2009

Jan 5

Board votes to order our first boat from Great White North.

Jan 12 team meeting

Dan Berggren, an Adirondack singer/songwriter, facilitates the writing of our first team song - What Do You Do With a Dragon Boat?

Jan 31

Participate at the Saratoga Lunafest at the invitation of the Saratoga Luna Chix who divide the profits between Hope in the Boat and the Breast Cancer Fund.

Mar 10

IRS letter arrives informing us that we are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) effective May 28, 2008!

Mar 17

Hope in the Boat team members work the WMHT membership drive phone bank.

Mar 29

Successful fund raising dinner at the Plum Blossom in partnership with the Chinese Community Center.

Apr 27

Coach attends weeklong GWN Dragon Boat Training Camp in Tampa FL.

May 15

Our boat arrives! Pictures

May 18

First practice on the Hudson River.

May 23 & 24

Paddling and Steering clinic led by Linda and John Dyer of Dragonheart Vermont

June 6 & 7

Team (including 3 daughters and 2 sisters of team members) participates in Paddle for Pink, Lake Mercer, NJ for the 2nd year. Pictures

June 22

First annual Eye Dotting and Flower Ceremony. Each member participated in awakening our new dragon. Joan Sheehan and Wanda Burch were chosen to lead the eyedotting because of their inspiring work on behalf of breast cancer advocacy, education and support in the over 20 years since they have each been diagnosed. Pictures

August 1 & 2

Participated in the Ride the Dragon festival and the Sisters at Heart Celebration in Burlington VT. Pictures

August 15 & 16

Hope in the Boat had a combined team with Majestic Dragons from Princeton NJ at the Hartford Riverfront Dragon Boat Festival. Pictures

October

Team members participated in events sponsored by other community partners to raise breast cancer awareness -- including the ACS Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, Ocotber 18. Pictures