Commodore’s Corner

While I was away at another party, I hear that many of you braved the snow and slippery conditions to attend the Annual Levee.   Many thanks to Barry Atkinson and those that prepared the celebration, and to Rob Giberson for attending and welcoming you to the New Year.  Given the rollercoaster weather and markets this month, I wonder what you all wished for in the New Year!!

Once again we had two of our most successful social events in January:  the Celtic night and Scotch tasting was a fun evening and we were amazed and entertained by Peter Hill the Piper and the remarkable drumming and dancing of 16 year old Lea.  The Toilet Seat Toss last Saturday was great fun and in addition to some spectacular curling, we had a great selection of chili’s and deserts, as well as Dennis’ fine hot rum toddies.  Monies raised in the events were earmarked for refurbishment of some of our Trophies, and for the Junior Sailing School respectively.  These were both member initiated events which again confirms that it’s our members that make the Club a great place to be.  Many thanks to John & Moira Coull, Jon Wilkins and Bob Peat and Gerry den Hartog for their fine work in organizing these events and of course, to those helping and providing food as well.

At the Board meeting Sunday, we approved another 5 Supporting memberships bringing our total membership to 231.  Further in this Bugle, there will be notes on the Volunteer program, and the policy for e-mail communications.  We also had a first look at preliminary plans for the renovations to the front of the Clubhouse and provided some suggestions to the planning committee.  If you look in the bookcase, you will find a two volume, wire-bound set of a Cruising Guide to the US Intracoastal Waterway. These finely illustrated books were donated by Michael McGowan and Sacha Warunkiw for use by the Club members. 

From The House!
By Barrie Atkinson

Here we are at the end of January, (31 days closer to launch!) and already we have had three great and well-attended social events. The new Years Day Leve saw 60+ members and guests greeting each other on a very snowy afternoon, but spirits were lifted as spirits (and wines beers) were lifted and the year got under way in fine form.

The Celtic Night and Scotch Tasting was again the hit that it was last year. Our hearts were warmed by some truly special single malts and similarly our stomachs by generous helpings of “the chieftain o’ the puddin’ race”. We were also treated to wonderful piping and Scottish dance demonstrations.

The 26^th blessed our annual Chili  Bonspiel (or toilet-seat toss) with balmy weather and 48 happy slip-sliding souls pitched toilet seats back and forth across 40ft of Picton Harbour. However, nobody enjoyed the day more than Phoenix who even managed to get into one game. The day netted some $500 to kick-start sailing school fund raising.

All these events of course are put on by members for members and our deepest thanks must go to all the volunteers who invest their own time and real efforts to organize these events and to clean up afterwards too. They are too many to name, but you know who they are. Next time you run into one why not tap him/her on the shoulder and tell them?

Talking of volunteers, when any of you full members work on club activities, don’t forget to get your volunteer hours credited. Each one of us is required to give 8 hours per year. There is a clipboard at the bar with sheets to record your hours. Ask Dennis.

Elsewhere in this edition of the Bugle you will find this year’s schedule of the principle club events. It may come as a surprise that it is a difficult thing to produce, there being so many cross checks necessary to ensure no conflicting dates not only within the club, but with other regional and national events. So while it is a useful planning guide, you may want to keep checking your e-mails and the club bulletin board for “adjustments”.

Last item concerns Monthly Friday night dinners. We plan to offer these in any month when there is no other club-event dinner. Our usual wonderful caterer, Sheila Brushey, has recently undergone triple by-pass surgery. We all wish her a full and speedy recovery and will discuss scheduling a Friday dinner in February when she is able. We will post a bulletin when we have a date. Until then, see you at the club. 

A casual mixed darts group meets Thursdays at 7:30 PM at the club during the off-season. All skill levels, and  everyone is welcome!

Odds and Ends
Hedonists’ Corner 

The Hedonists are still hiding in their corner…(with their heads!)

PEYC Cookbook!
Be sure to get your favourites in to Cathie Coultis for inclusion in this important volume of culinary delights, both for home use and aboard cruising, hedonistic yachts! Recopies can be given or sent to her directly, or left at the Club for her.

Volunteer Corner

by Cathie Coultis
zoocrew@persona.ca

 I am looking forward to contributing a regular column in the Bugle to provide club members with news and views about our Volunteer Program. Volunteering is good!
For the club, it means that we can get a lot more done that the budget may not have been able to afford.   For the members, it is a great opportunity to meet and get to know other members, as well to see how the club operates.
As part of the Volunteer Program, any member who wants to volunteer will be asked to complete a form that allows you to indicate areas where you have a particular interest or skill.  This helps the club build a database for future reference and planning. This also creates some extra work for the Volunteer Co-ordinator.  However, I believe that with this volunteer position I have an obligation to give you as many opportunities as possible to get involved with your club…and enjoy your time there even more! 
Having said all that, this is a new program for all of us and I may forget that you are away for the winter or that I’ve already asked you (it’s called a “brain cramp”) about helping out with an activity or event.  Please bear with me while I (we) get settled in.
Anyhoo, this is how the program should work…in an ideal world. 

~  When I receive a request from the Board with a specific date(s) for an activity (e.g. grounds clean-up work party) I will send out an email and/or put the request through the phone committee (dependent on the size of the project) – do I hear any volunteers to join me on the phone committee? … 

~  Where volunteer services are needed without a firm date, I’ll post these requests in the Bugle and on the Notice Board (with a sign-up sheet) at the club. 

It has been suggested to me that it would be a good idea to create a Volunteer Hospitality or Social Committee.  This group of volunteers would specifically assist with social events and gatherings, such as Friday Happy Hour, potluck dinners, Christmas party, Pig Roast – just to name a few.
My hope is that with implementing this program, you will be kept better informed of what is going on and what is coming up.  Given enough advance notice, you may even be able to get more involved with your club.
Please contact me by email or catch up with me at the club, for any details and /or to become a part of the Volunteer Program.  John and I both look forward to seeing you around the club this year.

Coming to Waters Near You! 

The following came via Bob Townsend of Carrying Place.  Since nautical regulations south of the border affect us on our visits their by boat and are often duplicated by our own Ottawa mandarins, it should be of more than passing interest to PEYC members.

SCUTTLEBUTT 2504 ­ January 4, 2008  www.sailingscuttlebutt.com

Scuttlebutt is a daily digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features
and dock talk . . .

BIG GOVERNMENT - BIG MESS
For 34 years the U.S. federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has exempted discharges from recreational boats from the Clean Water Act permit system. A recent court ruling cancelled this permit exemption. EPA is required by the court decision to develop and implement by September 30, 2008 a national permit system for ALL vessels in the United States for a variety of normal operational discharges like grey water, engine cooling water and deck runoff. BoatU.S. along with other industry groups has been working
behind the scenes to come up with a legislative fix for this huge problem. If nothing is done to solve this issue, you will have to pay for a permit for each boat that you operate including your dinghy, Laser, or motorboat in each state!

New Members
Please welcome the following new members to the Club:

 Anne Trant    John Coultis    Ron Fisher   Carl Craigen    Billy Bud 

Don’t forget that the spouse of a Full Member is eligible for a 50% discount on the cost of a Supporting Membership.
Vice Commodore Rob Giberson , Membership Chairman

PRIVACY!
A Message from the Membership Director and the Board
Communications from the Club and Privacy of Information 

In accordance with the Federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, Personal Information maintained by the Club will be held secure and used for the purpose of managing the Club membership operations.  The Club uses this information primarily to communicate with its members via letters or e-mail.   We are particularly concerned about the release of e-mail addresses, given the proliferation of spam these days.  Therefore all communications are sent as ‘blind copies’ so you only see your own address.  We also restrict e-mail communications to those relating to Club Activities, and other items of interest which conform to the purposes of the Club.  Requests for e-mail messages to members should be referred to the Membership Director to send.  A reminder also that to ensure you receive communications from the Club, please notify the Club of any address, phone or e-mail address changes.

 A Possible Event?
Last year, at the suggestion of Archie Lamont,  there was a dinner at the Club for Past Commodores and their partners. (Yes, we all paid for our meals!)  and it was a great success.  Everyone had a good time and the bar did well, as might be expected!
It has been suggested that this be repeated, but open to all members who are interested in a good time. It certainly would be a wonderful opportunity to renew old friendships, build new ones and  another excuse for a party at the Prince Edward Yacht Club.