COMMODORE - John Keena

VICE COMMODORE – Chris Mangan

REAR COMMODORE – Dave Dever

SECRETARY – Glen Osberg

TREASURER – Brian Lovegrove

FINANCIAL SECRETARY – Al Metayer

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

FLEET CAPTAIN – Gerald Kutz

RACKS & LOCKERS –Tom Lochtefeld

HOUSE & GROUNDS – Art Morris

MEMBERSHIP – Martin Milewski

Dear Members, 

2008 has arrived and you are invited to attend the first general meeting of the year on Monday, February 4^th at 8:00 p.m. in the main hall of the Piedmont Club.  Please try to attend (refreshments will be served.)

All invoices for 2008 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 2008 season.  A sample copy was mailed to each slip holder last fall.  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.  If you should have any questions, the Fleet Captain (Mooring Chairman) will be discussing this contract and other slip related issues at the February General Meeting. 

Although it is winter, the Board is hard at work making improvements for the coming season.  The dock replacement program is back on track with the replacement of several sections of A-Dock.  Additionally, preparations are being made to widen the walkway from the parking lot to the Club to ease pedestrian congestion.  Our House and Grounds Chairman, Art Morris is looking to the membership for suggestions on what improvements our members would like to see at the Club.  Please send your comments or suggestions to him at amorris@hygenix.com   

Your 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. 

BoatUS provides a vast range of services, information and savings to recreational boaters including:

·         An effective lobby that fights unfair taxes, fees and government regulations that single out boat owners, Members-only discounts, and Member Rewards with BoatUS equipment purchases.

·         Discounts on fuel, overnight slips or repairs at more than 600 marinas, coast to coast.

·         Low-cost, high protection boat insurance, including special programs for trailer-able boats and PWC’s.

·         On-the-Water Towing, with your choice of service levels from $50 per incident (free with Membership) up to Unlimited Service provided by the nation’s largest towing network, TowBoatUS. 

Boat/US Magazine, a full year’s subscription is included. 

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.

 I’m sure many members have observed the rising cost of gasoline on both land and on the water.  The Executive Committee makes a concerted effort to keep our gas pump prices as low as possible.  Members can help keep these prices lower is by applying for a Sunoco credit card.  The use of other credit cards adds several thousand dollars to the cost of providing gas to the membership.  If you do not have Sunoco card please apply for one.  Applications are always available at the Club House, or you can obtain one online at http://www.sunocoinc.com/site/Consumer/ApplyforaCreditCard.htm

Included with this newsletter is the 2008 Directory Form.  Please complete the form and return it to Marty Milewski our Membership Chairman.  If you do not return the form we will only include the member’s name, address, and telephone number in the directory.  If you would like to save a stamp, you can complete this form online at http://www.darienboatclub.org/Onlineapp.htm  

The Executive Committee would like to wish all of you a safe and sound winter, and we look forward to a successful 2008 boating season.

Sincerely, 

      John A. Keena

      Commodore