Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Ronald Shane.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dr. Shane. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In the early 1990’s Dr. Ronald W. Shane saw the potential for a watersports facility on the Indian Creek Waterway and asked the City of Miami Beach for a long term lease on a piece of land. The City leased the land and made a contribution of seed money, together with Dr. Shane and the University of Miami. In July 1995 the Miami Beach Watersports Center, Inc. received charitable recognition from the IRS and the Miami Beach Rowing Club was born.
In 2007, the Center completed a two million dollar expansion which included a second boathouse, the second floor events venue and extensive remodeling of the first floor. Each year the Center hosts the Head of the Indian Creek Regatta as well as several collegiate races. The Center is a popular winter and spring training location for collegiate rowing programs and an international destination for Olympic rowers and kayakers.
In addition, The Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The Center’s mission is to promote amateur watersports and offer opportunities to youth in the community to participate in the programs regardless of ability to pay. Financial scholarships are available for families in need.
Most notably, Miami Beach Rowing Club is the first rowing club in Florida to receive the designation of Paralympic Sport Club from the United States Olympic Committee. Our mission is to provide disabled athletes and veterans opportunities to build physical fitness, self-esteem and community connections through Pararowing.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Initially, one of the challenges faced was joining the different parties to help bring together this vision of a water sports facility in Miami Beach. At the time, Dr. Shane was the President of the JCC. He was very community-minded and saw the positive effects this could have on the City and its residents. With the know-how of the UM rowing program, and the support of the City of Miami, this vision was brought to life.
Later on, in 2014, the Adaptive Rowing program was started. There was a great challenge in understanding the needs of the disabled community, and conforming the sport of rowing to fit these needs.
The program saw much success in just a few years! Two of our athletes were sent to compete in the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio.
Contact Info:
- Address: Miami Beach Rowing Club
6500 Indian Creek Drive,
Miami Beach, Florida 33141 - Website: rowmiamibeach.com
- Phone: 305.861.8876
- Email: elaine@rowmiamibeach.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miamibeachrowingclub/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rowmiamibeach/
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