Although I just started volunteering as a receptionist at this location just the other day, I do…read moreknow a lot about this place and would like to share this information with all of you. If you know a little about the ARC, come by and volunteer. Most of this office's opportunities are volunteer only(although most are field-work spots), you pretty much help out at other places, but this is a large regional office for the newly-combined Dutchess and Ulster Co. branches. (There are some paid spots within the office, but for the most part, most of the office is volunteer work. These spots tend to be the "director-level/executive level spots for paid spots, but it all depends on the situation.) This location does take donations, however clothes are not acceptable donations at this location(an ARC location in Maryland does this). If you're not sure, call this location and find out. Money(checks and cash), and MoneyGram donations are accepted, as well as supplies such as water and the like, are also accepted here. Drop it by. You'll get a tax-donation receipt for any monetary donation you can give. The American Red Cross needs your help in any way you can. You might even benefit yourself, if you have lost something due to natural disasters(or need help looking for someone, even someone who is in the military). Also at this location, they have a transport ERV(Emergency Response Vehicle) that provides the supplies to needy emergencies, based on other factors which I'm not going to get into here. Another thing they have at this location is a blood donation center, which is open every day that the main location is open. Come to the front door(nearest the parked ERV-and up the few stairs), sign in to the guestbook(and later sign-out) and give some blood.

My boy Carlos went down. Now his belongings are up for auction inside. The worst part is, the…read moreauction is entirely free. Free pickins for the other gools.

This lovely boathouse boasts great river views and outstanding instruction for the novice rower…read more Located past the Mid-Hudson Bridge, near the Poughkeepsie train station, the Hudson River Rowing Association can be slightly tricky to get to if it's your first time there, and the directions on the website make this process slightly more convoluted than it has to be, in my opinion. But once you get down to the boathouse, the river views are outstanding, and it really makes you want to get out onto the river and row! The staff is friendly, and novices have a choice of one of three sessions: a free Saturday introductory session; a series of 90-minute sessions on weekday evenings; and a novice rowing group, which meets during the summer and teaches novices the ins-and-outs of rowing with their fellow team members. Sessions include a tour of the boathouse - which also serves as the "home" of a number of local high school and college crew teams, including Vassar - work on the rowing machines and time in the expansive indoor rowing tanks. The staff are encouraging to all newcomers to this graceful sport, and emphasize an individual pace. Very nice overall!

Great staff, great people, great boathouse, what more can you want?…read more They offer learn to row, competitive rowing, and learning how to scull. There's a variety of programs to choose from and very reasonably priced. Definitely a fan!