A very warm greeting to all! Spring is in the air, the flowers are blooming, and if you haven’t already been out on your boat or gone on a dive trip this year, you are already behind the power curve. With the weather turning warm, I am looking forward to a very active boating and diving year. Over the past two months we have already enjoyed a couple of very successful gatherings. Even though the weather didn’t allow us to take our boats to the Crab Shack in February all that attended the event had a great time. It was a different story for the March Pot Luck Dinner Cruise. The weather was absolutely beautiful. We were able to enjoy happy hour in the Shalimar Park and then a wonderful dinner in the Shalimar town hall. Thanks to Gary Combs for making all the arrangements and getting all his neighbors to graciously give up some of their dock space so we could dock our boats. I think all who attended would agree that was a super event. Even though I was out of town for the Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day dinners, I understand those were also outstanding events.
Over the next couple of months we are looking forward to a Florida Keys Dive Trip, a Mother’s Day Dinner Cruise, and our annual Memorial Day Cruise to Crooked Island. If you haven’t already made reservations for the Keys dive trip or the Memorial Day Cruise, you need to do so as soon as possible.
The board and bridge are still working on sprucing up the inside and outside of the club and dive shack. Since CE is already out of money for the year, everything we do will have to be self help. Keith will be setting up some work days in the near future, so watch your e-mail for those dates. We will need all the help we can get.
I want to thank everyone for the support you have been giving the club. If you pay attention to our financial statements, you may remember that this time last year we were operating in the red. Thanks to your great support and a couple of minor price adjustments, we are now solidly in the black. This is going to allow us to spend a little money to make some improvements in the facility.
As always, I welcome your continued support and inputs. Please feel free to call or email me at anytime if you have concerns, ideas to improve our club, or especially if you would like to volunteer. I look forward to seeing everyone on the water soon.
| Tom Graves |
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Volunteer Honor Roll
FEBRUARY
Family Night Cooks & Crew: Kevin and Christi O’leary, Roger & Teri Adams, Jerry and Ruth Hill, Larry and Violet Ault
Bartender Family Night: Brian Campbell
Meeting Night Cooks & Crew: Bill Carver, Carmella Noll, Tom and Joan Brandt
Bartenders Meeting Night: Troy Dent and Bill Woodward
MARCH
Family Night Cooks & Crew: Mike and Rita Mottern, Gorden & Bobbi Fornell
Bartenders Family Night: Bill Hall, Bill Martin and Jerry Cote
Meeting Night Cooks & Crew: Troy and Kay Dent, Philip and Astrid Krajeck, Bill and Sally Woodward, Bryan and Melissa Campbell
Bartenders Meeting Night: Larry Shingler and Joe Stevens
UPCOMING EVENTS: Don’t forget that there will be NO Family Night in April. Membership Night in April “George’s Chicken” will be back and it’s always finger licking good.
*****If you don’t see your name
listed then perhaps it’s time for you to volunteer******
We need volunteers for Family Nights, Meeting Nights and bartenders. Please sign up on the board in the dining room or the board behind the bar to be a bartender or call Hazel at 678-7084. On the website there is a Dinner Guide if you need help.
Remember to call Christi O’Leary at 240-4448 or email eycreservations@valp.net by Tuesday, 17th of April and Tuesday the 15th May (No Later Than 1800 Hr’s), to make reservations or cancel for Membership Night dinner. If you make a reservation and you are a no-show or cancel after 1800 hr’s Tuesday, you will be required to pay for the dinner.
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THE GRAPEVINE By Joan Faris |
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We are doing pretty well where illnesses are concerned. Phil Krajeck and Gus Bailey had brief hospital stays but both are home and well on the way to recovery. Phil even helped preparing our March Membership Night Dinner! I’ve only had to send out a couple of other get well cards, so all-in-all we have a lot to be thankful for.
In our members on the move category: Bob and Karen Gramm spent a long weekend at the Miami Boat Show and got to sail a sister ship to the one they have on order. Be on the look out for new sailing cat early in May to keep the Storey’s cat company. Bob, next time remember two words “Power Cat!! Gary and Sandy Miller traveled to Australia and New Zealand and did everything from the big cities to the Outback. Sandy said the whole trip was wonderful but the Great Barrier Reef and their tours in New Zealand were just unbelievable. Now that warmer weather and water are starting to return, things on the cruise scene will start to get lively and there should be lots to report for our next SeaNotes so remember to let me know what is going on.
Don’t forget our next Family Night Friday April 7 is cancelled!!! Remember, when you hear about any of our members who need a little cheer or deserve recognition PLEASE call or e-mail me and I will take it from there. Contact me by phone at 678-5834 or e-mail joanfaris@aol.com.
See you at the club.
Membership
ReportBy Bob Gramm
We now have 156 memberships (85 boaters, 38 divers, and 33 boater/divers) – 15 more than last year at this time. Please welcome the following members who joined since the last SeaNotes: Jonnie & Lorraine Blaylock.
If you are not receiving EYC emails from Fred Westfall or if your email address has changed, please contact me (bobgramm@cox.net) and we’ll update our list. Also, if you would like a member roster please send me an email or call at 651-9514.
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Dates To Remember |
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April
Apr 6 Pensacola Jazz Fest
Cruise Seville Harbor
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May
May 4 Family Night |
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Note: If you have email, you should have received the full 2007 calendar. If not, a copy is available on our website
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Boating Activities |
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Our next cruise is April 5th to 7th in Destin, if you are not going to the Pensacola Jazz Fest. I realize this is Easter Sunday weekend but some have showed an interest. If you want to join us call me at 243-5860 or e-mail me at queenpz@cox.net.
In May we will be going to Panama City for Memorial week. Those that are interested and have not informed Gary Combs need to do so.
The Mystery Cruise to the Combs was a big success. I big thank you to them for all the work that they did to make this a success. I also want to include a thank you to Tommy for the meat he prepared and John Faris for the cobblers.
People have asked me to please print the dessert that I brought so here it is:
Easy Chocolate Cherry Cake
2 (21 oz.) cans cherry pie filling
1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
¼ cup sugar
1 box chocolate fudge cake mix
1 cup finely chopped pecans
¼ cub butter, cut into teaspoon-size pats
Fresh whipped cream or ice cream (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13x9x2 inch baking pan. Spread cherry pie filling over bottom of pan. Sprinkle evenly the chocolate morsels and sugar. Spread dry cake mix over sugar and pie filling. Sprinkle evenly with pecans. Place butter pats over cake mix, covering cake mix as evenly as possible. Bake 1 hr; let cool 30 min. before serving.
See
you on the water soon!
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Dive Activities News By Robert Hyde
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The proper care of your snorkeling gear will keep equipment in good working order for years to come. Follow these gear care tips to keep your mask, snorkel and fins in tip top shape.
Soak Snorkeling Gear in Fresh Water:
The number one cause of snorkeling equipment damage is neglecting to soak it in fresh water. Start your maintenance with a thorough soaking in fresh water after every snorkeling trip. If you don't, salt crystals will dry and harden causing metal parts to weaken and rust; straps and fabrics will stiffen and crack. The crystals, along with sand, act like an abrasive causing scratches and holes in equipment.Inspect Snorkeling Gear:
Inspect all snorkel gear and equipment for cracking, tearing, and sand residue. Check all straps by stretching them and looking for cracks and tears. On the mask, look for cracks in the skirt or lens. Inspect purge valves for bits of sand or salt that may have survived the washing and also look for cracks.Repair Snorkel Gear:
You can make simple repairs on snorkeling gear yourself. A broken strap can be replaced by a new one or use a good strap from a spare mask. If a strap buckle, on the fins or masks, is broken you can temporarily fix it by sewing the strap to the fin or mask. If the snorkel keeper is broken, use a rubber band or duct tape. If the purge valve leaks and cleaning doesn't fix it, try sealing it with neoprene cement or covering it with duct tape.Proper Snorkel Gear Storage:
Snorkeling gear care includes proper storage when dive gear is not in use. Protect your snorkel gear from light, heat and fumes. Do not pile heavy weights on top of snorkeling equipment. To avoid bent fins, they should lie flat, not on their tips. Don't let silicone rest against neoprene; the silicone will become discolored.Transporting Snorkeling Gear:
You must take care of your snorkel gear during transportation to avoid damage en route to your destination. Pack the fins so that they lie flat, either at the bottom of the gear bag or the side. Put the mask in its protective case and pack the snorkel separatelyFive Strategies For Preserving Body Heat
For a more comfortable and ultimately safer dive follow these tips for conserving body heat.
1. Stay warm before the dive. Heat loss is gradual and can start long before you get to the dive site.
2. Stay warm between repetitive dives. Standing around in wet gear between dives can add to your body's deprivation of warmth through evaporative heat loss.
3. Get warmed up as soon as possible after a dive. You can start on the dive boat by toweling off and getting into dry clothes.
4. You can develop hypothermia without immediately recognizing it. When choosing your exposure suit, err on the side of thermal protection.
5. Become an educated consumer. Visit your local dive shop and have them show you the different styles of protective garments and accessories. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
DIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
April 1 Seal Team
7 Advanced
11/25 Nitrox
14 Open Water
14 Discover Scuba
15 Refresher
21 Cavern
28 Open Water
May 5 Advanced
9/23 Nitrox
12 Open Water
13 Seal Team
19 Rescue
26 Open Water
27 Seal Team
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Summer
(May-Oct): Renters work
both Friday and Monday
Winter
Hours: Renters work Friday
only. Only one renter
required
Equipment
return and rental:
1730-1900.
Schedule
Conflicts:
Step 1: Swap with
another renter.
Step 2: See step
1. |
SOUND-OFF
To All EYC Members
There were no Sound-off items this month.
EDITOR’S NOTE: There have
recently been some questions as to where to send your submissions for the
“Sound-Off “column. You may send
your submissions directly to Tom Graves at tommy.graves@eglin.af.mil or
directly to me at jan@atplus.com. A reminder of the
ground rules: (1) address an issue, idea, or concern (2) no personal attacks (3)
no anonymous inputs. Space
permitting inputs received will be published in the printed version of the
SeaNotes. All inputs received will
be posted in website version of the SeaNotes. If you choose to put in an anonymous suggestion, please use the suggestion box located at
the EYC clubhouse.
Eglin Yacht Club Sea Notes
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Robert Penney Board Member 609-0725 |
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Danita Marcum Board Member 682-2624 |
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Robbie Roberts Board Member 863-1794 |
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Boating Activities-Pat Siep |
243-5860 |
Membership
- Bob
Gramm
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651-9514 609-0725 |
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Club Manager-Neil
Schaible
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678-7084 863-5555 |
Reservations-Christi
O'Leary
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240-4448 |
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Budget/Finance-Neil Schaible |
678-7084 |
Secretary-Connie Inman |
864-2461 |
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Safety/Boating-Vacant |
Safety/Diving-Kevin Crump |
678-6922 | |
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Sunshine-Joan Faris |
678-5834 |
Quartermaster-Karen Roberts |
863-1794 |
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Entertainment-Hazel Schaible |
678-7084 |
Editor/Website-Jan/Fred Westfall |
609-8075 |
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Diving Activities - Robert Hyde |
244-3150 |
House-Keith Dodson |
651-0750 |
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News Circulation-Shirley Howell |
651-8427 |
