Dear Washington Canoe Club Community,

I hope this email finds you well and enjoying all summer has to offer - especially time out on the water!

I am reaching out to update you on the WCC’s Boathouse renovation project and fundraising to date. We will be sending out periodic emails like this to keep you abreast of our continued progress. If you prefer not to receive updates this way, please let us know. We are also preparing a special page on our website with more campaign and renovation updates - stay tuned!

PROJECT PROGRESS

As you know, the rehabilitation of the boathouse has been years in the making; and renovating a historic building in an historic zone requires multiple reviews and approvals from multiple agencies.

After several fits and starts, WCC has a new plan - an attainable and financially feasible plan - that addresses both the boathouse’s most urgent renovation needs and reinvigorates the Club for future growth. We submitted the concepts of our new proposal with the updated designs to the National Park Service in December 2023. Staff at the C&O Canal National Historical Park and the regional office reviewed it and gave us the go-ahead to develop more detailed plans in late April. WCC has recently submitted more detailed architectural, engineering, and historic information to NPS for their review. Once NPS reviews it and we address their comments and questions, NPS will submit the new plan to DC historic review agencies.

This $2.5 million Phase 1 project will repair and rehabilitate the boathouse’s structural integrity, stabilize its exterior, vastly improve its physical appearance, and expand access to the interior. The critical work will preserve the historic character of the boathouse, protect the structure from further deterioration, and restore WCC’s iconic architectural presence on the Potomac. Our new proposal also benefits WCC members by more than doubling indoor boat storage areas and installing real men’s and women’s restrooms and changing rooms. No more tents and porta-potties! If all goes well, permitting, renovation contracts and approvals will happen in 2025 with WCC breaking ground late in the year.

Deinstallation and Storage report by conservator Debora Rodrigues, (Past Matters, LLC), shown with Mary Stapp and conservation crew.

Cartoon friezes in the Grill Room are now safely stored. WCC member Mary Stapp led a team of volunteers and professional art conservators in removing the mural panels from the Grill Room walls. They are now stored safely in the WCC ballroom. Photographic images of the friezes will be installed soon.

We’re excited to present the revised designs with you at the upcoming Sunset Dinner on September 14th (see below for more info) and afterward via email.

CAMPAIGN PROGRESS

For years, generous WCC supporters have contributed to our Building Fund, which is restricted to our Boathouse renovation projects. In total, over $500,000 has been restricted for this purpose to date. In addition, we anticipate using $1M in WCC reserves and/or financing and raising an additional $1M in new commitments to fulfill our Phase 1 $2.5M goal. I’m pleased to share that we have secured $166K - which includes 100% participation from our Board of Directors and Fundraising Committee - toward that new $1M fundraising goal.

On September 14th we will be hosting our annual Sunset Dinner. We hope you will be able to join us (and bring a friend!) for this fun and festive evening to raise critical funds for our renovation efforts. Hosted by Sotiris Bafitis, this year’s event will celebrate Greek culinary traditions, diving deep into the diverse and authentic flavors of Greece. Tickets will sell out; get yours here.

Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and support. Please reach out if you have any questions, or if you know of a company, foundation, organization, or individual that may have an interest in learning more about the Boathouse renovation. We look forward to keeping you updated in the weeks and months ahead.

Warm regards,

Andrew Soles, President 

PS - Have a question about the Boathouse renovation or want to speak with a member of our Fundraising Committee about making a gift or three-year pledge? Email fundraising@washingtoncanoeclue.org.

Washington

Canoe Club

Friends of the Washington Canoe Club is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

WCC BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Andrew Soles, President

Jim Ross, Vice President

Joel Rynes, Treasurer

Gloria Vestal, Secretary

Tim Johnson, Commodore

Stephen Weiss, Vice-Commodore

At Large Directors:

Tom Cooney

Louise Flynn

Grace Hong

Carrie Klein

Michael Leith

Committee Volunteers:

Kelsa Gabehart, Membership Committee Chair

Carmela Leith and Adrienne Leon, Entertainment Committee Co-Chairs

BUILDING RENOVATION COMMITTEE

Chris Brown

Joseph Cafferata

Brad Carpenter

Christie Ciabotti

David Cottingham

Hugh Hilliard

Noah Marble

Jim Ross

CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

Chris Brown

Grace Hong

Susan Kelly, Consultant

Kimberly Lane

Coralie Miller

Denise Schlener

Andrew Soles, President

Cheryl Zook