Our Mission

1. Dynamic Paddlers Dragon Power Fire Dragons Spitzfire Survivors Our Mission The Dragon Boat Club (DBC) promotes the sport of dragon boat racing and facilitates the development of strong minds and fit bodies through an intense team oriented training program to compete at the highest levels of dragon boat racing. What we Value The Dragon Boat Club values Fun, commitment, fitness and hard work, we are not a social club. Team building, camaraderie and an unshakable commitment to our crew mates are critical components of the program. Who Are We The Dragon Boat Club (DBC) is a club with competitive and recreational teams. Currently our membership consists of 45 paddlers. We work to facilitate the growth of recreational and competitive dragon boat racing in the Philadelphia area. Please come and join us! • Recap from November Team Meeting • 53 Attendees • Discussion regarding Sunday Team • Training • Criteria for Boats _______________________ February In the Spotlight I was home on was home on a medical leave (6 weeks post-op) going stir crazy, so on my first day I looked on meet-up for something to do. I stumbled into the first ever team workout, a session in the paddle pool and an introduction to the rower with Hype. I honestly didn’t know what I had gotten into, and thank you Mike for the note reflecting on how sore he was, so I knew it really wasn’t just me! Everyone was very welcoming. Well one season later, I'm off all my diabetic meds, and am on minimal blood pressure meds, (had been on 2 at max doses) and look forward to getting back on the river. Am going to the gym 4-5 times per week, really enjoy the hard core, body pump and indoor row classes, am not as good at working out alone (could really use a workout buddy), but really enjoy the classes. I've lost 40lbs; still have a way to go, but am on the right track. I enjoy being on the river, new found friends, but most of all knowing where I've come from. As a single parent who raised a child alone, I worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, and lost a part of me in the process. I love being active, outside, and with people who also enjoy the same. I’m really new to the competition stuff, having never belonged to a team in my life, but have enjoyed both of those additions. So as I start my second year, I'm counting the weeks till we are back on the river, thanks to everyone for the support, and actually look forward to the time together even with Jason! Pat Japhet _______________________ • INSIDE THIS ISSUE • Mission, Values, Goals, Who Are We? • Re-cap January’s In the Spot Light • Who to go to: February’s Spot Light, • Welcome, Coaches Corner, Quotes • Races, What’s in Our Future? • Practice Schedule, Boat Criteria, On- • Line Payments

2. _______________________________________________________ • Go To People • Director/Coach: Robin Parker • Coaches: Jonathan Basilla & Mark Glemser • Finance Questions: Colleen Keller • Race Shirts: Colleen Keller • New Paddler Coordinator: Phoebe Wood • Recruitment: Jay Meadway, Mark Stieber, Jay • Lockenour & Bruce Goldstein  • Team Nurses: Barb Karbach & Pat Japhet • Meet up Questions: Robin Parker • Practice and Race Questions: Robin Parker, • Jonathan Basilla or Mark Glemser • Paddles & Sizing: Jonathan, Mark or Robin • OC Coordinating/Scheduling: Cindy Roberts February In the Spotlight I’ve been paddling for about 2 years now. The company that I work for has participated in the Philadelphia International Dragon Boat race which is held in June. The first year I was only working part time and couldn’t take that weekend off to join. The following year I was determined to participate. I’d never heard of the sport before and felt the excitement roll off my fellow team mates, I wanted to feel it, and I have!!! I joined a gym and just started to work out as I was determined to give it my best. I asked the personal trainer I was working with should I do this thing called Dragon Boating? He was thrilled that I was opening myself up to different things he told me to go for it!!! I am very unsure of myself and needed that encouragement!! When the June race was over I didn’t want to just sit back and do nothing again but didn’t know what to do. One of my coworkers who is a seasoned Dragon Boater told me one day that told me one day that a group was holding a camp and that the practices was $5 to try and the camp was $150 and included a race in Lake Mercer. I wasn’t sure. Could I do it? Could I give up some time during the week away from my family to really do this? Fay who is also a coworker went alone to a practice and told me I HAD TO GO!!! So I went on a Tuesday night and haven’t left!! That race in Mercer WE came in 1st place and I cried!!! The feeling was just so overwhelming and it wasn’t for the win (well maybe a little) but more for the fact that OMG I was a part of that!! I paddle because I love it, not just for the win of a race. Winning is nice don’t get me wrong, but for me this team has given me so much more. I have met so many new people and visited places that I’ve never been to; Washington D.C., Ithaca New York, and Canada just to name a few. I’ve made friendships and memories that will stay with me for a lifetime. Tracey Palummo ___________________________ Welcome On behalf of the team I would like to welcome all new team members who have joined the DBC. We are looking forward to a great season with everyone. We are very excited to have those paddlers who attended the meeting in November join our team this season New Members of the DBC for the 2013 Season: Roy Patten Interested in the DBC for the 2013 Season: Lisa, Dawn Reimer, Lois Brothers, Margaret, Sheldon K, JoAnn Cooper, Carol Wortman, Stephanie, Marguerite Spross,Joel, Sophie, Kim, Michelle, Maggie Lee, Kathy Haverly, Jeanne, Jon Brown, Robin Cashin, Oliva, Eric Giuliano, Colleen, Margaret Cooper, Langston Waples, Deborah Olsten, Ken G. Ishizuka,Darlene Cortez Coaches Corner Once again we are glad to have Jonathan back on our coaching staff. Jonathan brings experience, lots of passion, motivation and dance moves to our team. I believe this is Jonathan's third year of coaching and eleven years of dragon boating. Mark G has joined our coaching staff for this season. Mark is not new to dragon boating and has been paddling for eight years or more. He paddled with the GSK team as well as West PharmaCompany. It will take him a little bit to get to know the team but, once he does, the coaching voice will come out. Both Jonathan and Mark are great coaches and we are all looking forward to a great season! ________________________ Happy Birthday January and February Paddlers Page 2

3. _______________________________________________________ What‘s In Our Future? This season brings many new exciting things for the DBC. We’re working hard at Sunday Team trainings. This is just the beginning to a successful dragon boat season.  Let’s get not only our bodies in condition but our minds as well. We have a demanding, intense season coming up. Fighting for ERDBA points is going to be very challenging for all of us. We’ll have some good competition. I say bring it on!! As you know a home on the river has been an issue since we lost our sea wall. We will not be paddling out of West River Drive, our new location is Riverfront Park in Norristown. The park is located off of Haws Ave.  Riverfront Park is a small park with huge potential for growth of the Dragon Boat Club and our teams.  This community is welcoming us with open arms, which is new for dragon boaters.   We have a location that we can call home. This season our goal is to put our docks in as well as a shed for our equipment.  Within the next 2 to 3 years I hope to be on our way to a Dragon Boat House. Somewhere we can store our equipment, have team training, team meetings and to show our accomplishments. Steps have been taken towards forming a youth team as well as a SURVIVOR Team. We’ll have a community clean up day, a dragon boat community day and on April 6th, the day we put our boat in the water we hope to have a parade with an eye dotting ceremony and possibly a lion dance. All of this brings the community out and provides a lot of exposure for our Club. I don’t want to see anyone leave but I’m sure the distance will be on minds of some.  Travel is a issue for everyone no matter where it is. What I am asking is, can we all hang together for one year and have a good strong National Team?  Change is hard for most, but change can be good.  We have a community that is welcoming us, one we can have an impact on and give back to. Whether you want to be a part or not is your choice.  We’ve been working towards makinga strong National Teams. We can still do that!  Again, whether you want to continue with the DBC or not is your choice.  I believe in this project and know we can do many good things. I hope you all will join me at Riverfront Park in Norristown.   Robin Page 3 Paddle Pool Reservations to be made starting in February On the Water April 4, 2013 – Weather Permitting Practice Schedule Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday pushing off at 6:45PM Please RVSP via Meet Up! ___________________________ • Competitive Boat Criteria, Let’s Talk! • OC Testing • Rowing Machine: • 250 Meters • 500 Meters • 1000 Meters? • Push Ups: How many in one minute. • Sit ups with ball from side to side. How many in one minute. ___________________________ • Equipment & Uniform Purchases • Team Shirt: Colleen Keller • Paddle: Robin or Colleen • Questions Regarding Paddle Size/Type to Order: • See Mark, Jonathan or Robin

4. _______________________________________________________ • 2013 Race Schedule • May 4th, 5& 6th – Camp (all paddlers) • May 18th& 19th – Washington, DC (C) • June 1st – Independence Regatta - Philly (C&R) • June 8th– Paddle For Pink – Princeton, NJ (C&R) • June 22nd – Baltimore, MD (C) • July 13th – Ithaca, NY (C) • August 17th & 18th – Hartford, CT (C) • September 13, 14 & 15 – National Club Crews – Princeton, NJ (C&R) • September 28th – Cape May, NJ • October 5th – Philly Festival (C) • **NOTE: (C) - Competitive (R) Recreational • All events are on the meet up calendar please RSVP there. Cost for all races and events are noted on the payment page as well as the event page of the web site. The Race Coordinator will book a block of rooms for the team. _______________________________________________________ • 2013 Dues and Payment Schedules • Fees for 2013 (includes Washington race registration (May 2013)): • $180 Membership • $200 May camp fee (mandatory attendance) • $50 Team shirt (only if you haven’t previously purchased a team shirt, not included in • membership or May camp fee) • All fees (including shirt fee) must be paid by June 10, 2013 and listed below are the installments plans. If none of these plans meet your financial situation, please contact me to discuss other options as we want everyone to paddle. • First Payment Plan: Second Payment Plan: • $180.00 due by April 15, 2013 1) January 2013: $64.00 • 2) Final payment: $190.00 due by 2) February, 2013 $64.00 • June 10, 2013 3) March, 2013 $63.00 • 4) April, 2013: $63.00 • 5) May, 2013 $63.00 • 6) June 10, 2013 $63.00 • Each paddler is required purchase a paddle which should be ordered through Robin or Colleen. If you’re unsure of paddle size and type please see Jonathan Basilla or Mark Glemser for guidance. • Paddle Prices: • Carbon Fiber: $185 • Wood : $55.00 • 2013 Payment Process • Dues: On the main page of the Meet Up in the first column, left side, last selection: $180.00 payment: select Pay online. Partial payments are accepted. • Camp: Enter the calendar, open the meet up invitation, in the middle of the page see Price $200 per person, click Pay Online now. Partial payments are accepted. • Races: Enter the calendar, open the race meet up invitation, in the middle of the page will be the price per person, click on Pay Online Now. • Shirts and Paddles: Instructions for payment will be provided in the near future. Page 4