Vote For or Against

The role of "social director" as referred to throughout the by-laws will become a non-voting member of the Executive Committee. A voting member shall be elected to the Executive Committee to fill the role of Director of Community Programs. Duties will include overseeing the promotion of rowing and club activities to the wider community and to local government, consistent with the charitable mission of the club.

Mike Chin (incumbent)

My name is Mike Chin and I am running for the office of President. I have been a member of BRC since June of 2006 and a member of the EC for 3 years, serving the past 2 years as President. In addition to BRC president, I continue to coach (Open Sweep program, previously Novice), work on boat repairs, serve as regatta director or co-director (Burn, Charm City Sprints) and row with the morning Competitive program. I have broad experience with non-profit organizations, having served on the boards of three other than BRC. These experiences have given me insight as to the nuances, challenges and rewards of serving in the leadership level of charitable non profit organizations.

As BRC president, I have a greater appreciation of the challenges that BRC faces. In the upcoming year, I plan to continue to coach and row. I will also try to distribute BRC leadership responsibility throughout the officers of the club, so that BRC can continue to grow and serve the greater Baltimore community. I would welcome the opportunity to continue to serve the members of this club again in the coming year as your president.

Chris Steele

My name ie is Chris Steele. I am standing for election to the office of Vice President. I have been a BRC member since 2008. I have been an open rower for three seasons. Before joining the BRC I was an avid, albeit lousy, erger. I am also the Adviser to the UMBC Crew Team. I am married and have two daughters (Lucy, age 5 and Georgia, age 2). In my professional life I work as an academic administrator at UMBC. As Associate Vice Provost I am responsible for coordinating academic leaders, faculty, and staff around the development and growth of innovative undergraduate and graduate programs. I feel that the knowledge and skills I've accumulated in my 14 years at UMBC are directly applicable to the role of the BRC Vice President. I am standing for election as VP in hopes of helping the BRC continue to move forward on its mission to advance the sport of rowing in Baltimore and to enable competitive success at all levels.

As VP I would work collaboratively with the other member of the Executive Committee and the BRC membership to help ensure the club's financial strength, to establish and advance priorities for growth, and to ensure deep and meaningful relations with myriad communities in Baltimore. I have a particular interest in helping to raise awareness about rowing in general, and the BRC in particular. As VP I would also envision working with the EC and members to advance the goals of the Juniors program. I am excited about serving the BRC as a member of the Executive Committee.

Jennifer Hannum

I am an Environmental Scientist at McCormick Taylor in the Harbor East area. I have made my home in Baltimore for the past 3 years after living in California for the prior 10 years. Three is also the number of years I've been rowing, as I became a rower as a result of Niel's Learn to Row program in Spring 2008. I've had the pleasure of rowing in the Open and Competitive programs but I primarily row with the Pack. I have spent much of the past two seasons in a double with a funny Italian as my training partner.

What I hope to bring to the position of Secretary is an open line of communication for the club actions and activities. I plan to restart the newsletter which would include race reports, items of interest and for sale items, and general goings on in the Club and the Patapsco River. I plan to upload all lists, forms, meeting agendas and minutes online for easy access. I also plan to utilize social networking sites to foster communication among club members as well as to increase our visibility to the community.

I look forward to being able to serve the Club as its Secretary.

Fran Appler

I completed my Novice season in the fall of 2007 and have been a member of Open since that time. I row regularly and love almost every minute I am on the water. I am already looking forward to April, 2011. BRC has been a wonderful addition to my life: a place to keep fit, challenge myself and enjoy many varied friendships. I am very interested in the BRC continuing to develop into a vibrant aspect of Baltimore city life and continue to develop a socially conscious connection to people and communities in Baltimore.

I am a member of the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeepers. I have been concerned about Baltimore development and our waterways since my childhood. I am hopeful that the BRC will be connected to Waterkeepers and the Baltimore Waterfront Partnership , as these organizations grow in the future. I look forward to rowing in clean water!

I am a psychologist, Principal of Fran Appler & Associates in Pikesville. I have managed my relatively large practice for 10 years. Prior to developing my group, I practiced as a sole practitioner for 15 years. As the owner of my practice, I have developed well practiced organizational and communication skills, which I feel, will help me effectively record and disseminate Club information to the members. I am currently a Board member at the Institute of Notre Dame and I served on the Board of the Bryn Mawr School.

Paula Merkle (incumbent)

I have served as BRC's treasurer since June 2007, when I stepped down as vice-president to assume treasurer duties. I learned to row at BRC in the summer of 2000, and I row primarily with the competitive program. In the past I have also helped coach the sculling program and worked on safety matters. In the past several years I have worked other EC members to develop grant applications (successful ones!) that supported development of BRC programs.

BRC's financial records are now maintained with QuickBooks software. As treasurer, I make sure the bank accounts balance, checks don't bounce, money is collected, and payroll taxes and bills are paid on time. I have prepared the club's employer-related federal and state reports, 990 non-profit form for the IRS, and paperwork required by the State of Maryland for charitable organizations every year that I have served as treasurer. I work with the Executive Committee to develop an annual budget and monitor BRC's actual expenses and income against the budget. I also work closely with BRC's growing juniors program to track its expenses and income.

Dolly Chin

In March, 2007, I joined the Baltimore Rowing Club as a novice rower. After graduating from the Novice Program, I went on to Continuing Novices and am now rowing in the afternoon Sculling and Open Programs.

When I am not rowing, I work full time as the Seminar Series Coordinator and Administrative Assistant for eight labs at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Before moving to Baltimore, I worked eight years for an independent public relations firm, Robert Marston and Associates in New York City, researching and developing ideas for clients in order to generate publicity in print, radio and television.

As someone who enjoys interacting with people and paying close attention to details, I feel I would be well qualified to be the next BRC Membership Chair.

Jeff Ditter (incumbent)

My name is Jeff Ditter, and I have been an EC member for 3 years in the role of boathouse manager. Initially this role was said to be given to me because I drew a short straw at the election 3 years ago, but I must say that I have enjoyed my time as boathouse manager. I look forward to the challenges a new year will bring. It's been a priority of mine to support our hard working coaching staff by working to provide a reliable fleet of launches so that they can focus their time and efforts on rowers.

I've also been involved in the repair of damaged boats as well as the acquisition of new shells and equipment. With so many new members looking for rack space for singles, I continue to plan on working on a re-arrangement of the boathouse to allow for new space. For 2011, I’d like to continue to train those happy BRC “repair elves” among you who seem to love acquiring new boat skills—I want to make you handy and self-sufficient so that the club has a great repair staff to support our fleet in the future.

I am happy to continue to serve BRC as boathouse manager 2011.

Amy Kleine (This position has been proposed, but votes for a candidate can only be decisional if Amendment 1 passes)

I joined BRC as a novice rower in 2004, the day after my 30th birthday. I have rowed in the competitive program since 2006 and have been involved in the Club in various ways but have never held a position on the Executive Committee. I have organized Learn to Row Day for the past four years, which has always been a successful event that attracts new members. Over the past year, I have developed a deeper interest in connecting the greater community to rowing. Some of the things I have already done: (1) I organized a training session for staff of the YMCA of Central Maryland on the indoor rower so that they can encourage their members to use the machine properly, (2) I arranged a meeting with the Director of Partnerships at the Baltimore City Public Schools to discuss outreach for the juniors program, and (3) I created a Mentoring program to match adult rowers to juniors (though the program did not last very long).

I have many ideas for what a Director of Community Programs could do. I am currently working to create an indoor rowing class for Cherry Hill community members, in partnership with Family Health Centers of Baltimore. I am planning to become a certified Concept2 instructor. I would like to bring group indoor rowing classes to Baltimore and perhaps use it as an opportunity to generate revenue for the Club. I would like to support the WeCanRow program, which is for cancer survivors. I would also like to continue expanding opportunities for people from all walks of like to explore and enjoy the sport of rowing, from youth to developmentally disabled individuals to older adults. I plan to strengthen our relationship with the Department of Parks and Recreation and perhaps set the path for a new boathouse (eventually).

My professional career makes me particularly well suited for this position. I am a Program Director at The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, focusing on Basic Human Needs and Health. In that capacity, I am involved in various initiatives within Baltimore City and have many connections. Some of the skills I will bring to the position are communication, leveraging of resources, budget management, and initiative. I will need to delegate tasks because I can't make these programs happen alone and I will look to the membership for volunteers!

In closing, I want to say that I did not come into BRC and pick up rowing because I had natural athletic gifts. Rather, I came to realize through BRC rowing programs and from my fellow BRC rowers that I can compete as a rower and derive gratification from rowing competitively. There is a place for me at BRC and I want there to be a place for anyone with an interest in this sport. That is the goal of creating a strong rowing community in Baltimore, and that is why it's important to have a Director of Community Programs. I hope you will vote for this change in the Executive Committee and then elect me to this new position.

If Amendment 1 passes, this position can be appointed by the EC for 2011 as a non-voting member