July TRF Minutes

Toledo Rowing Foundation July 17, 2024 Minutes

Mike Dibling – Chad Zenz , Mark Mockensturm, Chip Parsons, Kyle Stanley and George LeBoutillier in attendance. Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM Toledo Rowing Foundation Minutes – the minutes for the June 20, 2024 meetings were approved

Financials - George provided the financial update for TRF

Old Business: Boathouse Cleaning – Mark Mark presented the quote from Stratus Building Solutions for weekly cleaning services at a rate of $250/mo. for the months of March – October each year. Mark reported that this is the best rate he could find and that Stratus cleans his downtown offices and does a good job. After brief discussion the board voted unanimously to accept the bid and arrange for services to begin as soon as possible.

Equipment Repairs/Replacements and Transfers Many boats owned by TRF and TRC are missing parts, need repairs or need to be sold. The board agreed to work from inventory schedules created based upon the original boat purchase receipts and other supporting documentation. Chad and Mark recently updated to determine what repairs could be done in house vs. offsite in the off season. Boathouse

Cleaning and Clean Up Chad, Mike, Chip and Mark met on Sunday June 30th at 3:30 to knock down weeds, trim trees and remove derelict boats from the fenced in storage area. They were also able to clear many of the branches out of the side “coach” parking area to allow more cars to fit.

2024 Regatta – Chad Chad reported that planning for the 2024 regatta is progressing smoothly, with many of the vendors and other essential participants scheduled and committed to attend. The next regatta meeting will be held on Sunday July 28th. Mark will make sure someone takes minutes and distributes makes them available on the TRF website to keep everyone informed.

New Business Conference Room Because events where there was an inability by coaches to access the conference room due to lost keys, etc. the board agreed to have Mike install a keypad access

Treasurer Position George and Mark are on track to transfer all treasurer duties by August 1st. The board also discussed and approved a $500 limit on purchases by Officers only, without prior board approval. Any purchase above $500 requires board approval except regatta purchases that are in line with prior year expenses.

Coaches Meeting and Feedback Kyle recently met with the coaches to solicit their comments on general operations and issues. Several items were addressed including topics such as communications and access to the monthly Board meeting minutes so moving forward the minutes will be posted to the website on a one month delay. There will also be a goal to more evenly delegate tasks in need of attention to the local Board members. Mike will schedule a future meeting to ask for a frank discussion and encourage any one with specific questions or concerns to bring share them. The goal is more transparency from both sides so that everyone is working in the same direction. This concludes the TRF topics covered in this meeting. ______________________________________________________

Meeting Adjourned @7:30 pm. The next Meeting will be held Wednesday August 21st at 6:30 pm Via Zoom link to be sent by Chad Zenz within 1 hour prior to the meeting.

UT to Begin Rowing in Fall of 2025

UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO TO ADD WOMEN'S ROWING AS A VARSITY SPORT IN 2025-26

7/2/2024 | Athletics


Women’s rowing will be the 17th varsity sport at Toledo and will begin competition in the fall of 2025.

TOLEDO, Ohio - The University of Toledo announced today that it will add women's rowing as a varsity sport beginning in the 2025-26 school year.

Women's rowing, which will compete at the NCAA Division I level, will be the 17th varsity sport at Toledo and the first new addition to the Athletics program since women's soccer was added in 1995. A head coach is expected to be hired later this year, with a full year of acclimation leading into regular season competition in the fall of 2025. The full squad will feature approximately 50-60 student-athletes on its roster.

"We are excited about the many opportunities that adding women's rowing brings to The University of Toledo, including attracting new students to our campus, supporting the growth of our excellent Rocket Athletics program with a 17th varsity sport, partnering more closely with Metroparks Toledo and strengthening our presence in downtown Toledo," Interim President Matt Schroeder said. "I appreciate the thoughtfulness of Bryan Blair and his team in thinking creatively for ways that varsity athletics can positively impact our University and our community. We have found that in the addition of women's rowing."

"Today is an exciting day for the University of Toledo, Toledo Athletics and the Northwest Ohio community," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair. "Women's rowing will create new opportunities for female student-athletes, will bring a significant number of high achieving students from Ohio and around the country to our campus, and will be financially beneficial for the University. Moreover, women's rowing will help grow and nurture new relationships within the Toledo community by enhancing the footprint of Toledo Athletics in downtown Toledo."

Blair added that no resources would be reallocated from any of Toledo's current varsity sports, and infrastructure and other start-up costs will be relatively low. The team will practice and compete on the Maumee River and will utilize the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse in International Park in downtown Toledo. The boathouse is owned by Metroparks Toledo and is operated by the Toledo Rowing Foundation.

"I would like to thank Metroparks Toledo and the Toledo Rowing Foundation for their collaboration in bringing NCAA women's rowing to Toledo," said Blair. "This is a perfect example of what can happen when we work together with a #TeamToledo spirit to create an outcome that benefits our entire community."

The Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse in International Park is part of the transformational Glass City Metropark and Riverwalk project. The $200 million public-private initiative will build a landmark waterfront Metropark and world-class riverfront destination. This initiative will create 300 acres of new and revitalized green space, and a five-mile, multi-purpose trail that will connect six downtown and East Toledo neighborhoods, corporate campuses, small businesses, parks and cultural institutions.

"This morning, our Board of Park Commissioners voted unanimously to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Toledo Athletics and the Toledo Rowing Foundation to continue and grow the sport of rowing on the Toledo riverfront," said Dave Zenk, executive director of Metroparks Toledo. "The partners will work together to facilitate boathouse renovations that benefit the University, the organizations served by the Rowing Foundation and visitors to the developing Glass City Riverwalk."

Metroparks Toledo took ownership of International Park earlier this year to expand Glass City Metropark and complete the East Toledo stretch of Riverwalk, which will transform both sides of the Toledo waterfront between the Veterans Glass City Skyway and the Anthony Wayne Bridge. Construction now underway on portions of International Park and downtown will be completed in spring of 2026, while planning continues for the rest of International Park and the Vistula neighborhood.

Formed in 1984, the Toledo Rowing Foundation (TRF) was built to foster, support, and develop amateur athletes for competitive rowing. In February of 2021, TRF began management of the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse, and recently entered into a long-term partnership with Metroparks Toledo, enabling TRF to continue to support rowing on the Maumee River.

"The Toledo Rowing Foundation is excited to welcome The University of Toledo to the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse," said Mike Dibling, chairman of TRF. "Their launch of a Division I rowing program marks a significant milestone in the storied tradition of Toledo rowing, which dates back to the 1800s and found a reemergence with TRF in the 1980s and 90's with many local high school and adult rowing programs that continue to call the boathouse home today. We are excited to support the university's efforts to build a strong program that will inspire new generations of rowers on the Mighty Maumee, and elevate our sport within the region. Together, we look forward to continuing to grow the local rowing community and finding great success on the water. We're excited for new energy the Rockets will bring to our rowing community!"

There are currently 92 NCAA institutions that offer women's rowing. Schools within the region that sponsor women's rowing include Ohio State, Dayton, Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Louisville, West Virginia and Duquesne.

An official news conference to introduce women's rowing as Toledo's 17th varsity sport will take place on Wednesday, July 24. Further details on time and location of the news conference will be announced at a later date.