A message from our President

Gerri Prusko

Spring 2010

Wake up boats and boat lovers! Spring is here. After a dreary winter both North and South, we are ready for the renewal that each boating season brings us. We had the earliest ice-out ever on Lake Winnipesaukee and boy, are we ready to go!

For the first time, we visited the Sunnyland Chapter's Antique Boat Festival on Lake Dora in Tavares, Florida in March of this year. After many years of making excuses about not going, we finally made the drive. Despite a very cold winter season (cold for Florida, that is) we arrived for beautiful, warm, sunny weather. The gathering of antique boats and boat dealers was a sight! The tour of the Dora Canal was truly one of the best waterways for tropical wildlife viewing in America. The Dora Canal is a mile long connector between Lakes Dora and Eustis. The four day festival brought over 30,000 visitors. We learned a lot and will incorporate some new best practices in our Annual Boat Show.

Our Chapter's first event is the Spring Romp, Saturday, June 12th. The Spring Romp includes a boat tour and social gathering. In addition, this year, we are offering the original art work from last year's Boat Show Poster at auction. Our goal to raise money to assist us in our charitable outreach. The boat tour of of Lake Winnipesaukee will leave from the Wolfeboro Town Docks, weather permitting, at 1:00 P.M. Get there early with your boat or to join us as a guest in a member's boat. Charley and Ilona Train have again graciously permitted the use of their home on Winter Harbor for our social gathering, rain or shine. The New England Chapter provides a subsidy for members and guests to attend this fun event. This is a great opportunity to greet friends, new and old, after a wet and cold winter. The Wolfecatch Fish Market will cater a traditional barbeque with seafood, chicken and ribs. Registration for the event is due to be returned by the end of this month. If you cannot attend and would like to place a bid on the artwork, please contact me.

Plans are also underway for our Chapter's 37th Annual Lake Winnipesaukee Boat Show at the Meredith town docks on Saturday, July 23-24th. For this year's show, don’t miss our Friday evening reception. Also, plan on arriving early, as we are expecting another large turnout of antique and classic boats. This year our featured marque is Chris-Craft boats. Early registration is welcome. We already have several unique Chris-Crafts signed up. You can keep track of all registered boats on our Website, remember that all models of boat are welcomed.

Chris Johnson will be our chief judge this year and will be hosting our Judging Clinic on Friday afternoon. Tony Mollica, author of Chris Craft Boats will also be our special guest at the Awards Dinner on Saturday night, and will give a talk on Chris Smith and his very special boats. He will also be available at the Boat Show to autograph copies of his several books. If you have one, bring it along. If you wish to buy one of his books, copies will be available for purchase.

Our list of volunteers to help out at the Show has also started to take shape, but we always need more help. Please let our Boat Show Chair, Bill John, know of your interest. Our boat show registration form is printed in this Cutwater issue, and a special mailing to all chapter members will soon be sent. Please register early to help us plan for a gala event!

Our Chapter continues to support the New Hampshire Boat Museum as part of our community outreach. We provide two scholarships to the Museum's youth boat building program. We are also a "Friend of the Museum" and make an annual contribution for their support. Later this month on May 28th, the Museum is hosting a 10th Season Celebration at the Museum. Cocktails & hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and a special preview of 2010 exhibits will take place. Call the Museum for information [603-569-4554].

As the boating season proceeds, keep in touch with our Chapter Officers and Chairs, They are all looking for volunteers to join the fun in keeping our activities relevant to our common interest in the history and preservation of antique boats. We can all gain from the experience of others and exchange ideas about how to improve our Chapter.

 

I look forward to hearing from you !!!!

Gerri Prusko

603-569-0030

gprusko@vintagebookworm.com

 Click here for our 2010 Calendar 


 Return to Homepage