Delta Sculling Center-Everybody Sculls Inc

DELTA SCULLING CENTER PROVIDES ACCESS TO FITNESS, HEALTH, LEISURE AND RECREATION FOR PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES THROUGH THE INCLUSIVE SPORT OF SCULLING (I.E. ROWING). WE ADAPT OUR BOATS AND EQUIPMENT TO FIT THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS SO THAT EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE. SO EVEN IF PEOPLE HAVE PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE OR SENSORY/PERCEPTUAL CHALLENGES, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND FREEDOM IN THE WATER. WE WANT TO SUPPORT EVERYONE, NO MATTER WHAT MOTIVATION BRINGS THEM TO US, FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE WHO WANT TO BECOME MORE FIT, REGAIN/IMPROVE HEALTH, FIND A NEW SPORT, ENJOY THE DELTA, TRAIN FOR COMPETITION, IMPROVE THEIR SCULLING TECHNIQUE, OR FIND AN ADAPTIVE SPORT.

ALL SPORTS FACED CHALLENGES IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, BUT DELTA SCULLING CENTER MANAGED TO OVERCOME THEM DESPITE THE LOSS OF OUR TWO ANNUAL LIVE FUNDRAISERS. WE CONTINUED OUR THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF PROGRAMS THAT SERVE STOCKTON AND NEIGHBORING CENTRAL VALLEY COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, OUR MASTERS (ADULT) PROGRAMS, AND OUR ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS FOR CIVILIANS AND MILITARY VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES. OUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE THE CREATIVE COVID-SAFE CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF THESE PROGRAMS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE NEW PROGRAMS, EVENTS AND FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS. STAYING AFLOAT DESPITE THE PANDEMIC ZOOMED LAND ROWING SESSIONS ON ROWING MACHINES (ERGOMETERS) WERE VERY POPULAR DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC. SO WE CONTINUED THEM FOR OUR ADULT ROWERS TWICE A WEEK ON EVENINGS DURING THE LATE FALL AND WINTER WHEN IT WAS TOO DARK TO BE IN BOATS ON THE WATER. WE ALSO OFFERED OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS A FREE WEEKLY YOGA CLASS VIA ZOOM. AS PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS EASED, WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FROM HAVING EVERYONE SAFELY DISTANCED IN SINGLE BOATS TO ALLOWING OUR ROWERS TO BE IN 2- AND 4-PERSON BOATS (DOUBLES AND QUADS). THAT ALSO MADE IT MUCH EASIER TO OFFER SHORT SAMPLE SCULLING SESSIONS FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF LEARN TO SCULL CLASSES FOR THOSE WHO WISHED TO CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BASICS OF OUR SPORT. DSC'S FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT CREATIVE WAYS TO KEEP US AFLOAT: A DRIVE-THROUGH "NO DIRTY DISHES" MEAL PICK UP AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT CARRIED OUT BY A DOZEN DSC VOLUNTEERS; THE SALE OF OUR SECOND ANNUAL PUZZLE MADE FROM A 2021 PHOTO OF OUR SCULLERS ON THE DELTA; THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ONLINE PLATFORM WHERE CLOTHING AND SWAG WITH DSC LOGOS COULD BE PURCHASED; SUCCESSFUL 209GIVES AND 209GIVING TUESDAY EVENTS; AND A COOKIE JAR SALE BY OUR YOUTH SCULLERS. THE SUCCESS OF ALL OF THESE EFFORTS SHOWED THE INCREDIBLE STRENGTH OF DSCERS' COMMITMENT TO OUR PROGRAMS. DSC'S COMMUNITY-ORIENTED PROGRAMS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT THE SUPPORT WE GOT FROM GRANTS. 1. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THESE WAS ONE WE DIDN'T APPLY FOR BUT WERE GRANTED IN RECOGNITION OF ALL THE WORK WE'VE DONE IN MAKING DSC'S PROGRAMS DIVERSE, EQUITABLY AVAILABLE TO ALL, AND INCLUSIVE. THE BOARD OF THE "A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING" INCLUSION FUND CHOSE DSC AS ONE OF FIVE PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY (AND THE ONLY ONE WEST OF CHICAGO) TO RECEIVE THEIR VERY FIRST GRANTS. AS A RESULT, WE RECEIVED TWO NEW DOUBLE BOATS, OARS, 10 ERGOMETERS, AND FUNDING FOR A PART-TIME COACH, WATER-SAFETY INSTRUCTION FOR YOUTH LACKING WATER CONFIDENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE NO WAY TO GET TO THE BOATHOUSE. WHILE THIS WAS VERY HELPFUL IN TERMS OF EXPANDING OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS, IT ALSO STRAINED OUR RESOURCES BECAUSE WE HAD TO RENT AN ADDITIONAL STORAGE BAY AND CONSTRUCT ANOTHER SET OF RACKS TO HOLD OUR NEW BOATS, OARS AND EQUIPMENT. 2. LUCKILY, OUR GRANT PROPOSAL TO THE ANTONE AND MARIE RAYMUS FOUNDATION WAS SUCCESSFUL AND HELPED US PAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE RACKS, THE PURCHASE OF OTHER EQUIPMENT, AND NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR OUR YOUTH. 3. ONE OTHER GRANT THAT HELPED US SIGNIFICANTLY WAS FROM THE AARON JUDGE ALL RISE FOUNDATION. PATTY JUDGE, AARON'S MOM, PRESENTED A 2,500 CHECK TO OUR GIRLS ROW STOCKTON TEAM DURING ONE OF THEIR AFTER-SCHOOL PRACTICES. SOME FIRSTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND THE DIGNITY HEALTH COMMUNITY GRANT DSC INITIATED AND RECEIVED IN 2020 (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF SAN JOAQUIN) BROUGHT 10 ERGOMETERS AND AN INDOOR ROWING PROGRAM TO DISADVANTAGED YOUTH IN THE SIERRA VISTA HOUSING COMMUNITY IN SOUTH STOCKTON. IN 2021 DSC'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COACH TRAINED STAFF AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB SIERRA VISTA-STOCKTON HOW TO TEACH INDOOR ROWING IN A SAFE AND FUN MANNER. SOME OF THE CHILDREN IN THAT PROGRAM LATER HAD A FIELD TRIP TO OUR BOATHOUSE THAT ALLOWED THEM TO TRANSFER WHAT THEY LEARNED ON LAND TO ROWING A BOAT ON THE WATER. DSC, IN CONJUNCTION WITH ABLE CHARTER SCHOOL, STARTED THE FIRST SCHOOL ROWING TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF STOCKTON. AS A RESULT, ABLE CHARTER SCHOOL SENDS 8 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND A TEACHER/COACH-IN-TRAINING TO DSC EACH WEDNESDAY FOR AN AFTERNOON SCULLING TEAM PRACTICE. DSC HOSTED A CELEBRATION OF ROWING EVENT TO DEDICATE AND NAME THE TWO BOATS RECEIVED THROUGH THE "A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING" INCLUSION FUND (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS AMTIF). DSC FOUNDER AND HEAD COACH PAT TIRONE RECEIVED CERTIFICATES FROM THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE AND SENATE AS WELL AS FROM STOCKTON'S MAYOR LINCOLN IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPACT DSC IS HAVING IN THE COMMUNITY. THREE FORMER OLYMPIANS, INCLUDING TWO OF ONLY FIVE BLACK OLYMPIC ROWERS IN U.S. HISTORY, NOT ONLY ATTENDED THE FRIDAY EVENING EVENT BUT TAUGHT AND COACHED 30 YOUTH THE NEXT MORNING AT THE BOATHOUSE. MILITARY VETERANS WERE OFFERED THREE SPECIAL PROGRAMS IN 2021: 1. IN THE LATE SPRING AND SUMMER COACH PAT, ONE OF OUR FREEDOM ROWS SCULLERS (SEE ADULT PROGRAMS BELOW), AND TWO REC THERAPISTS FROM THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION WHOM PAT HAD TRAINED DID A VIRTUAL COURSE ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS FOR 5 VETERANS. THE VETS WERE LENT ERGOMETERS FROM DSC'S FREEDOM ROWS PROGRAM. ONE OF THE THERAPISTS WHO TAUGHT A COURSE AT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY HAD HER STUDENTS OBSERVE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. 2. A VIRTUAL LAND ROWING EXPERIENCE AND PRESENTATION WAS GIVEN TO WOUNDED WARRIORS FROM ACROSS THE U.S., INTRODUCING THEM TO THE SPORT OF SCULLING. 3. JUNE 30TH DSC HOSTED AN IN-PERSON EVENT AT OUR BOATHOUSE TO INTRODUCE ROWING TO VETERANS FROM CENTRAL CALIFORNIA IN THE WOUNDED WARRIORS PROJECT. ONE OF OUR PARA-ROWERS IN OUR OARBUSTERS PROGRAM FOR CIVILIANS WITH DISABILITIES WAS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE 2021 ROWERS CHOICE GLOBAL CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ABOUT SCULLING AND DSC WERE GIVEN TO MEMBERS OF THE NORTH STOCKTON ROTARY AND OF THE LOCAL BRANCH OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. AT THE LATTER EVENT, TWO OF OUR FREEDOM ROWS SCULLERS PRESENTED POWERFUL TESTIMONIALS REGARDING HOW MUCH ROWING AT DSC HAS HELPED THEM RECOVER FROM THEIR INJURIES AND FIND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY/CAMARADERIE THAT HAS KEPT THEM FROM ISOLATING. DSC PUT TOGETHER A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD FOR A POTENTIAL DELTA AQUATIC CENTER IN STOCKTON. THE PROPOSED CENTER WOULD BE A DESTINATION FOR CITIZENS AND VISITORS TO LEARN ABOUT AND USE ALL KINDS OF HUMAN-POWERED WATERCRAFT. IT WOULD ALSO HAVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE HISTORICAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE CALIFORNIA DELTA ON STOCKTON AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. FUNDS ARE BEING SOUGHT FOR A PLANNING GRANT TO BRING THIS VISION INTO SHOVEL-READY IMPLEMENTATION. NEW COACHES AND SCULLING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH TO ASSIST OUR FULL-TIME YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COACH HIRED IN 2020, DSC HIRED (ON A PART-TIME BASIS) ONE OF OUR MILITARY VETERANS IN OUR FREEDOM ROWS PROGRAM AS WELL AS A GRADUATE OF OUR GIRLS ROW STOCKTON PROGRAM TO HELP WITH OUR EXPANDING YOUTH PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HIRED A WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR, THANKS TO OUR AMBTIF SUPPORT, TO TEACH SWIMMING TO OUR AFTER-SCHOOL SCULLING PROGRAM YOUTH WHO LACK WATER CONFIDENCE. WE ALSO SEARCHED FOR AND HIRED (EARLY IN 2022) AN ASSISTANT COACH, ALSO PAID FOR THROUGH THE AMBTIF. OUR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, GIRLS ROW STOCKTON, WHICH HAD ONLY BEEN FOR HIGH SCHOOL YOUNG WOMEN, EXPANDED TO INCLUDE BOYS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. NOW THERE ARE SEPARATE (BUT SOMETIMES JOINED) PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH INTERESTED IN EITHER COMPETITIVE OR RECREATIONAL ROWING IN ADDITION TO THE TEAM FROM ABLE CHARTER SCHOOL. COMPETITIONS CONTINUED DURING THE PANDEMIC VIRTUAL REGATTAS: THOUGH ALL BUT ONE LIVE REGATTA WAS CANCELED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, DSC ATHLETES COMPETED IN TWO VIRTUAL REGATTAS: ON MARCH 7TH, AT USROWING'S C.R.A.S.H.-B SPRINTS & WORLD INDOOR ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS, DSC HAD 29 COMPETITORS IN 14 EVENTS, FINISHING FIRST IN THREE EVENTS AND SECOND IN FOUR. ON SEPTEMBER 2ND TWO DSC SCULLERS WITH DISABILITIES COMPETED IN THE BAYADA REGATTA, THE WORLD'S BIGGEST AND LONGEST RUNNING REGATTA FOR ADAPTIVE (PARA-) ROWERS. A LIVE REGATTA: IN DSC'S FIRST LIVE REGATTA SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THREE GIRLS ROW STOCKTON SCULLERS RACED AT THE HEAD OF THE PORT REGATTA IN WEST SACRAMENTO. THAT WAS THE VERY FIRST TIME TWO OF THEM WERE EVER IN A LIVE RACE. ALSO, WITH AN AVERAGE AGE OF 62, DSC'S MASTERS MIXED QUAD (2 MEN & 2 WOMEN) WON THEIR 5 KM RACE. CONCEPT2 VIRTUAL HOLIDAY CHALLENGE: DSC ROWERS ACCUMULATED 2,284,446 METERS IN JUST 30 DAYS, THE EQUIVALENT OF ROWING FROM STOCKTON TO THE MIDDLE OF WASHINGTON STATE AND BACK THREE DSC ROWERS PASSED THE 200K MARK, AND NINE OTHERS LOGGED OVER 100,000 METERS. YOUTH PROGRAM UPDATES NEW CONFIGURATION OF AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS: BECAUSE OF GREAT INTEREST SHOWN DURING SEVERAL LEARN TO SCULL SESSIONS AND WEEK-LONG SUMMER CAMPS, IT WAS DECIDED TO ALLOW MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND BOYS TO BE PART OF THE AFTER-SCHOOL ACADEMIC-YEAR SCULLING PROGRAMS. SO THE GIRLS ROW STOCKTON PROGRAM WITH 8 YOUNG WOMEN IN 202