Fall 2002 Programs

Editor: Paul Carlstrom
Design: Mark Mazziotti

Note from the President
2003 Elections
Running Report
Handball Report: South Enders Take Top Honors in State Tournament
Swim Program Update
Rowing Clinics

Note from the President

Thanks to the efforts of many club members, I can truly say that I am still enjoying my first year as your president. There are many challenges, but greater rewards.

The Alcatraz Invitational was a smashing success, thanks to the efforts of Pedro Ordenes, Bill Wygant, and many SERC volunteers. Over the past few years, this event has grown from a small, multi-club swim with only 90 competitors to and event that is known throughout the swimming world. It improves every year. Also, I want to extend congratulations to Kimberly Howard and Edison Peinado on their engagement. They put on a wonderful party at the club. Although relatively new members, they have added tremendous energy and enthusiasm to the club.

I know there is much interest and concern over the building improvements project. We have been grappling with approaches to downsizing the project to fit within our funding capabilities. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Bob Isaacson, we have identified a basic approach that should bring this project within our budget. We are now fine-tuning certain design issues, and plan to hold a general membership meeting on Wednesday, November 20th, at which time we will review the various developments relating to this project. Notice of this meeting also appears in this newsletter. Look to the bulletin board for any updates.

Elections are also on the horizon. Under our bylaws, there first must be a call for candidates, with complete details inside this newsletter. This is the second year of implementing the two-year staggered term of the board of directors. Up for election this year are vice president and two directors at large. Members have until November 12th to declare their intention to run. Ballots will be mailed soon afterward. I encourage members to run for the Board, but if you don’t, please make an effort to vote.

Finally I extend a big welcome to our new newsletter volunteers, editor Paul Carlstrom and graphic designer Mark Mazziotti. Both of these members readily volunteered to take over the newsletter from Mark Welte, who is out of the country. Thanks, Mark, for a job well done.

As always, I am at the club most mornings between 5:30 and 8:30. I encourage all members to approach me with questions or concerns. And, if you are a new member, please be sure to introduce yourself.

Thank you, Dominic Spinetta President, South End Rowing Club

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2003 Elections

Elections for three positions on the South End Rowing Club's board of directors are just around the corner. Anyone interested in contributing to the club in an official capacity is encouraged to run.

Since we now have implemented a governing board with staggered terms, the positions to be chosen by club membership this year are: vice president and two of the four director-at-large positions.

The positions of president, recording secretary and the other two directors-at-large will be filled in next year's election.

To be eligible to run for elected office, a candidate must be:

• a South End Rowing Club member in good standing (i.e., all dues are paid)
• a life member or an active member for at least one year

Each candidate must prepare a statement of candidacy. Candidacy statements should identify the candidate, the office being sought, the candidate's background and reasons for running. The statements should be typed, signed and contain no more than 150 words. A candidate may run for no more than one elected position.

An election committee consisting of at least three club members in good standing who are not on this year's ballot will govern our voting process.

The deadline for receiving statements of candidacy is November 12, 2002. Place statements in the box on the front bulletin board or mail them to:

Election Committee
South End Rowing Club
500 Jefferson Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

Ballots with statements of candidacy will be sent to each club member by November 19, 2002. The deadline for receipt of ballots will be December 10, 2002. Ballots will be counted and results announced on December 15, 2002.

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Running Report

By Keith Nowell, SERC Running Commissioner

I’d like to congratulate Russ Kiernan. At the time the last issue went to press, I had heard that Russ had won the Dipsea Race. I have since learned that Russ not only won the Dipsea but the Woodminster and Double Dipsea races as well. Many in the running community recognize these runs as forming the Bay Area’s Triple Crown of running. Russ is the only person to win the three Triple Crown events in the same year, having now done it twice! I am waiting for the “Kiernan” rule to appear. I also wish to congratulate Glen Redpath and other South End runners who participated in these strenuous runs.

October is a big month for South Enders with the inter-club triathlon scheduled for Sunday, October 20. Last year SERC runners overwhelmed the Dolphins, which allowed us to snatch victory by the slimmest of margins. The competition will be fierce this year, as the Dolphins don’t want to lose to their South End hosts again this year. The run will start at 9:30 AM at the foot of Jefferson Street, and as with last year’s event, every participant who finished before the cut-off time of 90 minutes will contribute to the point total. The first runner in will receive 20 points, with each successive finisher receiving one point less than the previous runner. Participants who complete the run after the finisher taking the number 19 spot will receive one point for their respective club.

This inter-club run, a round-trip journey to and from Fort Point, is just a little longer than seven miles in length. Because of its scenic views, it was listed among the 20 most beautiful runs in the country. And that was before the GGNRA assumed possession of the Presidio and made the western half and even more beautiful place. I can’t add up all the times I’ve run out that way – it’s just too many.

Training to get in the right condition for this round-trip course has depended on my base level of running. After my typical winter running sabbatical, I would often prepare for the course by doing single, and then double, Muni pier runs. Soon I would run a loop over Black Point, the only hill on the course, returning via the Fort Mason steps.

Black Point is the great equalizer. Once over the point, the entire promenade to Fort Point can be seen. I would run progressively farther down the promenade, first to the degaussing station, increasing the distance to Presidio Gate or Yacht Harbor, and then the big push on to the fort. I would often stop to enjoy the views of the water, marine life, and boats during my training runs, keeping the return climb up Black Point furthest from my mind.

On the return toward the club one decision always loomed: Stairs or hill, stairs or hill. I could always justify walking the stairs up from Fort Mason, but if I chose the hill I would have to run. I usually chose the hill – more scenic, more gentle, more challenging – with an imperceptible (I would hope) pause near the top and the cool-down finish to the club.

I would like to hear from other South End runners about their favorite training runs. Perhaps we could add them to our calendar as a Run of the Month club run. See you on October 20!

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Handball Report: South Enders Take Top Honors in State Tournament

By Mike Alvarez, SERC Handball Commissioner

South End handball players showed up at the California State Championships in Fresno and came up roses. Congratulations to division winners Tom McGrath, Joe Tierney, and Edward Corrigan. Other finalists included Rory Moore, Barry McWilliams, and Travis Hoover. Special thanks to Pedro Ortiz and Diane Davis for their support.

Otherwise we haven’t much to report tournament-wise, as we had to cancel a couple of events as a result of the on again/off again construction project at the club. Hopefully things will be better in 2003.

I would like to remind everyone of the Golden Gate Park Doubles Tournament scheduled at the park on October 12 and 13. Some of us are playing, however I hope many of you will be able to get out to the park and give handball a boost by joining the Golden Gate Park Handball Club. The price is right: zero. However, a donation toward the refurbishing of the courts there would be helpful.

The courts at the park will be closed from September 23 until October 10. During this period the old roof there will be removed and replaced, and hopefully the interior of the courts and walls will be painted. There are some long-range plans that will completely transform the appearance of the courts and possibly even include a three-wall court in the back of the building.

November 9 has been designated Awards Night for the South End Rowing Club, and I hope that, unlike the last two years, a sizeable contingent of handball players will show up. At the event, I would like to nominate Bob Maxwell as Handball Player of the Year.

Some of you only became acquainted with Bob these last few years as his health declined. However, I need to remind everyone that Bob was very instrumental in the handball program and club years ago. He was club president for two years in the 1960s, had the courts restructured to their present configuration, and helped bail the project out with his own funds. He played a decent game with a wicked hop. I played against Bob, but at a time when he was getting out of game.

Not too long ago Bob was whisked away to a nursing home somewhere in Lake Tahoe, and I hope I can get him here for the event. If you have any comments or suggestions about Awards Night, please contact me personally.

Burns McDonald, coach of the UC Berkeley handball club, would like to bring some of his players to the club sometime in October. Once the date is confirmed, I hope we can round up a few players to challenge his group, will pizza and beer to follow. More on this soon when I will post a notice on the bulletin board.

Lastly, we need new blood to coordinate the handball program for 2003. I’ve been involved in one way or another for too long a period of time. We need fresh ideas, vigor, and someone to handle the grunt work of running the group. I think we should have a handball meeting sometime in November, with some games first, followed by the meeting and you-know-what afterwards! I’ll keep you posted.

As always, play hard and play fair.

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Swim Program Update

By Dan Needham, SERC Swim Commissioner

The year goes by so quickly, yet we’ve had so many swimming heroes emerge in 2002. These accomplishments are impressive both quantitatively and qualitatively. We’ve had three successful solo crossings of the English Channel by Elizabeth Leahy, Drew Downs, and Steve Sakadeles, as well as a valiant attempt by our own Sam Silver. After many disappointing delays, Colleen Vojvodich finally got her chance in late September and nearly made the crossing with approximately five miles to go before strong tidal interference ended her attempt. She has shown lots of endurance and is a winner nonetheless.

The English Channel also saw a successful SERC relay crossing which, in swim order, was composed of Edison Peinado, Rhys Ludlow, Steve Hurwitz, Pedro Ordenes, Dan Needham, and Jim Miller. Also attempting a relay across the English Channel were South Enders David Hover, Pam Ware, and Tom Olsen who were accompanied by three members of the Dolphin Club in another spirited attempt in July. Special thanks go to Bob Roper, Pat Peyton, and Jon Meyer for piloting these Channel aspirants through hours of training and tough conditions.

We also fielded two successful teams crossing the Catalina Channel. The first group, dubbed the South End Floods, was composed of Jim Knight, Gary Emich, Diana Wygant, Brenda Austin, Nancy McCabe, and Bill Wygant. The second team, called the South End Ebbs, was made up of club members John Hathaway, Barry McGuire, Steve Hurwitz, Rhys Ludlow, Dan Needham, and Jim Miller.

Kristine Buckley swam her 100th Alcatraz on June 11, the 40th anniversary of the escape by Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers – and a year after Pedro Ordenes and Gary Emich reached that milestone. She is the first woman and third person to break the century mark.

Nine South Enders led by Tim Reid and Laura Collette swam the Maui Channel, and several SERC members also enjoyed the Hawaiian waters with favorable showings in the Waikiki Rough Water Swim. Laura Collette, who seems to show up for just about every open-water event, swam a solo crossing of Loch Lomond in Scotland.

Further afield, Gary Emich and Joe Oakes were part of a relay team to cross the Straits of Gibraltar. They even added a leg after the crossing, since they were having so much fun in the water separating Europe from Africa!

The list goes on. Drew Downs swam seven Alcatraz crossings in a single day, along with a complete round-trip Treasure Island swim from the club.

The club owes a great debt of gratitude to Pedro Ordenes and Bill Wygant for leading a world-class Alcatraz Invitational. Over 400 swimmers from many states and countries had a great time and a challenging swim. Many thanks to Gary Emich for registration, Sue Free for timing, Robin Dintiman for the meal, John Hathaway for the beer, and Lee Block for organizing T-shirts, goodie bags, and clothing sales. Mike Berline did an incredible job of handling the clothing bags, Mike Rogers was instrumental in hauling the swimmers to Alcatraz, and where would we have been without the pilots? Many thanks to Bob Roper, Paul Weiss, Andy Stock, Bob Karcie, and many other pilots for keeping the swimmers safe. I know I’ve forgotten many, many names here, but please accept the club’s thanks nonetheless.

Congratulations to Kimberly Howard and Edison Peinado, two great South End athletes, on their engagement.

Prior to the Invitational, our own club Alcatraz swim was a fantastic occasion highlighted by Tom Carlson’s post-event salmon feast. The swim went very smoothly under the directorship of Paul Weiss, last year’s swim commissioners.

As I mentioned earlier in this note, the year goes by so quickly – and I’m pleased to have helped our phenomenal swim program during my tenure as swim commissioner in 2002. However, I’ve decided that I need to devote time to other priorities, so if you have enjoyed our swimming program, you might ask yourself if it’s your turn to give back to the club. If you are interested in being swim commissioner next year, please let me know. Also, if you’d like to suggest someone you think might fit the bill, please let me know and I’ll be happy to approach whomever you suggest for the position. There will be a swimmer’s meeting after the New Year’s Day Qualifier swim on Saturday, December 14. At that time, SERC swimmers will select the nominee for next year’s swim commish to be presented to the board for appointment in January.

See you in the water!

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Rowing Clinics

A very successful year of rowing culminating in the club’s annual Bridge-to-Bridge event, we look forward to expanding the rowing program. Our emphasis will be upon attending more regattas and increasing the boating skills of club members at all levels.

To reach these goals, the club will hold a series of rowing clinics led by Tom Abbot who, as some of you may know, is the freshman rowing coach for Saint Ignatius High School as well as a top competitor in our own rowing program. These rowing clinics will be held on Saturdays at 7:00 AM when rowing conditions are most optimal.

The rowing clinic schedule is:

• Saturday, October 12
• Saturday, October 19
• Saturday, November 2
• Saturday, November 9
• Saturday, November 23

If you’d like to find out more about these clinics and the rowing program in general, please feel free to drop the rowing commissioner a note at rowing@south-end.org.

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