May 2017 Publication of the Wisconsin Boating Club Fleet The Sheet www.wisconsinboatingclub.com Dates to remember May 1st May 20th June 5th Membership meeting Brookfield Civic Center Boat Inspection Custom Wire Industries 9: 00 AM to Noon Annual picnic at Sunset Park Time -TBA Meeting Program See flyer None None 1
Well we got the boat out of storage last weekend and let the reassembly/refit begin. I got a few hours onboard surveying everything I have to do, and I think I am already behind schedule to be ready for the first cruise. Isn t it great At the April board meeting we had a really good discussion on how to market the club, and how we could be more proactive in membership. We came up with some ideas I thought I would share with everyone. We are going to purchase some banners that we want the Cruise Captain s to take with them on Cruises and fly whenever possible. We are going to get two or three based on their cost, so we will have to share them. We feel that having something that can be seen as people pass bye may prompt them to ask question about our club. We are going to continue to try and reach out to other clubs. We were successful with the latest outreach with the Milwaukee Boat Club, and hopefully we can continue the relationship. I have also tried to contact the Great Lakes Boating Club, and the Oshkosh Boat Club. As of right now, no response. I thought we could see what they are doing for membership as well as promote membership in our club. We also want to try to introduce ourselves at boat launches when time permits this summer. We feel that we can watch the type of boats being launched and at least introduce ourselves. Travis is going to get more single page flyers made, and between those and business cards we will have two marketing tools to use. We would like all club members to take time and help us in this endeavor. Also remember the picnic is one of our best attended events. So if you have a person or family that is interested in the club please invite them. Remember the boat inspection is coming up at Custom Wire in May. If you can t make it, South Shore has one in June. If you can t make either date contact Jim Kaun or Craig Lake, and they will find a way to get your boat inspected. I just added the Milwaukee Fireworks on July 3 rd to the list of cruises for the summer. If you can make it to that cruise or any other please sign up. If you can t make a meeting, to sign up, talk to Lisa Dittmer, she will add your name to the list. See You at the Next Meeting, Todd 2
Membership Meeting Minutes We decided that because we had speakers for the evening, they would present first, and we would hold our business meeting afterwards. Gloria McCutcheon and Amalia Schoone spoke to us regarding the Lakeshore State Park project. It was very informative and interesting. Thank you, Gloria and Amalia, for joining us. Also, a thank you goes out to Lisa Dittmer for planning the program. Commodore, Todd Memmel, called our meeting to order at 8:35 p.m. MINUTES: Todd asked if anyone had additions or corrections to the meeting minutes from the March Membership meeting that were posted in the Fleet Sheet. There were none, however Dan Gall did dispute the meaning of a picture. He wanted us to know that It wasn t a skirt. Thank you, Dan Duane Delaney made a motion to accept the minutes and Boyd Dittmer seconded. The motion carried. PURSER S REPORT: Purser, Donna Danowski, reported that our beginning balance was $3,762.19. There was no income, nor expense, so our ending balance was also $3,762.19. Linda Weber made a motion to accept the Purser s report. Jim Kaun seconded. The motion carried. MEMBERSHIP AND MARKETING: Travis Sarinske said that no guests were present. He thinks that Duane s son, Dennis Delaney, may join the club, but couldn t make it to the meeting. Also, Travis has continued to contact people from our Boat Show sign-ups, but nobody seems interested. He said he will continue to pursue them through the June picnic timeframe, but not likely after that. // Pete Zierden offered an interesting observation. He has a friend at the South Milwaukee Yacht Club, and in recent years, they had a drop in membership and 50% of their slips were empty. This year, they have full membership again, and all of their slips are full. PROGRAMS: Lisa Dittmer reported that Cruise sheets are on the table and ready for sign-ups. // May s program will be a speaker from the Coast Guard in Winona, MN, near the Mississippi River, talking about navigation on rivers. // June s meeting will be our annual picnic, and will be held at Sunset Park in Waukesha. Please sign up if you re interested as she is beginning to plan for food. // Lisa expanded on something that our speakers said a gentleman, who is a sailboater, presently sits on the board for the Lakeshore State Park project, to represent boaters; but he does not attend the meetings. If anyone would like to have a say in the project and sit on the board, they would welcome the input. // Todd outlined the general plan for the Memorial Day cruise. It will be held at the Pioneer Marina on Lake Winnebago. They will only charge us a $1.00/foot again, but will also charge us the $10 launch fee (putting in only not taking out). The Memmels are hoping to go up on Thursday, but the actual cruise will run from Friday until Monday. As always, the weather will dictate which directions we can boat or which restaurants we may choose to eat at. Our party this year will be held on Saturday, late afternoon, with Sunday as a rain date. We will ask every boat / family to bring some really nice appetizers for a good cocktail party. Later on, if there is interest, we will all chip in for pizza. Memmels will donate a box of wine, and are hopeful that others will also see the wisdom of this action, and will follow. Come for the weekend, or come up for a day. Just let us know so that we can have a general plan. Looking forward to kicking off the season. CRUISE MANUALS AND ADVERTISING: Duane Delaney said that he sent out our advertising letters in January. As of today, he has received $830 (which he handed to Donna), with 14 of the 23 having responded. He will call some, but could also use help from anyone who might have influence with someone, or knows someone personally. He read off the list and several volunteered to help. 3
SAFETY: Jim Kaun said that he is developing a flier to hang in boat-related stores, and that he should have them ready in about ten days. He reminded us all to check our flairs and registrations. He said you can renew registrations online, and they ll be considered good. GRIEVANCES: None FLEET SHEET: Pete said he d like to have material by April 24, 2017. He also commented to Dan Gall that, It was a skirt! It is this writer s belief that we may never truly know LEGISLATIVE LIAISON: Dan Danowski said that there is much talk about pulling money from our federal budget to study Invasive Species. Other than that, nothing much new to report. WEBSITE: Ren Rodee had to leave after the speakers, but said that the website is up and running. Be sure to forward pictures or information to him. MARKETING: Travis said they are still looking for our club banner. As we get our boats out of storage, please take a look around for the banner. // He will pass out business cards and fliers at our annual picnic in June, for members to hand out to potential new members. SUNSHINE: Dan Gall reported that his wife, Lisa, will be having another surgery on April 19 because of bone fragments in her ankle. Two or three weeks after that, she ll have another surgery on her ligaments. She will not be able to bear any weight until at least July 1. // Lisa Dittmer reported that our very long-term member and friend, Don Stevens, passed away this morning. Lisa will send an e-mail to the club regarding funeral arrangements. OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: None MISCELLANEOUS: Jim Kaun reported that we will have our usual room next month at Brookfield Civic Center. // Duane Delaney commented that our club should always present itself professionally no matter any differences in opinion or political leanings. DATES TO REMEMBER: April 17 Board Meeting 7:00 Dittmer s May 1 Membership Meeting 7:00 at Brookfield Civic Center June 5 Annual Club Picnic at Sunset Park Time TBA Respectfully Submitted, Katie Memmel 4
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Come and join us on the Mississippi River Cruise Dates: June 15th thru the 25th We will be leaving from the Highway 83 and I-94 intersection at 7:30 AM on Thursday the 15th. (McDonalds) Launch the boats at the Alma Marina, about a 4 hour drive. Thursday - We will spend the night on the Wabasha sand bar. Friday - Cruise to Lake City and overnight at the Lake City Marina. Saturday& Sunday - Cruise to Red Wing and overnight at the marina. Monday - Cruise to the KK river sand bar and overnight. Tuesday & Wednesday- Bayport Marina Thursday - Hudson River Sand Bar. Friday - Treasure Island Casino Saturday - Wabasha sand bar. Sunday - Trailer home. Red wing will be having it s car show Sunday. 7
Memorial Day Cruise May 25th thru May 29th Dinghy Cruise June 3rd Mississippi River June 15th thru June 25th July 4th Weekend June 30th thru July 4th Lake Winnebago Labor Day Cruise September 1st thru the 4th Sturgeon Bay Dinghy Cruise (Chanticleer) September 15th thru 17th 8
Wisconsin Boating Club Board Meeting at Dittmer s Toy Barn April 17, 2017 Board Members Present: Todd Memmel, Commodore; Katie Memmel, Yeoperson; Lisa Dittmer, Past Commodore; Dan Danowski, Legislative Liaison; Duane Delaney, Vice Commodore; Donna Danowski, Purser; Travis Sarinske, Membership Guests Present: Boyd Dittmer MINUTES: Commodore, Todd Memmel, called our meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. He explained that the Membership Meeting minutes from April did not contain a motion or a second, for adjournment, or an adjournment time. He also asked if anyone had any other additions or corrections to the Membership Meeting minutes. Donna Danowski made a motion to accept the minutes and Dan Danowski seconded. The motion carried. PURSER S REPORT: Purser, Donna Danowski, reported that our beginning balance was $3,762.19. We received income from Cruise Manual advertising, but there were no expenses, so our ending balance was $4,592.19. Duane Delaney made a motion to accept the Purser s report as read. Lisa Dittmer seconded. The motion carried. MEMBERSHIP: Travis Sarinske said there was nothing new. Duane mentioned that his son, Dennis, plans to join the club. We discussed dues, and that the club basically charges $4.00/month for a yearly total of $48.00. Since we re about half-way through the year, Dennis would owe about $24.00. Todd suggested that, pending his paperwork, we vote as a Board to accept Dennis as a member now, since we won t have another Board meeting for a few months. Travis made a motion to accept Dennis Delaney as a new member. We voted, and the motion carried. Travis said that he would act as Dennis s sponsor. Todd brought up that our membership meetings will come to an end for the summer, following our June picnic. He asked if anyone had any ideas as to how we might consider looking for members. Many ideas were discussed such as scouting marinas and launch ramps for one or two hours on Saturdays. It was suggested that at that time, we could invite people to our cruises, such as fireworks or air shows. Travis said that he dropped off fliers at Skipper Bud s/ Pewaukee and Dan said he d go to Kendor. Someone asked if Pete ever finished our new flier? The idea surfaced that maybe our club could set up and man a table at one-day events held at boat dealers. The idea also surfaced that we could try to get an ad in Scuttlebutt Magazine. Also, invite the Journal/Sentinel to our Boat Inspection or to the air show, to show them what we do. It was the opinion of the group that they are always looking for new material. Todd said that he will talk to Jim Kaun about making a phone call to these news outlets, and possibly to the Freeman as well. It was also discussed that our club needs to have a banner that can be displayed whenever we are on a cruise, at the dock, at a beach, etc. to show other boaters that we exist. All it should say is wisconsinboatingclub.com Donna looked through our budget and explained the money that s available. Conversation ensued about sometimes needing to spend money to advertise in order to get new members. Dan said that overall, boat sales are up, and that could be good for us. Duane made a motion that we buy some new banners, and allow $500.00 for that purpose. Dan Danowski seconded. Dan said that he has a catalog, and will get it to Travis so that he can look through styles and prices and see what s out there. Our Boat Show banner has still not surfaced, so please continue to search for it in your boating gear. Boyd Dittmer mentioned that we only have three burgees left. He s concerned that as Board members shift next year, there won t be replacements. Duane said that he thinks most Board members already have the burgees. For now, it is the consensus that the subject isn t urgent, and that it will get figured out one way or another. We will table the discussion until October, when we have a better view of our change in officers for 2018. PROGRAMS: Lisa reported that our Program for May is a representative from the Coast Guard, working on the Mississippi River. June will be our annual picnic at Sunset Park in Waukesha. Helpers can arrive around 5:00 p.m., and the picnic and meeting will run from 6-9 p.m. CRUISE MANUALS AND ADVERTISING: Duane asked if anyone had called the perspective advertisers from the list he read from at the meeting. He s still looking for some of their advertising commitments. Since we want the manuals printed by the June picnic, we will shortly run out of time. Duane said that he will send another e-mail as a reminder. 9
SAFETY: Jim Kaun was not present, but Todd reminded everyone that this year s Boat Inspection will be held at Custom Wire in Muskego on May 20 th from 9-noon. Also, there will be an inspection at SSYC on June 10 from 9:30-12:30. GRIEVANCES: None FLEET SHEET: Pete Zierden was not present, but we should get material to him by April 24 th. LEGISLATIVE LIAISON: Dan said that he will give his report at the May Membership meeting. WEBSITE: No report. MARKETING: This discussion was mixed in with our Membership report. See above. SUNSHINE: Memmel s delivered a Sympathy card to the Stevens family when they attended Don s funeral visitation. // Lisa Dittmer reported that Lisa Gall may not need surgery afterall - possibly physical therapy. // Boyd Dittmer was hospitalized for several days in mid April, due to pneumonia. OLD BUSINESS: No old business. NEW BUSINESS: Some new business ideas were discussed and mixed in with our Membership report. See above. MISCELLANEOUS: Regarding Lakeshore State Park Does anyone want to volunteer to sit on their board, as suggested? Todd will talk with Keith Ponath and see if he s interested. Dan said that he could go with him. DATES TO REMEMBER: - May 1 Membership Meeting at Brookfield Civic Center 7:00 p.m. - May 20 Annual Boat Inspection at Custom Wire 9 a.m. noon - June 5 Club Picnic and Membership Meeting 6 9 p.m. Helpers at 5:00 p.m. - June 10 Boat Inspection at SSYC 9:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. A motion was made by Lisa Dittmer that the meeting be adjourned. It was seconded by Dan Danowski. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Katie Memmel BACK HOME: Dale & Tricia Peck have returned home from their winter get away to North Carolina. 10
Labor Day Cruise 2017 September 1st thru 4th Stone Harbor Marina- Just North-West of the Old Steel Bridge (Michigan Street) 107 N. 1st Ave. Sturgeon Bay Stone Harbor offers-bathroom and shower facilities Pool, Dining and Lodging for any family or extra people (Reservations can be made at Hotel- 920-746-0700) We will launch at the Sturgeon Bay- Sawyer Park Launch ramp across the channel. Please make reservations by calling the City Municipal- 1-920-746-2914 Coleen Slips are reserved under- Boyd Dittmer- WBC Slip assignment have been made for those that have already signed up. The cost for the slip is $1.61 per foot of boat. Ex.- 33'@1.61= 53.13 x3 night=159.39 A check can be mailed to -City of Sturgeon Bay-835 N. 14th Ave. Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 We are looking forward to seeing you on this vacation. We will send out an itinerary as the event gets closer. If you are signed up and unable to attend please let us know so we can open up your spot. Currently all we have available to us is a 25' slip #9 Happy Boating! Boyd and Lisa 11
And other correspondence DOES ANYTHING EVER GO RIGHT: Last year I bought a rebuilt engine to replace the starboard engine which was ejecting oil into the lake thru the exhaust port. I did this only after many attempts to fix the problem on the engine which included rebuilding the heads. The problem appeared to be in the short block, maybe a cracked ring or? So I decide to just get a re-built engine. I bought the engine from a rebuilder in Florida which had great references. The new engine arrives and we get it installed only to discover the left bank of the engine has a tappet noise that we are unable to fix. Factory adjustments to the rocker arm to eliminate the noise would only result in a bent pushrod. We decide to remove this head and take the re-built head from the old engine and installed it on the new engine. Success, the tappet noise disappeared. Thank God, just before Memorial Day I am ready to go for the summer. Cruising during the summer we discover the NEW engine was leaking oil from either the pan or the rear main seal into the bilge. I lived with this until the end of boating season. Boating season over, out comes the engine. After removing the pan and rear main cap we noticed a groove in the rear main seal journal. Now we have to look for a new crank for a newly re-built engine. Engine rebuilders on Acadian avenue in Waukesha has one and we are in business. The engine has been assembled but because I will be leaving for France on the 29th of April it will not get put in until I get back after the 13th of May. Just in time for Memorial Day cruise. If anyone ever wants to buy a newly re-build engine for there boat contact me. I can tell you where not to go. Pete 12