Dear Potomac Colleagues,
Sunday morning early rowers, please gather for a few minutes at 6am on the Boathouse Porch to celebrate the christening of a new boat – the “Potomac”. As previously mentioned in the June Board Bites from the Potomac Beaver, long-time PBC member Patrick Everarts de Velp, now rowing in Viviers, France, successfully nominated one of the new hulls purchased by his French club AVMC to be named “Potomac.” We will virtually connect AVMC to PBC on the porch Sunday morning (or, if you want to participate in the Skype group call from home, please reach out in advance to Jim Freis at james.freis@hotmail.com). More background details below.
Patrick and his ties to PBC
Patrick Everarts de Velp started rowing competitively at Potomac Boat Club in 1985. He was a regular in the early morning on the docks for much of two decades. A native of Belgium, he came to Washington as a diplomat, serving as liaison officer for his government to the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. At the end of 2005 he left Washington and PBC as a Senior Member, but he has remained a Non-Resident member of PBC, to which he fondly returns upon visits to his family and friends in the greater Washington area. He also welcomes hearing from old friends (develp2002@yahoo.com).
Now retired and living in France, a few years ago Patrick approached the PBC Board of Governors about setting up contacts between his current club AVMC (see below), and what he in his heart considers his home club, PBC. Yes, that is an invitation to visit and row in France! Now, his club is celebrating the christening of a new 4x/4+, for which Patrick suggested the winning name “Potomac.”
AVMC and Viviers
Aviron Viviers Montelimar Chateauneuf (AVMC) is a (relatively) new and growing club, with active members ranging from youth to regional competitors to masters recreational rowers. Website: AVMC - Accueil (quomodo.com)
AVMC rows on the Rhone River (which springs from the Swiss Alps, flows west through Lake Geneva, then south though Lyon and into the Mediterranean). Viviers is a fortified town from the Middle Ages situated in France’s Ardèche region, about 100 miles from the sea (i.e., a distance similar to that along the Potomac River from PBC to the Chesapeake Bay).
https://www.rhone-gorges-ardeche.com/en/tourisme/viviers-a-town-in-the-south-ardeche-which-has-a-protected-heritage/
AVMC Club history
Rowing activity from the port of Viviers appears around 1980. Two rowers owned a double scull that they would store at the Viviers boathouse.
In 1986, a rowing section is created by the union of 3 small and medium-size towns closer to Viviers (the cities of Viviers, Montelimar, Pierrelatte): UNVMP (Union Nautique de Viviers-Montelimar-Pierrelatte --- Nautical Union of Viviers-Montelimar-Pierrelatte)
In 1994, UNVMP purchases two initiation boats for beginning rowers.
In 1997, the club registers with the French FFSA (French Federation of Rowing Sport). At the same time, they get together with a bigger club north of Viviers in the city of Valence. The first official rowing licenses were then issued to Viviers' rowing club.
In 1998, the club obtains approval from the French and local authorities to train a rowing instructor.
During the years 2001-2002, a former rower and official instructor with a strong will to develop the rowing activity in the area arrives in the region and becomes a member.
He really boosts the development of rowing and organizes the club as a structured rowing club.
As an immediate impact, a significant number of new members registered (19).
In 2004, the rowing section UNVMP changes its name to AVMP (Aviron Viviers Montelimar Pierrelatte)
In 2008, the club changes its name with the arrival of a small town, Chateauneuf du Rhone. The new name is AVMC (AVIRON VIVIERS MONTELIMAR CHATEAUNEUF).
The current membership count is 80 members with a good 50 active members.
The new President of the club is Eric Lefebvre, an experienced rower that served in several rowing clubs in France.
The previous President, Veronique Larmande was part of the French Rowing Team and participated in several international competitions.