Board of Directors
The Litchfield Hills Rowing Club Board of Directors consists of at least seven but not more than fifteen Directors. No Director receives any compensation for their services of the LHRC. The Executive Committee of the Board is comprised of the President & Chairman, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
While members of the community are welcome to join our board meetings to gain a sense of what the Club is currently working on, we also invite you to view our previous meeting agendas, approved minutes, and other informational documents on our board portal.
Meet the Board
Gail Newton, President
Gail rowed 2.5 years at UC Santa Barbara in the mid-70s, a place and a decade when few women even knew of this sport. “Those years rowing were foundational for me. Even more importantly, the relationships I developed during that time are some of the closest I have today.”
She is a botanist who spent most of her career in ecosystem restoration in the private sector and state government (in California). Upon retirement in 2015, she and her husband decided to split their time between his ancestral home in Cornwall Bridge, and their home in California. “So, I found myself in Connecticut sitting around too much, and in searching out a rowing program found LHRC.”
“I had not rowed in over 40 years, and only rowed sweep back in the 70s, so the decision to row again was a bit intimidating. I joined LHRC in 2016 with the hope that I could learn to scull, which the coaches at LHRC patiently have taught me (and are still trying to!). Rowing again reminded me about the impact it had on me as a college student and I want to make sure that others have that opportunity.” Gail joined the Board late in 2023 and helps the Financial Aid Committee to ensure that others have the opportunity to row.
“In addition to the physical activity of rowing, the biggest bonus of coming back to rowing is that this sport brings people together who have similar goals and lifestyles, and in LHRC, I think I have found my East Coast peeps.”
Abby Doolittle,
Vice President
Abby started rowing in 2017, and ever since she’s enjoyed the challenge of finding one, maybe a few, perfect strokes (a "forever" task). Trail running has been her love for many years but a temporary injury led her to rowing, and now that will be on her to-do adventure list long into the future. She spent several decades in IT and recently retired from IBM. She’s grateful for the flexibility it's afforded her and hit the jackpot in finding LHRC: “The atmosphere is friendly and supportive, the competitive program constantly pushes me, and early morning rows on beautiful Bantam Lake is a gift that keeps on giving.”
She joined the LHRC Board to give back to an organization she feels strongly about as she’s done in the past as Board President of a local Land Trust, Volunteer Coordinator for an LGBTQ+ youth group, and other activities important to her through the years. She feels fortunate to be part of the LHRC community.
Erin Pierson,
Secretary
Erin signed up for Learn to Row on a whim and fell in love with the sport immediately. As an avid hiker, runner and cyclist, she figued she’d swap the ground for water and hasn’t looked back since. In the past year of getting to know the club, she has gotten to know many of the coaches, parents, and fellow Masters rowers who truly make this club a community and eagerly agreed to join the board in August 2024.
A seasoned development, marketing, and communications professional, Erin holds a passion for all things nonprofit governance and corporate social responsibility. She currently combines these professional interests in her role as Chief Growth Officer of Cause Strategy Partners, a small but mighty B-Corporation dedicated to connecting talented professionals to nonprofit board service opportunities.
Erin previously served as the board secretary of Art House Productions, a visual and performing art space in Jersey City, NJ, and as the staff secretary of CECP and SculptureCenter. In her relatively new home of Washington, CT, she and her husband also volunteer as trail managers (and occasional trail builders) with Steep Rock Association. If you see her on the trail with her brindle pup, Ziggy Stardust, say hi!
Amy Dyer,
Member
Amy’s passion for rowing began at the age of 48. She recalls that it all started with a late spring learn-to-row session; her enthusiasm for rowing morphed into pure adventure from then on. Although she was exposed to rowing through her father’s international competitive rowing adventures with the New Haven Rowing Club, it wasn’t until her son, Conor, began to row that she felt inspired to try it herself. One driving factor that fuels rowing for Amy is the unique team spirit and sense of community that corresponds with the sport of rowing. She competes with the LHRC master’s team and participates in off-season/ winter training with the club.
Aside from rowing, Amy enjoys cross-country skiing, hiking, and biking.
Matt Grivner,
Member
Matt joined the Board of Directors in late 2022. While not a rower himself, he has received plenty of basement erg criticism, “thinly veiled as coaching”, from his son Andrew who has been rowing at the club for the last 5 years. After spending a fair bit of time with members of the Parent Association during both regular practices and regattas, he is excited for the opportunity to lend a parent perspective to the important role the board provides at LHRC.
“As is the case in any noteworthy organization, many conversations and decisions take place ‘below the surface’ to ensure continued success. With the growth of the club in the last couple of years, especially within the ranks of our youth members, open communication with and feedback from the parents will be vital to help provide the board information that will be used to guide and improve an already fantastic outlet for the area youth.”
Having served as a Committee Member for Woodbury Boy Scout Troop 54 and a volunteer member of the John J. McCarty Observatory in New Milford, I hope to bring some of the experience from working with these two organizations to this new role I have been entrusted with.
“In my free time I…… haha. I’m the father of a rower, what’s free time?”
Ian McLaren,
Member, Head of Parent Association
Ian's two sons, Gus and Simon, began competing for LHRC in 2019. As a non-rower but competitive runner and cyclist, he appreciates the athleticism, speed, and skill involved in making a shell go fast. It's been a joy to learn the sport through his kids' eyes, and he's thrilled to be able to support the club as a board member and future PA President. Away from the lake, Ian can be found on a bike, at a motorsport event, or playing electric bass!
In Memoriam
Steve Seward
Up until his passing over the summer of 2024, Steve Seward served as President of the LHRC Board for several pivotal years. Steve came to rowing later in life via LHRC’s Learn to Row Program, and his love for the sport grew. After kayaking Litchfield County’s lakes and rivers for many years, Steve decided to seek a new challenge. “I was also getting tired of watching all those sculls passing me by. So I decided if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!”
“At LHRC, I found good people, a great workout, and the challenge of learning a brand new skill. I’m also hoping to be proof you can do this sport forever.” The highlight of Steve’s competitive experience was rowing in the Director’s Challenge Men’s 4x at the 2022 Head of the Charles.
Off the water, Steve coached non-profit organizations in fundraising. Following a long career in nonprofit management and consulting, Steve also served on the board of the Connecticut Community Foundation. He was a strong advocate of making resources more accessible where it seemed out of reach for some. That shone through for the club in his strong advocacy for the Financial Aid program. He will be missed.