PAST COMMODORE Tom Williams

Dear Members, 

2009 has arrived and you are invited to attend the first general meeting of the year on Monday, February 2^nd at 8:00 p.m. in the main hall of the Piedmont Club.  During this meeting the Executive Committee will be discussing the proposed By-Laws and House & Ground Rules changes.  After the General Meeting discussion the proposed By-Laws and House & Ground Rules will be posted on the Darien Boat Club website darienboatclub.org for member review.   It is the goal of the Executive Committee to have the proposed changes voted on at the May General Meeting, so that final approval may be voted on by the Darien Board of Selectmen.  Please try to attend (refreshments will be served.) 

All invoices for 2009 membership dues and fees have been mailed out.  If you have not received your invoice, please contact Jim Baker, our Club Manager, at 656-1446, or e-mail him at dbcmgrjim@aol.com.  All dues and fees are payable by February 1^st in accordance with the Boat Club’s By-Laws.  Additionally, if you have moved within the past few months, please inform Jim Baker so that he can update the Club’s records.  Anyone who has not paid by February 15^th will be removed from the membership list. 

In early March the Club will be sending out the Slip Holder Contracts to all slip holding members for the 2009 season.  Two copies will be sent to each slip holder, one will need to be signed and returned to the Fleet Committee, the other should be kept for your records to keep you apprised of due dates and necessary documents.  This process proved to be a tremendous success last year.  If you should have any questions, please contact our Fleet Captain Gerald Kutz. 

The club officers have worked out a special deal with BoatUS that will add to the membership benefits you already receive.  If you’re already a BoatUS Member or want to join, you can renew or obtain your membership at a low rate.  If you are renewing your BoatUS Membership, be sure to write in the Darien Boat Club Co-op Group # GA84802B.  The Club Officers encourage you to take advantage of this valuable program at a low cost that is available only to BoatUS Cooperating Groups like ours.  Initiating a new membership or renewing an existing membership is easily done on the web at www.boatus.com/membership/ or by calling 1-800-395-2628.  For more information, call Tom Lochtefeld @ 203-219-4034, or email him at tomloch@yahoo.com.  

The Executive Committee would like to wish all of you a safe and sound winter, and we look forward to a successful 2009 boating season.     

      Sincerely, 

      John A. Keena
      Commodore