MEMBERS AREA

Entry fees vary for each head race/regatta. Most events cost around £15 per category entered, to which is added a £7 trailering fee (this covers the costs incurred transporting boats to each event which normally consists of fuel, vehicle hire etc.). We have introduced this £7 ‘flat fee’ for trailering, as opposed to the previous approach of trying to estimate more exact costs for each race, to try to ensure a consistent approach across all races/regattas so that members have better visibility of costs.

In reality the actual costs will vary depending on geographical location, number of members attending and logistics, but we believe the £7 fee will balance out across the season. It may be necessary to hire a towing vehicle on occasions; this approach will avoid any individual races/regattas having to absorb the entire cost because it will be netted off across the season.

Here are a few possible scenarios:

• You enter a regatta and compete in the 4+ category only, which costs £13. You race 3 times: in a first heat, in the semi-final and in the final. Your final cost for this regatta is £13 + £7 trailering fee.

• Another member of your 4+ crew also enters the mixed 8+ category, which costs £13. On top of their race(s) in the 4+, they race once in the mixed 8+ but lose. Their final cost for this regatta is £26 (£13 x 2 categories) + £7 trailering fee.

Please note:

• To secure as many race entries as possible, the Club pays for these entry fees upfront. You are expected to pay any fees to the club before the day of the event, or your participation in this race (and future events) may be compromised, although as ever we will of course consider any issues with payment on a case by case basis. Late payment of race fees will incur a one-off £5 admin charge (unless any issues have been raised in advance).

• Remember to bear in mind other costs (transport, food, accommodation etc.) before committing to a race/regatta.

• Coxes do not pay fees.

What if the race or regatta is cancelled?

• If an event is called off with enough notice then we would expect the hosting club to refund the race fees in full. In this case we would refund in full any race fees and trailering fees paid by members.

• If the event is cancelled at short notice then the hosting club may only refund a portion of the fees (often 50%) as they will be unable to recover all of their costs. Reasons for these cancellations are generally outside of anyone’s control (weather, fluvial flow etc.); this is a risk that all participants have to accept when entering. LORC’s refund policy as regards members’ payments is to mirror the refund that we receive as a club. So, if the host club refunds 50% of the race fees, we will refund members 50% of the race fees and, as a minimum, 50% of the trailering fee they paid to attend. Of course, if no costs were incurred transporting boats to the event because cancellation occurred far enough in advance, the club would be able to refund 100% of the trailering fee portion.

If you would like to change squad, please contact the captain of the squad you would like to join to inform them of your request. They will discuss with you the expectations for their squad. They will also liaise with your current captain to discuss the move.

What happens next?:

• If the move is agreed, both Squad captains will add/remove you from the relevant WhatsApp chat, and update your TeamApp registration.

• The Treasurer & Secretary will update your Direct Debit and MailChimp details, respectively.

• Please make sure you’ve made the request at least 10 working days before 1st of the month to ensure you are correctly billed.

Here’s an overview of the goals of each squad as well as why you may fit in or want to avoid it:

Novice Squad: Building confidence and core skills

Training: Saturday 11:30am - 2:00pm

Novice is where most of us started in the club after Pups, and its purpose is to really cement the core skills you were taught during learn to row, build your confidence on the water, and add on a few more skills that will enable you to go anywhere.

Novice is for members who have less than 12 months experience on the water, and newer members are able to learn from more experienced members.

● Flexibility: Low - we’re focusing on the core stuff you need to get really good at

● Attendance: Medium - you need to show up regularly to keep building confidence

● Coaching: Medium - focused group coaching following a training plan

● Racing: Low - there are a few local racing opportunities throughout the year

● Skill level: Low - if you’re just getting started, this is where you begin!

Novice is only open to members with less than 12 months experience.

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Intermediate Squad: Developing breadth of skill

Training: Saturday 9:00am - 11:30am + Casual outings

Intermediate is the next step in developing your rowing after Novice: you’ve got a bit more flexibility to explore smaller boats, skills like bow steering, or step up into slightly more competitive races.

● Flexibility: Medium - there are more options, but the focus of the squad will change throughout the year (depending on weather, regattas, etc)

● Attendance: Medium - you still need to show up regularly to build skill

● Coaching: Medium - focused group coaching following a training plan

● Racing: Medium - there are a few additional racing opportunities throughout the year, but the focus is not always on these

● Skill level: Medium - 1+ year experience on the water, confidence in 8s and 4s

● Why Intermediate?: You want to develop your rowing skill with focused coaching

● Why not?: You are a competent rower and want more flexibility: maybe look at Social!

You want more intense coaching/racing: take a look at Senior!

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Social Squad: Flexible rowing and racing

Training: Saturday 11:30am - 2:00pm + Casual outings

Social is for experienced rowers that want to continue rowing and racing without set training commitments. The squad's main goal is enabling rowers to get out on the water recreationally or commit to short term crews to enter regattas. You have much more flexibility to collaborate with the squad captain around specific crews or boat types as your training goals change.

● Flexibility: High - flexible boats/crews depending on your goals (subject to captain)

● Commitment: Low - you can commit to rowing when it suits

● Coaching: Low - basic coaching and broad session plans

● Racing: Medium - up to you to commit to any races the club is attending, or just row recreationally if you aren’t focused on racing

● Skill level: Medium-High - you should be confident in most boats, able to row uncoached, and able to bow steer or stroke if required

● Why Social?: You want flexibility in your rowing goals, crews and commitment

● Why not?: You want focused coaching or need to build up your experience: Intermediate or Senior may be a better option (but with a slightly higher commitment)

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Senior Squad: Racing, Racing Racing

Training: Saturday 7:30am - 11:30am + Gym plan + Casual outings

Senior is about racing, that’s it. Fixed crews, regular attendance, and commitment to training beyond your weekend training session so you can attend and perform at regattas and head races. You’ll get focused coaching and develop real ‘depth’ of skill in your crew, but significantly less flexibility in choosing where/how/who you row with.

● Flexibility: None - you’ll be in an assigned fixed crew training towards fixed races

● Commitment: High - not showing up regularly means letting your crew down

● Coaching: High - coaching focused on improving your crews performance

● Racing: High - focus is on achieving at higher level races

● Skill level: Medium-High - skill level is a factor in selection for crews. You’ll get focused training to improve your skill, but a baseline level of experience is required to get started

● Why Senior?: You are hungry to compete and win at regattas and head races

● Why not?: This squad requires a lot of commitment

If you still want to race in flexible crews: maybe look at Social!

If you still want focused coaching: maybe look at Intermediate!

Fees are set at different levels for each squad, reflecting the level of use that squad generally makes of club resources, and are reviewed annually at the AGM.

Current fees for 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023 are as follows:

• Senior Squad £34 per month

• Novice Squad £31.25 per month

• Intermediate Squad £31.25 per month

• Social Squad £26 per month

• Cox Squad £4 per month (or £50 per year pre February 2023)

Membership fees are collected on the first business day of each month by direct debit (via GoCardless). Fees are payable in advance, meaning that fees collected at the start of a particular month are in respect of club activity in that upcoming month.

If you are setting up a new direct debit in the last five business days of the month before your first payment is due, or in the first five business days of that month, it is likely that you will miss the cut-off for payment. If that is the case, the club's treasurer will be alerted automatically and will manually move your direct debit date to a later point in the payment month then, after payment has been taken, move the date back again to take subsequent payments at the start of each month.

Other than for new members who join part-way through a year, or in exceptional circumstances, the club committee asks that you commit to a full club year of membership (i.e. from 1 September to 31 August). This means, for example, that members who intend to row and participate in club activities only in the summer months should be paying members throughout the winter months too.

This approach allows the committee more accurately to project income over the course of the year ahead and budget accordingly for equipment, coaching and other activities. It also ensures that all members contribute to the club's operating costs and to fleet upgrades, which benefit everyone.

Of course, we’d rather that you stayed a member of the club and part of our big Otters family. We’d therefore suggest that you first discuss leaving with your squad captain, in case they can help to resolve any issues that might be contributing to your decision to leave. However, if after that you still wish to terminate your membership, please email the club treasurer on treasurer@londonotters.org to let them know. Please make sure you’ve sent that email at least 10 working days before your next payment date to ensure you are correctly billed. If you elect to cancel your direct debit directly with your bank rather than notifying the club, we will assume you have chosen to terminate your membership.

If you do choose to cancel you will not be able to re-join until the beginning of the next rowing year (1 September). This is because there is a high demand to join the club, so it is important we’re able to judge how many new members are viable, and also in order to ensure our existing members get the most effective use of club facilities. It also helps ensure the financial stability of the club.

At the discretion of the club committee, we do allow you to freeze your membership. This will reduce your monthly payment to £5 (for senior, novice and social squads) and will be for a fixed period of 3 months.

Membership freezing is possible once in any 12 month period and, given the additional administration involved, we have taken the decision that membership cannot be frozen for less than 3 months. The freeze will begin from your payment date (the first business day of the month), so you should ensure that you have sent your request to treasurer@londonotters.org at least 10 business days before to ensure you are correctly billed.

If you freeze your membership you will still be a member of the club and able to attend all off-water social events, but you will not be able to row (or attend Rowcation) or stand for a committee position. You will still be on the club’s mailing list and WhatsApp groups so you know about everything that is going on but, although your profile will remain on TeamApp, you will not be able to sign up for rowing sessions.

Your membership will automatically reactivate at the end of the 3-month period so, if you decide that you want to cancel your membership after this point, please follow the steps set out above in relation to cancellation.

We want to support our members as much as we can. If you find that you are struggling to make membership payments or have another issue, please do speak to the club treasurer, your squad captain or any member of the committee.

These policies are applicable from 22 January 2023 and will not apply retroactively. The committee will review them from time to time to ensure that they reflect members’ feedback and needs.