Sherri Otterson, founder of Maine’s first dragon boating club, stands July 6 next to the club’s future clubhouse, the former train depot that stood on Beal Street in Norway. The building will be restored and set on a permanent site at Lakeside Norway, an outdoor hub for recreation, entertainment and education on Route 118 just west of downtown. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat
NORWAY — It started with volunteering at the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine in Norway. It was seeded by Sherri Otterson’s determined commitment to provide breast cancer patients with supportive activities to heal themselves and each other physically and emotionally.
Now, a new sport is blossoming on the shore of Pennesseewassee Lake.
The very first dragon boat to glide on Maine waters is making its way south from Montreal, Canada, and is expected to arrive Wednesday. It will launch from the public landing at Pennesseewassee Park off Route 118 for a maiden voyage to its headquarters at Lakeside Norway, an outdoor hub for recreation, entertainment and education on Route 118 just west of downtown.
As Otterson prepares a team of paddling aficionados and volunteers to welcome any and all who wish to experience dragon boating, the club’s landlord is laying the groundwork for its headquarters.
The foundation for the Maine Dragon Boat Club headquarters, seen July 6, is ready at Lakeside Norway on Route 118 in Norway, just west of downtown. The former old train depot on Beal Street will be moved onto the foundation. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat
Jason Shires, operations and business development manager for Lakeside Norway, has provided a waterfront site at the old C.B. Cummings Mill and the Norway Packing Co. and is donating construction services and concrete.
Next, he will restore the old Beal Street Train Depot into a clubhouse for the 40-foot vessel, equipment, supplies and meeting space.
Club leaders and organizations such as the Cancer Resource Center, veterans’ groups and other community-focused teams will use the clubhouse to coordinate client outings, including introductory workshops and coaching.
“That building has been here a long time, it’s historic,” Otterson said, opening the sliding door to display its potential as well as the work ahead. “Jason has been a huge supporter, he bought right into it.”
Dragon boating is new to Maine but there are established organizations supporting the sport across the globe. The Maine Dragon Boat Club is affiliated with the Eastern Regional Dragon Boat Association.
Otterson, with the assistance of Shires, generous donors and her burgeoning team, is still building it but already a curious public is coming. As word spreads around the state, Otterson is fielding calls from beyond Maine asking to learn more about the sport, pitch in and lead group outings.
“We have had so much interest” since announcing the club through the Advertiser Democrat in March, Otterson said. “People who have done it want to be involved. The Chinese American Friendship Society in Portland called, first to make a donation and then to ask about scheduling an excursion. I was invited to speak about it at the Rotary Club, and we have joined Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce.”
A dragon boat closely resembling this one, seen July 6, is expected to arrive Wednesday at Pennesseewassee Lake in Norway. It will be headquartered at Lakeside Norway on Route 118 and available for paddling on the lake. Supplied photo
“Dr. Rubin, an oncologist who holds appointments at Stephens Memorial Hospital, has been telling his patients about it. It was Dr. Rubin who first told me about the benefits of dragon boating for breast cancer recovery.”
Several individuals have made financial donations to the club, including one for $5,000.
Steve and Linda Bond who spend summers in Norway learned about the dragon boat from the newspaper article and quickly joined the club from Florida. Both are avid paddlers and he has coached the sport.
A 40-foot dragon boat will soon be a fixture at Lakeside Norway’s dock on Pennesseewassee Lake in Norway. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat
The Bonds will provide introductory training to newcomers — groups as well as individuals — throughout the season. They are assisting with community engagement: Linda established the club’s Facebook page and both helped man the club’s information booth during the recent Norway Food & Music Festival.
“Dawn LaDuke and John Foster are networking to introduce the sport to other support organizations and businesses, including fitness clubs,” Otterson said. “John Foster of Oxford also signed on to volunteer when he read about it in the paper.”
Otterson singled out her husband, Brian, as the most important partner she has brought to the club. He jumped on board with her plan, agreeing to contribute to the $20,000 for a custom-built dragon boat by 22Dragons in Montreal. The Ottersons tapped into their retirement fund to cover that and the process to establish it as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
“This is our inaugural year, so as we establish ourselves there is no cost to anyone to try it out,” Otterson said. “We will provide safety equipment. There is no experience necessary. We provide paddling instructions before anyone goes out in the boat.
“It’s a new sport for Maine and this is a learning year,” she said.
Otterson said there will be no regular or open hours this season. Instead, the club will hold a series of open houses at Lakeside Norway to provide introductory sessions and outings.
The first open house is scheduled from 2-6 p.m. July 23.
“In the future, we will have a regular schedule where groups can reserve paddling time,” Otterson said. “We will have open paddle sessions so people may participate on an individual basis. When we are ready for that step, there will be club fees to participate.
“For now, we ask that people go to our Facebook page to find out when to come try it out.
“That is where we will announce our open houses, and any other events, ahead of time.”
For more information, call 207-890-7367 or email Mainedragonboatclub@gmail.com.
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