Safety Harbor Boat Club
Meeting Minutes
April 5th, 2006

Meeting Location:
Heathers Place
519 2nd St South, S.H., FL
(727) 724-2933

Officers present: Mike Penley, Commodore; Chris Garill, Vice Commodore; Frank Fitzhenry, Treasurer; Barry Fox, Secretary

Meeting called to order by Mike Penley @ 1835

Renee Viverito passed out very handy digital timers/stop watches and non-breakable mirrors to all in attendance.

Mike Penley opened the meeting by introducing Heather, the owner of Heather's Place (PDF, look for New Members), and thanked her for hosting the S.H.B.C April meeting. Heather provided tasty appetizers free of charge and cold beverages for a small fee. Heather has "heat and serve" meals available for purchase and provides a catering service for local events.

Guests were welcomed to the club meeting. A warm welcome goes out to Mike Spezzino, Mike Penley's neighbor and a City of Safety Harbor employee. Also Mike, who recently moved to Safety Harbor from Gulfport, MS, an avid canoeist and wants to learn to sail.

Mike notified the club that Pam Corbino's mother had passed away and a sympathy card was sent to the Corbino family from the club.

Patrick W. provided details regarding the upcoming kayak races on Saturday, April 29th. Volunteers are needed to help set race course buoys and assist as needed during and after the races. The group will leave the marina docks at 0700 to set buoys, with the races starting at 0900 and completed by noon.

Vice Commodore's Report:
Boat US will give a 50% discount to their basic membership rate ($12.50 per year vs $25.00) if you provide them with the S.H.B.C. registration number. The S.H.B.C. number is _*********. Included with this basic membership is towing coverage for the first $50.00 of towing expenses.

Treasurer's Report:
The S.H.B.C.'s checking account balance is $1180.00. The club's St Patrick's Day party final cost was approximately $15.00 as funds raised during the party helped defray expenses.

Frank briefed the club on a free chart plotting program which when combined with free NOAA charts and a GPS data input will net the user a low cost chart plotter on a laptop computer. Great for trip planning as well.

Commodore's Report:
Old Business:
Mystery Trip - Mike asked Dick G. to tell the club about the upcoming Mystery Trip which Dick has planned. On Friday, April 7th at 0915, club members will leave the marina for a mystery trip to a "nautical location". Bring money for lunch and plan to arrive back at the marina by mid to late afternoon. Dick asked for a show of hands of who would attend. Mike P. added that he had been briefed by Dick on the location and that the destination, as well as the lunch stop, would be very interesting to members.

Pastor Doug Poole, SHBC member and sailor, will be conducting a seminar for church members on Saturday, May 20 and afterwards, would like to conduct a sunset sail. Pastor Poole asked for club support to take members out on the bay after the seminar. Boat owner volunteers are needed. Dale C. added that Pastor Poole's talents in a "Blessing of the Fleet" event would be a good addition to annual club activities.

Barry F. brought up the May 6th "Touch A Boat" event at the marina hosted by the city's Recreation Dept. Dale C. said the club has been asked to provide boats which could be tied up along the Veteran's Park seawall. Kid size lifejackets will be required if a child boards a boat. Dale C. will get more info and email the club. Barry F. will email Mel and have the event put on the club's Activities calendar.

SHBC Spring Cruise 2006 - Saturday, April 22nd morning departure for most. Sunday, April 23rd departure for two boats. Mike P. produced and handed out an outstanding color booklet containing spring cruise destinations, highlights, phone numbers and internet links to each destination, a pre-cruise to-do checklist, and a meal planning checklist. While members reviewed the booklet, Dale C. briefed the club on the current list of cruisers, handed out charts, and handed out a preliminary itinerary.
Day 1: SH marina to Cortez
Day 2: Cortez to Venice
Day 3: Lay day in Venice. Will allow the boats departing Sunday, Apr 23rd to catch up to main group.
Day 4: Venice to Charlotte Harbor Options

Discussion followed on which destinations in the vicinity Charlotte Harbor would be of interest to the cruisers. Options included Gasparilla Island (Boca Grande Marina), Punta Gorda (Fisherman's Village), Pine Island Sound (Cabbage Key), Captiva Island (South Seas Plantation), Captiva Island (Tween Water's Inn), North Captiva Island (Safety Harbor). Return trip overnight options were also briefed by Dale C.

Dick G. said he would take his video camera and produce a finished video of the 2006 Spring Cruise.

New Business:
Candy P. briefed the group on the progress of "Mystic's" repainting. An excellent paint stripper from West Marine was discovered by Larry P. which has eased the pain involved with stripping and repainting. See Larry P. for the name and details on this paint stripper.

Foibles - Dale C. wrote, read, and presented two foibles to club members. The first went to Patrick W. for his misadventures aboard his pontoon boat "Hooligan" during a recent kayaking trip at the north end of Old Safety Harbor. The second foible went to Chris G. for his mainsail halyard and forestay mishaps aboard his sloop "John B" during a recent club race. Dale's foible rendering produced many chuckles and a round of applause from the club members. Foiblees received a personal copy of their foible, suitable for framing.

Door Prize Drawing: Heather, the owner of Heather's Place, donated a $25.00 gift certificate for the give away. Brian G. won the drawing.

The meeting was adjourned at 2010.

Barry Fox, Secretary
SHBC