OS.Members -Notice About Fees at CJ's

[Susan Ito]

Dear OS Parents,
Some people have contacted me inquiring about their rowers who are  
taking AP exams next Friday or who for some other reason will not be  
traveling with the team on Thursday evening. A few have requested  
partial refunds, which is something that Strokes, as a policy, does  
not give. It is too difficult logistically to allow rowers an "a la  
carte" trip based on their personal schedules.  Everyone must pay the  
same amount regardless of which part of the trip they participate in.
	The coaches have expressed that they do not want rowers changing from  
their already-assigned rooms, and that they need to stay in their  
assigned room all the nights they are there.  It will be very chaotic  
to re-arrange rooms based on who is taking APs and who isn't. I  
thought it might be a large enough number of rowers to possibly make  
reassignments feasable, but it will just not be possible.  The bus  
company is charging us the same amount regardless of the number of  
seats that are occupied, so there is no option of any refunds in that  
quarter. The same holds true with trailering fees, coaches' fees and  
all the other myriad expenses that go toward making a regatta work.
	The ONLY fragment of the race fees that we would not be charged for  
is the group dinner at the Spaghetti Factory on Thursday night. This  
amounts to $15/rower. IF you have not already paid your fees, and IF  
your rower will not be eating dinner with the group on Thursday night,  
and if you feel you must, you may reduce your overall payment by $15.   
But I would urge you to only do so if you absolutely need to.  We do  
not have the volunteer power to issue individual refund checks.

We have found that, in spite of careful planning, expenses at every  
regatta always end up being higher than we project. There are always  
unanticipated costs that come up. We appreciate, as always, your  
support.

Susan Ito
Travel Coordinator, Oakland Strokes
skito@sprintmail.com
510-339-0622 (home)
510-589-8775 (cell)