A NOTE FROM ROW'S NEW BOARD CHAIR: SHEENA SMITH

Hello ROW team, family, friends, and supporters,

I am so incredibly honored to reach out as ROW’s incoming board chair. For those who don’t know me, I'm hoping you'll indulge me as I share the story of how I came to be involved.

In 2009, I moved to Chicago from Seattle for graduate school after quitting my lovely stable advertising job and traveling the world. I had no health insurance, no job, and no money. What I did have was plenty of time. I didn’t know many people and was honestly pretty lonely, so I started volunteering at ROW practice to fill extra seats in boats.

I found a family.

Jackie, I will never, ever forget that you were the one who taped up my dumb swollen broken finger from playing softball because I couldn’t afford to go to the doctor. Kym, the vicious glares we used to give each other on the water until it just dissolved into a hug, tears, and deep mutual respect are legendary. My dear, dear Mary Beth, wherever you are after you leave this earth, I still use the gorgeous piece of vintage fabric you gave me as a Christmas tree skirt every year and heed your advice: don’t rely on anybody else for your own happiness.

I grew up and came into my own with this team. I’ve cried very, very hard and grieved with this team. I’ve coached much of this team up to all 8 for the very first time. I’ve seen this team do things they never thought they could, or would, physically or mentally do. I’ve laughed with, yelled at, and been damn proud of this team.

I honestly never thought I’d be the person who would chair the board. But as I step into this role (much older and more established), I’m excited:

• To broaden our reach into new communities and help as many women who have been affected by breast cancer as possible gain exposure to ROW

• To work closely with our new executive director Maggie and our incredible, devoted board members as we move into new, unchartered waters

• To explore new formalized processes and channels for fundraising, partnerships, and grants

• To Get. Back. On. The. Water. And. In. Person. Ergs. (when it’s safe) – even, dare I say, to clean goose poop off the dock and get the launch caught in Bubbly sludge???

It’s a new era. Send me your ideas (sheena@recoveryonwater.org). Let’s go for a (masked) walk.

I’m grateful for the past, appreciate the now, and can’t wait for what’s coming for ROW.

Cheers,
Sheena Smith
Chair, Board of Directors