Member Responsibilities

Member Responsibilities and Code of Conduct

Introduction

Membership in the Undine Barge Club (pronounced ŭn’ dēn) is a privilege to be valued and enjoyed. Our traditions and our Club have developed over one hundred and fifty years and represent what makes the Club distinctive and great. We are proud of our traditions, our facilities and our rowing history. All members have a responsibility to maintain and enhance these aspects of the Club by their membership, participation and behavior.

All members are expected to meet the responsibilities outlined herein and to conduct themselves accordingly. Members are also responsible for the behavior and safety of their guests using Club facilities.

New members are strongly encouraged to introduce themselves to other members when at Club facilities. We pride ourselves in being a welcoming organization and new members will find that any member will be more than willing to help them “learn the ropes” and to make them feel as a valued member of Undine.

General Responsibilities of All Members

Behavior- All members are expected to conduct themselves to the highest standards of the sport of rowing, both to other Undinians as well as to competitors from other Clubs and regatta officials. All members are to conduct themselves with a high sense of decorum. Shouting, foul language or any other form of obnoxious behavior are not acceptable and are grounds for suspension from the Club.

Dues- All members are expected to pay their annual dues when billed. Any exceptions are only allowed by permission of the Treasurer. Any member who has not paid their dues by March 15 will have their Club privileges revoked and their name posted at the Boathouse and at Castle Rngstetten.

Service to the Club- The Club is run and maintained by members who volunteer their time. There is no paid staff. All members are expected to help with the running of the Club and maintaining its facilities by volunteering to be members of committees, helping with work parties and fixing things themselves that they observe need to be addressed.

Safety- The safety of members and their guests should be of the utmost concern to all members when rowing or on Club property. Members or guests who cannot swim may not row using any Club facilities or equipment.

Assumption of Liability- All members and guests are required to sign a Waiver of Liability form prior to use of the Club facilities and equipment.

Member Responsibilities and Conduct for Use of Fairmount (The Boathouse)

Authorities of the Captain- The Captain is the Club officer in charge of the boathouse. The captain has the full authority to decide all aspects of boathouse operations including but not limited to boat storage, boat usage, locker assignments, entry fee reimbursement and use of the motor launches. All members shall adhere to the rules promulgated by the Captain for use of the boathouse and rowing equipment.

Safety on the River- All members are expected to act with the highest regard for the safety of themselves and their crew mates when on the river. Rowers may not approach the safety lines at the Fairmount Dam and must stay near the boathouse docks when heading downstream near Boathouse Row. Rowing in Club equipment is not permitted when flow on the USGS web site exceeds 12,000 cubic feet per second in accordance with Schuylkill Navy “Rules of the River.” Novices are cautioned not to row when flow exceeds 8,000 cubic feet per second. Rowing at night is not allowed in Club boats unless accompanied by a coach in a motor launch and with proper lighting displayed on the bow of the shell. Rowing at night in private boats while unaccompanied is strongly discouraged. Members are responsible for knowing and following the Schuylkill Navy “Rules of the River” regarding the proper rowing lanes on the river. The Schuylkill Navy Rules of the river are available online at: http://www.boathouserow.org/rulesoftheriver.html. Make sure that you are familiar with the traffic patterns before using any club equipment. When in doubt, ask another member for the proper demarcation points for upriver and downriver traffic. Rowing of Club boats above the Twin Stones bridges without a coach present is not allowed due to hidden underwater obstacles.

Boathouse Access- Access to the boathouse is granted as a privilege of membership. Only members in good standing and their invited guests are allowed access to the boathouse. All members are responsible for maintaining the security of the boathouse. The front door shall be maintained closed and locked at all times. The boat bay doors shall be closed and locked at all times unless a crew or a member is on the river. The last person back from rowing has the responsibility to close and lock the boat bay doors. Upstairs windows are to be closed over night when the building is unoccupied. If you are the last person to leave the boathouse, check that all doors and windows are closed, and that the front door locks behind you. The boathouse alarm system is activated between the hours of 10:00PM and 4:30AM. No entry is allowed between those hours as the alarm will result in a police response and the person who set off the alarm will be responsible to pay the City of Philadelphia fee.

Use of Club Boats and Equipment- The Club prides itself in its fleet of boats and rowing equipment. Members may use club equipment that has been designated by the Captain for general club use. Specific boats and equipment have been designated by the Captain for the exclusive use of the racing squad and may not be used by the membership without the expressed approval of the Captain and Coach. A grid system designating the allowed use of Club boats is displayed at the Boathouse and is to be adhered to by all members.

The priority for use of Club boats for races is decided by the Coach. Members who intend to utilize Club equipment for races must get prior approval from the Coach. Members may not make adjustments to riggers without prior approval of the Coach. Any special rigging that is allowed must be returned to the original condition after the race is concluded. If a boat is de-rigged for transportation to a regatta, the member who de-rigged the boat must re-rig the boat upon its return to the boathouse. All Club boats are to be hosed and wiped down by the person(s) using them after returning from each row and the deck drain ports are to be left open.

Use of Private Equipment- Private boats and oars are stored at the boathouse by members who have received approval to do so by the Captain. Members are not permitted to use any private equipment not their own unless specifically authorized by the owner. Seats or other equipment may not be removed from any private boat except by the owner.

Use of Baldwin & Penn Charter Equipment- The Baldwin School and the Penn Charter School are tenants of the Undine boathouse and store a number of boats and oars in the facility. Undine members may not use any Baldwin or Penn Charter equipment at any time unless specifically authorized by the head coach at each school.

Use of Motor Launches- Only coaches are authorized to use the motor launches. Members are not permitted to use the launches except in case of emergency to rescue persons or equipment in the water.

Use of Equipment by Guests- Guests of members are permitted to use Club equipment only when accompanied by a member. Guests may not row alone. Members are responsible for the safety of their guests and the Club equipment they use. Members are responsible for verifying the swimming ability of their guests before allowing them to use the equipment. Guests may only use equipment designated for general Club use and may not use racing squad equipment. Guests who exhibit an interest in continued rowing after three guest rows should be encouraged to apply for membership.

Responsibility for Damage- Any member, who is rowing in a Club boat which suffers damage in an accident that was avoidable, shall take responsibility for the damage and pay the lesser of: a.) the actual cost to repair the damage or, b.) the $500 insurance deductible.

A note is to be placed on the damaged boat indicating the type of damage, the name of the responsible member and the date damaged. Also, the responsible member is to notify the Captain of the damage.

Using the Log Book- The log book for all Undine club and private boats is located at the entrance of the boat bay. The log book is used to record (a) who uses the boats; (b) when the boats are used and for how long; and (c) the condition of the boats when used. The log can be used as a formal document by the club’s insurance underwriter or authorities if needed to investigate theft, accidents or related matters. In addition, the log serves as the formal record for annual mileage awards. At the end of each year, the log is placed in the club’s archives for future reference. All members/guests must record their name, departure time, and boat name before each row and record their mileage after each row.

Maintenance of the Boathouse- The boathouse is managed by the Fairmount Committee which has the responsibility to determine the priorities for the maintenance and upkeep of the facility and to manage the maintenance budget. All members are responsible for the general cleanliness and upkeep of the boathouse and are expected to keep the facility clean. Minor maintenance is usually handled by the members during work parties that are called by the Fairmount Committee. Members are expected to participate in at least one work party each year.

Racing for Undine- If a member is rowing out of Undine, then it is expected that they will compete under the Undine banner if they are racing in a single. Also, if they are rowing in a composite double/pair, they are expected to include both club names in the entry. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Captain.

Personal Property- Dues paying members are entitled to the use of one locker on the second floor of the boathouse and space for storage of personal oars in the boat bay. So as to keep the public areas free from clutter, and to provide the full enjoyment of the boathouse for all, members should refrain from storing personal property in areas other than these two locations (e.g.: top of lockers, front of locker doors, loft, boat bay, outside grounds, etc.). Bicycles should be kept in the bike racks that are provided at the entrance on the ground level and should not enter the boathouse.

Private Functions- The boathouse is a valuable asset which can be used by Club members to hold private functions in a unique location. Members must obtain approval of the Captain and the President prior to scheduling any private function at the Boathouse. Members wishing to hold private functions are responsible for all aspects of setup, tear-down and restoration of the facility as well as any damage that may be incurred during the function. No use of Club equipment is allowed during private functions.

Junior Members under 18 yrs. and all High School Students and Youth Visitors-

Junior members under the age of 18 yrs. and all High School students do not have full membership benefits. The distinctions are as follows:

  • Must be supervised by a senior member or coach when in the boathouse and grounds;
  • Must be accompanied by an adult member or parent to attend club dinners;
  • No issuance of boathouse key;
  • No issuance or assignment of boathouse locker (all personal items must be stored in a backpack or bag of some type);
  • No storage of personal shells on the premises;
  • All Junior members are required to sign a Waiver of Liability and, if under the age of 18 yrs., must have a parent or guardian sign the Waiver;
  • All junior members who compete during the summer must race under the Undine banner. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Captain.

Member Responsibilities and Conduct for Use of Ringstetten

Club Dinners- The Club is one of only two on Boathouse Row that has an upriver Clubhouse- Castle Ringstetten. The Club holds monthly dinner meetings which are open to all members and their guests. Reservations for the dinners are required. Dress for the dinners is business dress during all seasons except June, July and August when the dress is business casual.

Maintenance of Ringstetten- Ringstetten is managed by the Ringstetten Committee which has the responsibility to determine the priorities for the maintenance and upkeep of the facility and to manage the maintenance budget. Minor maintenance is usually handled by the members during work parties that are called by the Ringstetten Committee. Members are expected to participate in at least one work party each year.

Private Functions- Castle Ringstetten is a valuable asset which can be used by Club members to hold private functions in a unique location. Members must obtain approval of the Chairman of the Ringstetten Committee and the President prior to scheduling any private function. Members wishing to hold private functions are responsible for all aspects of setup, teardown and restoration of the facility as well as any damage that may be incurred during the function.

Last updated April 13, 2022.