membership

The club offers novice and experienced rowing membership (junior, masters, and recreational rowers) and social membership. Our memberships are yearly memberships. Partial year memberships are not available. 

Novice Membership Information. Dates and practice times change from year to year and are provided as a reference.

Attendance at each session is critical for individual development and class advancement, therefore, your attendance at each session is a requirement.
Junior Novice Schedule.

The junior novice training program begins at the end of June and is about 6 weeks in length. After finishing the program, juniors may row in a coached junior program. 

General Information

Graduates of the adult training programs will be matched with “big sisters” who row with them and guide them down the river safely. Novices and big sisters arrange times to row together.  Novices are also encouraged to row in gigs with their big sister’s crew.

Club sponsored coaching is provided and paid for by PGRC.  Private lessons are not. Adult and junior novice members do not have to pay additional fees for club coaching.

After the initial 6 week training period, adult novices also may join the coached technical rowing program that meets on Sundays at 8AM. 

Club membership dues are paid from January to December of each year.  New members pay full dues for the year they join.
Renewal dues are paid in January.

Adult Novice Fee Structure
The $150 initiation fee is due on May 2nd
The $400 membership fee is due on Tuesday of the second week of the assigned session.

Junior Novice Fee Structure
The $150 initiation fee and $400 member ship fee are due in mid June.

Adult novice members have a probationary period of four months.  Acceptance as members by the board occurs after certification by the captain, coach, and membership chair that the member has successfully completed the novice program, complies with all safety directives, and demonstrates responsible and safe handling of equipment.  Participation in the coached program is a prerequisite for membership.  Full membership with voting privileges occurs one full year after joining the club.

Junior novice members must also comply with all safety directives and demonstrate responsible and safe handling of equipment to be accepted as members after completing the junior novice coached program.

Only adult novices receive keys to the club following the probationary period.  Juniors do not receive keys.  Responsibility as a club member includes handling equipment safely and preventing damage, locking up when leaving the club, and respectful use of the clubhouse.

Novice members are expected to participate in club meetings and activities.  Membership meetings are held at the club on the first Thursday of each month year round.

The Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club is a self-governing, private club.  Attendance at general meetings where all common club issues are discussed and information is shared is an important part of participating in the life of the club.  We maintain our own building grounds and fund our rowing efforts; therefore, membership participation in the self-governing process is expected of members.

There are a number of volunteer and committee activities in which members can choose to participate according to interest.  We also have a number of social activities throughout the year like new boat christenings, appreciation parties for volunteers, an auction, barbecues, and just relaxing on the deck.

How to apply
Interested women should write to the membership chair at the address below. Novice spaces are limited and novices are admitted once or twice a year. Prospective applicants are urged to write a letter as soon as possible. Please explain your interest in membership and why you would be a good club member. Personal references are suggested, not required. You must know how to swim and be in good health. The novice program requires a time commitment of three hours each session, three times a week.

Rowing membership is $400/year plus an additional $150 initiation fee for novice applicants.

Social membership is $150/year plus an additional $150 initiation fee for novice applicants.

Dues are not prorated or frozen for partial time and are collected for the entire year each January.

Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club
#14 Boat House Row, Kelly Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Attn: Membership