❤ GIVING BACK
THE CLUB IS A PLACE WHERE GOOD FELLOWSHIP AND ALOHA PREVAIL, not only for its members but our community at large. For years, we’ve had a Toys for Tots donation box during the holiday season, hosted beach clean ups and have held fundraising events for various organizations. And one of the Club’s long-standing traditions is having member-led committees and volunteers to help run OCC. One woman in particular who has continued the tradition of sharing her knowledge and skills with the next generation through volunteer coaching is Liz Perry. A Winged “O” and member since 1968, Liz has contributed to the Club’s athletic programs— specifically canoe racing—in myriad ways. “Liz has been an integral part o OCC paddling. She has introduced, motivated and shaped hundreds of men and women to the program throughout the years. Her dedication and selflessness has made paddlers better people and the Outrigger a better place,” says Tom McTigue, who’s coached alongside her for many years. As unlikely as it seems, her paddling and coach- ing career actually began at the same time, thanks to a little push from Life Member Michele St. John. When Liz was 19, she began competing on the Nov- ice B team, all the while sharing what she was learn- ing with the boys and girls 12-year-old crews. All three won that year. She was hooked, and since then, Liz has served on a committee— Historical, House, Entertainment and, of course, Athletics—and/or coached—paddling, volleyball, tennis—nearly every year since. She served on the Board of Directors for
several years, and was Club Captain from 1992 to 1993, and to this day, Liz continues to be one of the most involved members. This year, Liz once again stepped up to coach at a time when the pro-
Liz shows unwavering dedication to OCC's paddling program, as evidenced by her enth- uasiastic coaching from the escort boat, some decades after her first coaching stint.
gram was going through some changes. “I just felt I could right the ship,” she says. “We feel very grate- ful that Liz Perry stepped up to coach again and that she devoted herself to make it another super fun [paddling] season. We all felt so much joy to be on the water together under her great leader- ship,” says Jennifer Raams. She continues, “Liz is a badass coach, mentor, and she’s always super motivating. She is all about the ‘O’ and talks about fellowship on the water. She says in paddling, and in our lives, it’s all about relationships and when enjoying the experience success will come.” The longtime and beloved coach believes that paddling is also about being part of something that is bigger than yourself. “She is particularly good at nurturing novice paddlers and instilling in them a love for the sport, which she herself has cultivated over decades,” shares Raams, who’s been paddling in the OCC program for 23 years. “Liz Perry is the kind of coach who makes you want to come back and get better and better after every practice.” Liz says, “The impact Outrigger paddling has had on my life is immeasurable. I want to leave
30 AMA | november / december 2023
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