2005 PACIFIC NORTHWEST MTOA RENDEZVOUS
The third-ever Pacific Northwest Rendezvous was held in Blaine, WA, August 26-28, 2005. We dubbed our event “The Peace Arch Rendezvous.” Located at the westernmost border between the US and Canada, the gleaming white Peace Arch rises majestically to commemorate the longest undefended boundary in the world. Dedicated in 1921, it is the first monument built and dedicated to world peace. The Peace Arch and the beautiful park surrounding it provided an inviting backdrop for our rendezvous. We are near the San Juan and Gulf Islands, which have been justly described as offering some of the best boating in the world.
The 2005 rendezvous planning committee included: chairs Andy and Chris Backus (#1561), Sue and Gary Fulmer (#483) and Bob Ruth and Tracie Garner (#2327). Other enthusiastic participants included Mike and Debbie Fedak (#2492) and their daughters Kelsy Fedak and Sarah Mortell, Sherry and Leo Glahn (#2651), Jania and Dale Johnson (#2605). We got a real shot in the arm at the end of July when we learned Bob Smith (#24) would join us. We were also delighted to have Carole and John Williams come up from Seattle on Saturday. They are former MTOAers, who got our first-ever rendezvous Pacific Northwest Rendezvous off the ground in Anacortes, WA in 2002.
Saturday morning workshops included Bob Smith doing his very detailed engine room tours and Rob and Gerri Gilmore (Gilmore’s North Star Upholstery, Inc. in Ferndale, WA) consulting in depth on four boats about marine canvas.
Saturday night we catered our own dinner and heard from Dr. Tom Villa-Lovoz, an amateur historian, about the “Pig Wars,” a bit of San Juan Island history. We enjoyed meals together and had time to take a stroll through the Peace Arch Park, go for early bird hikes and to participate in a “Boater’s Bingo” – an icebreaker game. We deepened old friendships and made new friends through MTOA.
The planning committee is grateful to vendors who supplied door prizes, which made the weekend more fun. They were: the MTOA Ship’s Store, West Marine Express (Blaine), Boater’s World, Pacific Marine Exchange (www.pacificmarineexhange.com) and Redden Marine Supply (all in Bellingham).
All in all, we had 22 participants and five boats at the rendezvous. Although small by Crisfield standards, this was double the attendance at our first two rendezvous we had in 2002 and 2003. We will look forward to meeting again in Port Orchard, WA, August 18-20, 2006, with Debbie and Mike Fedak very capably chairing our fourth Pacific Northwest Rendezvous.
Chris and Andy Backus, #1561
hepsabeth@msn.com
The third-ever Pacific Northwest Rendezvous was held in Blaine, WA, August 26-28, 2005. We dubbed our event “The Peace Arch Rendezvous.” Located at the westernmost border between the US and Canada, the gleaming white Peace Arch rises majestically to commemorate the longest undefended boundary in the world. Dedicated in 1921, it is the first monument built and dedicated to world peace. The Peace Arch and the beautiful park surrounding it provided an inviting backdrop for our rendezvous. We are near the San Juan and Gulf Islands, which have been justly described as offering some of the best boating in the world.
The 2005 rendezvous planning committee included: chairs Andy and Chris Backus (#1561), Sue and Gary Fulmer (#483) and Bob Ruth and Tracie Garner (#2327). Other enthusiastic participants included Mike and Debbie Fedak (#2492) and their daughters Kelsy Fedak and Sarah Mortell, Sherry and Leo Glahn (#2651), Jania and Dale Johnson (#2605). We got a real shot in the arm at the end of July when we learned Bob Smith (#24) would join us. We were also delighted to have Carole and John Williams come up from Seattle on Saturday. They are former MTOAers, who got our first-ever rendezvous Pacific Northwest Rendezvous off the ground in Anacortes, WA in 2002.
Saturday morning workshops included Bob Smith doing his very detailed engine room tours and Rob and Gerri Gilmore (Gilmore’s North Star Upholstery, Inc. in Ferndale, WA) consulting in depth on four boats about marine canvas.
Saturday night we catered our own dinner and heard from Dr. Tom Villa-Lovoz, an amateur historian, about the “Pig Wars,” a bit of San Juan Island history. We enjoyed meals together and had time to take a stroll through the Peace Arch Park, go for early bird hikes and to participate in a “Boater’s Bingo” – an icebreaker game. We deepened old friendships and made new friends through MTOA.
The planning committee is grateful to vendors who supplied door prizes, which made the weekend more fun. They were: the MTOA Ship’s Store, West Marine Express (Blaine), Boater’s World, Pacific Marine Exchange (www.pacificmarineexhange.com) and Redden Marine Supply (all in Bellingham).
All in all, we had 22 participants and five boats at the rendezvous. Although small by Crisfield standards, this was double the attendance at our first two rendezvous we had in 2002 and 2003. We will look forward to meeting again in Port Orchard, WA, August 18-20, 2006, with Debbie and Mike Fedak very capably chairing our fourth Pacific Northwest Rendezvous.
Chris and Andy Backus, #1561
hepsabeth@msn.com
