February 2013 Drumbeater

THE DRUM BEATER  FEB. 2013
Welcome to a new year of paddling with the Manning River Dragons.  We do not have a committee meeting in Jan (too much holiday spirit), so no newsletter.

EXERCISE SPORT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM DBNSW.
There was an email, and attachment sent by Melanie Cantwell about Exercise Sport Recommendations from DBNSW.  Hope everyone has read it.

WATER, WATER, WATER.
Not once but twice we got flooded. Nothing like keeping us on our toes getting gear out of the cage, then back in, then back out again.  Thank you all members, women, kids, husbands, friends that helped us with the boats etc.
We must have jinkzed ourselves as we only talked about getting a flood plan in situ at our last committee meeting.
SO we will have a little get together, probably in a Saturday arvo at the maccas meeting room to get a plan in progress.  We have a committee meeting on this Tues 20th March so will decide on a date then..  Watch this space.  Put your thinking caps on and come full of ideas.

TAKING ITEMS FROM THE BOAT.
Just a little reminder that members are not to take items out of the boat without consulting the sweeps/coaches/equipment officer. The sweep is in charge of our safety on the boat and if they put items into the boat it is there for a reason.

PARKING IN MANNING STREET OUTSIDE THE EXCHANGE HOTEL.
A reminder to all members and to our new members that may not be aware, Gary the owner of the Exchange Hotel has requested we do not park outside the Exchange Hotel, in Manning Street during the week nights at 5pm as his patrons find it difficult to get a park.  We need to respect his wishes as he very kindly lets us store our gear and boats in his cage for free. TA.

WINTER PADDLING.
We are like the postie.  We paddle in winter, rain, sleet (well not lightning), so paddling continues. For our newer members we hav3e lights on the boat and only paddle close to the shore where the lights are along the Manning.  Put a head torch on, a snazzy beanie (got to look good) some skins, maybe a vest (and some other clothing).  You do get hot once we paddle it is really once we finish and clean out the boat you get cold.

REGATTA NEWS.
Chinese New Year has come and gone, and nothing b3etter than paddling in torrential rain all day. What a fab time. What a high.  Hope the newer paddlers got a buzz paddling in Darling Harbour with all those millions of people watching us!! Oh yeah that is right they were all in the pub nice and dry.To our sweeps well done, although Wazza needs to wear his hearing aides next time.
Good luck to our club members that are going to NZ to paddle and to our lone senior representative, and our juniors in the Regional Team heading to State.  GOOD LUCK. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.
Jennifer has put out a list of Regattas we hope to attend.  So please add your name.  We have great fun when we got away, Meet other teams, have great team bonding out for dinner and a few drinks (well we do have to do some liasoning).

NEXT REGATTA   Urunga 18/19 May.  Sat is a long race??6km ??3km and sun the fun sprints. And we will get THOSE RATS.!!!@!

REGATTA CODE OF CONDUCT.
We are working on a Regatta Code of Conduct which will be sent out prior to the next Regatta once the Coaches/sweeps have looked at it.

FAREWELL.
It is with a sad farewell we said goodbye to the Green raft.  It was transported to a better place last Sat morning by Jen, Cath, Trish and me. It stood the test of time being the Number one raft in the Raft race a few years ago, sweeping the pool by winning everything- best raft, first in Juniors, first in womens, first in mixed first in men. So good was it they changed the rules the following year.  Thank you Ted and your band of people who made it happen.

MANNING RIVER REGATTA.
The Regatta Committee has been meeting regularly getting the paperwork ready for our regatta on 3rd and 4th August.
We will ask Quota if they wo7uld cater if not rotary/
Club member ???willing to make slices and cakes for sale.
They are applying for a Grant.
All members will be 3expected to help out as it gets closer.  Many hands make light work. 
We should be able to put in one team on the day, expecially if other teams in the north coast supply a volunteer.
Are there any members that does not want to paddle and just be a vollie??
Let Jen Schubert know.

MOTHERS DAY
You will be getting some raffle tickets soon for a Mothers Day Raffle.  The prize?? The beautiful Quilt that a lady donated to our Club, second Prize a $50.00 voucher from Raw Sugar Cafe, and 3rd prize some bubbles(no not drinking bubbles but bath bubbles). But drinkging bubbles sounds good to me!!! Any donations gratefully received.
We will have a Mothers Day Breakfast at Raw Sugar on the Sat prior to Mothers Day where we will draw the raffle, and Cath Stenchion you will be lynched if you or any member of your family win.

MEETINGS
Committee meeting Tuesd 20th March
Discussion Meeting   Thursday  9th May

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

JANUARY
Emily Thompson  
Osama Ali        
Rhonda Blanch
Sue Calvin      
Sue hunter     
Gaye McDonald  

FEBRUARY;
Sandy Gallaway    
Marg Kurtz             

Sick/injury list
Junior   Jayden  Broken arm.  Ouch
Sue Hunter
Trish Paff.
Recover quickly.

HAPPY READING.