Catalina Fleet 21 - Chicago Region
FleetSheet Newsletter

November2008



Celebrate!
Don’t miss the chance to celebrate 35 years of Fleet 21! Our Awards Banquet is set for November 22, 2008. We’ve done our best to make this a special event now we ask you to help make it a success by attending. Bring along a raffle basket if you’d like. Reservations are due today! Join us as we:


A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMODORE

As I sit down to write this, my last Commodore’s message, I really am at a loss for words. Being Commodore has been an honor and a privilege. I would encourage any one out there who hasn’t been Commodore to give it a try. The real secret is that all your board members and Club members do all the hard work and you get the glory. Seriously, that’s how it feels to me. I suppose that what I really should do is take this time to thank everybody who has been on the board, headed a committee, hosted an outing or been the subject of an occasional mention in my message in this newsletter.

I’ll do that. Without singling anyone out for fear of failing to mention someone else, thank you. Thank you all.

When I took this position two years ago I set a couple of personal goals for myself. I wanted to try to find the right balance between quality and quantity. Nothing we do as a club should have be a burden for the people who to put it together. Our board had a couple less meetings this year, but it seems like every general meeting/program and every outing was very well attended. Again, when the people putting these things together know what they’re doing, it all goes well.

Kind of a corollary to my first goal, I also hoped to not leave the Club any worse off than when I took over. I don’t mean that there was anything wrong with the Club, I just didn’t want to screw anything up. Some moments were touch and go. We had some last minute cancellations and I realized that we had scheduled events that coincided with concerts or that one of our meetings I actually set on a Sunday before I had to change it at the last minute.

I also wanted to leave the Club with the same local and regional reputation for be an active and interested group of sailors. In all these things I hope I have met with some small measure of success.

Bill Thompson will be installed as our new Commodore at the awards banquet this November 22nd. Bill has been both Secretary and Treasurer while I have been Commodore. Bill has been steadfast in his dedication to this Club. I really never needed to ask anything of Bill because I knew it was already taken care of. I know that Bill will bring the same dedication and determination as Commodore. If he asks you to help out please say “yes” without hesitation. We all have other things going on in our lives but then again we all joined this Club for a reason. Whatever your reason was, take the time to help out.

I’ll finish this message with what has become a theme in many previous messages: If you are a member of this Club, no matter where you go, you’ll meet someone you know. For me that’s more true now than when I started this job.

Stay connected. Good Health and Peace to all.


Humbly yours,
Brian D. Ruxton

 

Catalina Fleet 21 - Chicago Region

invites you to attend the 2009 Chicago Strictly Sail Show
at Navy Pier - January 29-February 1
and a Special Fleet 21/LMCA Gathering at the Hampton Inn (January 31)

 

Strictly Sail: It’s that time of year again to start making plans to come on out to Navy Pier for the 2009 Strictly Sail Show. As always, we’ve got beautiful rooms reserved at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 33 W. Illinois, for both Friday and Saturday night (January 30-31) at great rates! Over 100 Catalina Fleet 21 and LMCA members and their guests stayed downtown Friday and/or Saturday night last year and made a whole weekend of it. Why don't you plan to do the same!

Fleet 21 Winter Rendezvous: We’ll definitely head back to the Hampton Inn right after the show closes on Saturday so that we don’t miss out on all that Fleet 21/LMCA camaraderie. . . . and of course the opportunity to rub elbows with Frank Butler and Sharon Day. Festivities begin at 8:00 p.m. in the large Hospitality Suite on the second floor. Soft drinks, pizza and salad will be served. The cost is $10.00 per person and will be collected at the door.

Rates: Deluxe Room @ $109.00 (King or Two Double Beds)
Suite @$129.00 (King or Two Double Beds w/bath plus attached kitchenette and living room w/sofa sleeper) We have a limited number of suites in our block so reserve early!

Breakfast: Included in the rates above is a lavish continental breakfast consisting of pastries, muffins, bagels, toasts, cereals and hot entrees, juices and fresh fruit available from 6-10:00 a.m. each morning in the hotel’s Hospitality Suite.

Shuttle: The Navy Pier Shuttle stops at the corner of the Hampton Inn (State & Illinois) and runs every 30 minutes from 9:00 a.m. - midnight. You can also catch a cab right outside the hotel for a nominal fee. Or take the pleasant 20-minute walk weather permitting.

Parking: There are several self-park lots/garages in the vicinity of the Hampton. The hotel offers valet parking for $38.00 a day (24 hours, including in and out privileges).

Reservations: Please DO NOT call the hotel directly. Contact Madalyn Duerr via e-mail -- mduerr@jenner.com, or call 312/923-8378 (feel free to leave a detailed message on secure voice mail), or fax your information to her at 312/661-1419. Please provide all of the following details:

1. Your name, complete address and phone number.
2. The nights for which you need reservations, number of people in room (additional room nights can generally be accommodated . . . just include in your request).
3. Type of room (Deluxe King or Double, Suite King or Double), smoking or non-smoking.
4. Credit card information to guarantee your room (include type of card, name of person as printed on the card, credit card number, expiration date).

IMPORTANT: Deadline for making hotel reservations is December 29, 2008. But don't wait until the deadline. As always, space is limited so please contact Madalyn EARLY for your reservations and join in the fun!
 


 

 
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