200209 Chartroom Chatter

Ahoy there! I hope you all have had a great summer! The boating season is far from over as some of the best boating weather and beautiful shoreline colors are still before us.

A great time was had by all at the recent Queen of the DRYL Pageant. Our 2002 Queen of the Chesapeake, Bridget Smith, along with her mom Kathleen and dad Tim, several members and mates of the CBYCA Board including V/C Ken and Bea, R/C Betty and Al, PALD Rex and DR Shelly, NJLD Jerry and June, Secretary Karen and George, P/C Don and Rosalie, Kathy and I were on hand to share the festivities. What festivities they were! Over 120 boats, many of which were heavily decorated, gathered at the Philadelphia waterfront for the biggest cruise-in that I have seen. Starting at 8 am Saturday morning, it was a pleasure to watch the docking committee, ably lead by Butch Gricco, Rex & Shelly Beers, and "Juice", bring the fleet in with precision, teamwork, and detailed planning. Owing to the island theme, several working volcanoes, including one complete with Elvis, were brought in safely. Speaking of planning and precision, well done to the entire pageant committee, skillfully lead by 1991 Queen of the DRYL Toni Pyffer-Nespola, for putting on a fine and enjoyable event.

Congratulations and best wishes for a great year to Miss Casey Natrin from Riverside YC of Pennsylvania on her selection as 2002 Queen of the DRYL! Casey was also voted Miss Congeniality by her peers. Congratulations also to 1^st runner-up, Miss Klair Spiller from Delaware River Yacht Club and to 2^nd runner-up, Miss Julie McKee from Westville Power Boat Squadron. Bringing great pride to their home clubs, seventeen princesses all showed queenlike poise and presence before the judges and the large crowd gathered to witness the final phase of the competition on the evening of August 17^th. It was my pleasure and honor, on behalf of the CBYCA, to present charms to the princesses and to present a CBYCA Letter of Congratulations to 2001 Queen Barbara Gricco for her outstanding reign. There were many teary eyes as Barbara delivered her farewell speech. Well done, ladies!

Kathy and I would like to personally thank the DRYL and its members, for the outstanding hospitality shown to us throughout our visit. It was our first visit by boat to the clubs of Delaware. Our special thanks to Harbor Light YC for some great food, drink, and good fellowship and for hosting "BEAR-LY LEGAL" and "MOONCHILD". Special thanks also to Riverside YC for a great reception honoring your new Queen.

For you folks in the north bay, MD western shore area, did you know that the Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a multi-year, multi-million dollar restoration project for the Back River? A once beautiful river full of life has been reduced to a shallow sediment pool. There was a time the pier at Key YC didn't have to be so long. I know there is much anger and frustration over the Back River by locals, boaters, and fishermen. Did you know that the Back River Sewage Treatment Plant serves over 2 million residents and is one of the largest in the state? Add to that, debris from Herring Run, sedimentation from development, and four solid waste landfills in the watershed. This is the type of problem real environmentalists should be tackling head-on. Is there any wonder why we boaters become exasperated at those who waste time and effort backing meaningless No Discharge Zones?

Please join the CBYCA in directing that frustration toward doing some real good for our environment by getting out there and backing this worthy project. Let your political representatives in Baltimore County and at the MD DNR know you want the Back River cleaned up! Clubs and individuals wanting more information about this project may write to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District; ATTN: Phil Hager, CENAB-PL, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203 or e-mail daniel.m.bierly@usace.army.mil. If you would prefer, call Mr. Hager at 1-800-295-1610, or fax comments to 410-962-4698. When asking about this project, refer to "Back River, Maryland, Section 206 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration".

ALERT! All hands are asked to keep an eye out for the Delaware River Rat, who vanished after a night of partying at the DRYL Queen's contest. The Rat is about 6 feet tall, with short medium gray fur, and was last seen wearing a Hawaiian shirt. A kidnap note was found. The kidnappers have nicknamed the Rat "Willard". Meanwhile, the Commodore's Bear remains missing, last seen at the 2002 CBYCA Commodore's Ball.

Anyone who has a report on the recent "Queen of the Galley Slaves" contest, please email me.

Until next time, be safe out there on the water and I'll see you around the Bay!

We would like to thank Commodore Jude Isaacson and the members of Chesapeake YC for hosting the August Delegates Meeting. The Special Communications Committee submitted its final report and the Delegates approved appropriate actions as follows: (1) Implement interactive web site (www.cbyca.org), (2) All electronic submissions will be sent to the webmaster and all manual documents will be sent directly to the Vice Commodore; (3) Revise and update CBYCA forms and requests for information, (4) Designate the Club Delegate as the point of contact for all information, (5) Print new business cards; (6) Reprint CBYCA informational pamphlets, (7) Revise and review Chartroom Chatter distribution list, (8) Prepare District Representative letters of introduction, (9) Prepare guidelines for club presentations, (10) Update the "What have we done for you lately" data sheet and (11) Design and purchase a new Delegate pin for distribution to Delegates at the Feb 03 meeting. New address and phone number information:

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the National EPA and the Marine Manufacturer's Association recently signed an agreement to expedite the introduction of fuel injected two stroke and four stroke outboard motors. The manufactures agreed to stop making carbureted two stroke outboards before the EPA deadline of 2006. This will do two things: First: It will take the pressure off banning carbureted two stroke outboards out right; and Second: It will bring more four stroke outboard motors on the market sooner.

The DNR office responsible for collecting boating excise tax not paid, but due at the time of purchase, reported that in FY 2002, they collected almost $2.5 million, up from the previous year. You can count on the effort increasing in FY 2003 because it's so profitable to the State. Also, the "90 day rule" passed in the 2002 Session of the Legislature should relieve any non-Maryland club member who will be spending less than 90 days cruising in Maryland for fear of being harassed by the tax collectors.

The boating fee bill is being actively discussed for introduction in the 2003 Session of the Legislature. I understand that it should be the same as the one introduced in 2002, but discussions have not finished. The November elections probably will have an impact on what finally sees the light of day.

When it comes to clubs and organizations, a check of CBYCA Board résumés indicates a wealth of experience and knowledge that we are more than happy to pass on. Even when we don't know the answer, we usually know how to find out. We often get questions such as "how should a club run" or "is my XYZ Yacht Club doing it the right way?" The following are some general comments in response to questions that we are often asked:

For any corporation, club, or society (as defined by Robert's Rules of Order) the By-Laws must be followed at all times just as our country must always follow the Constitution. One cannot exist without the other. You have chaos and anarchy otherwise.

Speaking of chaos, whether you know it or not, unless your club took the time to write a complete set of meeting rules and invoke them in the By-Laws, your meetings are governed by Robert's Rules of Order. How many of you have made or seconded a motion? Are motions and seconds described in your By-Laws? I'll bet not. Based on generations of common practice by our society, Robert's Rules of Order puts down in writing the rules people have adopted over the years to ensure an open, fair, impartial, democratic, courteous and organized meeting where all are heard. To see Robert's Rules of Order in action, watch C-Span for a while. If it works for a body as complex, chaotic and emotional as our Congress, it will work for your club.

Of course, each club or organization has unique circumstances such that specific rules get put into the By-Laws or are made by the membership that add to, enhance, or sometime even go against Robert's Rules of Order. In terms of precedence, your club's By-Laws come first, then rules properly passed and recorded by the membership or body authorized by the By-Laws or membership (e.g. Board of Governors), and finally Robert's Rules of Order.

Clubs are pure democracies and are entirely owned, run and directed by the membership as a whole. Boards, officers, managers, and employees have no power and authority other than what is specifically delegated to them per the By-Laws or by action by the members in a properly held and recorded meeting. Similar to stockholders of a corporation, the members, in a properly constituted meeting where a quorum exists, may overturn any decision by an officer or the Board.

Unlike corporations, proxy voting is specifically prohibited in Robert's Rules of Order for clubs and societies because, in my words, the point of a club or society is to get people together, not run a business. The people that take the time to show up are the ones you want to vote because they care most, are committed to the club or society, and are there to be involved in discussion of the motions or issues.

Some clubs have holding corporations that own club property but that is normally okay as long as the corporation is accountable to the membership.

The By-Laws define the club and are its identity - for a typical club, they can only be changed by rigorous process with the changes passed only. In my opinion, any club that ignores its By-Laws or whose Board or officers act with impunity against the will of the majority is not operating in a manner consistent with CBYCA By-Laws.

By-Laws always have gray areas. Many clubs get into battles over following the By-Laws. We often hear complaints from upset club members that Commodore Jack, Rear Commodore Jill, or the Board violated the By-Laws. It is not that simple. Because clubs don't have a court system to fall back on, the officers and Board often must act, respectively as judges and an appellant court, to interpret that an action does or does not meet the intent of the By-Laws. Otherwise, club business would not get done in a timely manner.

When there is significant controversy about an action meeting the intent (or in some cases, following the words) of the By-Laws, the Commodore should call a general membership meeting as soon as possible to get a final ruling by the members. In this way, the general membership is like the Supreme Court.

Just as every now and then, the U.S. Constitution gets amended, the membership may decide a gray area needs to by fixed or change is needed (e.g. change the club colors from black and white to red and white) by an amendment to the By-Laws.

Our Legislators are still enjoying the summer while boaters contemplate just how to convince our government that it is okay to own a houseboat and dock it at a state marina. Specifically, Trump Marina. There is a strong movement by boat owners and various organizations, but the bill has yet to move out of the committee.

During a recent gathering, a marina owner, who shall remain nameless, said that the "Marine trade associations were helpful in convincing Governor Mc Greevy it would be okay to double our registration fee as long as the State gave back a portion of it for dredging.". So I guess the questions are:

#2 - If they do, will it directly impact on general boating or marina operators?

#4 - What about the other $225 million sales tax income from boaters and where has all the boat gas tax gone?

How is it that government bureaucrats rely on boat sellers and landlords to characterize our needs never asking the boat owners what they think? Because they have a lobbyist, boating organizations must press the issues in our government offices and legislative bodies. We must speak for ourselves using professional representatives to deliver our message.

Boat collides with buoy - Kills mother of seven. A Pennsylvania mother was fatally injured by the boat propeller when the 23 foot open bow Bayliner, operated by her husband, collided with a red buoy #54 just south of the Betsy Ross Bridge on the Delaware River. The family was on an outing with three of their children ages 2 months to 5 years when the accident happened at 7:45 pm on Sunday, August 4^th.

It was reported that the husband and others from a passing vessel were able to recover the body. They went to a nearby ramp in Pennsauken, NJ. There are conflicting reports about the ability to readily communicate with land police and USCG. This matter is still under scrutiny. Witnesses indicated that it took some time for rescue units to arrive.

The operator was arrested for under the influence and released on $500 bail. In a television interview, he stated that he was not drunk and had requested a breathalyzer test but the NJ State Police took him to the hospital for a blood toxicology test. The State Police and Camden County Prosecutors' office have not released the results of the test, however, an inside source indicated that they don't think the operator was drunk. The prosecutors spokesperson said they would not release the information as they consider it evidence.

This accident happened in late evening but with more than good conditions to observe the large 6 foot red buoy. The operator said, "His wife stood up in front of him to attend to the youngest child", thereby blocking his vision. Possibly other distractions were also contributory to the tragic accident but one thing is certain, the operator admitted to having had a few beers during the day. Was he drunk as asserted by the NJ State Police? Only the toxicology test will reveal the truth! One thing is certain. If boat operators do not drink prior to or during the operation of a vessel, then the level of alcohol will never be a consideration as to the cause of any accident. Be prudent and never drink when operating a boat, even if the law allows you to do so!

NEXT MONTH - SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPEND LESS THAN $200 DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO ILLUMINATE BUOYS ON THE WATERWAYS. NEW LED's SAY YES!!!

As the boating season gets underway some of those who own or operate the larger pleasure craft take longer cruises and sometimes these cruises are offshore. Cruising up the east coast to New England or even further north is common. More adventurous sailors will head for Bermuda or the islands of the Caribbean. During the annual exchange of location by many boaters between the warm waters of Florida and the cooler waters north of Cape Hatteras many of these boaters prefer sailing offshore. By doing so they avoid the congestion often found in the narrow stretches of the Intercoastal Waterway, the restricted speed, and the innumerable restrictive bridges. However, sailing offshore, for whatever reason, has some risks. If a boat develops a problem that places its occupants in deadly danger, there are usually no other vessels close at hand that could render assistance. That is why a cautious and prudent skipper will be sure to have an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) on board before venturing offshore.

The value of having an EPIRB on board was recently demonstrated when two different boats came to grief in the Atlantic Ocean. On 16 May 2002 the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center in Portsmouth, Virginia received an EPIRB alert from a de-masted fifty-foot sailing vessel 400 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Coast Guard was able to divert a commercial vessel to the location of the distressed sailboat and rescue the three occupants. Five days later the Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of five people from a second fifty-foot sailboat that had become de-masted 340 miles off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In this instance a Coast Guard C-130 aircraft was dispatched from Clearwater, Florida to locate the distressed sailboat. Again a merchant ship was diverted to the location and the people rescued. In both of these distress cases the EPIRB was the only means of getting out a call for help. The loss of the radio antenna on the masts of these sailboats probably made their radios useless.

There are several different models of the EPIRB available on the market. They range in price from less than $150.00 for a personal unit that can be attached to a life jacket to well over $1,500.00 for more sophisticated units. Some EPIRB units are manually activated and others activate automatically. Those that activate automatically are usually installed in a bracket that will allow them to float free if the vessel sinks. When an EPIRB is activated it transmits a radio signal to a satellite which in turn transmits a signal to the Coast Guard giving the geographic location of the transmitting EPIRB. A recent innovation in EPIRB design provides some of them with the ability to also identify the vessel in distress. Coast Guard response to a distress signal is almost instantaneous. Assets such as aircraft as well as surface vessels, are dispatched to the location of the distressed vessel. Going offshore on a boat without carrying an EPIRB is taking an unnecessary risk. The cost of an EPIRB is more than reasonable when compared with the costs of other equipment carried on most large boats. It could be the best insurance of surviving a life threatening situation.

As required by the CBYCA Constitution and By-Laws, Article IV, Section 7, the 2002 Nomination Committee has assembled a slate of candidates for the 2003 elective offices to be voted on at the August 2002 Delegates Meeting. The candidates noted below agree to be nominated for their respective office and if elected agree to serve to the best of their ability.

Commodore	Ken Bean
Vice Commodore	Betty Stahler
Legislative Director	Timothy Abel
Rear Commodore	John Garlotta
Qualifications Officer	Faye Broseker
Director, MD State Legislature	Charles Tulip, Jr
Director, VA State Legislature	Dave Goodman
Director, Del/PA State Legislature	Rex Beers
Director, NJ State Legislature	Jerry Donofrio
Secretary	Karen Anderson
Treasurer	Don Burton
Publicity Director	Robert A Gattone
District A Representative	William Morgan
District B Representative	Shelly Beers
District C Representative	Joe Skinner
District D Representative	Don Parsons
District E Representative	Tom Powers
District F Representative	Norman Overfield
District G Representative	Michael Coffey
Nominating Committee	P/C Dion Guthrie Harry Seeback
Historian	P/C Donald Antos

14 September	1000	Board Meeting	Kent Island YC
19 October	1000	Board Meeting	Prince William YC
16 November	1000 1300	Board Meeting Delegates Meeting	Bush River YC
14 December	1800	CBYCA Commodore Ball	Martin's North Point
21 December	1000	Board Meeting	Belvedere YC