Vero Beach, FL – March 2, 2021 – The Board of Directors of Vero Beach Rowing is pleased to announce the new slate of officers elected at its recent meeting:
- President Shotsi Lajoie, (previous secretary);
- Vice President Bill Kloppenberg, (former director);
- Secretary Jimmy Michael, (former director);
- Treasurer Chris Ryan, (incumbent);
- Immediate Past President Todd Young (former president)
The board also agreed to appoint Liz Crosby, who has been instrumental in assisting VBR in managing its accounting, as assistant treasurer.
President Shotsi Lajoie was instrumental in bringing Vero Beach Rowing from its 2013 location at the C54 Canal in Fellsmere to its present site in Vero Beach. She co-chaired the fundraising campaign to build the Toffey Rowing Center, an effort that raised nearly $2.7 million for the state-of-the-art Vero Beach boathouse.
‘I am looking forward to creating relationships with our community partners to bring the sport and experience of rowing to as many people that we can,” President Lajoie said upon her election. ‘We are growing and have an enthusiastic and talented base of members and volunteers to serve. It is my goal to serve the club and introduce our culture, sport and value system to the community.’
Lajoie thanked Past-President Todd Young for his service as club president for many years through the process of land acquisition and construction of the new boathouse. His dedication and commitment were instrumental in transitioning our location from Fellsmere to Vero Beach. Young also serves as a coach.
President Lajoie also expressed thanks to former Vice President Chuck Sullivan, who will remain on the board as a director.
Other directors serving on the Vero Beach Rowing board this year are Chuck Cook, Jill Diniz, Melissa Ellison, Patty Gleason, and Chris Pensch.
Vero Beach Rowing provides rowing programs for middle school and high school youth – no experience required teams as well as summer rowing camp programs suitable for all levels of experience from rising 7th graders through 12 graders. Adult rowing programs include offering Learn To Row classes and four coached sessions per week for adult members.
Vero Beach Rowing is a non-profit 501(C)3 organization. It is a community organization with the mission “to promote and teach the sport of rowing to the community in order to develop physical fitness, personal character, and an ethic of cooperation through competitive and recreational opportunities.” For information, go to our Facebook page or website. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @verobeachrowing.
