Konza Sailor
Official Newsletter of the Blue Valley Yacht Club
Founded 1963
Post Office Box 961, Manhattan, Kansas 66505
http://www.bluevalleyyachtclub.org/
Volume 2002  Issue 2  Mar 2002

Secretary’s Message                              

 Welcome to a new season of sailing!  The weather is warming up, and we have several exciting events planned.  Currently, the Board is planning a novice sailing workshop that will be open to any members who would like to become more comfortable on the water.  A date has not been set, but we anticipate holding the workshop sometime this summer.  Harriet Ottenheimer and Shannon Heroux have agreed to assist in planning the event.  If anyone is interested in planning, teaching, or just helping out, please contact me at > tbk296@aol.com.

Also please let me know if you have news, stories, or suggestions that you would like published in an upcoming newsletter.

Safe Sailing,
Tracie

Commodore's Message

 I would like to welcome everyone back for another exciting year of sailing.   With the weather fluctuating as much as it has recently, I would like to remind everyone to be especially careful.  When out at the lake, be  particularly watchful of changes in lake condition such as water temperature and wind speed. With that in mind, I would like to turn to some of the more exciting happenings around the club.

 It is almost time for the spring banquet, and I hope everyone has chance to participate. Ned has done an excellent job of planning the get-together, and  it should be fun for all who attend.

Improvements to the club facilities are also moving along at a good clip. A permanent electrical generator has been  installed next to the shed. The generator has electric start for all of you (I am included) that used to complain about starting the old one.  Wiring has also been run to receptacles located around the property.   A new shelter is also in the works.  Construction will hopefully begin sometime this summer.

Once again, I hope everyone has an exciting year of sailing. If you have any  questions or comments, please call or e-mail me.


Sincerely,
Ken Hays, Commodore
Kenph@interkan.net
(785) 539-2374

 

Upcoming Events

This year’s schedule of events is posted on our website, but here are some highlights. Please remember that all dates are subject to change.

Spring Banquet:       April 6

This year the annual Spring Banquet will be held at the Black Jack Hills recreational Area, which is about halfway to Wamego. As you will recall from last year, it is a large enclosed shelter with picnic tables, a full bar, and a big potbelly stove should the evening turn chilly. Bill and Vicky Dean, the owners of Black Jack, will serve smoked brisket and smoked chicken, along  with a vegetable, Caesar salad, a dinner roll, and iced tea.  Dessert will be a selection of cobblers with ice cream.

The cost is $11 per person.  Please bring a check for the appropriate amount made out to the Blue Valley Yacht Club.  Please make reservations no later than March 25 by e-mailing or calling Ned  Gatewood, ngatewd@ksu.edu or 539-8804.

Directions to Black Jack from Manhattan:   Drive east on Highway 24 approximately 10 miles east to Vineyard Road, and turn right. Drive a short distance to where the road meets Chapman Road and turn right. There you will see the Black Jack facility on your left.

Spring Work Day:        April 13
     
Plan to participate in our annual spring clean-up/ work day.  More information  will be distributed via e-mail.

Alternate Work Day:      April 20

First Spring Race:         April 28:

           (Please remember to contact Ken Conrow to participate.)

Upcoming Sea Scouts Events

If any member is interested in volunteering or participating in Sea Scouts,  please contact Henry Otto at 539-4386.

 May 12: Sea Scout Membership Picnic at the BVYC to be held after the 2nd Spring race.

REMINDER:  Reminder: Membership fees and applications were due March 1, 2002. The membership list will be handed out at the Spring Banquet. Lists will also be mailed with the next newsletter.

(The second part of Henry Otto's article on the Boy Scouting at the Blue Valley Yacht Club.}

Boy Scouting at the BVYC: Part 2

by Henry Otto

The Pawnee District is a division of the Boy Scouts providing support for individual scout units in Riley, Washington, and Clay counties. As an incentive for the youth to sell popcorn, BSA's major fund-raising event, top sellers are offered a ride in a sailboat. These rides are normally an hour and a half in length with a parent accompanying the youth sales person.  Each summer for the last three summers, approximately 40 scouts, mostly Cub Scouts between the ages of 6-11 years, and their parents have received rides.  Several yacht club members have helped with this program including Chris Ross, Ken Hays, Jack Hayes, Bart Bartholomew, John Joehnk and others.

The other program that the BVYC and the Pawnee District co-sponsor is Kansas Sea Base.  Kansas Sea Base is a program for Boy Scouts and Venture Scouts to earn Merit Badges in water-related activities. Venture Scouting is open to young men and women from ages 14-21. The Merit Badges offered during the first two years of the program were Small Boat Sailing, Board Sailing, Rowing, and Canoeing. These classes are instructed by various volunteers from the BVYC, KSU Men's Crew, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the Kansas Canoe Association. Many members of the Blue Valley Yacht Club leant their experience as well as their equipment to this enterprise. Last year, over forty scouts earned merit badges.

It is safe to say that the Blue Valley Yacht Club through its programs with the Boy Scouts of America provides a positive sailing experience for over 100 youth per year.  Even though not all who participate go on to become sailors, all benefit from the contact and experience.  These programs make me proud to be both a Boy Scout leader and a member of the Blue Valley Yacht Club.