My Dearest LARC Trailer
by Mark May
I recently heard that you will be moving on to a new club. It is with heartfelt sadness to see you go. You have provided us with many years of valuable service transporting our boats to the various regattas in California and the Southwest. Remember the good times we had crashing on the shores of Los Gatos with Robert B. or transporting our boats to the many races in SD, LB and at Lake Merritt. I must say that you have contributed to the many medals our club has won over the years.
It is true that for the last several years we have neglected you. Left you to rust in the elements and become vandalized. But we have much renewed motivation to continue using you now that our club has recruited many a new rower, beginner and advanced alike, seriouly interested in competing in races. But alas, it is not to be.
What I don’t understand is why you didn’t let us know earlier. We have a wonderful system of communication called LA Rowing Groups. We could have put out a poll to the club to see where the current membership stands on the issue or at least post a message. Or perhaps you did and I just didn’t see it during my daily checks of postings over the last year. Needless to say, once I heard that you were considering leaving us for another club there were those who diligently tried to justify your existence. We offered FREE storage. Members rallied to repair you and maintain your registration. There were those even willing to eventually purchase a vehicle with a tow package to help you transport our boats. But alas, the powers to be thought you were a waste of time, a money pit.
It’s a pity LARC Trailer. Our club has come a long way from being mediocre recreational club to a club respected and admired by many in the rowing community. You leaving us is like the proverbial one step forward, two steps back.
Anyway, I wish you the best of luck with your new club. Perhaps we will cross paths again as you proudly transport your clubs boats on the highways and byways to your next regatta. Better yet, maybe you can spare some space to transport our boats. You can’t be any more expensive than the $40 a seat rental LMU charges.
With Fondest Regards
Mark
we barely knew thee. I actually never knew of thee…would have liked to have known thee, but alas, this shall never be … quoth the raven, “never more.”
Mark did you not hear my crys?
For over 10 years I sat in $200 a month Van Nuys storage lot. Rowers renting trailer spaces from other clubs because it was “easier” or “cheaper”, very rarely were my serives called upon. Did you not hear my pain when my tires blew out at Long Beach and the tire couldn’t be removed because the lug nut key was long lost. Did you not hear me scream in the impound lot because I was parked without proper registration. Thank God Casey bailed me out. Of course it too a long time and money because my registration papers were lost.
I’ve heard your line over and over “I swear baby. We’ve changed. It’s different now. We’re more competitive. We’ll use you all the time.” Then I’m put away into storage to rot.
I’m not listening to your lies anymore. I’m gone. Your just going to have to find some other way to waste tens of thousands of dollars.
trailer.
Oh Trailer, Trailer, Trailer. I did not hear your cries. Apparently those who accepted the responsibility of storing you, repairing you and maintaining your registration failed to communicate to others in the club what your situation was. Did we need to waste tens of thousands of dollars. I don’t think so. Not if those who accepted responsibility to park you in front of their house during steet cleaning days or simply remember to renew your registration had been responsible enough you wouldn’t have been impounded for such a long time racking up storage charges. But enough said. What is done is done. I’m over you.
Oh yes – the good old ‘we were never told’ excuse. You may want to double check the club emails (particularly the one in response to your email to Riggs when the trailer was impounded OVER A YEAR AGO) and meeting minutes notes.
Instead of pointing the finger at everyone else why don’t you and all the others whining about not knowing of the trailer sale take some accountability.
This was mentioned at member meetings and discussed at officer meetings AND posted in the Meeting Minutes for almost the last two years. In fact, it was SPECIFICALLY mentioned to you August 30th when you emailed the officers about storing it. I certainly never heard a peep from you in regards to it’s sale. Hell I never even heard a peep out of you about moving it after Gary and I both agreed that storing it at USC would be a good idea until we sold it.
But so typical of this club. The amount of apathy and lack of accountability in this club is ridiculous. But I think the condition and care for our equipment can attest to that. Why take responsibility when you can just point the finger at someone else and bitch about everything when you just aren’t paying attention.
By the way – why wasn’t the trailer used when you raced down in Long Beach at the beginning of this month? Or for the Southwest Regionals this summer?? I’ve been with the club 5 years now and I’ve seen the trailer used once…MAYBE twice.
By the way, I know it’s fun to blame blame blame…but if you and everyone else could take a minute to THANK Gary and especially Ryan for how much time and energy is going into dealing with the insurance company and getting the launch replaced I’m sure it would be appreciated. Believe it or not, there’s more to managing the club than just snapping our fingers and having equipment appear and disappear.
Oh and if you are so inclined to ‘make a difference’ in this club instead of just bitch about it I’m sure there will be some officer and member rep positions opening up in a couple months. I can guarantee you the treasurer position will be open so I’ll be sure to at least nominate you for that one.
Everybody play nice! What happened is done. I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner to rescue the trailer, but now it’s gone and we have to move forward.