Newsletter #5 - Spring Launch 2025
On April 27th, forty-nine of our members convened at the Beacon restaurant for our Spring Launch meeting. It is a healthy circumstance that we had several members on a Wait List to attend. The Beacon, under new management, was anxious to provide us with a good experience as we dined at their buffet.
Being together after a long Winter was delightful as we caught up with friends of many years and met some new members, as well. The exuberance born of the pleasant anticipation of the boating season to come was omnipresent. There are many upcoming events that you won’t want to miss. On May 4th there will be a workshop on Outboard Motors with noted outboard expert Jim Barrick being our featured guest. Our 50th Annual Boat Show will take place on June 6,7, and 8 at the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club, and all this is just the beginning of the summer with many events to occur later on. The show will be preceded by our first Cruise Night on June 5th. So there are lots of fun and interesting events for us to enjoy. Come out and be part of it all.
After a pleasant cocktail hour, Ray Reynolds, our President, conducted a brief, formal meeting. Ray began by sharing a moment of levity with our group during which he recounted an episode of a medical event, a hospitalization, and the subsequent need for one of our members to come to the rescue of the patient who had been transported to the hospital without any lower body clothing. Undaunted, the “rescuing member” rose to the task, and there was some mention of her having to go into the patient’s underwear drawer. What we do for our friends! And that was Ray’s message amid the levity. We have a community of friends that step forward to help each other. Ray then addressed reports from the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Membership Chairman, and the Audit Committee. All parameters showed our Chapter to be in excellent condition.
There were two facets of the meeting that were quite noteworthy and attributable to Jackie Loughridge who is managing our WoodyWear operation. Jackie had an enormous batch of new items which were bought by many. Her second notable contribution to the meeting was a beautiful sheet cake with a picture of our 50th Anniversary logo on it.
The meeting concluded with the drawing of the winning tickets for the 50-50. Walking away with fatter wallets were winners, Dodi Markevich, $100, Wayne Markevich, $50, and Ray Blanchfield, $35.This was a fun event, the first of many this year. Be part of it all!
