February 2024 Newsletter

Written By Ohana Kai

Aloha paddlers --

Better late than never... too busy celebrating my birthday to get this newsletter out by the first. And with that clever segue, here are this month's birthdays:

  -- February 1 -- Claire LeFlore

  -- February 10 -- Charlie Willard

  -- February 12 -- Gabe Jaramillo

  -- February 22 -- Gretchen Stansfield

  -- February 24 -- Alice Yam

Now we have the important stuff is out of the way, a few things you all should know:

  -- the 2024 NCOCA Race Schedule is out, and a copy is attached, is on the NCOCA website at ncoca.com, and will be posted on our website.  The most important thing to note is that we are hosting the June 8th Regatta here at Lake Natoma, which will be an all hands on deck affair, so mark your calendars now!  Also, for planning purposes, your coaches would like to know who is interested in racing this season.  This is not a commitment to specific events, but a general show of interest so your coaches can gear their practices appropriately.  If you want or might want to race this year, our coaches request that you add an “R” to your TeamSnap profile. The “R” designation will aid the coaches seating the canoes at practice. Not sure about racing? Please talk to one of the coaches.  Specific instructions on how to add an R designation on TeamSnap from Coach Jim are included at the end of this email.

  -- We are now transitioned to TeamSnap for team communications and practice signups.  If you are having any problem using TeamSnap, please contact Ahna Yap, River Braun, or Rob Floerke for assistance.

  -- Your NCOCA waivers are now due.  If you filed one before February 1st, you must file it again.  The link to do so is on our website.  This is separate from the waiver you signed with the Aquatic Center when you became a member.  This is the link to sign your waiver:  NCOCA Waiver (smartwaiver.com)

  -- NCOCA has scheduled a half day Paddler's Symposium for all members, from Novice to Expert, on March 3rd at Kilohana Outrigger Canoe Club's site in Redwood City.  It should be a good opportunity to meet fellow paddlers, learn something new and build your enthusiasm for the upcoming paddling season.  A formal announcement with details should be coming out soon, and I'll keep you posted.  We can use TeamSnap to make carpooling arrangements for interested paddlers.  

  -- Draft Minutes from the January Capital Outrigger Board meeting are attached and will be posted to our website when approved at the February Meeting.  This is a reminder that any member of Capital Outrigger is welcome to attend the monthly board meetings held on the second Tuesday of the month from 5:30-7pm at the Aquatic Center upstairs classroom. The agenda for the February 13th meeting will be posted on our website.  We appreciate your input and our Club is stronger with more participation.  If you have any concerns, please contact one of your Board Members!  As a reminder they are: yours truly, Gale Lee, Bob Glynn, Megan Wolfenden, Erin Davis, Ana Koto and Diane Hill. 

  -- The Board formally adopted four committees at our last meeting as follows:


  1. Membership Committee -- Dale Hoffman-Floerke leader

  2. Fundraising Committee -- Ahna Yap, Erin Davis and Ana Koto leaders with Gale Lee Board liaison

  3. Maintenance Committee -- Don Stomsvik and Jerome Ing, leaders

  4. Race and Regatta Committee -- Ana Koto and Dale Hoffman-Floerke, leaders

  The leaders of these committees are all looking for wider participation.  Please let them know if you are willing to help.  I anticipate more specific requests from these leaders in the near future. 

  -- I attended the quarterly NCOCA Board meeting in January and have the following information to pass on:

  1. 2 V1 and OC2 races have been added to the race schedule for March (see attached race schedule)

  2.  The Race Safety Committee is looking for a 3rd safety boat to be used for long distance races.

  3. NCOCA is looking for someone to be head of the scholarship committee, primary duties would be to market the application and convene a committee to make decisions on applications.

  4. Ana Vargas is developing an archive on the history of outrigger paddling in California for the NCOCA website, and is looking for materials to include.

  5. USAORCA (USA Outrigger Canoe Association which sponsors national races and USA representatives in international races) is looking for Board of Directors members, which could be any paddler in an NCOCA club).  Their website has information about upcoming international events.

Hope you all are keeping warm and dry -- except when you are paddling!

See you on the water!

Mahalo,

Claire LeFlore

President, Captial Outrigger






How to add an R designation to your TeamSnap Profile:



Using app on phone:

  1. Open TeamSnap app.

  2. Tap on Roster at bottom of screen.

  3. Tap on your name. 

  4. Tap Edit in upper right corner.

  5. Scroll down to “Position” and tap on it (even though it’s gray it works). Enter an R (for racing).

  6. Tap on Done and then on next screen tap on Save. (By the way, while you're back on this screen - Name, Birthday, etc… - why not add a photo of yourself? Just tap on the very small picture icon above.)

  7. Return to Roster and verify the R near your name.

Using app on computer:

  1. Open your browser and go to TeamSnap website.

  2. Go to Roster, find and click on your name.

  3. On the Player screen (notice there’s a Position field) click on Edit.

  4. Type R in Position. Click on Save.

  5. Now that you're back on Player screen, notice the R in Position. And, while you’re on this screen, why not add a photo of yourself? Just click on Edit Photo on the right of screen. 

  6. You can also see the R with your name in the Roster in the far right column.



Ohana Kai