This just in...

Reservations have been made for our Awards Dinner and General Membership meeting! We'll meet at Bakers of Milford, in the Garden Room - yes, it's indoors -  on January 21, 2012.  The cost of inner will be $22, the same as we paid at Fox Hills in October.  Happy Hour at 6 with a cash bar, Dinner at 7 pm and General Membership Meeting and Awards Presentations at 8.  

We have the hall until midnight.  Dinner options and other details to follow. Mark your calendars!

Second Annual FOG DOG AWARD - - Claire Zepeda

fog·dog (fôgˈdôgˌ, -dŏgˌ, fŏgˈ-) noun - a bright spot sometimes seen at the horizon as a fog starts to dissipate; A bright or clear spot that appears in breaking fog. Origin: From the fact that it accompanies fog as a dog accompanies its owner.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

This annual award is given to a person in the club who has been - a beacon, a shining light, making a unique and nautical contribution to ASI There are so many people in the club who give so generously of their time and talents – many times with limited or no recognition of their contribution. This process itself will be an opportunity to acknowledge and thank some of those members.

Nominations by the General Membership will be accepted via email to Claire Zepeda  (clairezepeda@gmail.com) between now and Dec 8 (we've extend the deadline a week!). Thank you to those who have sent in nominations already - currently we have 4 nominees.

Nominations should 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 how they furthered the goals and Mission Statement of ASI

In December, the narratives will be published in the Burgee, balloting will follow in early January and results will be announced at the Annual Awards Banquet.

It's not too late...        JoAnne McClure

Ahoy Level 1 Students! If you took your water test before the boats came out, there's still time for your written test before the Awards Banquet. Just contact one of the written test instructors below and get that Level 1 rating before the January meeting when certificates are presented. Deadline is December 15. Here's the list:

• David Pardy
• Chris Lamb
• Nancy Weiss
• MaryJane Bacinski
• JoAnne McCLure
• Sam Olive
• Trudy Morse

New L1 skippers: get into racing next season - - Michael Golden

Racing is a fun way for new or experienced skippers to refine their sailing skills. One learns sailing by doing it; having another boat sailing nearby at your performance level is a great teacher. You don’t have to get competitive about racing to gain confidence in your ability on the helm.

New racers must attend the basic seminar in April and a practice, to skipper in the early races, when you are ready. There is no racing fee for newly rated Level 1 members from this last season. To sign up, reply with your name, rating, and years of sailing/racing experience to Michael Golden 248-549-3030.

Coming next season! - -  Joan Swain

Just wanted to let you know that, with the Board's support in November and approval from Level 1 Instruction, an Advanced Level 1 class will be introduced on a "pilot" basis in 2012. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months. This is the second of three ideas suggested to me this past season and is now only months away from happening. Level 1 continues to move forward thanks to your input. Now to focus on idea #3.

Attention all Level 1 Sailors that want to sail ASI's keelboats - - Bill Lane

The ASI Sail Secretary is pre-registering students for the 2012 Level 2 Keel Boat Class. The cost is $50 which will be a part of your final class fee. To register, send me your sailing/boating resume - call or email me and I'll send you the form. See the qualifications for the class in article below.

Any questions or concerns call 248-891-6125 or email me.

Bill Lane 

Level 2 Head Instructor

Level 2 Class 2012 - - Bill Lane

Become a Level 2 Captain and Sail the Level 2 O’Day 28 foot 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 and have sailed the Interlake 8 times as a Level 1 rated sailor this year.

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. The “America’s Boating Course” has the component. Classes are offered by the Ann Arbor and Birmingham Power Squadrons in October.

Sail longer and farther than ever before

Contact Bill Lane, Level 2 head instructor, for details

248-891-6125

Email: wjl6355@gmail.com

Attention Level 2 Sailors  - - Bill Lane

The ASI Sail Secretary is pre-registering students for the 2012 Level 3/4 Class (cost $50). If interested send me your updated resume - call or email me and I'll send you the form.

Keep in mind that to pre-register you must have completed 8 sails on the Level 2 boats as a Level 2 sailor. For four of the sails or greater you must have been captain of the boat. I recommend pre-registering as this class filled up last season.

See article below for description of the course. 

Bill Lane 

Level 3/4 Head Instructor

Level 3/4 class for 2012 - - Bill Lane

Level 2 sailors, it is not to early to be think of joining the level 3/4 class for 2012

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

Enter beautiful coves such as: Cover Portage Cove, Snug Harbour, Marianne cove, The Pool, Benjamin Islands 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

Prerequisites are:

• Have a Level 2 sail pass and work hours current.
• Sail the Level 2 keel boats 8 times this year of which 4 or more of the sails you were the captain.

Contact Bill Lane, for details

248-891-6125

Email: wjl6355@gmail.com

A few more things...       

Did you ever wonder, If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

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

Are you going to the 'Strictly Sail' boat show in Chicago this January? Unni Unnikrishan writes:

As a former ASI member now living in the Chicago area, I would like to offer zero-cost accommodation to current members during their annual pilgrimage to Strictly Sail this January. Please contact me if interested; I live only a block away from the Metra stop.

My Address: 516 Hamilton Street, Evanston, IL 60202

My Phone: 734-389-9567; E-mail: k.p.unnikrishnan@gmail.com

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

Now that the sailing season is over and most of the winterizing of the centerboard and keelboats has been completed, input for the Burgee has tapered off. So for the next few months, you'll only be receiving the Burgee when there is sufficient content. 

But ASI sailors are an active bunch, even over the winter! I know there are some crews headed to the Virgin Islands, some will head to Chicago for the big boat show, and some will be doing GPS geocaching around here. Whatever you're doing for the next few months, send your stuff in to let us know what you're up to. 

Please send your Burgee input to asidon@comcast.net for inclusion in the next  Burgee, whenever that might be. But send pictures as attachments, please!