Erg-a-thon 2011 FAQ

This year’s Erg-a-thon will take place on Sunday, December 4, 2011

What is NORCAL Crew and how can I learn more?

NORCAL Crew is a nonprofit 501 ©(3) organization, Federal Tax I.D. no. 94-3403043. NORCAL Crew was formed 11 years ago when Silicon Valley Crew and Bair Island Aquatic Center Junior Crew merged. It is dedicated to training youth to be competitive in and develop a life-long love of crew. For more information see www.norcalcrew.org. Contact us at 530 Bay Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, Phone: 650.322.9888.

Why do we need your help?

Our club is supported solely by membership fees and private contributions. Fees cover our nationally recognized coaches, space rental, organizational fees and race participation. Erg-a-thon funds will be used to acquire equipment. Equipment is expensive; an 8 seated racing shell is $34,000; a cox-box, $500; oars, $250 apiece; rowing ergometers, $900.

How does an Erg-a-thon work?

We ask family, friends and colleagues to sponsor our participation in the upcoming Erg-a-thon. The entire NORCAL team takes turns on Concept2 rowing machines. Our goal is to pull at least a 1 million meters. The erg-a-thon is your chance to support our increasingly competitive youth rowing program. Crew is a demanding sport but the rewards – excellent physical fitness, team effort and character building – are priceless.

How will these funds be used?

In general, crew is expensive. Space rental, organizational fees, our nationally recognized coaches, equipment and competition fees and support are all part of the sport. In addition, equipment ages, breaks and wears out on a regular basis. Thus, equipment upgrade, replacement, and repair are costly aspects of what we do. Member fees cover only a portion of our annual costs, those funds are dedicated to coaches salaries, racing fees and support. Thus, a large expense – equipment needs to be covered by fundraising. For example, each year the club aims to buy a racing shell and accompanying equipment. A racing shell along currently costs, $34,000, oars $250 apiece, rowing ergometers cost $900.

How can I participate?

Traditionally in an erg-a-thon, rowers (with family support) collect names of family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues and contact them requesting a donation, rowers work at the boathouse to mail letters and annotate them if letter is to a special family member or friend, and once donations are in rowers send a thank-you note along with a letter for tax purposes.

How can I participate if I don’t like to send letters?

There are several ways to participate, sending letters to family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues is one. Families can make personal donations. Families can donate funds and have them matched by their place of work. Families can also solicit their place of work as a corporate sponsor. If every rower’s family raised $450 we would meet our goal.

What does the Parent Erg-a-thon committee do?

To date the parent committee, conducted research on other erg-a-thons, created a timeline, created and refined print materials, worked with coaches, and is in the process of soliciting other parent volunteers to help with site selection and permission, promotion, and preparation of fundraising packets.

What else is needed to make Erg-a-thon 2011 success?

Rower and family participation is essential. Additionally, family support with food and kind words during the event are helpful. Volunteers to help promote the event are also needed. Donations of stamps and address labels would help reduce expenses.

What is corporate matching?

Corporate matching is a program offered my many companies, whereby employees’ charitable gifts are matched by the corporation. Information about these programs is available on your corporate web site or from your HR contact. Corporate matching funds could make a big difference in reaching our fundraising goals and it is free. See the attached list of some local corporations that have matching programs. If yours is not here, check your corporate website or ask you HR contact.

Can potential donors pay by credit card?

Yes, donors can pay by credit card via Paypal on our website www.norcalcrew.org. Check it out -just go to the donation section on the website. Many donors prefer this option, it is easy, they accrue miles and they don’t have to collect paper.

Can some donors be recruited by email?

Yes, we will send each rower/rower family an email letter and instructions about how to tailor that email letter to individual candidates.