More than 1,000 member organizations across the country were eligible for the award, which is based on dedication to excellence in competition, the growth of rowing in the community, and the promotion and safety of the sport.

Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA) was incorporated in 1979 as a non-profit aquatic sports organization. The club was founded on the beliefs of inclusive participation and strives to promote rowing as an environmentally sound sport that enhances the quality of life in Oak Ridge and the entire East Tennessee region. The club supports a youth program for ages 13-18, adult programs for both beginners and experienced rowers, and adaptive rowing opportunities.

“We’re excited to be recognized by USRowing after 25 years of service to our region,” said Oak Ridge coach Allen Eubanks. “We will continue to try to develop rowing in East Tennessee and throughout the Southeast.”

Oak Ridge’s membership consists of approximately 120 masters rowers and an additional 100 junior rowers. The club employs a full-time head coach, as well as one part-time coach and three volunteer coaches. The organization also has more than 100 volunteers that help run the six to eight rowing events held each year at Melton Hill Lake.

The lake, which is fed by the Clinch River, is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority waterway system. Each year, Oak Ridge hosts the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, ARAMARK South-Central Sprints, Oak Ridge Invitational Regatta, Oak Ridge Sprints and Secret City Head Race, among others. In 2005, the club also hosted the CanAmMex Regatta, which brings together junior development athletes from Canada, Mexico and the United States for a week-long camp that culminates in a regatta. In previous years, Oak Ridge also has hosted such national events as the USRowing National Championships, USRowing Masters National Championships and Pan American Game Trials.

USRowing’s Club of the Year Award is based on a points system focusing on the following criteria: performance, community outreach, service to rowing, USRowing participation, technology and communications, and safety. For scoring highly in all areas of the criteria, Oak Ridge Rowing Association earned free organizational membership for one year and a banner recognizing its accomplishment. This is the fourth year of the award. Previous winners include Boston’s Community Rowing, Inc. (2004), San Diego Rowing Club (2003) and Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Rowing Association (2002). For more information on Oak Ridge Rowing Association, check out its Web site at http://www.orra.org.

USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing’s Official Patron is Concept2; its Official Electronics Outfitter is Nielsen Kellerman; its Official Dock is Connect-A-Dock; its Official Suppliers are NIKE, Inc., Filippi Boat Manufacturer/Elite Rowing, Inc., WinTech Racing, and System Scale Corp.; and its Preferred Printer is Sport Graphics Printing. USRowing also receives generous support from the National Rowing Foundation.

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