Can you believe it, we are 12 years in our new clubhouse and our 21st year at the Hollow? What a great place and partnership we have with the park and the Army Corps. Few clubs are as lucky. With that in mind, we welcome a new year and encourage you to continue to enjoy yourself but at the same time, encourage others to join as well. We will have a busy schedule this year and it is imperative that all pitch in. (See tentative schedule below.)

          It is time again to renew your membership in the Columbia Canoe Club and the good news is nothing has changed. That is, membership fees are staying the same (see rates at bottom of this message), and the same rules apply: you must complete a new waiver for each member and update any other information that may be pertinent to your membership. Life jackets still must be worn, do not paddle alone and guests should leave a donation.

 Last year was an uneventful one as far as the club is concerned. That is, no incidents, or problems at the clubhouse or the lake. I appreciate that, as it has not been so easy in the past. As you know I would like very much to hand the chairpersonship over to someone within the club and that means that more folks need to be involved. My own directions have taken me to new endeavors and it is time to hand over this stewardship to others with new ideas and certainly new energy. So please, consider getting involved. Mark your calendars:

Annual Meeting- Wed. March 31st, 6:30 social, 7:00 meeting begins Buchanan Auditorium at the Mansfield Library. General information and program by Sue Audette, entitled: Emails I Have Known and Loved!  Sue has answered email for the Old Town Canoe Co., for years and will share the best messages she has received. Lots of funny pictures, lots of fun.  You may also pick up parking passes and renew membership at this meeting. Refreshments will be served and we need volunteers.

Sat.June5th- 9:00 a.m. Paddling Clinic as part of CT Water Trails Weekend. Come hone your skills or learn some new ones. Open to the public. But do sign up please.

Sat. June 12th- 10:00 a.m. Paddle the Hollow's Nooks and Crannies- Part of CT Water Trails weekend. Open to the public. Reserve your boat if you are planning on coming. Boats will be available to the public for a nominal fee.

Friday, July 9th, 6:30 on Paddle with a Friend- Bring a friend and share the sport. Please call to reserve your places.

          Watch the websites for more information and keep your email current.      

           Keys will not change but the combination will, you will receive it on renewal.  If you get the clubhouse and can’t get in then you haven’t renewed. Please be sure to do it promptly or a late fee will be incurred. 

          Please realize that your membership has to be processed with the American Canoe Association and that takes a few days. So do not wait to join on the day you plan on paddling. Make it easy on yourself and do it now, while the weather may not allow you to be distracted.

          In addition, with warmer weather around the corner, use prudence when choosing when to paddle. A mistake on the lake can end you in the brink and hypothermia, a condition in which the body temperatures lowers very quickly- can kill. Please wait until the air temperature and water temperature are at the very least 100 degrees combined before even considering an outing. Ice on the lake is dangerous and can easily entrap you. Where you may start out in open water, can quickly be closed up with an ice floe, so wait until it is really and truly spring. As always, I will make the combination active when I think it is safe.

Here are the sites for obtaining your waivers. Please pay NO, I repeat, NO attention to the fees above the waivers. These are for ACA memberships only, and do not apply to our club. Go to the fees button to see our dues structure. It has not changed for 2010. After printing waivers, use your browser BACK button to return to our site.

           Adult waiver

          Minor waivers

If for some reason these links fail, try going to the American Canoe Assoc. direct at http://www.acanet.org and look for AFFILIATE INSURANCE then look for the adult or minor waiver links. Again, pay no attention to the dues structure at the top of these pages. 

The waiver must be filled out for each member yearly and submitted to me with membership fees below. PLEASE WRITE AND PRINT CLEARLY. Do not worry about ACA number.  Do not renew through the ACA or your membership will not be valid with CCC