SRDBA relinquishes World Club Crew berths to promote the adoption of a Regional to National qualifying system

The SRDBA was started in the U.S. as a pilot program to foster change that represents the paddling base of our region and country. As such, we have been tasked with engaging and enabling our members to get the most out of dragon boat racing, and its regional governing body. Based on feedback from members, and to provide additional benefits to them, we are starting the process of changing the way clubs qualify for National Club Crew Championships.

In 2012, we want to require that the crews wishing to go to Nationals must attend Regionals to go. The 2012 Regionals will qualify for 2013 national championships. In 2013 and 2014 we would be qualifying teams for the 2015 Nationals. We will help subsidize the first-place teams that qualify for Nationals.  We would qualify the 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd place teams in each racing class to Nationals, and hence, promoting what we anticipate will be 20 or more Southeast teams, based on expected competition class registrants. Teams that cannot compete in Regionals may also qualify for Nationals based on accumulated points from the SRDBA race circuit. Thus, we are relinquishing our award of the World Club Crew Championships berth to insure the winners of SRDBA teams at the National level qualify for Worlds through the avenue of earning it through National competition.

We respectfully request the USDBF, other regions, and/or host organizers of Nationals adopt and support this policy.

Sincerely,
The SRDBA Board of Directors

2012 SRDBA Regional Championship Date Change!

Dear SRDBA Members,

We are pleased to announce, The Southeastern Regional Dragon Boat Association’s inaugural Regional Championships has been rescheduled to October 27-28, 2012 in Sarasota, FL.  After receiving community feedback, and negotiating with the Sarasota Festival stakeholders, this new date has been agreed upon by both Pan Am Dragon Boat and the SRDBA.  Both organizations look forward to the positive effects this will have on the dragon boat community in the Southeastern United States and look forward to the inclusion of all SRDBA Clubs and Teams in the Regional Championships event.

For more information on the Championships please visit  www.panamdragonboat.com.

Sincerely,
Mike Kerkmann, President, Pan Am Dragon Boat
Penny Behling, President, SRDBA

SRDBA Club Members qualified to compete in the 2012 World Club Crew Championships!

The SRDBA would like to congratulate our Club Members who have qualified to compete in the 2012 World Club Crew Championships in Hong Kong.  The following teams qualified and have accepted their berths:

TECO Tan Anou: Premier Mixed
Tampa Bay Paddling Club – Everblades: Premier Women
Dragon Boat Charleston: Senior B Mixed
Grand Masters Dragon Boat Club – Village Leathernecks: Senior B Mixed

The Tampa Bay Dragon Boat Club – Bladerunners qualified for the 2012 World Championships but have elected not to accept their berth.  Hydroblades: Premier Mixed team were the next highest ranking Premier Mixed team will be competing in place of Bladerunners Premier Mixed team.

Click here for more information on the 2012 Club Crew World Championships!

SRDBA Annual General Meeting is in progress!

In the morning session, we are discussing the challenges and accomplishments with the growth of the organization in our first year.  Committee work will be the focus of discussion for the remainder of the morning session.  Committees are a critical part of the development of our organization!  Volunteer to participate on the Membership, Competition, Communications, or the  Training and Certification Committee.  We need your help to drive the development of the sport in this region, and promote successful programs in our region to the national level!

Click here for more information on the Communications Committee
Click here for more information on the Membership Committee
Click here for more information on the Competition Committee
Click here for more information on the Training and Certification Committee

The Member patches are here!

The Member patches are here! Check out this super cool, first ever, SRDBA Member patch.  These patches are a benefit of membership in SRDBA.  One patch is available for each membership in the organization whether that be Individual, Club, Corporate, or Festival.  We will begin distributing these patches to members at registration for our Annual General Meeting February 25 and 26 in Tampa, FL.  If you are unable to attend AGM, Individual patches will be sent to you care of your team capatain.  If you are an Individual Member who is not a memebr of an SRDBA club, we will send your patch to the address on file for your membership.  If you are not yet a member of SRDBA or have yet to renew your membership for 2012, get on the ball!  There are a limited number of these patches available.  Sign up today!

SRDBA Regional Championships

We are happy to announce, after the formal Request For Proposal (RFP) process, that the award for Regional Championships in 2012 goes to the Sarasota Dragon Boat Festival!  This was a first-year event in 2011 at an excellent venue for sport racing - Nathan Benderson Park.  This venue is undergoing a huge development project which will propel it into a world class rowing and paddling facility in the coming years.  We are happy to have our first regional championships hosted at such a fantastic venue!

This event will be hosted by Pan American Dragon Boat Association, an SRDBA Corporate member, which manages the Sarasota Dragon Boat Festival. The 2-day event will feature 200m, 500m, 1000m and 2000m racing!! Clubs will pay a $1000 entry fee for each team they enter in the Championships.  Club’s with multiple racing class entries will pay a discounted rate of $900 each. Each team must be a Club Member of the SRDBA, and each crew member (paddler) must be an Individual Member of the SRDBA to participate.

Teams will be allowed to enter the Championships on Sunday only, for a fee of $550.

More information will be released soon.

SRDBA Membership 2012

We are now accepting 2012 members! Please join this growing organization and get involved with the Southeastern Regional Association. The new membership forms – see above navigation for the form for you – feature opportunities for members to serve on any three of SRDBA committees doing important work for the sport.

The SRDBA, in its second year, promotes the sport of dragon boating, and fosters national and international dragon boat competition. This year, the SRDBA Regional Dragon Boat Racing Championships will debut. More info forthcoming! Be part of an exciting year in dragon boat racing in the southeast!

Why Join the SRDBA?

• It’s inexpensive! what else is so much fun and $15?
• Support your regional affiliate and help grow the sport.
• Keep track of dragon boat news in your region.
• Get involved. All committees are looking for members. Find out more on your membership form.
• Newsletters with information about regional events, clubs and much more!
• Access to discounted products by being a member of the SRDBA.
• Exclusive 2012 membership patch for your team uniform or PFD.
• Active social media – follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
• Get information about upcoming certifications and trainings.
• You MUST be an individual member of the SRDBA to qualify to paddle at the SRDBA Regional Dragon Boat Racing Championships.