Dear Strokes Athletes and Parents,
<= BR>First, we would like to congratulate Ian Simpson (and Kelly Bauer and Ba= rbara Barnes) for the great success of the National Championship Oakland Strokes = Women's Pair. We would also like to thank Ian for his three years of = service to the Oakland Strokes. His dedication to the rowers and the = organization have been exemplary. He put a tremendous amount of effor= t and thought into his work with the Woman's Varsity crews and the Strokes = as an organization. We wish Ian all the best as he pursues new opport= unities back in Southern California.

Second, we are very pleased to = let you know that we have assembled a great group of coaches for next season. You= =E2=80=99ll see that we have also restructured some positions and added oth= ers to create an environment for our coaches (as well as athletes) that is = more focused on learning/coach development and cross pollinating our successes among our crews= . We are very excited about this improvement to the Stro= kes coaching structure.

Listed below are the coaches as we know them= today. We are still working on filling an assistant position or two,= but the big pieces of the puzzle are in place. They are:

Wome= n=E2=80=99s Novice Coach: Beth Anderson (returning)
Women=E2= =80=99s Novice Assistant Coach: Hannah Gallup (return= ing)
Women=E2=80=99s Novice Assistant = Coach: TBA

Women=E2=80=99s Varsity Coach: Derek Byrnes&n= bsp; (Formerly Los Altos WV coach as well as Oakland Strokes WV coach)
Women=E2= =80=99s Assistant Coach: Teresa Oja (returning)
Women=E2=80=99s Ass= istant Coach: Cassandra Cunningham (Formerly Head Coach at Serra High= School Crew)

Men=E2=80=99s Novice Coach: Jason Hilton = (returning)
Men= =E2=80=99s Novice Assistant Coach: David Adams (returning)

Men= =E2=80=99s Varsity Coach: Ivan Smiljanic <= FONT size=3D5>(returning)
Men=E2=80=99= s Assistant Coach: Rich Wendling (Formerly Head Coach of Cal Women's Lightweight Crew and Oakland Strokes Board Member)

I= n addition to the changes in personnel listed, we have added/clarified four= key roles to be sure our coaches work = we= ll together and continue to focus on buil= ding their coaching skills/competencies. To this end, we have created= :

A Head Coach position to whom all of the lead coaches will report.= Derek Byrnes will serve in this role. Derek has one of the str= ongest records of junior rowing coaching success in the entire country and = all or our coaches are thrilled to have him as a resource and guide as they= work to improve their coaching skills and success.

A Director of Ro= wing position which will oversee all aspects of Rowing Operations outside o= f the coaching area, including boathouse and equipment management, regatta opera= tions planning, etc. Beth Anderson will serve in this role.

An= Outreach Coordinator position to ensure and coordinate our outreach effort= s to the greater Oakland community. Our outreach effort will attract = and support rowers from the City of Oakland as required and enthusiasticall= y embraced by the Strokes as part of our new boathouse agreement with the E= ast Bay Regional Park District . Rich Wendling will serve in this rol= e.

An Assistant Rigger position to help keep our shells and launches= in good working condition and properly adjusted for practices and races.&n= bsp; David Adams will serve in this role.

We also have an exciting addition= to our Coaches' Liaison Committee in Dr. Re= becca Demorest. Becky comes to us from a high school rowing career in= Philadelphia followed by four years at the University of Pennsylvania. &nb= sp;She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School and worke= d in New York City, specializing in pediatric physiology. Becky has a= lso served as the US National Team Doctor for the Under 23 team at the Worl= d Championships. She and her husband, Joe, live in Walnut Creek; she = practices at Children=E2=80=99s Hospital in Oakland and Walnut Creek. With this change the Coaches=E2=80=99 Li= aison Committee next year will consist of Jim Farrell, Dan Herbert, = Rebecca Demorest and Barnaby Beck= .

Another piece of great news is that yesterday the East Bay Regiona= l Park District Board approved the contract to begin work on our new boatho= use. Work will begin in early August with a scheduled occupancy in th= e fall of 2010. This puts the Strokes on an entire new and secure pat= h for the future.

We are very excited about this coming year = and feel that we=E2=80=99ve assembled the best junior rowing coaching staff= in the country.

Go Strokes!

-- Dan Herbert