Over 120 club-related paddling excursions went to 25 different streams, with trips totaling 969 paddlers. That is astounding. By mid-summer, some people were doing short shuttles masked and with windows wide open, Thanks to Jen Sass and the team who organized the 65thannual Potomac Downriver race, now the longest running continuous whitewater race in the country. To my knowledge, none of the paddlers who participated in these CCA activities has tested positive for coronavirus.
Looking ahead, CCA will review shuttle guidelines at our March board meeting in light of emerging conditions, like many of us being vaccinated and the possible spread of even more virulent COVID strains. Even though we cannot offer pool rolling sessions at this time, your CCA leaders are already making plans for paddling trips and safety classes to resume later this spring if conditions allow. Our Conservation Committee leaders are also looking for ways to be involved in Potomac cleanups this spring. Even if there aren’t large organized efforts, it’s good to carry a bag so you can pick up trash with so many more people getting outside into our parks. Stay tuned and check the CCA website for updates on all this.
I’m excited about the opportunity to serve as CCA Chairman. It’s a wonderful organization with many talented and committed members. When pondering this position, I realized that CCA actually has many distinct communities. For those of you whom I don’t know, or who don’t know me, I have been regularly paddling with the Thursday group since I retired six years ago. I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know this great group of paddlers and venturing to nearby streams, some of which I had not paddled before or in a long time. I’ve not taken part in many other CCA activities. I look forward to expanding my experiences with other CCA groups and getting to know members involved in them.
Even though it’s dead of winter and we are still under the throes of COVID, CCA members are out paddling, planning for more activities in the spring and summer, fighting to improve access to streams, and exploring ways to increase diversity in our club and the paddling community. CCA depends on volunteers. Please renew your membership when it approaches expiration and sign up to participate on a committee or activity. For instance, we are looking for volunteers to manage and teach classes, help with the downriver race, and so much more. You will meet new friends and help CCA serve its members. Also, please think about becoming an ambassador for CCA and asking your paddling companions who are not members to join. For a variety of reasons, CCA loses many people from its membership ranks. Recruiting new members is essential if we want to maintain an active paddling club within the greater DC-area paddling community.
See you on a river soon.
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