If you are an alum, how many hours have you spent hawking beer at a Cleveland Browns game? Each Browns game is a 10-hour commitment between opening prep, the game, and closing and inventory for the concession stand. The team also holds an annual erg-a-thon and many bake sales to add to the pot of funds. On top of class and practice every athlete has a specific fundraising commitment in addition to dues and paying for uniforms. Even with all this hard work, the team still comes up short without alumni support.

We all know how difficult classes are at Case. However, a 2006 graduate from the team working for a major cell phone company likens his job to his duties as a regatta chair - he learned more that is relevant to his current professional life from crew than class. We all pull from our shared experience of rowing on the Cuyahoga at 5am with a dedicated coach urging us to perform at our best. Case Crew is all about hard work, life balance, lasting friendships, and finding that perfect stroke on the Cuyahoga.

Let's build on the team's success by giving the student athletes and coaches the tools they need to be successful.

However, Rochester has shown up to the last couple URA regattas with brand new Empacher eights and fours (list). WashU purchased a whole fleets of Hudson 8's and 4's in 2008 along with their brand new Resolute 8 in 2007. 100% of this roughly $150,000 investment at these two programs for shells was paid for through donations from alumni, parents and friends. Chicago and Carnegie-Mellon also have large, modern fleets. These teams are given $10-20,000 each year by their athletic departments to cover operating expense so most of their fundraising can be devoted to new equipment. Chicago was given an additional $27,000 in 2007 by their Athletic Department in addition to their annual allocation for a couple eights. Case has never given the crew more than $2,000, per year, and up until 2010 was expressly prohibited by the university from paying coaches even if they had the money. It took a landmark gift from a Case Crew alumnus to convince the university to change the rule about paying coaches.

It should come as no surprise that the additional resources at Case's peer schools yield more speed. With similar athlete numbers, teams from WashU and Carnegie-Mellon have won(!) multiple events at Dad Vails. Rochester typically fields bigger boats and routinely holds their own against area varsity programs like RIT and Ithaca College. Rochester's comprehensive and long lived success led the university to make their women's team varsity in 2010. All three programs also have their own boathouses and paid coaches, but are still true club programs with significant annual fund raising requirements.

Before the Alumni Victorious Campaign and concerted fundraising in 2007 Case Crew only had an 8 and two 4's at their disposal. Since SARA's founding alumni, parents, and friends have worked hard to fill out the Spartan Navy considerably. The team now has a modern fleet of boats at their disposal. We believe we need to provide one more shell to "complete the fleet" and begin addressing the ability to pay coaches.

Case Crew is the only team at the boathouse without its own trailer.

It is due to the goodwill that coaches Tim & Chris have developed in Cleveland that allows the team to borrow trailers when needed. However, it has become increasingly difficult to secure trailers or space on trailers for regattas. Last year Coach Tim had to personally guarantee and drive the WRRA trailer himself to 6 regattas in order for the team to get to races. This is clearly untenable due to the risk placed on Tim and it is up to SARA to help.

Due to the independent nature of SARA, we are able to buy the trailer, register it, maintain it, and get license plates. Even when the students have had the money, they could never get such a purchase approved due to the nature of the Case Sports Club Council structure and oversight requirements.

» » SARA raised enough money to buy a trailer on June 12, 2009. Thank you to all of our generous donors! See below for more details.

It's not rocket science to say that combining dedicated athletes with good equipment and excellent coaches results in fast crews. Since 1991 Case Crew has relied on the generosity of volunteer coaches. This generosity has been amazing, but the time has come provide the option to pay coaches and defray coach's expenses. And as we mentioned before, the university changed the rule to allow paid coaches in 2010.

The university requires a minimum of $20,000 to start a permanent endowment. This fund can grow over time with added contributions and will pay out 5% annually. Jumping from no pay to a full endowment may strike some as odd. However, we can add to the endowment at very small levels once the initial $20,000 seed funds are raised. Then going forward we can fund current year coaching expenses while slowly growing the endowment as well. This is much like saving in your 401(k) where you don't miss the money as it's taken out slowly over time. The challenge is to get the seed funds in 2011.

The SARA Board also believes that setting up a permanent endowment will further cement the landmark agreement between SARA and the university that resulted in a number of key rule changes for club sports.

Second Shell Dedicated - Stefan James

Our 2011 goal was to add another four to the fleet. Even with the first shell from the campaign, the Hudak, the team still only had two racing fours at their disposal. The other being the old Vespoli stern coxed four owned by the university. The Stefan James is a true addition to the fleet and the lead gift was gratiously given by alumnus Dan Bachmann '97 MED'02 and his family in honor of his brother. Click Here to view photos from the dedication ceremony! The shell is a beautiful 2011 Pocock Hypercarbon lightweight 4+ and is the first crew shell for the women in team history. Other seats in the shell were dedicated by Eric Matyac '94 and Doug Rathburn '97. All donors were recognized at the Speakmon Regatta on October 15, 2011. Thanks to everyone for the support.

Seed Funds to Secure Permanent Coaching

In December 2010 the SARA Board voted to extend the Alumni Victorious Campaign to include seed funds for a coaching endowment. The funds will be raised by SARA but deposited with the university. To start the fund we need at least $20,000 but can then add to the fund in very small increments over time. Once we get the fund up and running, coaching expenses will be covered with annual fund contributions and distributions from the endowment.

First Shell Dedicated - Dorothy A. Hudak

Our 2008 goal was to replace the Sweet J, and all donors were honored at the naming ceremony held during Head of the Cuyahoga on September 20, 2008. The lead donation was made by Case Crew founder, Tom Hudak, and his father in honor of their mother and wife. Click Here to view photos from the dedication ceremony! The shell is a beautiful 2008 Pocock Hypercarbon midweight 4+. Other seats in the shell were dedicated by Stacie Ringleb '97, Mark Schoenenberger '98, Dan Bachmann '97 MED'02, and Doug Rathburn '97. Thanks to everyone for the support!

The Team Can Now Get to Regattas - Thanks to You!

The fleet can now get to regattas safely thanks to you, our dedicated alumni. We were able to buy a barely used Vespoli 36' Transporter trailer from Lesley University of Boston. Alumnus and SARA board member, Brian Chorney '07, coaches another small college in Boston and heard Lesley was disbanding their team team. He picked up some nice shells for his team and arranged the purchase of this trailer for SARA. We raised the necessary funds in only a couple weeks to be able to jump on the deal. The trailer was delivered to Cleveland on June 12, 2009. Thanks to everyone for the support!

We were able to sponsor all of the racks and then some to buy the trailer. Click Here to view photos of the trailer.