Bonnie McLaughlin

261 Fairweather Lane

Ft. Myers Beach, FL 33931

March 2006

This February marked the 16^th anniversary of our club.

REPORTS BY COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

We have a new committee. Following Wyatt's request to update the Bylaws, Carol Burns, Deena Kirkey, and Barbara Rumpolt are examining our Bylaws closely. More will be available on the results at our next meeting.

Jocelyn Erickson of Publicity led a discussion of our club taking a booth at the Blessing of the Fleet to search for new members. Upon reconsideration, Jocelyn decided instead to focus on getting a booth for us at the next boat show.

Joan Ketchel and her assistants continue doing a great job on the Telephone committee.

Evelyn Hoop, Membership, reported that we now have 80 members. We are richer by five new members, and a big welcome to them all! They are: Christine Hankins, John Hendricks, Mickey Lewin, Barbara McLean and Barbara O'Leary. John Hendricks owns a 25' Catalina named Tropical Itch. We sure hope we can help you do some scratching, John.

Martha Daigler, Photography, and Darlene Kittinger are doing a fine job of keeping our albums.

Ken Schneider and the Communications committee have, in the face of the most bizarre obstacles, produced a website for us. Look at http://www.sailing-singles.net Hopefully this newsletter will be sent electronically this month. A lot of hard work and perseverance went into this project, and we really appreciate it.

Jan Hladik, Social/Entertainment, is looking into finding a place for the next Christmas Dinner. A lot of places are booked already, so this isn't easy. If you have a suggestion or are willing to help, please give Jan a call. She is working on a nautical flea market, too.

Joy Hansen, Refreshments, is evidently doing her job as we had some nice cookies and plenty of coffee.

George Nemes is in charge of Monthly Programs/Speakers.

Connie Trowbridge, Treasurer, reported that we have $1,455.21 in our treasury.

We did not have a speaker at our February meeting. We held something between a eulogy and a wake for our late Capt. Stu Sturman instead (see the last page of this newsletter).

Bob Yahn, Cruise Director, is really doing a wonderful job describing our upcoming cruises. Bob has really begun throwing himself into his position. His job is in many ways the most important task in the whole club. He is doing well in this ticklish and demanding position and deserves everyone's commendations. Thank you so much, Bob.

CRUISE CORNER BY DEENA

January 28: Only Bright Star, with 5 crewmembers, sailed the gulf with Capt. Mary today. Each of us practiced helming, tacking and jibing. Bright Star was moaning but continued to steam on despite the abuse. Skills improved. Also, many of the different terms regarding sailing were discussed. Upon returning to the dock, most of the crew departed for home except Mary and Leila, who went to Parrot Key, ate, drank, and were entertained by Elvis (the imitator).

February 18-19: Mother Nature blessed us with warm, sunny skies and a fair wind for this weekend sail to downtown Ft. Myers for the Edison Parade of Light. However, most members missed the event. Only Bountiful sailed with Capt. Bob and Ken Schneider as crew from Ken's home in Cape Coral this beautiful morning. Martha Daigler went by car to John McPherson's boat and they took in the booths ands watched the runners for Marilyn Gladish, who was participating in the race. Along came Bob and Ken after going on the hook out in the Caloosahatchee River across from the City Dock and taking a dingy over to John's slip. Bonnie McLaughlin dropped in after work. They all enjoyed the Light Parade followed by dinner at an Italian restaurant. Bob and Ken sailed home the following day.

January 24-25-26: The Swamp Cabbage Festival! On Friday morning two boats, Bountiful and Samba, left port for LaBelle. Toy Boy Too followed that afternoon. There were two crew members on Bountiful and one crew each on the other two boats for a total of seven members participating on this cruise. The cruise upriver was warm and sunny. Spring is here. The trees lining the riverbanks are beginning to bloom with new green. Bountiful reported that he had perfect timing for the bridges and the Franklin Lock openings, and a perfect sail upriver. He arrived at LaBelle at 4 PM and was able to take the last slip at the dock where the festivities took place. Samba and Toy Boy Too arrived at 6 PM and dropped anchor in the beautiful cove among water lilies and alligators on the North side of the river, which was a stroll across the bridge to the festivities. Dinner and drinks followed and off to bed we went, listening to the croak of gators, frogs and herons on their nightly quest.

Saturday morning. we ate breakfast aboard and walked through the boat yard. We admired Capt. Wyatt's skills at restoring his trimaran. That boat is looking terrific with the new paint and all the repairs it needed. From there we walked across the bridge to the

parade. It was a huge parade, with tons of floats and bands. Following the parade, the crowds all swarmed to the food booths, the stage area, and the armadillo races and other assorted booths. Great people watching territory: Indians, cowboys, rednecks, and us normal people! Back to Bob's boat for a cold beer and on to the garden tractor races by taxi. Rosie was our driver and she was terrific, talking Spanish to Wyatt and informing us of the best Mexican restaurants in town. The races were excellent and now I can't wait until Wyatt gets his lawn tractor ready for the next race. I am going to be the driver. Get that motor tuned and maybe a different carburetor , plus some disk brakes and a throttle on the wheel, Wyatt.

Back to the boats we went to grab clothes and a shower at the boat yard and on to the rodeo to watch the cowboys and cowgirls on their horses and the bucking bulls. We got a ride from Capt. Bob's boat neighbors to the rodeo. Ken reported that another boat couple beside Bountiful had entertained them with their adventures sailing around the world the last seven years. They are sailing from here on to Panama City, FL.

Sunday morning everyone sailed back home under cloudy sky and cooler air. Ken got soaked while at the helm of Bountiful during a brief downpour and ended up flying his jeans from the yardarm trying to get them dry. Samba was left at anchor to go into the yards on Wednesday for a bottom job. Wyatt and Barb returned on Toy Boy Too with Capt. Gib and crew.

It was a great three day cruise.

UPCOMING SAILS

March 4: Daysail with practice on the radio, tying knots and nautical terminology.

March 18-19: Sail on the Gulf, anchor at Glover Bight, dinner at Rumrunners.

Community breakfast and sailing on Sunday. Practice anchoring and line throwing skills.

March 31-April 1-2-3: April Fool sail to Venice. This will be an overnight sail from Ft. Myers to Venice, weather permitting.

Captains, contact Bob Yahn for availability of your boat. Crew, contact Mary Burch to reserve space on boats. First come, first served as usual.

Also, the Cruise committee is planning a 10-14 day sail to Key West this spring. If you are interested, please contact Bob Yahn ASAP, so plans can be made for this cruise.

Telephone numbers: Mary Burch 466-2620

Deena Dirkey 437-8787

Bob Yahn 283-7945 (Please share any ideas you have about Day sails, cruises, etc. with Bob)

MARCH ACTIVITIES, LAND-BASED

Happy Hour will be at the Matanzas Inn, first Friday of the month.

We will continue to hold monthly business meetings at 7PM, Bonita Bill's on Ft. Myers Beach, the third Thursday of every month. We will hold monthly Board of Director's meetings (same time and place) on the second Thursday of every month. Every member is encouraged to attend.

NEW BUSINESS

Joan Ketchel resigned from the Board of Director's due to family commitments. (She will continue on the Phone committee). Joan has done a very good job in every position she has held; thank you, Joan. Len Ebright has consented to fill Joan's place.

The Miami Boat Show happened this weekend. Ken Slifco invited any members who wanted to drive over and spend the night to sleep on his boat (the celebrated Eagle who received a nose job from Dr. Wilma).

Boats US offered our members a special deal again this year. If you have to get towed (has been known to happen), this can really save you some money.

Dorothy Holmes is certified to do vessel safety exams, and has volunteered to do them upon request, free.

The Dania Flea Market will be held March 30 to April 2 at Dolphin Stadium. This is a famous nautical market and a wonderful place to buy new equipment (or get rid of old) at reasonable prices.

Captain George Lewis has embarked upon a formal Training Committee Program. He expects seven to eight people in his next class, which will last two hours. Marilyn has promised to bring coffee and donuts. He hopes to gain recruits and an assistant also. This is an excellent way to learn the fundamentals and get to know your fellow club members better. Our classes have been know to be fun, too! George is working towards a systematic training program for all new members.

Who's Who

Commodore: Wyatt Evers 218-8065

Vice Commodore: George Nemes (941)623-2838

Treasurer: Connie Trowbridge 573-0248

Secretary: Carole Burns 481-9870

Cruise Director: Bob Yahn 283-7945

Membership: Evelyn Hoop 573-0140

Directors: Martha Daigler 369-7472

Len Ebright 415-3500

Telephone: Joan Kachel 731-0142

Newsletter Editor: Bonnie McLaughlin 765-5450

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Don Froehlich 3/29 Deena Kirkey 3/6

Bob Hall 3/1 Betty Sue Leonard 3/8

Norm Inray 3/7 Bonnie Nagle 3/1

Thomas Kane 3/9 Judy Peluffo 3/13

Lavern Todd 3/2

ALOHA, STU

We honored and remembered the late Stu Sturman at February's business meeting. A lot of people came in from the community, and we had a big portrait of Stu, champagne to toast him with, and a lot of laughs. Rather than describing some cardboard saint with stuffy speeches, we talked about Stu as we knew and loved him, ans as he really was. Les drove from Hudson to put in his two cents, and Ken Slifco came from Miami (and drove back to work at 3 AM the next day).

I'M HERE FOR A SHORT VISIT ONLY (By Noel Coward)

I'm here for a short visit only

And I'd rather be loved than hated.

Eternity may be lonely

When my body's disintegrated

And that which is loosely termed my soul

Goes whizzing off into the infinite

By mean of some vague, remote control,

I's like to think I was missed a bit.