2019 CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

The 2019 Annual Meeting of YPRC is scheduled for Saturday, November 2, at 9:30 AM at the Yonkers Padding & Rowing Club Boathouse, 19 Alexander Street, Yonkers. Coffee and bagels will be served. The dock pull will happen immediately afterwards.

An invitation to vote electronically will be sent to all members in good standing on October 3, 2019. All votes must be received by October 31, 2019. Results of the election will be announced during the Annual Meeting on November 2, 2019. Newly elected board members will begin serving immediately.
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There are eleven positions on the Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club Board. Five board members' terms are up: Chevaughn Dixon, Phil Giller, Jack Gilman, Frank Horvath, and Robbie Hothan. 

Five candidates must be elected to fill positions for the 2019 season. All positions being voted for are "Member-At-Large." All Board positions are for a two-year-terms. In alternating years, five or six positions become open. After the election, the newly elected and sitting Board Members will determine who will hold the executive positions of Commodore, Vice Commodore, Treasurer, Secretary and House Captain. 

The candidates were asked to respond to five questions regarding YPRC. Their responses can be viewed below by clicking each candidate's name. 

​The six candidates for the 2019 Board of Directors of Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club are as follows:
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CHEVAUGHN DIXON
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Why did you join YPRC?
I wanted to paddle across the river with friends Davin, Derek, & Markice to explore Alpine. We didn’t have boats, so one day in summer of 2010 we went down to the water front and coincidently hangout next to the club. That’s when Jerry Blackstone yelled, “DO YOU WANT TO KAYAK.” We took the offer, went kayaking at JFK Marina and later became volunteers.

What do you most value about the club now?
I value the Wed-Thurs-Friday River Riders program. I value the fact that people from the Yonkers community and beyond have a chance to experience a day on the Hudson River. I also enjoy all the trainings and trips we offer our members. Lastly, I value the club’s effort to recruit more young people.

What can you offer the club as a member of the board?
I am able to offer the club more diversity. Also, as a ACA L3 instructor, I can offer different ways of approaching the sport in terms of how we practice safety and how we conduct productive training for members. Moreover, I can help to introduce more people to YPRC as I have been doing as coordinator of the River Rider program.

Are there any programs you would add or end for YPRC?
I would add more outdoor/environmental education to the River Rider program. In addition, I would add a stronger welcoming procedure for new members and guests.
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Should members be required to "volunteer” for club activities and programs?
Volunteering should be encouraged!
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PHIL GILLER

Why did you join YPRC? I joined YPRC so I could enjoy kayaking with other kayakers
 
What do you most value about the club now?  I think the proximity to the Hudson River cannot be beat, the amount of storage offered and the programs YPRC offers.
 
What can you offer the club as a member of the board? I would like to continue to be Vice Commodore and will bring my past experience ( past commodore Sebago Canoe Club, Director, New York City Water Trail Association, Board Hudson River Water Train Association) to help YPRC prosper in the next decade.

I think the club is at a crossroads, development in Yonkers over the next 5 years will give us the opportunity to double our membership if we so desire. With growth comes challenges, what are we offering old members, what are we offering new members, what are we offering the public at large? Can our infrastructure handle increased membership? WE will also need to develop a way that our Yonkers residents who have lived in the neighborhood for decades can also be members . We need to do a better job of inclusion. I look forward to taking these challenges head on.
 
 Are there any programs you would add or end for YPRC? I believe we will have to have more structured programs every week for our members, make sure our public program continues at its current level or increases; and that we offer MORE training and trips. I would also like to see a mentoring program where EVERY new members has a "big brother or sister" for their first season to help them navigate the club and feel welcome and involved
 
Should members be required to "volunteer" for club activities and programs? Absolutely, I believe that we should require members to volunteer a specific number of hours each year to the club. It is their club and they have to take responsibility for it, members know what they want so they must volunteer to make it happen
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JACK GILMAN

Why did you join YPRC? We started this club as a group of friends with a shared passion for kayaking. It's been amazing to see how we have grown.
 
What do you most value about the club now? I feel we have been able to bring many more people into the sport, with new members and the folks we have gotten onto the water through our public programs. 
 
What can you offer the club as a member of the board? I have served before as House Captain and am willing to undertake this role and responsibilities to help our club grow. Maintaining the physical structure of the club is important to who we are. I also enjoy working on the fleet and welcoming new members into the YPRC community.
 
Are there any programs you would add or end for YPRC? I feel our current list of programs address the needs of our paddling community. Anything new, that is sustainable, should be pursued. I don't feel we have anything that should be ended.
 
Should members be required to "volunteer" for club activities and programs?  We have discussed having a work requirement for all members, to get more people involved in club activities. If the Board feels this would be desirable, I will support this. We do a lot, and sharing the responsibilities will allow us to have fresh input. 
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ALLYN GREENFIELD

I joined YPRC to be close to the Hudson River, socialize and learn kayaking and have fun. The sunsets are fabulous.

I value the members, their strengths and abilities. Members work as a team. I've sat in on many board meetings getting to know the Club.  I suggest all members sit in on these monthly meetings and/or read the minutes posted online.  What the Club needs is input on your needs e.g. Getting to use a trailer, Sprain Lake, boat storage, a poop free dock.  I'd like to resume winter seminars.  Previously cold water kayaking and beekeeping have kept us all enthralled.

Programs we offer are staffed by club members. The daytime programs have grown so much that we now use paid staff, many become members.  If work prevents you from joining in daytime activities consider helping out after work.  As a member you'll see that the Club needs help.  The dock pull/put could not work without everybody showing up.  Cleaning, organizing and suggesting benefits the clubhouse.  I've seen new members clean the dock, carry boats, prepare food and be water support.  If you think you can help, we'd love to have you show up.  
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KEVIN HORBATIUK

Why did I join YPRC? After spending many years as a self taught recreational kayaker I wanted to "step up my game" and I thought that membership in a local kayak club was the way to go.  Since I live in South Riverdale I joined the Inwood Canoe Club.  After a few months I became dissatisfied with the lack of organized club activities and a system of rules that prevented me from getting time on the water.  Through the pool  program run by Lee Reiser in Riverbank State Park, I met members of YPRC:  Philomena, Chev, Rodger, Andy and Bruno.  Chev invited me to a Tuesday night paddle at the beginning of kayak season a year ago.  I was warmly welcomed by the membership and it seemed that it was not just because I came with a shopping bag of meat, cheese and bread from Arthur Avenues.  I was shocked by the simplicity of the membership process and I joined the next day.  
 
What do I most value about YPRC? In my first week as a member of YPRC I had logged more time on the water than I had in 3 months at Inwood.  I value getting to know people at the Tuesday night paddle, acquiring and honing skills at the Thursday and Saturday training sessions as well as sessions at Lake Sebago.  I value the opportunity that I had to participate in two veteran's paddles to show our appreciation for their service.  I also value being exposed to Yonkers institutions and activities of which I had previously been unaware:  freezing at Untermeyer's Holiday Night Show, meeting local artists at Yoho's open house, attending the blessing of the Hudson River at the Pier of Beczak are but a few examples.  And let's not forget participating in the kayakathon in a tandem sit on top.  I also value being given the opportunity to build my own kayak with Jack, Todd, John and the rest of the YPRC boat builders.  I had never participated in a more personally rewarding activity.  

What can I offer as a member of the board? Being appreciative of the numerous opportunities afforded to me by my YPRC membership I stated to many members of the board that I wanted "to get involved."  In response, I was asked to consider applying for the position of commodore.  I am a civil litigator with 35 years experience.  I am hired by insurance companies to represent their policy holders when they are sued in personal injury lawsuits.  I also represent life, health and disability insurers when they are sued for benefits.  Additionally, I represent Target in regulatory lawsuits stemming from fire department, health department and department of buildings violations.  Aside from appearing in court, I provide counsel to my clients regarding their insurance coverage and the effect of pertinent provisions in leases and/or construction contracts that could impact their liability in the event that a lawsuit is brought.  I offer guidance regarding appropriate response to an incident after it occurs and how to preserve all relevant exculpatory evidence so that in the event that a lawsuit is filed the strongest possible defense can be presented.  I review and draft safety policies and procedures to prevent unnecessary issues arising in the event of a lawsuit.  On occasion I have been asked to mediate disputes and act as a neutral third-party arbitrator.  I manage a staff of attorneys and paralegals and through regularly scheduled meetings and communications ensure that standards are maintained regarding client servicing and that court and client imposed  deadlines are met.  I believe that the skills which I have honed over 35 years of practice would be transferable to what I have been told are the functions of the commodore.  
 
While I have a busy practice, my seniority at the firm and my time management skills have enabled me to pursue non-work-related interests and activities such as my active participation in a 3-day-a-week boat building course for a period of a few months last fall and spring.  I fully expect to be able to devote the necessary time to YPRC business.  
 
Programs I would add or end at YPRC. Quite frankly, I cannot think of any programs currently existing at YPRC which I would end.  I would like to see YPRC develop a more aggressive social media program.  I believe this would help in our outreach to potential members and would also provide a visual record of the activities which YPRC engages in with its members and regarding its outreach to the surrounding communities.  This may be very helpful when it is time to renew YPRC's license with the county or when applying for grants.  
 
Should volunteering be mandated?  I am aware that other clubs do have minimum hours regarding service to the club or volunteering.  I think it's a good idea to prod those members who need to be prodded to give back to the club after obtaining so many benefits from club membership.  The only problem I foresee is how these guidelines would in fact be enforced against members who fall short of providing the required amount of volunteer or service hours.  I think it's a good idea for an organization to adopt a "carrot rather than a stick" policy which rewards those who do provide service and volunteer time through various membership perks.  
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ROGER SCHREIBER

Why did you join YPRC? To have a place to learn and go kayaking on the Hudson River

What do you most value about the club now? The members and how they get along. 
 
What can you offer the club as a member of the board? Previous board and membership organization experience. 

Are there any programs you would add or end for YPRC? I think the club does enough. If there is a financial need I would consider other programs

Should members be required to "volunteer" for club activities and programs?  If they don't volunteer they should have to pay an additional membership fee. I'd charge an extra fee at the begging of  the year which can be refunded after the required work allocation is meet.