Bill,
Sorry we can't get perishables but will bring muffins/breads/coffee cake.
Should we be at the tent by 7:00 am Saturday?

Debbie and all that will be helping at the UNC Tent on Saturday Morning the boys get there at 7:00 AM we plan on getting there by 6:30 AM.
See you then.
Thanks
Bill Faison

What a great weekend with Carolina rowers and parents - thanks to all!!
Several parents suggested that we post the names of hotels for upcoming regattas.
I don't own stock in Marriott, it just seems that these are the most convenient.
ECAC's May 10 - 11 Worcester MA Varsity 8 only. Residence Inn Worcester. Never stayed here but it gets great reviews on Tripadvisor and is 1.26 miles and 3 minutes from the racecourse.
Dad Vails - Philadelphia PA May 9 - 10. Courtyard Marriott Downtown. This is about a 15 minute drive from racecourse and in a great area of the city.
Head of Hooch - Oct 31 - Nov 2. Courtyard Chattanooga Downtown - right across street from racecourse. The Hilton Garden Inn is about 3 blocks from racecourse.
Head Of Schuylkill - same as Dad Vails - Looks as though the dates are Oct 24 - 26.
Hope this helps!

Edited by author 04-21-2008 05:47 PM
This weekend at the SIRA regatta in Oak Ridge marked the first year anniversary of the idea of forming a UNC Men’s Crew “Parent’s Travel Support Group”.
With our son being new to rowing last year, Lisa and I had no idea what a major regatta was like. When we arrived in Oak Ridge last year we finally saw what collegiate rowing events were all about which included all of the school tents, flags, trailers, boats, vendors, and every thing else that is part of a major regatta. We were impressed at the size and scope of the regatta. Our next step was to find our son and the rest of UNC Men’s Crew, hoping to find a UNC tent. After walking around the venue twice trying to locate our son and the rest of the crew we finally found them. They were all huddled under one small tree in the trailer area for shade. The crew had no tent, no flag, but most shocking was that they had no food or water, just that one small tree for shade.
I still remember the answer we got when we asked our son what he had for breakfast that day. His answer was Pop Tarts. They had stopped at a store the night before and picked up some items to eat. He bought Pot Tarts since the room he was staying in had a microwave he knew he would at least have a hot breakfast in the morning.
Lisa & I both thought how can UNC athletes complete at this collegiate level with Pop Tarts for breakfast? After are conversation with our son and seeing that they had no food or water, we ran to the nearest store and bought the crew water, Gatorade, granola bars, peanut butter crackers, ice and a storage bin to work as a cooler.
Later that day we meet David & Elisa Eaker. After talking to their son they also ran to the nearest store to fill the crew’s needs as we had. They also shared the same thoughts that we did, some things needed to be changed. The crew had very little continuous support for events of this scale, and how could the UNC student athletes compete at the same level with these other schools without the support that the others had.
After questioning the students and coaches, we found that support for the crew in the past depended on whatever support that local or visiting parents could provide. There was support for crew but it was unorganized.
During our conversation that day we decided that this needed to be corrected, some sort of continuous support group needed to be created. It was decided that we needed to create an infrastructure that could support these events. Our vision was a structure that could cover current needs and also last well past our children’s tenure with the crew. We wanted to create a support structure that could be passed on year to year. Over the past year we have successfully enlisted other parents that share our vision in creating this support group. The support the crew had this past weekend is validation of our original ideas. The crew no longer needs to huddle under that one small tree for shade and look at how far we have come in only one year!
Thank you to everyone for your support and efforts that has made our vision a reality.
I’m looking forward to years that lie ahead for the UNC Men’s Crew “Parent’s Travel Support Group”.
Bill Faison

I would like to echo Mr. Faison's comments from the perspective of a student-athlete. It is incredible what this group of parents has done for our team. One of the first things we would do upon arriving at our hotel the day before a race would be to find a convenient store to buy snacks for the night and breakfast for the morning, unless we were lucky enough to be at a hotel with a continental breakfast provided. It is great to get up in the morning knowing that there are already at least 5 or 6 parents at the course cooking breakfast for us.

I hope that this message board has made it easier for parents to communicate and coordinate. I am constantly looking for new ways to help our parents help us, so if there are any suggestions that you have about how to help strengthen the communication between parents, via a listserv, message board, internet, whatever; just let me know.

Thanks again for all of the support this year. The food has been delicious and well-appreciated.

Chris Creech
Media Manager
UNC Men's Crew
Class of 2010

Bill...Thanks for educating us novices about team support...the parents have done a great job pulling this together! What if we are unable to be at a race...is there a slush fund we can contribute to? Can we mail you a check to help cover expenses? What's your address? I would have LOVED to go to TN but I usually work Sat & cannot send stuff to Chapel Hill but would still like to chip in... We enjoyed Lake Lure & were happy to help:)

Edited by author 04-27-2008 04:07 PM
Thanks to Bill and Chris for their thought-provoking comments with regard to the UNC-Crew Parents Committee. I think we all can collectively appreciate what a finite number of parents have done to make a BIG difference in what has become, a very active means of support for our team.

You'll be hearing much more about how we grow this organization and the ways our collective Parents/Alumni community can contribute to this cause, in the very near term. There will be a presentation on this topic, for those of you attending the upcoming Awards Banquet on May 3. Additionally, we will further socialize this via direct email distribution and also at this Fall's Parent's Weekend in October, to better help acquaint new and current parents to the efforts of this new group.

Many thanks for everyone's proactive efforts to date!!
Denis & Allison

Hi -

Matt mentioned that parents were helping/working on the banquet for Saturday. I should be in town by noon on Saturday, and am willing to help in anyway that I can. iIf anyone knows who to contact or what needs to be done, please let me know.

Kay Tucker

if you are interested in helping prepare for the banquet, contact Michael Pierrie at mpierrie@email.unc.edu and he will let you know the details.

919-569-0613 or cell 919-247-9216.
Teresa Pierrie

The above is the contact info for our cook!! Mike's Mom is coordinating all. My job is the salad and some "on the table, before the food is served nibblies" and to bring enough chafing dishes or sterno servers.

Josh's brother wants to come too, we have to wait until he completes the SAT that morning, but will leave straight away after that...2 hrs later we will be in Chapel Hill - so about 3pm is the earliest we can get there.

I have some great pictures from SIRA, I don't know if or how to get email addresses off of this message board...email me at jcorrell@carolina.rr.com if you would like me to send you some of the photos.

Dad Vail and ECAC info from Coach Laurance:

"The trailer will be loaded on Wednesday, May 7th. The v8 and lightweights will depart early Thursday morning. (not sure about the novices). We will drop the shells (2 fours, 1 8) in Philly and all of the supplies for feeding the team. I have tent spot #33 reserved which will be between the Finish Line grandstands and the 1500 meter mark. I and the v8 will continue to Worcester.

The athletes will boat out of Boathouse Row (still working on this), row up to the start, race, return to boathouse row, and then come to the tent to eat, watch teammates, etc. We will have parking passes for the athletes and some of the parents. (athletes will have two vans, they will move the tent, grills, etc. up to the tent location on Thursday. On Saturday, after the racing, athletes will load the tent, grill, etc and move back to Boathouse Row. Athletes will spend the night in Philly area and return Sunday morning.

The V8 will pick up the shells, tent, etc upon returning from Worcester on Monday. As we only have 1 crew in Worcester and we will have a van and truck, we will be on our own food vise. Between our races we will jet back to our hotel and relax.(Some parents will be around). All sounds workable on paper."

Edited by author 04-30-2008 03:57 PM
Chris, Richard --

Thanks for the posting the logistics above. This will greatly help with our food planning for the upcoming 5/9-11 weekend.

Bill, I'm thinking we can send some non-perishable items along with the V8 boat to Worcester, along with water/Gatorade, etc. This way, the Varsity team won't be totally empty-handed when comes to food...."Pop-tarts just don't cut it!" Will look for your comprehensive shopping list in short order. In the meantime, I'll go ahead and purchase some of the beverage items this week, and will be prepared to bring those, plus purchases early next week to the boathouse on 5/7.

See you all Saturday!
Denis & Allison

To all that plan on attending this weekend regatta in Philadelphia, PA or would like to contribute items for the event the following is the shopping list for the event. The trailer will be loaded on Wednesday evening and head north the next morning. I you plan on contributing items please post what the items are on this message board.

30 – Pounds of Ice

6 - Pounds of Frozen Pre Cooked Meatballs
50 – Pre Cooked Sausage Patties
50 – Slices of Pre Cooked Bacon

4 - 24 Bottles Cases of Gator Aid
2 - 24 Bottles Cases of Water
1 – Case of 24 10oz Bottles of Orange Juice

6 – Pounds of Lunch Meats
       (Ham, Salami, Turkey, Roast Beef and Others)
3 – Pounds of Sliced Cheese
       (Co jack, Swiss, Provolone, Cheddar, Munster & Others)
50 – Cheese Sticks
2 – Pounds of Shredded Mozzarella or Pizza Cheese
2 – Pounds of Shredded Cheddar or Co-Jack Cheese
50 – 10” Flour Tortillas wraps
48 - Sub Buns
2 – Loaves Multi Grain Bread
2 - Dozen Bagels
1 - 24 Packs of Lays Chips

4 – Dozen Eggs
1 – Large Tubs of Whipped Cream Cheese
1 - Gallon 2% Milk

2 - Dozen Bananas
3 - Pounds of Grapes

50 – Disposal Plates
4 – Rolls of Paper Towels
24 – Disposable Forks
1 – Roll of Tin Foil

Thanks to all for your help and support.
Bill Faison

I am going to costco/sam's this am to get items for the banquet, so I will also pick up the below for the Philly regatta. I will be in Chapel Hill by about 2-3 tomorrow (Sat. 5/3)and will get these supplies to where ever they need to go:

50 disposable plates
4 rolls paper towels
24 disposable forks
1 roll tin foil
1 24 pack Lays potato chips
1 case 24 10oz bottles of Orange Juice

...am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Banquet

Edited by author 05-02-2008 11:53 AM
Bill --

Allison and I will obtain all the cheese products, plus the tortilla wraps. I will bring these to the trailer along with the beverages I've already purchased, on Wednesday evening.

Are the quantities of beverages requested in your list "over and above" those which I have already acquired?

Currently on-hand (and ready for delivery):

3 - 24-ct. cases Gatorade
2 - 35-ct. cases water
3 - 2.5 gal water jugs with spouts

Thanks,
Denis

Denis

Yes, my count on drinks is "over and above" the items you purchased.

Thanks
Bill Faison