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I. Introduction
The Passaic River Rowing Association (“PRRA”) is a community-based,
not-for-profit rowing club located in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. PRRA promotes
youth and community rowing, while providing various programs for all skill
levels of rowers, from a signature Learn-to-Row program to development
camps for major competitions. The club membership reflects a positive balance of youth rowing, and masters rowing (over age 23). PRRA
additionally strives to achieve a balanced program comprised of sweep
rowing and sculling.

PRRA’s Mission Statement
Call together and support a community of rowers of every age and ability with primary emphasis on youth rowing within the local community; Promote the highest values of rowing in international, national and local arenas; Promote the stewardship of the Passaic River environment; and Strive for excellence in all that we do.

II. Location / Facility
PRRA, in cooperation with the County of Bergen, operates a boathouse in the
Riverside County Park - South along the banks of the Passaic River in
Lyndhurst, New Jersey called “The Bergen County Rowing Center.” The
boathouse is in the section of the park which uses an entrance off of River
Road, just opposite of Wilson Street. The boathouse is easy to get to, and
is only minutes from major highways. Parking for members and visitors is
available in the park’s large asphalt parking lot just a short walk away
from the boathouse.
The rowing facility boasts a 110-foot long by 24-foot wide one-story
structure, ideal for storing rowing boats. Additional storage outside in
secure pens is also available for club boat storage and PRRA-affiliated
boat clubs (i.e. high schools). PRRA is also proud to have a premium
rowing dock located parallel to the shoreline of the Passaic River. The
club’s new state of the art 120-foot long rowing dock, which has been fully
approved by all state regulatory agencies, can accommodate the full length
of two rowing eights end to end. The public is also encouraged to use the
dock for other recreational small boating activities (i.e., canoeing,
kayaking, and rowing boats).
The Passaic River is a wide river in North Jersey offering club members the
opportunity to row as far south as Newark, and as far north as Garfield.
The total distance of available miles to row between both points is
approximately 12 miles.
Bathroom facilities for club members and visitors are available in the
clean and well kept public bathrooms adjacent to the parking lot.
PRRA’s club owned equipment includes a wide variety of equipment to meet
the sweep rowing and sculling programs. These boats include: eight person
sweep, four person sweep, four person scull, two person scull, and single
sculls. The club also owns several sets of sweep and sculling oars for its
club boats.
PRRA’s coaching staff is led by Clemens Reinke, a junior champion rower
from Germany who has many years of rowing and coaching experience. Other
members of the coaching staff include successful and experienced US Rowing
Level II coaches.

III. General Membership Information
PRRA offers a multitude of annual membership options for sweep rowing (one
oar) or sculling (two oars), to accommodate various levels of rowing
experience from the beginner to the highly competitive rower. The
membership calendar year runs from March 15th through March 14th of the
following year. The minimum age for participants is 14 years old.
Participants under 18 years old must obtain prior permission from a parent
or guardian in writing.
Members are encouraged to volunteer occasionally throughout the year to
help with the normal upkeep as well as improvements to the rowing facility.
Involvement in the club’s committees is also encouraged. Some of the
club’s committees include The Safety Committee, Capital Improvement
Committee, Competitive Rowing Committee, and The Club Council.
Participants must submit a completed registration form (see Part I and II
of enclosed 2007 Registration Form) and have a signed waiver of liability
(see Part III) on file in order to row. Members must know how to swim and
submit a signed statement of their ability to swim (see Part IV). Payment
in full must accompany the registration form (attached). No exceptions can
be made.
On occasion, members will be permitted to bring a guest to row. Before
doing so, the club member must first receive approval from the coach and
verify that there is an open seat to row for the guest. The guest must
also complete a membership application form (no fees required) and sign the
liability waiver before rowing. A $5.00 guest fee will be assessed to the
club member per day.

IV. Rowing & Membership Programs
Beginning / novice rowers are required to take the Learn to Row program and
upon successful completion, may join the Community Rowing Program for the
first year.

A. Learn to Row Program:
Learn to Row classes are intended for new members who have little or no experience, or for those who would like to have a refresher course. The program is three weeks long, with three scheduled organized classes per week, for a total of nine lessons. Each class is approximately two hours long. Size of the Learn to Row classes are limited to a maximum of ten (10) rowers on a first come, first served basis in order to provide the best possible instruction as well as to maintain a high level of safety. Under the supervision of experienced rowers and coaches, participants will receive an introduction to the sport with ample personal attention. The class is designed to teach the basics of sweep rowing. Instruction includes orientation, rowing technique, safety, boat handling and coxing. All graduates receive a PRRA tee shirt and an invitation to join the club under the Community Rowing Program.

B. Community Rowing Program:
This program is intended to be the next step for graduates of the Learn to Row classes, and for those members whose goals include rowing up to three times per week in a friendly, fun, and social atmosphere. The rows are supervised and are typically based on a group of members agreeing upon a set schedule that works best for them. Rows occur at least three times a week (typically Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30pm, and Saturday mornings at 10:00am). Community rowers will be permitted to enter the Carnegie Lake and
Head of the Passaic Regattas. Community Rowing Members will not have
boathouse keys.
Rowing Season: 05/03/08 – 10/26/08 (weekend rows only after 09/15/08)

C. Recreational Rowing Program
This program is open only to experienced rowers and is intended for
those members who plan to row most days of the week, however do not
intend to race competitively. Rowers in this program have access to
club boats. Ownership of your own equipment is not required.
Recreational Rowing Members can request keys to the boathouse doors.
Rowing Season: 04/12/08 through 11/23/08

D. Competitive Rowing Program:
The Competitive Rowing Program is open to all experienced rowers who
are looking for intense training and coaching, and who will likely be
participating in many of the year’s regattas. Coached sessions are provided throughout the racing season. Regatta boats (i.e. lineups) are for the majority organized by coaches, however on occasion members in small boats can assemble their own lineups for small to medium size races. Practice schedules, equipment use and regatta entries are coordinated through the Competitive Rowing Committee. Competitive Rowing Members can request keys to the boathouse doors. Rowing Season: Daily 04/07/08 through 11/23/08

E. Youth Rowing Program:
PRRA offers a variety of youth programs ranging from learn-to-row, to
development camps, to summer and fall rowing sessions. Youth
membership includes a PRRA shirt, as well as free entries to two
separate regattas (one race per regatta only). Boat transportation
costs from the boathouse to the race are also waived for the two
regattas. Rowing Season: June through October ‘08

F. High School Rowing Programs:
To promote the development of youth rowing programs, PRRA will work with schools interested in starting or relocating rowing programs to its locations. Please contact us at PRRA.Row3@Verizon.net for more information.

G. Social Membership:
This membership option is for persons interested in supporting the
activities of PRRA. Social members will receive the newsletters and
are invited to attend regattas and social events.

H. Equipment Storage:
Limited storage of private equipment is available at the boathouse.
The Competitive Committee will assign space. All private equipment
must be insured by the owner and will not be covered by the PRRA’s
equipment insurance. No storage fees will be assessed to private
equipment that the owner makes available to club use for the duration
of the Community Rowing season. Members requesting storage must
register for one of the Rowing Programs.

V. Membership Terms and Conditions

• Members may not use privately owned equipment without the expressed
permission of the owner.
• PRRA equipment priority is given to the scheduled program.
• All members are required to adhere to the rules, regulations and mission of the PRRA. Every member is required to conduct themselves in a responsible and civil manner towards all members. Failure to adhere to the rules and regulations may result in disciplinary action, as outlined in the Constitution, including termination of rowing privileges.
• All members are required to review and comply with US Rowing’s and
PRRA’s safety rules at all times. Failure to adhere to the rules and regulations may result in disciplinary action, as outlined in the Constitution, including termination of rowing privileges.
• Family member is defined as any immediate family member living in the
same household with the individual member.
• An Association Council governs the PRRA. No individual member or
group of members may obligate or represent the PRRA without the express
consent of the Association Council.
• The PRRA is a non-profit organization that depends upon volunteerism.
Scheduling of rowing sessions is subject to the availability of volunteers.

VI. Membership Fees FEE SCHEDULE
Program: Type Annual Fee:
Learn to Row Program: all $150.00 per session
Community Rowing Program: adult $200.00 youth/college $110.00
per additional family member $120.00
Recreational Rowing Program adult $300.00 per additional family member $180.00
Competitive Rowing Program: adult $375.00 youth/college $225.00
per additional family member $225.00
Youth Rowing Program: per session (summer competitive $160.00) (summer intermediate $135.00) (summer sculling $100.00) (fall competitive $160.00) (fall intermediat $135.00)
Development Camp TBD
High School Rowing Programs: PLEASE CONTACT PRRA FOR MORE INFO
Social Membership: all $50.00
Equipment Storage: per seat $200.00
IRegatta Fees: SEE RACING SCHEDULE Due Date for Fees: March 31, 2008
Dues are non-refundable, and a fee of $20 will be assessed for returned
checks. Reductions of membership fees are available under the following
circumstances:o Family Discounts: $50 discount is available to families who opt to pay for two consecutive annual memberships (must be postmarked by March 31st). And, membership fees for that family are locked in for a period of two years.
• Credit for Learn to Row: Participants of the Learn-to-Row program
will receive a 25% discount for their annual membership fee.
• Full-time coxswains: Membership is free.
• Members that Row & Coxswain: A refund/credit to be determined by the Membership Committee (maximum of 50% of program fees).
• Prorated Fees: After August 15, new members will only pay 50% of the
annual program fee, and storage fees will be prorated on a case-by-case
basis.
• Scholarships: Youth members may be eligible for full or partial
membership scholarships. Please email PRRA.Row3@Verizon.net for more
information.Please note: Members may be required to pay additional “seat fees” for special programs held during the rowing calendar year, such as Development Camps. Those additional fees, however, will not apply to members of the youth rowing program.