FROM THE EDITOR

It always seems unusual to be writing about sailing matters when there is 10" of ice on the lake but the new board has met and a schedule (click below) is laid out. A load of gravel is due to arrive and the John Joehnk has already been working on damaged items at the club.

As you a well aware starting last June those with email accounts began receiving the newsletter via the internet. This saved the club quite a bit of money in postage which can be well spent in other directions. Those without email received hard copies but amazingly this only amounted to 3 members. Also, the newsletters were converted into HTML and posted on the club web site. If you need to review anything, those newsletters are archived there along with many photographs. Bart is doing a great job of handling webmaster duties.

You will notice that on the application form there is a box to be checked if you really need your newsletter sent via the U.S. Postal Service. As I got no complaints last year about the electronic method of delivery the board assumes that you at least have acclimated to format.

The first newsletter of the year will by necessity be in hard copy form as it contains the membership application. (click below) Also we want to make sure that everyone reads this issue. If you should misplace the form, a copy is downloadable from the web site.

When filling out the application, please include all information that applies to you. One of the items that has been notably lacking in the past has been boat registration numbers. We are making these mandatory this year. Your membership will not be validated without them. If this means a trip to the club to check your boat so be it. In case of emergency these are the only sure way of identifying a boat and it's owner. This year a list of owners and boat numbers will be posted on the bulletin board so that if any member observes a problem the owner can be immediately notified.

Those who ventured out to our sailing venue discovered not surprisingly that Tuttle Creek Reservoir was completely frozen over for the first time in a number of years. In addition the lake level is as low as it has been in my memory. A check with the Corps as I write yields an elevation of 1068.42 feet which is almost 8 feet below conservation level.

Seizing the moment, five club members, who shall remain nameless for reasons that will be obvious in a moment, shouldered chain saw, ax, and maddox, and took all the standing trees on the southeast side of the cove entrance down to ice level. (Photos on web site) If and when the lake goes back to conservation level we should no longer have the strenuous task of short tacking through a narrow opening in the teeth of a south wind.

As the ripe moment occurred on New Years Day we somehow overlooked getting permission from the Corps of Engineers. This came to the fore a few days ago when John Joehnk got an indignant call from the Corps Office noting our omission. After a thorough reprimand John was informed that there would be no citation issued to the club. I hope that though we didn't follow Corps regulations they are just as happy that we made the effort. A few trees along the border of the stand between our facilities and the public use side were also leveled. We can't put moorings down in this area but the once barely underwater trees should no longer be a hazzard.

Three boats remain frozen in the ice. The owners have been notified that boats thus confined in the past have sunk and that the responsibility of dealing with that possibility lies with the owners. Remember this winter next fall and get you boats out before it is too late.

Finally a welcome to the new board. There are new faces, old faces and returned faces. They will need your continued help and cooperation. Henry Otto has been put in charge of a long range planning Committee. In order to find out your concerns and wishes he has produced a questionnaire (click below). Please take some time to fill it out and return it with your application form. Henry is looking for volunteers to work on the committee. Call him at 539-4386 or email him at otto@flinthills.com. Remember, applications are due by March 1^st to assure your space. - Carl Hinrichs