PAST COMMODORE Tom Williams

Dear Members, 

As the summer of 2008 begins to slip away, I would like to remind you that there are still a number of upcoming events for September: 

Season End Picnic: Sunday September 7^th from 1:00 to 3:00pm 
General Meeting:  Monday September 8^th , 8:00pm at the Piedmont Club
Lobster Clam Bake: Saturday September 20^th from 6:00 to 10:00pm 

Included with this newsletter is the Lobster Clam Bake reservation form, please complete and return it to our Entertainment Chairman, Tom Hanson.  This is not only a great social event for the Club, but also the DBC’s opportunity to indirectly support the annual Darien Road Race in its fight to defeat cancer.  This is always a sold out event and is limited to 220 members and guests, please send in your reservations quickly. 

With the facilities as limited as they are at the Club, I would like to ask that members please be courteous when planning parties or get-togethers especially when the number of non-members guests exceeds the number of members in your party.  If you intend to have a party, please contact the Dockmaster to make sure that the Club’s facilities can accommodate your needs.

The Board and the Staff of the Boat Club are always concerned with safety and would like to bring a few items to the attention of the members.  The Club has installed a television with 24 hour weather channel capabilities to address our boating member’s questions about forecasted weather conditions.  If you are unsure about the weather, please stop by the Dockmaster’s office for an update on the weather before you head out for a day of boating. 

The Dockmasters and Staff underwent a fire preparedness seminar with Jim O’Brien, a DBC and Noroton Fire Department member, to better prepare themselves in case of a fire at the Club. 

I also would like to remind members to monitor their children when visiting the Club.  Children should not run on the docks or the deck, and children 12 and under are required to wear a lifejacket while on the docks. 

The Executive Committee would like to poll the membership to see if there would be interest in a Power Squadron course for children over the winter so that they could obtain their Safe Boating Certificates.  If you are interested in enrolling yourself or your child in such a program, please send an email to DarienBoatClub@aol.com.   

It has been a very busy fishing season this year and many of our members are fishing off Long Neck Point or just outside the channel of Darien Harbor.  I would like to ask that if you see any of your fellow members fishing in these areas, please be courteous and slow down as you approach them.   

Membership directories were distributed at the Mid-Season Picnic.  They will be available for pickup again at the Ship’s Store during the Season-End Picnic.  Additionally, Club Ties are now available and there will be DBC items on sale for you to start your Holiday shopping. 

                    Sincerely, 

                    John A. Keena
                    Commodore