Notes from the Commander

For the second issue in a row, it is my unfortunate duty as Commander to bid farewell to another squadron member, this time, David Shupert.

David passed away early in January from complications resulting from multiple operations. He is survived by his partner of many years, Cathy Lash and a daughter from a previous marriage. A memorial ceremony will be scheduled for a date, time, and location yet to be determined later on toward summer.

David was a loyal friend to the Squadron and will be missed.

At this minute, I’m writing this column from just outside Las Vegas, Nevada. Why do I bring that up, you might ask? Well, I’d like to take a minute to segue from loss to a reaffirmation and a little thankfulness of what we all have available to us back home. I’d like to recount a conversation I had last night with some of the staff of the Lake Meade Marina, while at their restaurant right on, and over, the Lake.

As a tourist and boater, and to the backdrop of the following, I have to say that I was particularly impressed by their massive covered docks and boating support facility, complete with: affordable boat rentals, a mini boardwalk and intersecting dock layout and 1,000s of 10 pound and above Catfish and Carp swarming madly around the supports. Of course, the frenzy was helped out a bit, to the delights of the children and parents alike who encouraged the commotion with handfuls of popcorn, chips, bread or whatever was available. All the while, lit by an awe inspiring sunset, illuminating absolutely clear water and the surrounding rock formations, in and out of the water. A great way to finish off a perfect day, and I told them so.

They asked me where I was from, and if I was a boater. I told them Chicago and yes, and that I am also a member of the Chicago Power Squadron. As soon as I finished my words, they looked at each other, and with broad expressive smiles on their faces, immediately began to recount their boating experiences on the Great Lakes. Most of all, though, they talked of the fantastic times they had on Lake Michigan, out of Chicago, and just how fortunate I was to have the boating opportunities of a lifetime right on my doorstep! If they only had that kind of boating in Vegas!

I answered their polite comments with a few extra compliments directed toward their own operation and it’s opportunities, but was cut short by their own explanations of just what the future held in store for them and their Family’s business. They were more than staff, it seemed. The Lake, they explained had receded over 110 feet from the shoreline since last year alone! The reason they were floating over the water, as opposed to by the water, was that they have to move their enormous floating marina, restaurant and tourist attraction further and further into the Lake each time the level drops! The lightened water lines on the surrounding rock faces on shore, and on the many now emerging islands which looked like pylons belonging more to an obstacle course than a lake, were graphic examples of the recent climatic changes, that if not checked in the near term, could spell disaster for them, their business and the region as well. That was also the source of envy, which they showed when discussing their memories. The memories of young men in their late 20s!

In an attempt to be somewhat seasonally sensitive, I have to remind everyone that it’s almost, but not quite, our own boating season. In about 30 days or less, about half past this edition of the Chicago Log, we will all be preparing to pull the covers off our boats and jump right into the yearly ritual of the Annual Refit! Before we do that, though, we need to remember the basics and always, Safety First. Whether working with a forgotten battery that may have frozen over the intense Winter, or while scraping and painting that flaking hull, remember the masks, the gloves and as required, the suits and tools to do the job right. With over two months to get all the jobs done, it’s better to take our time, and do the job right the first time.

On the announcement side, I’d like to put the spotlight on our Editor, Janice North, who has been the brains, and brawn behind the Chicago Log for many years. It has just come to our attention that the Chi Log has been voted the number one newsletter by National, from a field of hundreds, from throughout the entire USPS! We always knew our Chi Log, and Jan were the best. Now everyone else does too! A job well done, Jan…Thank You!

As has been said by countless others and now plagiarized by me, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Wayne