LAWRENCE — Today, Greater Lawrence Community Boating launches its 30th season with a new leader at the helm, an open house, and an Erg-A-Thon.
Ellen Minzner, a world champion rower with strong ties in the Merrimack Valley, was named to replace John Griffin as executive director.
She will be at the open house to meet the community, provide information on the boating program, and register new members. Sailing season begins June 29 with beginner, intermediate and advanced instruction.
Joining Minzner will be 40 high-school athletes from across the Merrimack Valley, who row for Greater Lawrence Rowing, and 12 members of the adult rowing team. They will log more than 250,000 meters on indoor rowing machines to raise money for new equipment and provide scholarships.
At 1 p.m., free rowing lessons will be offered to the public.
Visitors also will hear from UMass Lowell rowing coach Veronika Platzer.
The open house runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Abe Beshara Boathouse at the end of Eaton Street on the Merrimack River.
"We are thrilled that Ellen is guiding the growth and expansion of our program," said Larry Yameen, president of the Greater Lawrence Community Boating board. "She has the vision, enthusiasm, and experience that we need to move our program forward."
Minzner plans to introduce new programs this summer, such as guided kayak tours, middle-school and high-school rowing programs, boating safety courses and a Sea Scout program for older teens to get involved in high adventure boating.
"Our programs are a great way for local youth to get involved with sports such as rowing or sailing that they might not otherwise have access to," she said.
Membership at Greater Lawrence is about one-third the cost of other programs in the area, making it accessible to a broad range of participants.
Minzner is well-known for her rowing achievements, having competed for the U.S. Rowing team in five world championships and winning gold in 1995 and 1996 in the lightweight women's two-oared shell.
Minzner, a graduate of St. Mary High School in Lawrence, grew up sailing with her father on Island Pond in Derry, N.H., before ultimately taking up crew at Villanova University.
"Being able to give back to the community all that I gained from rowing is really a dream come true," she said. "Rowing and sailing are lifelong sports that teach teamwork and dedication and can be a tremendous influence on young people. Our goal is to provide the right balance of challenge and support that will help them achieve their highest aspirations, both at our program and into the future."
Minzner will complete her master's degree in urban planning at Tufts University this fall, and was most recently the manager of the Community Development Department in Lawrence. She specializes in youth development and coach education, and was a founding member of U.S. Rowing's task force on access, affordability, and diversity.
In 1995, she was named a Coach of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation while leading the Winsor School crew and is a member of the Positive Coaching Alliance.
She currently serves on the board of the Lawrence History Center, and is on the organizing committees for the Head of the Charles Regatta and the CRASH-B World Indoor Rowing Championships.
For more information on the boating program, visit www.boatingprogram.com, or call 978-681-8675.
