Dear Members:

As the new year has arrived, you are invited to attend our first 2006 general meeting on Monday, February 6th at 8:00pm in the main hall of the Piedmont Club.  Please try to attend.  (Donuts and cider will be served.)

First, a few issues I need to talk about:

All invoices for 2006 membership dues and fees have been mailed out.  If you have not received your invoice, 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 1st 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 15th will be removed from the membership list.

All members must provide the Mooring Chairman with a copy of their Connecticut Motor Vehicles Registration before placing their boats on the docks.

Any member who plans to purchase or has purchased a new boat for their existing slip must get written permission from the Mooring Committee prior to placing it on the docks.  Forms are available from Jerry Kutz at 656-3171 or Jim Baker at the Club.  We've taken photos and recorded the registrations of all boats moored at the Darien Boat Club during 2005.  We would like to remind all members that if in the future you would like to have a boat on the docks, a kayak in the racks, or any other service the club can provide, you need to fill out a separate application for each services.  Applications are available at http://darienboatclub.org or at the club.  Many members have not yet filled out any of these applications.  Please take the time to make sure we have your name recorded on the appropriate waiting list.  For questions regarding Dockside Moorings, please contact Jerry Kutz at 656-3171; for Kayaks, Dinghies, Racks and Lockers contact Tom Lochtefeld at 219-4034.

Please be reminded that the Darien Boat Club is now a cooperating member of BoatUS, which entitles members to 50% discount on their BoatUS yearly membership fee, plus special invitations to BoatUS and West Marine sales events.

To join as a new member, use the link:
https://www.boatus-insurance.com/newMember/joinN.asp?st

To renew membership, use the link:
https://www.boatus-insurance.com/web_renewal/renewal1.asp

For both new members and renewals, remember to type in the Darien Boat Club Cooperating Group number GA84802B in the section entitled, "Tell us about your boat" to get the 50% off.  Or call them at 1-800-395-2628.  If renewing by mail, make sure the GA84802B group number is on the form to get the 50% off.

Lastly, I would like to thank all those members who helped make the Santa Claus event possible.  We had almost 100 attendees and it was a great success.