica Prakop; boats appear twice due to overlap in use between programs.

    • Director of Coaching (Bob Reichart) confirmed all coaches were briefed and support the policy.

    • Susan Driano asked for clarity on the threshold for programs reporting maintenance status (ie. washing the boat is below threshold)

    • ACTION: Karen Z motioned to approve Policy, Stephanie Acerra Seconded.  Motion passed – 6 approve / 0 – oppose.

  • Equipment Status Update:

    • Put away days were successful; members happy to participate: all Operations planned actions were accomplished.  

    • List of Shells to be sold – Velocity 1x . Duncan Spencer 2x and 8+ (which one is TBD).  

    • Shell Repairs: OCMC 2x and Caps Lock 2x at Shapiros; DAS Capital (4+) with Vespoli; Queen (8+) will be an in-house repair.  

    • Launches: Researching options to repair Launch #2. All but the launches in use for Winter Rowing are on land and winterized.  

      • Note On Launches: the number of programs means the launches are in near constant use which increases repair needs and fuel consumption/cost.  Don did a GREAT job with managing to ensure gas was available, the increased demand on launches does indicate the job may need review for how it is handled in the 2026 seasons.

    • Oar Repair: Trying out new company The Oar Doctor (Mark Pistochini) for minor repairs to Sculling oars. If the repairs go well, CRC will look to expand business with  The Oar Doctor (Mark Pistochini).

    • Clean up of old blades complete (Jamie Nelson, Andy Waiters) - shafts to trash and blades to gifts.

    • New Equipment: Expecting new light weight 8+ to arrive before Spring Season.

  • Discussion Topic: Lessons Learned from Vehicle Use in 2025 

    • Enterprise Truck (7-month rental) was REALLY helpful for travel, repairs, logistics etc.  

    • Van rentals for Juniors also very beneficial for the Juniors program

    • Challenge for Ops/Coaches from both rentals is that vehicle rentals require a Credit Card.  Requirement for individuals to use their own Credit Cards for club activities is suboptimal.  

      • QUESTION FOR THE BOARD: Can we get a “Club” Credit Card.

  • Operations Director closing comments “Thanks Ops Team 2025 - named whole team – they did a great job and I could not have doing it without them” 

Member at Large, CRC Coxswain Program Update (Kena Holmes)

  • Equipment Update: Sculler light and stroke coach charging station in the CRC cage is planned for installation, completion date TBD, awaiting schematics to get construction started

  • No dedicated coxswain camp, separate dedicated coxswain camp has been removed from the annual program and substituted with training built in to the INR courses for any member to attend

  • Coxswain Training and Certification Status Update.

    • New rowers: Coxswain training and open book test is being incorporated into INR. Initial efforts provided some learning points: 

      • 1- it is risky/challenging/counterproductive to teach new rowers and new coxswains simultaneously. 

      • 2- An open book test does not result in passing the first time. 

      • 3- 5 on-the-water coxing experiences is logistically challenging

      • 4- land training for coxswains (coxing erg workouts are helpful to train verbalizing directions)

    • New rower next step: Kena Holmes and Mike Arnold (INR Coach) need to brainstorm some options for how to rotate INR rowers through coxswain training. They will work to get a new work-plan in place for 2026.

    • Sweep rowers: coxswain certification will be required for all in 2026. iCrew (coaches view only) is updated with coach-assessment - coaches graded for coxing skill [N/A (means not eligible to Cox) / Novice / Intermediate / Advanced / No Eval (means UNK review of cox skill).]

      • Next step: January Communications will contain directions for all sweep rowers to complete the open-book coxswain test. 

    • Open Question: how will the scullers be incorporated into this requirement? 

      • Director of Coaching (Bob Reichart) indicated it would be good for scullers because it includes navigation and safety knowledge and would help with documentation to support annual report to USRowing on Club Safety practices.

      • CRC DEI Representative (Dominique Carlier) offered that having the scullers take the test would promote unity across the club.  

      • ACTION: Bob and Sculling Representative (Susan Driano) will talk about what this would look like for scullers.

Director of Communications Update (Andrea Fuller)

  • Highlights: Communications are working well; new email system for newsletter shows click rates (reports a better than 50% review rate)

  • ACTION: New Secretary (Jodi Heidmous) meet with Communications Director to discuss approach to 2026.

Treasurer, Financial Update (Barbara Brocker)

  • Financial Update: Balance – checking: $224, 673 | Savings $107, 887. (Full report, Enclosure B.)

  • Discussion Topic One: Alternative banking options to Bank of America. Board indicates openness to making change; more information is needed.

    • Research provided a combination of online only and brick and mortar banking options.

    • Reviewed potential options for earning interest while maintaining flexibility on money coming in; alternative accounts could bring in returns on the large amount of accessible funds we keep as a club.  

    • Option to add a credit card to the account.

  • Discussion Topic Two: methodology for building FY27 Budget Plan.

    • Discussing necessary fields and types of questions in advance of Jan Meeting

    • ACTION: New Member at Large (Andy Rabus) requested opportunity to discuss coaching budget/salaries etc.

  • Administrative note: Secretary (Jodi Heidmous) needs to add Financial Advisor (Cullen McDonald) to meeting invites [in development of these notes, Finance Director is on the invitation list, perhaps I misunderstood this request]

Safety Committee Update (Monica Freedman) - Monica presenting the Cold Weather Guidance.

  • Old Business – For VOTE – CRC Cold Weather Guidance. (Enclosure C)

    • Second presentation to Board.  Feedback to policy added

      • Committee received lots of feedback and incorporated input into the guidance.

        • Changed Wind Speed references from mph to knots to be consistent with how Buoy App provides conditions

        • Adjusted no-go criteria for on the water to support Junior training starting in February.

      • Committee affirmed that practical lessons from training events and safety incidents from throughout the season justify the approach to cold weather restrictions captured in the guidance.

      • Once approved the guidance will be shared club-wide: email, posted at the boathouse, included in the safety manual and be acknowledged by rack space holders.  It will be incorporated into the coxswain test and the independent sculling certification for 2026.

      • Guidance will be in effect for Winter Rowing, coaches will enforce.

      • ACTION: Anne Diggs motioned to approve Policy; Jodi Heidmous seconded.  Motion passed – 5 approve / 0 – oppose.

    • Cold Weather Safety Equipment:

      • Launches contain space blanket(s) – how many are needed in each launch? 

      • Cage contains sets of dry clothes and wool blankets - how many are needed? Stored in “go” bags?

    • President confirmed that discussion with ACBA board is needed for boathouse-wide implementation of cold weather safety guidance.

CRC Board Transition (Anne Diggs)

  • To Outgoing Board – Thank you for time and effort to ensure CRC continues to thrive.  Special thanks to Karen Zareski.

  • To Incoming Board – Welcome and thank you for taking on your new roles

    • Expectations:

      • Read Bi-law, manuals, guidance, policies. 

      • Attend ALL Board meetings (exceptions for unavoidable conflict but communicate early/plan for coverage) and read the RAHs in advance.

      • Consider and be prepared to present one thing you want to work on for the club this year.

New Board Discussion:

  • From Treasurer (Barbara Brocker) – what does the board want from the Treasurer? 

    • Preliminary guidance: Full Financial Reports (Quarterly)

    • ACTION: Andy Rabus and Barbara will discuss and make full recommendation in future meeting

  • For Secretary (Jodi Heidmous)

    • ACTION: meet with: President (Anne Diggs) about monthly plan of action; Communications Team (Andrea Fuller + Jen Perkins) about list of open issues.

    • ACTION: publish draft meeting minutes within 1 week of meeting 

    • ACTION: publish dates and times for 2026 Board Meetings.

Around the Room:

  • Question for Decision: Regatta Director (Susan Driano). Is 27 June 2026 good for Capital Sprints? Board approved; date will be posted in Regatta Central.

  • Acknowledgment of Open Representative Positions: 3 programs are missing representatives.  INR, CARP and Suns Up Sweep.  

Kena Holmes, motion to adjourn, seconded by Andy Rabus. Meeting is adjourned. 

Rachel Freedman http://www.steadystatenetwork.com
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