Board of Directors Meeting: May 2026

OperationsProgramsFinance
Written By Rachel Freedman

Meeting Details

Date + Time: Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 1603-1659

Location: Virtual

Attendees | Voting

Anne Diggs, President
Sujitra Pookpanratana, VP of Operations
Jennifer Perkins, VP of Programs
Barbara Brocker, Treasurer
Cullen McDonald, Finance Director 
Jodi Heidmous, Secretary 
Stephanie Acerra, At Large Director 
Andy Rabus, At Large Director
Erika Parkop, At Large Director
Jennifer Tujague, At Large Director (incoming)
Kena Holmes, At Large Director (outgoing)

Non-Voting

Rachel Freedman, Communications
Cortney Dell, Junior Parent Rep 
Susan Driano, Sculling Rep
Tieran Settles, PM Sweep Rep
Dominique Carlier, DEI Rep
Maggie Burns, Sun’s Up Sweep
Kevin Oskroba, Volunteers Coordinator

Absent

Ellis Drechsher, Junior Captain

Bob Reichart, Director of Coaching
Jamie Nelson, Comp Sweep Men Co-Rep/Race Coordinator
Meris Steele, Safety Co-Chair
Monica Freedman, Safety Co-Chair
Rebecca Hollins, Comp Sculling Rep
Jacqueline Battistini Comp Sweep Womens Rep
Andy Waiters, Comp Sweep Men Co-Rep
Alicia Morales, AM Sweep
Toni Kerns, iCrew Manager
Bethany Banakos, AM Sweep\
Taylor Eling, Sunday Rowing
Sherman Anderson, CARP Rep
Lucas Bockner, Junior Captain
TBD, INR Rep

Meeting Agenda

I. Admin, Intent, and Opening Comments

II. Operations Update

III. Treasurer Update

IV. Racing

VII. Around the Room

VIII. Adjournment

Meeting Minutes

Managerial Opening Comments/Concerns

  • Motion to Approve April Minutes (Secretary) 

    • April Minutes approved - members absent from April meeting abstained

President’s Opening Remarks:

  • Everyone who is a member of CRC needs to be SafeSport trained

    • Reasons for potential misunderstanding on the requirements to be addressed through program reps

    • There are a few steps with the technology that might mean SafeSport Training is not reporting through to iCrew  

  • Engagement with the Fishermen on the water south of the Pennsylvania Ave bridge ongoing

    • Information sharing on the conditions of the river, visibility and acoustics; Learning on both sides

    • Anne Diggs and Bob Reichart did some acoustics testing on ways to use the megaphone to indicate boats coming through the bridge.

    • No specific resolutions but communications are open.

  • Anne highlighted Kena’s Review of Coxing Clinic and confirmed that Morgan Griffen has moved up to be lead and Morgan is looking for help, 2-3 people, ideally coxswain trained.

Operations Update (Sujitra Pookpanratana)

Paper Update provided below: 

  • Shells, oars

    • Sold (with Julia Blass): Achievement 1x ($2750) to PEAK Rowing and pick up is 5/18 

      • Equipment sales for FY2027: total $8950

    • Sending out barge invoices (with Barbara)

    • Summer arrangement with American University to use their 2 indoor racks (8+, 4+)

    • New Shells need names!!!

      • 2026 VHP 41 4+ (midweight) arrived 4/9/2026 (Comp Sweep Women)

      • Dedication Ceremony for 2023 VHP 51 8+ (lightweight) and 2026 VHP 41

        • June 2026

        • Voting name ballot to be distributed (K Zareski)

    • Oars: planning for gently used set of 4 sweeps from C2, $2000 (with shipping)

  • Equipment Maintenance Policy (Link)

    • Lots of good work from many programs (and coaches!) in being pro-active with repairs but still in the beta phase of ensuring things are done and done properly (eg Sammie stern leaking severely because not enough silicone was used to seal)

  • Launches

    • Launch 2 still pending pontoon repair -> early June 

    • Launch 8: repair and fishing line removal

    • Launch 7: engine repair (shift linkage), engine rebuild after submerged during rain storm (hull is leaking)

    • Goal to replace Launch 3 (oldest engine) with a new wakeless launch

    • March 1 2026 - present: spent $3000 maintenance and repair

  • Rental truck (Arrived late March)

    • Currently paid by Sujitra’s personal cc but will move to CRC Truist cc once that is set up (after May 30 2026)

  • Shell trailer

    • Plan for its annual maintenance (at R&B Steel Fabricator in Rockville MD) between now and mid June. Awaiting for CRC trailer drivers availability

  • Electronics

    • GPS Cox Box repair issues

      • Communicated with NK about this recurring problems of GPS cox boxes failing after 10-20 min in a practice, batteries dying after 2 years

      • NK response: no information on what is repaired or suggestions on how to adapt 

      • Potential issues: uncontrolled temperature in tent (freezing in winter, very hot summers) which provide strain on lithium batteries

      • Should consider alternative cox box vendors or methods to get rate

  • US Rowing United We Row Grant Application (focus on CARP) submitted May 7

    • Lead: Rachel Decter Hyman. Team: Anne Diggs, Brandon Dubois, Barbara Brocker, CARP volunteers (editing for language), Jennifer Perkins, myself. 

  • For next year, consider submitting US Rowing Grant for Juniors Middle School Program (higher limit of $20,000) 

Treasurer, Financial Update (Barbara Brocker / Cullen McDonald)

  • CAO 12 May - Track close to anticipated (close to last year)

    • True Revenue and Expenditures; No surprises in the the numbers 

    • Barbara Brocker noted that the Juniors have $8K in regatta fees

      • Cullen checked the Juniors line items in excel.

    • Barbara Brocker has been paying out expenses for Cap Sprints as they come in from Mae.

  • Payment of stipends - $20K~

  • Two months of interest from Truist $2K

  • Achievement sale $2,100

  • Andy Rabus, Director At Large - noted in good shape on salaries

  • Last years’ taxes went through a new company; cost $1500, the new company is working on this year’s Form 99 - expecting review 15 June.

  • Ericka Parkop, Director At Large asked a question about revenue trajectory

    • President indicated positive trends toward revenue increases

      • Ex. LTR all transitioning to INR

    • Treasurer, Barbara Brocker - identified a series of potential opportunities for Revenue

      • Ex Corporate LTR (Andy Waiters brought in one scheduled for Thursday, 21 May, revenue $5K)

  • Status on transition to Truist from Bank of America 

    • The treasurer is watching the transactions and autopays to make sure all the bills get paid through, once all bills are transitioned the BofA account will be closed  - targeting June.

Race Coordinator Update (Jamie Nelson)

Paper Update, posted below:

  • 2026 Masters Sprint Regatta Schedule

    • Sun, June 7 — Stonewall Regatta, Anacostia Community Boathouse

    • Sat–Sun, June 20–21 — Diamond State Masters, Noxontown Pond, Del.

    • Sat, June 27 — Capital Sprints, Anacostia Community Boathouse

    • Thu–Sun, July 16–19 — Masters Nationals Championships / RowFest, Ypsilanti, Mich.

    • Heard some interest in Occoquan Memorial Sprints day after Cap Sprints and IDR weekend after the break.

  • Trailer Trips

    • Diamond State Masters — Two trailers: CRC trailer (Fri–Sun, club rental truck) and Visi trailer (Sat–Sun, short-term ¾-ton rental). CRC trailer drivers are still being lined up.

    • Masters Nationals (RowFest) — Stephanie Acerra and Jennifer Perkins driving to Michigan. Thank you!!

  • Budget: Treating regatta budgets as a single allocation line rather than discrete Local and National lines. My full spreadsheet (coming soon) is split into Summer and Fall for seasonal reference; refinements ongoing.

    • Projecting Entry Fee + Expenses: $42K

    • Projecting Race Fee Revenue: $47K

    • Projected Net: $5K

    • Ask: If anyone knows how to estimate truck/trailer toll expenses for DSMR, Michigan, HOCR, and HOSR, please let me know.

    • ~40% of expenses are Masters Nationals entry fees, hitting the debit card late June / early July.

    • The $5,000 projected net comes from Capital Sprints — CRC collects race fees but doesn’t pay entry fees to RegattaCentral

  • Accuracy:Race fees are set 3–4 weeks before each race using 1) last year’s entries, 2) this year’s RegattaCentral entry fees, and 3) projected expenses. Only one of those is a known number, so Race Fees are a best guess. To improve I need:

    • Actuals for regatta expenses and wages — a few races of real data will sharpen future estimates and end-of-year reporting. More expense info should be coming my way after the last BOD meeting.

    • A way to handle entries unknown at race-call time — possible solution: advertise a fee range or not-to-exceed limit (e.g., “no more than $38” or “not to exceed $57”) instead of a fixed number. Then set fee based on actual sign-up. Thoughts?

  • MindBody Fee Recovery: The budget assumes 100% recovery via MindBody, but the 3% MindBody fee on ~$72,000 costs us ~$2,160/year. With 1,350 racing seats last year, a surcharge of $1–$3 per seat would make us whole; even $0.50 would meaningfully close the gap, since no one is paying cash anyway. Thoughts?

  • Question: Truck - Easy Pass? Answer: Yes, we have one and use it 

  • Request to Coaches and Program Reps: Looking for early information on intentions for participation in Master’s Nationals to help project costs for participants as soon as feasible.

Around the Room:

  • VP of Programs announced registration for Fall season will be out in early July

    • BOLO for early proposals

  • Welcome to Jen Tujague (Tu-Jack), new Director At Large

  • Secretary reminded the Board about the ask for access to drives and shared drives for knowledge management.

    •  Secretary will re-send instructions of adding the Secretary to google drives.

  • Director At Large, Ericka Parkop asked about Communications, Rachel Freedman answered.

    • Volunteer emails are working

    • Multiple distro lists can be a risk area

    • Newsletter is bursting - option to be diligent about how often information is shared, it's okay to see things multiple times but there is a balance

      • Overall people seem content 

      • Next level is brevity with clarity and fun

      • Run out of sections in Squarespace

    • The information gathering method is working well

    • President to Junior’s Rep, Cortney Dell - Can we increase the amount of content on Junior activities and successes

      • Cortney - 2 boats qualified for nationals; 

      • Are Juniors and Junior Parents able to receive the Newsletter?

        • Cortney will get the information from Michelle (Junior’s Head Coach)

      • Cortney work with Michelle on content for the Newsletter/Social Media

        • May help with keeping juniors on after Highschool

    • Rachel noted that outreach to coaches might be helpful as another information stream for the newsletter. 

  • President - thinking through the August board meeting - looking for a location that is A/C to host the board meeting.  Suggestion, Public Library.

Jodi called for motion to adjourn, Andy Rabus called and seconded by Stephanie Accera and Jennifer Perkins. Meeting is adjourned.

Rachel Freedman http://www.steadystatenetwork.com
Next

Board of Directors Meeting: April 2026