A crew of competitive rowers is, in some ways, more akin to a team of scientists than a traditional sports team. The act of rowing as a crew, of getting two or four or eight people to move together as one requires the perfect synchronization of physics and mental focus. The timing, depth and power of every rower’s stroke must align precisely with that of every other rower in the boat.

“Rowing is not just about strength, it’s about balance, working with other people, teamwork, knowing how to read water, currents, the wind and making the boat move as fast as you can as a unit,” says Rachel Bowman, president of the Sarasota County Rowing Club (SCRC). “It’s a great sport and a thinking sport, because just when you think you’ve perfected the craft, there’s something else you can fix.”

Most mornings Bowman can be found on the water, with the other members of the SCRC, which operates out of Blackburn Point in Osprey. The master’s-only rowing club, which has over 100 full-time members that range from 23-years-old to octogenarians, competed in the US Rowing Rowfest National Championships in Ypsilanti, Michigan last month. 25 athletes from SCRC, including Bowman, competed in 48 races as a group, winning 16 gold medals, five silver medals and three bronze medals.

“What was great about it was that there were so many people who had never been to nationals before. There was one woman who was in the boat I was stroking in that got silver who was in tears after the race, because she’d never won a medal in a national race before,” says Bowman. “It’s stuff like that that makes it all worthwhile because it’s not just about you, it’s about everyone else in the boat and the fact that you all worked together to make it run. We call it making the boat sing—when you can hear the bubbles running underneath the boat because it’s running so well.”

The element of teamwork, be it early morning training sessions or even just helping load the boats onto docks, is what SCRC is all about. Currently one group of rowers within the club is training for the World Rowing Masters Regatta, held in mid-September in Banyoles, Spain and another for the Head of the Charles Regatta in October. For Bowman, however, the beauty is not just in the regattas themselves, but in the opportunities she has to relish in the sport with her fellow rowers, day in and day out.

Sarasota County Rowing Club, Boathouse Address 800 Blackburn Point Rd, Osprey, 34229 

Members of the Sarasota County Rowing Club show off their medals at the US Rowing Rowfest National Championships in July. Provided photo.

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Award-winning marketing strategist, startup advisor, investor, guest lecturer and mentor, Kellee M. Johnson, M.A., packs actionable insights and dozens of personal and professional examples into her debut book, Seek Your Unique - Ten Secrets for Corporate Intrapreneurs, Budding Entrepreneurs and Leaders to Differentiate. The book is a bold call to action for corporate intrapreneurs driving change within large organizations, entrepreneurs looking to build, scale and differentiate in competitive markets, and leaders who want to future-proof their careers or businesses with an adaptable innovation mindset. A Sarasota and Nashville resident, Johnson sits on the HCA Healthcare Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital board, holds a master’s degree from the University of South Florida, a bachelor’s degree from Rollins, and taught at DePaul University for six years. She is a competitive sailor, planning to compete in Ecuador at the Sunfish Worlds this December. Seek Your Unique is available August 19 at Amazon.com. Contact Kellee@SeekYourUnique.Life. 

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Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is delighted to announce the final extension of its hit Summer Mainstage production, Don’t Dress for Dinner, now playing through Sunday, September 7, 2025, in the Gompertz Theatre. Written by Marc Camoletti and adapted by Robin Hawdon, this lightning-fast comedy is brimming with mistaken identities, romantic chaos, and high-stakes humor. Tickets are on sale now at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or by calling (941) 366-9000. 

Say hello to Alfred, a resident at The Haven and one of 60 remarkable artists who will be featured in the upcoming Big Magic Studios 2025 Art Exhibition at Art Ovation Hotel in Sarasota. Alfred’s artwork is bold, joyful, and full of heart, just like him. Come celebrate Alfred and our other 59 artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities this fall! October 28–November 3, 2025. Opening Reception: October 30, Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection, Artwork available for sale. Help us make this a night to remember! Sponsor levels start at just $500. It’s not just an art show. It’s a movement for visibility, dignity, and inclusion. 

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The Florida Center for Early Childhood has received a $10,000 grant from the Wilson-Wood Foundation to provide speech-language and occupational therapy to children who are uninsured, underinsured, or unable to pay for services. This gift continues a trusted partnership more than two decades in the making. Over the years, Wilson-Wood Foundation and The Florida Center have worked together to improve the lives of young children and families through developmental therapies, multi-generational mental health counseling, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) evaluation and prevention, and training for childcare providers. 

Ringling College of Art and Design is proud to announce its official recertification as a Houdini Certified School, a distinction awarded by SideFX, creators of Houdini, a leading 3D procedural animation tool used in film, games, and immersive media. Houdini certification is granted only to institutions that demonstrate consistent integration of Houdini into their curriculum, with qualified instruction and proven student success. Ringling’s recertification reaffirms its commitment to equipping students with industry-standard skills in visual effects, real-time development and procedural content creation. A significant benefit of this certification is that Ringling graduates are eligible for a free commercial license of Houdini upon graduation, allowing them to bring their production-ready skills directly into professional pipelines. 

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Sarasota County Schools’ College Night is an annual event that connects students and families with representatives from colleges, universities, technical schools, and military programs. The evening is designed to help high school students explore their postsecondary options, learn about admissions requirements, financial aid & scholarship opportunities, and gather information to make informed decisions about their future. Attendees can speak directly with admissions counselors, ask questions, and collect resources, all in one convenient location. Whether students are planning to attend a four-year university, community college, trade school, or join the military, College Night offers valuable insights and guidance for every path.