Ahoy, Level 1 students! - - JoAnne McClure

It's not too late to take your written test so you can get your rating at the January Awards Banquet! If you have completed your water test and maintenance class, just contact one of the written test instructors and get that test completed! You have until the end of 2010 to make the banquet, but don't put it off! Study up and do it now! Questions? Contact JoAnne McClure (je-mcclure@earthlink.net)

Here's a list of the Level 1 Written Test Instructors:

• David Pardy
• Nancy Weiss
• MaryJane Bacinski
• JoAnne McClure
• Sam Olive
• Trudy Morse

NEW Booty and Swag - Just in time for the Holidays! - - Dave Clark

ASI now has it's own store! Queensboro Shirt Company has set up our own store to sell their products. All profits will be sent to ASI on a weekly basis.We have new logo's and new products including both printed and embroidered items. Pay with your own credit card and have the item shipped whereever youwant.

Your polo, sweatshirt or jacket will sport NOT ONLY the cool ASI logo, but also your area of special interest - racing, instruction, maintenance, cruising!  

You will be dealing directly with the Queensboro company. I will no longer be the middleman! I really hope this is a big improvement for you and our club. It's just in time for Christmas, so please give it a try.  Here's the website:

www.asibootyandswag.qbstores.com  

Put this link in your favorites and it willbe easy to find whenever you are ready. Save this phone number in case you needsome help with your purchase.  (1-800-847-4478 Queensboro Shirt Company).I hope to add even more logo's soon. Thank you

Keelboaters take note! - - Norm Schmidt

A meeting for all Level 3 / 4 sailors and students is scheduled for Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 7:00 pm at Busch's Market - upstairs conference room. Level 3/ 4 topics will include:

• Level 3/4 member feedback 
• financials
• new rates
• new information
• boat status
• sailing locations
• lottery 
• new students
• general discussion.

Another meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 25, 2011.

Busch's Market is located in the shopping mall at the corner of Six Mile and Newburgh roads in Livonia.  Enter the store, walk in front of the check out counters, go past the service desk, and up the stairs.

Notice of several changes in the ASI fees schedule - - Joe Jaeger ASI, Vice President

While it has been several years since any increases in ASI's fee schedule, rising operational costs require the following changes:

• Individual Membership dues            $85
• Family Membership Dues                $130
• L4 Week Timeshare                       $1000

The membership cost changes will help reduce non-level specific operating costs shared by all levels.The increase in the L4 North Channel timeshare fees better scales L4 income to operating expenses.

These increases are a reminder the three best ways you can serve our club are:

1. Grow ASI membership
2. Keep costs down
3. Timeshare those keelboats!

Thank you, Joe Jaeger  ASI Vice-President and Operations Lead

Attention all keelboaters! - - Peter Fulda 

Toward the end of the past sailing season, Manitou's mainsail clutch, part of a set of three on the starboard side of the deck, shown in the accompanying photo, started to fail.

A replacement set that had been bought three years ago had been kept on the boat in one of the drawers across from the head, where it had steadfastly remained until somebody moved it this season.

The cost of this replacement part runs in the neighborhood of $150 - $175, so it is imperative that we locate the spare that we already have. If you know the whereabouts of this part, please advise Peter Fulda, the boat captain at peterful@fastmail.fm or at 248-624-0347.

The first-ever annual ASI haiku contest!

These Haikus (Haiku?) just in, from JoAnne McClure:

Capsize Recovery

Centerboard out, mount, lean, pull

Bail, retrievecrew, sail!

Heave To on backed jib

Turn through eye of wind, scrub speed

Helm over, main sail free

First time on a boat

Everything is new and strange

Intro makes all clear.

Thought I was old salt

Ten foot waves on Huron too much

Back to Interlakes!

First day on the lake

Sails are noisy and boat heels

Seems the boat can fly!

Where's your haiku? You're sitting there right now with your coffee, reading your email, procrastinating about all the stuff you've got to do - what a perfect time to compose a haiku poem! Something like these:

On close reach, hiked out 

Head up! water o'er the rail!

adrenalin rush

Coming in to the dock

Let the jib fly! into irons,

paddles ready, crew!

from Roy Aman,

Water calm, skiing

Water turbulent, sailing

Body calm, tired

From Paula Merideth,

The wind fills the sails

the keel cuts through the water

What could be better?

At Kent Lake we get

mid-lake. The wind disappears

We tie knots and float

We work together

stowing, storing for next year

a bit wistfully.

Thanks Roy and Paula!

You know the formula - three lines - five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables each. Make it about boats, or water, or ASI, or sailing. Doesn't have to rhyme! Make it serious, or funny, or contemplative, or silly. We'll print it here next time. All entries get published! Get in touch with your inner poet! Become famous overnight! Send your haiku to the Burgee.

What's the 'ASI Fog Dog Award'?  What's a 'Fog Dog'?- - Claire Zepeda 

Thanks to Phil Zepeda, an inveterate reader of dictionaries:

The definition of a Fog Dog is a bright spot sometimes seen at the horizon as a fog starts to dissipate. Origin: From the fact that it accompanies fog as a dog accompanies its owner. 

Undoubtedly you know many ASI members who give generously of their time and talents – often with limited or no recognition of their enormous contributions. The ASI Board has just approved an annual award that will be given to one of those “unsung heroines/heroes”.  The award has been named the ASI Fog Dog.

Let us know about some of these amazing people: someone who was the bright spot or beacon in a murky mist, who came to the rescue in a treacherous storm, who provided calm in an unsettled sea. 

Nominations must include a descriptive narrative explaining why this person should be nominated: what specific contribution he/she made, how they were a Fog Dog in the club, and/or how they furthered the goals and Mission Statement of ASI..

Please send your nominations to Claire Zepeda (clairezepeda@gmail.com) We are accepting nominations through Dec 15th. In late Dec/early January, we will publish the list of nominees and then the membership will vote for this year’s Honoree.

The January Awards Dinner meeting - Saturday January 22

Please note that we'll be holding the January Awards dinner at the Monaghan K of C Hall (same place we had the October dinner meeting), on Saturday, January 22. Details to follow, but put it on your calendar! That one you don't want to miss! 

A Gala Evening with Gary Jobson - - 

Great Lakes Yacht Club presents:

A Gala Evening with Gary Jobson 

All proceeds to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Michigan Chapter 

• February 11, 2011 6:30-11:00 pm
• The Edsel & Eleanor Ford House1100 Lake Shore RoadGrosse Pointe Shores, MI
• Music by Brian Lang
• Tickets $35
• Limited Seating
• Complimentary hors d'oeuvres. Cash bar available.

To order tickets, please call 800-456-5413 or online at http://mi.jobson.llsevent.org

Volunteers for Board Meeting Recorder

The ASI Board of Trustees meets once each month (typically the fourth Monday of the month) Volunteer(s) are needed to assist the Board Secretary to take meeting minute notes.

The work can count toward volunteer hours.  If you are interested please contact Norm Schmidt at NSchmidt09@sbcglobal.net for more information.

2011 Keelboat classes - - Bill Lane

Become a Level 2 Captain and sail the Level 2 O’Day 28' Keel boats Interlude and Overture on Lake St Clair. Learn the basics of: navigation and GPS, docking a keelboat, anchoring, keelboat sailing, radio operation, boat systems, rules of the road for power boats, and much more.

  Prerequisites are:

1. Declare sailing ability by submitting a sailing resume to head of Level 2 instruction.
2. Be an ASI member and Level 1 Sail Pass holder with all volunteer hours up to date.
3. Complete and present a certificate showing completion of US Power Squadron or US Coast Guard Auxiliary Safe Boating / Basic Seamanship course before the start of Level 2 classes. The class must have a navigation component. 

Sail longer and farther than ever before!

Contact Bill Lane, Level 2 head instructor, for details 248-891-6125

Email: wjl6355@gmail.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Level 3/4 class for 2011

Level 2 sailors, it is not too early to be think of joining the level 3/4 class for 2011

Sail to interesting ports such as

•       Thames River
•       Port Huron/Sarnia
•       Goderich
•       Kincardine
•       Port Elgin
•       Harbor Beach
•       Tobermory
•       Killarney

Georgian Bay and the finest cruising area in North America, The North Channel. Explore beautiful coves such as: Covered Portage, Snug Harbour, Marianne cove, The Pool and Browning Cove

Learn advance navigation techniques and enhance your knowledge of GPS

• Do off-shore sailing work
• Advanced anchoring
• Boat provisioning
• Crew organization
• Sail to a destination overnight
• Prerequisite are to have a Level 2 sail pass and work hours current, and to sail the Level 2 keel boats 8 times, 4 times as captain and 4 times as crew.

Contact Bill Lane for details 248-891-6125  or Email to wjl6355@gmail.com

One more thing...

The ASI Burgee is now on an 'as needed' schedule. The next one will be - well, we just don't know! It depends on input! Please send your Burgee input to asidon@comcast.net