NYE was a big hit and “Sold Out”.  The surf n’ turf was delicious, the music was apparently good because the dance floor was filled all night and we kept the Lilly E Room open for extra seating.  We also served dessert in the conference room and that was another reason to come up to the Lilly E.  It was a great evening.  Thanks to the Chef, bartenders, and wait staff for a wonderful evening.

This past Saturday we had the Great Chili Festival with six of Chef Peter and his staff’s original recipes.   From mild to HOT, HOT, HOT.  I don’t want to say the “Hot” was too hot, but if you had hair, it removed it.  If you didn’t have hair, it grew it!  The music was provided by the Twin Tones.  A unique blend of percussion and acoustic guitar combined with the wonderful harmonies from two tenors.  They covered everyone from the Everly Brothers to Simon and Garfunkel. Check out Chef Pete’s pic with his “Secret” spice!

This Saturday is “Pizza and a Song”, with Klub Karaoke and hostess Bridget Lenz.  The music goes from 8 to midnight and the bar will feature Chef Peter’s famous “Original” pizza.  Come hungry and ready to sing.  My new computer program has over 10,000 songs.  We’ve got something for everyone.  If you’re a little shy, Bridget is always happy to provide a little “Helper” voice to get you back on melody.  Actually, Bridget doesn’t really need to help many people at all.  We have some incredible voices with our members and their guests.  Even if you don’t sing, it’s a great evening of entertainment listening and dancing to the performances.

The next big event is our Mardi Gras party Saturday, February 18^th.  Once again we will feature our all you can eat Seafood Buffet but this time with a bit of New Orleans “Cajun” flavor. Of course we’ll have live music and plenty of “Beads”!  Yes, it’s a Mardi Gras party and “Beads” ….. Hmmmm …. how do you get the “Beads”?  Come and find out!

The next Entertainment Committee Meeting is Wednesday, February 15^th at 7pm.  We’ve got a great Committee and any member or spouse is welcome to join the group.  Can’t come to the meeting but have an idea?  Send me an e-mail tomgale2@yahoo.com

Next Party Scheduled for March is St. Patrick’s on Saturday March 17^th!

Meteorologically speaking, winter is now half over.  But it seems that there’s almost as much happening at the Club as when the weather is warmer.  So come on down and join in the fun…  Wing Wednesdays, taco Thursdays, karaoke (and Katie’s famous pizza) on some of the Saturdays.

Planning for 2012 is well underway.  Please use the calendar on the SSYC website to see what is planned.  The entire summer race schedule is now on the website, and the power-boating events will be there very soon. Club social events are there too.  We are striving to make the website more useful, and will do our best to add detailed information to events on the calendar whenever possible.  An example of this is the Friday dining specials – we’ll try to add them to the calendar item each week, in case you’ve misplaced the E-mail announcement.

And while I’m talking about the website, I hope you’ve each taken the time to setup your own login.  Your login ID is your membership number.   Once that is entered (in the upper right-hand corner of the page) click on “Forgot your password?”.  You’ll be sent an E-mail with instructions on how to change your password (or in this case, provide yourself with your first password).  That’s it!  Once you have a working login, you have access to additional items under the “Members” entry on the main page.  I’ve found the member search option to be extremely useful. 

As we move forward, more and more information will be placed on the website.  Since we are a private club, the IRS rules dictate that much of this information will be hidden unless you are logged in.  So take some time and work through the process.  It is well worth it.

January is the time of year when membership is at its lowest point.  We’ve elevated a number of people to life member status (congratulations!) and a few others have chosen not to renew their memberships in 2012.  So this is the time to talk to your crew and frequent guests about considering joining the club.  You don’t need a boat to be a member, and after all “it is always summer at SSYC”.  Even in January, when you can’t go boating, you can still swap tall tales of your adventures on the big pond.

When you encourage others to consider joining, please highlight our associate membership classes.  The club understands that young people have a lot of interest, but not a lot of capital.  Associate memberships offer an opportunity to join at a reduced annual rate, and allow for the payment of the initiation fee to be spread over many years. 

Finally, if you need to check on your boat, or do a bit of work on it, please be very careful on the snow and ice.  And remember, the docks are closed until after the April work party.

I am honored to serve you as Commodore in 2012.

By the time this is ‘published’ our new member recruiting effort at the Milwaukee Boat Show will have been completed.  Thanks to the efforts of nearly two dozen volunteers staffing our booth, I believe we had a very successful event. 

Many of the persons filling out our contact cards seemed genuinely interested in SSYC membership. Many were surprised that boat ownership isn’t needed and that as many as 35% of our members aren’t boat owners.  Besides the affordability of SSYC membership an added incentive this year also was that we have some slips immediately available for new members.   The SSYC Junior program was also of major interest to many families at the show. 

 We are planning an Open House event March 24 with snacks and some door prizes.  We will be sending an email invitation to these folks, however they were also told that if they’d like to stop by the Club on their own they’d be more than welcome to look us over.  So if you’d, by chance, meet someone please do your best to make them welcome and feel free to brag about our great organization.

The Membership Committee will also be pursuing several other activities to recruit new members.  But not to sound like a broken record, YOU are the best resource for bringing SSYC back to full membership.  Skippers, sail and power, encourage your crew and frequent guests to join SSYC and be part of the fun year round.  Full membership means we can continue all our programs and even plan additional events.  With our 100^th anniversary on the horizon the next few years are going to be exciting times, let’s get our friends here to enjoy them with us. 

Watch the Club Calendar for the next scheduled Membership Committee meeting and plan to attend.

It seems the Powerboater’s have not had much activity during the months of December or January.  The activities begin during the month of February. 

The Super Bowl Party is set for the 5^th of February with the pre-game beginning at 3:30 and 5:00 kick off.  Sandwiches will be served and guests are asked to bring a dish to pass.  Doug and Pam Reading and Mike Giannini are running this event again this year. 

Following Super Bowl Sunday is the Powerboater’s Breakfast on the 12th of February.  Jim and Sally Mergener are in charge.  Plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day early at this fund raiser. 

The Gambling Get Away is set for March 17^th -18^th in Oneida.  Sign-up sheets are located at the club, or contact Dave and Nancy Tucholka, or Ken and Sandy Dziubek if you have any questions on attending this event. 

Our planning meeting will have been held by the time you read this, and we hope to have some new ideas and events to report in future issues.  This year we hope to have a PS’R.  It looks like the boating schedule will allow it to take place.  Stay tuned for further details. 

As always, if you have any interest in running an event or new ideas for the ones we do, please let me know.  If you are new to the club, we really want to hear from you concerning your participation in the Powerboater’s activities.  Call me personally on my cell at 414-397-4151.  We want your participation. 

 Do not hesitate to contact me if you have an interest in running an event, or if you have any suggestions for ways we can improve any of our former events.  New ideas are always welcomed, as are new boating friends.

Greetings,

Well, the disappointment of the Packers loss seems to have passed.  If you are still feeling down, visit the club and we help you manage your grief.  We have a calendar of events over the next few months guaranteed to lift your spirits.  Check it out!

Sunday 2-5 Powerboater’s Super Bowl Party
Saturday 2-11 Nautical Auction/Wine & Cheese Tasting
Sunday 2-12 Powerboater’s Breakfast
Saturday 2-18 Seafood Buffet with a New Orleans Twist & Karaoke
Saturday 3-17 St. Patrick’s Day (Dinner and entertainment)
Saturday 3-24 New Member Open House & Karaoke
Saturday 3-31 Powerboater’s Annual Wine Tasting

And don’t forget Wings Wednesday/ Taco Thursday /Friday evening dining in the Commodore’s Cove.

It is easy to see that there are plenty of opportunities to introduce a potential new member to SSYC.

One final note, thank you to the 70+ people who enjoyed the new format of the Chili Festival.  The 5 varieties of chili were delicious, and the music of the “Twin Tones” made for a great evening.

The U.S. Coast Guard disseminated a Marine Safety Bulletin on 9-1-11 regarding recreational boaters and commercial mariners obtaining a MMSI number to go along with their Digital Selective Calling (DSC) radios. In response to their urgent safety warning the National Boating Federation in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard developed a new brochure, "DSC – Digital Selective Calling – Today’s SOS”. This brochure provides simple instructions on the requirements to enable boaters and mariners to be compliant with the new Rescue 21 program. Most importantly, it enhances the Coast Guard’s capability to more effectively respond to a DSC distress call.

9-1-2011 Marine Safety Bulletin:
'As the Coast Guard’s new marine radio network Rescue 21 becomes operational throughout the U.S., rescue centers can now receive instant distress alerts from commonly used DSC-capable VHF marine radios. However, approximately 90% of VHF DSC distress alerts received by the Coast Guard do not contain position information, and approximately 60% do not contain a registered identity. The Coast Guard cannot effectively respond to a DSC distress alert sent from such a radio.'

NBF has also authored another brochure which points out the advantages of having a VHF radio on your vessel, however, if a cell phone is your only means of communication, there are specific instructions that should be followed.

The National Boating Federation is requesting that you download our "DSC - Digital Selective Calling - Today's SOS" brochure and our "Cell Phone Brochure - Only You Can Take the Search out of Search and Rescue!' and invites your use and dissemination of the information in our brochures for purposes of promoting marine safety in classes, public affairs and group presentations.

Click to Download the Brochures:

"DSC - Digital Selective Calling - Today's SOS" Brochure

"Cell Phone Brochure - Only You Can Take the Search out of Search and Rescue"

Once a year we have a ritual of the dreaded “Boat Launch”.  Some members prep their boats for launch as soon as the boats are hauled-out.  They shovel snow to clear their work area, and they bundle up (lots of layered clothes) just to get their boat ready for spring launch six months into the future. 

Then there are the members who will do it tomorrow.  These are the members I’m trying to motivate into getting your boat work plan started today!  So when April 28, 2012 arrives YOUR boat is ready for a launch.

Why wait until the last day and find your paint is “on back order”, or your mechanic is tied up on another job and not able to get to your boat for another three weeks.

Your Derrick Operators are waiting for YOU.

The By-Laws Committee has been reviewing and updating the By-Laws. One of the changes being considered is the ability of members to change to electronic mail if they choose. Notices for meetings and other items would be sent by electronic mail to members selecting this option. By doing this we would save postage. There was also a By-Laws Sub Committee formed to look at the financial parts of the By-Laws that pertain to the Treasurer, Financial Secretary. John (Jack) Murphy was selected as chairman.

 There will be upcoming By-Laws meetings to look at ways to enable the Club to operate in today’s environment.

By Sharon Cook

Groppi’s comes to Bay View

We all know Groppi’s and the changes it’s been through lately.  Did you know, just like  SSYC, the store was established in 1913 in that very location?

Giocando and Georgina Groppi came from Tuscany and began their business selling fruit and vegetables out of their home.    But in 1913 the two opened the store at 2507 South Wentworth.  When they retired, 4 of their 12 children took over the business...John, Louis, Mario and Tom. 

Here are a few helpful hints:

How about this to cheer you up during the cold, snowy weather:  spring is only about six weeks away! Astronomical spring begins Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Uncovering the boats can’t be too far away.

Here’s a great tip from Bonnie Merryfield (Merrytyme): Reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle when you get a splinter. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. It removes most splinters painlessly and easily. Great tip, thanks Bonnie!

Something to consider? A personal health record (PHR) lets you store all of your medical information online. It can be set up through your employer, insurer or an independent site like WebMD or Health Vault. PHR’s store all of your health history, making this important information available to every doctor who treats you.

Attention chocoholics! Sign up for Godiva Rewards Club and receive a complimentary piece of Godiva Chocolate every month. Details at:https://www.godiva.com//member/login.aspx?fid=11

Use non-stick cookware and you won’t have to use as much, if any, fat. When sautéing, use a small amount of chicken broth or wine instead of butter or oil.

Planning a vacation? Have some questions? Check out www.Gogobot.com . After you create your free account (your travel passport), you can post questions and get advice from people who’ve “been there, done that.”

Once you’ve got your plans ready it’s time to think about what you’ll wear. If you need something with tons of pockets here’s the website for you! http://scottevest.com/.  The Washington Post calls it “Pocket Nirvana.” Great jackets and hoodies with lots of places for you to hold your stuff.

Romaine lettuce is loaded with vitamins compared to iceberg lettuce. It has three times as much Vitamin C and six times as much Vitamin A.

Got an extra five minutes? RealSimple.com suggests you choose one of these:

1. Pick up five things and put them where they belong.
2. Move some random files on your computer desktop to the correct folders.
3. Sew on a button.
4. Pitch three old items from the refrigerator.
5. Test pens or markers and toss the dead ones.

Oh no! You’re at the gym and you forgot to pack the deodorant! No sweat. In a pinch, swab a dry bar of soap under each arm to fight that not-so-fresh feeling. At least until you can get to a drug store.

Finally, here’s a neat little math trick. If you’re in the grocery store and you’re trying to compare the price of similar items priced by the pound and priced by the ounce, you can convert the per ounce price to pounds by multiplying it by two, four times.  Or if you’re really smart, just look at the sticker on the shelf.

As always, keep your hints coming.