Join the VASRA River Rats

What is a River Rat? They are the dozen or so parent volunteers who make sure that VASRA has one of the best, fully buoyed, race courses in America. No special skills are required other than a love of water and a desire to see our kids rowing under the best conditions possible. Parents spend time prior to the season, during the season and after the season is over. It is one of the major volunteer activities each school is required to perform. It is also one of the most rewarding jobs with people often staying on after their children graduate. The rats have a lot of fun and are a tight knit group. 

For the last three of four years, Marty McGuigan (Pasha’s Dad) has been the JEB Stuart Crew River Rat. He has clocked hundreds of hours on the course on behalf of all the Stuart rowers and parents. I want to take a long moment to thank him for his many, many hours of service.  

Marty is stepping down and we need a new person willing to take up the responsibility. 

We need to fill this position as soon as possible.  

Please let me know if you can play this important role for the team. It’s a big job, but you won’t regret it. 

In a nutshell, below is the position:

Pre-season: Setup of the course (parent volunteers assist)

• They install a fully-buoyed, 7-lane, 2,000-meter course that stays up for the entire spring season. 

• Launch and rig boats, get course buoys and install and anchor the course. 

• 3-4 workdays 8:00 to 1:00 p.m. 

During Season: 

• Arrive early to ensure a safe course for the regatta — i.e. remove any debris and setup odds and ends for use during the regatta.

• Putting into place the start docks, start tower as well as the aligner’s platform.

• Depart once all equipment has been stowed away and any other required tasks are performed.

• Course maintenance as required

• Safety patrol between start and finish

• Be the first to arrive and last to leave. 

• All regatta days start around 5:15 a.m. and end around 5:00 in the evening. 

Post Season: 

• Take down of the course (parent volunteers assist)

• Course maintenance as required

• Stow equipment away for the season

• Motor maintenance and winterization. 

• 4-6 workdays, May through the fall, 8:00 a.m. to early afternoon

If you have any questions about the job, please feel free to contact J.E.B. Stuart Crew Boosters.

J.E.B. Stuart Crew. Rowing Strong for 50 Years.