The OWLS Dragonflies are chartering a couple of ecoShuttles to transport Portland paddlers to the Kent Cornucopia Days Dragon Boat Races on Saturday, July 10. Be kind to the environment, spend time with your teammates, and avoid the parking headache and shuttle bus situation once you arrive. You can sleep on the way up and celebrate* on the way home.

Details:
To and from Lake Meridian Park (Kent, Washington) the day of the race, Saturday, July 10.
Cost: $36/person
Departure/return location: Jantzen Beach, precise location TBD
Approx. departure time: 5:00 a.m.
Approx. return time: 5:00 p.m (the awards ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 and we'd like to leave within the hour of the races ending)

This year, we have two shuttle buses and we will send the first one home early if we can fill it.

*Alcoholic beverages (no glass containers) may be consumed on board by those of legal drinking age on the return trip. Please pack these items separately to leave on board during the race. A damage deposit has been paid for this express purpose and a charge will be assessed against individuals or teams leaving a mess or causing damage.

Payment:
Please email Robin to arrange to buy tickets for your seats. You may pay in person by cash, mail a check, or use PayPal.

Cash or check: Please send to Robin Seifried, Cable Huston, 1001 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204.

Paypal (preferred method): Go to www.paypal.com and click on the option to "Send money." Enter "robin.seifried@gmail.com" in the "To" field and enter the total amount you are paying for. Be sure to click on the "Personal" tab and select "Payment owed" or "Other" and then follow the instructions from there.

In all cases, we will need (in addition to your money) your name, email address, and your team name. You will receive confirmation via email upon payment that you have a spot on the bus and you will receive a follow-up email the week before the race confirming the above details. Your reservation is transferable, but we cannot refund your money if you have to cancel.

All reservations must be made by Wednesday, June 30th. First-come, first-serve... once the seats are sold, you are on your own!

The Dragonflies will be racing in the Rainier Dragon Boat Festival in Tacoma, Washington this Saturday, May 15.

Racing kicks off at 9:00 with our first race of the day in heat #3 (9:30 a.m.) against Portland teams Wasabi Fury and Sirens Paddling Club. Our second race of the day is in heat #10 at 11:15 a.m. against Portland teams Quetzacoatl and Wasabi Ferocious. Semi-finals are after lunch and the Dragonflies hope to be in the finals at 3:45 p.m.

GO DRAGONFLIES!!!

For the third year in a row, one of our paddlers is participating in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program, training for the Pacific Crest Olympic Distance Triathlon.

This year's participant is Susan O'Toole (pictured below), a Dragonfly since 2006, who is celebrating her 50th birthday this year by raising money in honor of her Aunt LaReece, among other cancer survivors.

To help her in goal to raise $5000, Susan will be hosting a Wine and Cheese Tasting on Tuesday, March 30 starting at 7:30 p.m. at Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro at 0315 SW Montgomery in Portland. The cost is $20 per person.

Donations are also accepted at Susan's fundraising page.

Join the Oregon Women Lawyers Dragonflies dragon boat team as we kick off our 2010 season with a fundraising party at Irishtown Bar & Grill in Vancouver, Washington.

Live music, drink specials, door prizes, raffle items, Wii paddling competition and more!

More details coming soon... check back at www.owlsdragonflies.org/irishtown.html for updates!

The OWLS Dragonflies team information session tonight (Wednesday) will be held at a new location - Sungari's DragonWell Asian Bistro at 101 SW Yamhill at 5:30 pm. Come meet team members, hear about the team, and ask us anything you want. No commitment necessary - hope to see you there!

Ever thought about dragon boating? The OWLS Dragonflies dragon boat team is holding info sessions on Monday, February 22, and Wednesday, February 24, beginning at 5:30 pm at the Hotel Fifty Bar, H5O. Come hear about the team, meet team members, and ask us questions. We plan to be there until about 7:00, so come by whenever you are available. If you are unable to attend but would like more information on the dragon boat team, please email the co-captains, Robin Seifried or Valerie Tomasi. We look forward to meeting you!

The OWLS Dragonflies dragon boat team is seeking sponsors for the 2010 race season. In 2010, the team plans to participate in the Northwest Challenge Circuit races in Portland, Salem, Tacoma and Kent. The team is also also participating in the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival, a competitive international race held in Vancouver, BC. Sponsorships go toward the fees for these races and help defray the costs of team paddling gear and food and water to fuel paddlers on race days. The team's sponsors are listed in press about the team, on our website, and on our team banner displayed at all of our race events.

You can sponsor the OWLS Dragonflies at the level that suits your budget. For first-time sponsors, we offer a $75 Pearl level sponsorship. We also offer Bronze Medal sponsorships at $100, Silver Medal sponsorships at $250, Gold Medal sponsorships at $500, and Platinum level sponsorships at $750. If you are interesting in sponsoring the OWLS Dragonflies 2010 season, please email sponsorships@owlsdragonflies.org.

Please be advised that because Oregon Women Lawyers is a 501(c)(6) corporation, contributions and gifts made to the OWLS Dragonflies are not tax-deductible. However, given the profile of the team in the legal community, it has been our experience that the sponsorship is an effective marketing tool.

The OWLS Dragonflies will be hitting the water two hours a week starting February 16th (Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 pm and Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:30 am). Practices will increase to four hours a week starting March 16th (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 pm and Saturdays from 8:30 to 10:30 am)

If you're interested in learning more about joining the team, we welcome you to check out a practice! Please contact co-captains, Robin Seifried and Val Tomasi for more information.

On November 24, 2009, we lost Nancy Bergeson, formerly a member and captain of the OWLS Dragonflies team, and most recently a paddler with Wasabi Paddling Club.

Nancy, who would have turned 58 on November 30, was a dearly loved member of the Portland dragon boat community.  She enjoyed competing and did so with enthusiasm and sportsmanship.  She was a friend to all, encouraging us to be better paddlers and better people.  In races, she cheered everyone on with gusto, even competing teams, since it seemed she had a couple of friends in every boat.  We will miss Nancy's smile and her boundless energy.

Memorial services were held last weekend for Nancy in Portland including a memorial paddle on the Willamette River with Nancy’s former Dragonflies, Wasabi, and USA Grandmasters teammates.  Remembrances may be made in Nancy's name to The Forest Park Conservancy.