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The Verein
Germany has hundreds of thousands of registered associations, eingetragene Vereine, marked by the letters e.V. after their names. They cover sports, music, gardening, local history, charity, carnival, shooting, hiking and almost anything else, and a large share of the population belongs to at least one. Most amateur sport in Germany, from children's soccer to rowing, takes place in clubs rather than in commercial gyms or school teams. A Verein is a legal entity with statutes, a board elected by the members, and a members' meeting that has the final say on important decisions. Membership fees are often modest, because the club is run largely by volunteers, and many clubs ask members to contribute work hours or pay a fee instead. That combination of low cost, self-government and obligation is what gives German club life its reputation: sometimes slow and bureaucratic, but also one of the most reliable ways to become part of a neighborhood. Rowing clubs are among the oldest sports clubs in the country, and Berlin, with its rivers and lakes, has many of them. Beginners usually start in broad, stable touring boats under the eye of an experienced member.