February Luncheon

Leo and Sherry Glahn have graciously offered to host a PNW MTOA luncheon at their home on February 16th. Social hour starting at noon and lunch following at 1:00. This is a great opportunity to reconnect with those who we only see once a year or to meet up with other local members if you have never attended an event.

Their home is located at: 10303 NE Casey St., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.

Phone #206-855-7814.

Email Lmg48x122@aol.com

They would appreciate RSVP's from those planning to attend and would like to know if there are any food allergies that they should be aware of.

Thank you again Sherry and Leo for opening you home up to us! This will be fun!

2007 Port Orchard (part deux) rendevzous

2007 PNW MTOA Rendezvous.

We had 7 boats in attendance and one attendee, Bob Spencer, from Illinois with his son Robert from Idaho. The weather was fantastic for September. The marina had made additional upgrades to the party area since last year that made our stay even more pleasant. We made new friends and reaquainted ourselves with those we hadn't seen since last year.

The food was good. The conversations interesting. We shared where we had cruised this year, what projects we had completed, still working on, or had planned.

Chuck Gould, editor of the popular Norwesting magazine – a PNW favorite boating publication - gave a slide presentation about his trip this summer to Canada’s Howe Sound and the "Haunted" Darcy Island. Jay McEwen , a qualified marine surveyor, gave a run down on selecting a Marine Surveyor, how to prepare for a survey, and followed up with walk-throughs on a couple boats.

The Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce had a Pirate Rendezvous event over the weekend. The MTOA’ers picked up the theme.

Greg and Tina Tyler’s Heart's Desire won 3rd place in the Pirate decorating contest. Greg's little carbonite cannon on the forward hatch was the clincher. Greg and Tina Tyler and Dale and Jan Johnson will be co-chairs of the next rendezvous - August 15th - 17th. Plans are also being made for dinner at Leo and Sherry Glahn's home on Bainbridge Island in February - dates to be announced. There will also be a spring cruise in May to Mystery Bay - dates based on tides - Greg will announce as we get closer.

2006 Port Orchard Rendezvous

2006 Pacific Northwest Rendezvous

The Pacific Northwest has some of the finest boating in the world, attracting people from across the country and from around the world. The San Juan and Gulf Islands, located in northern Puget Sound and off the coast of British Columbia (BC) offer an unending array of beautiful coves and historic harbors. Boaters can find the full range of settings from wilderness getaways in pristine fjords to the hustle and bustle of established towns and fine restaurants in both Washington state and in BC (the southwestern most province of Canada).

The weekend of August 18-20, 2006 we “tough, tenacious trawler toters” from the Pacific Northwest met in Port Orchard, WA for our fourth MTOA Rendezvous. Debbie and Mike Fedak, #2492 and owners of “Slomocean,” did an outstanding job as hosts, doubling participation in last year’s event. We had ten boats and 34 participants. It was great having seven MTOA leaders from the Eastern US with us: Phil and Sarah Lowe (#2091), George and Mary Kay (#1158), Roger and Robbin Seal (#1166), and Bob Smith. (#24). They brought a lot of energy and good ideas from their experience with MTOA.

It was wonderful to have all the local folks back with us who attended our 2005 Pacific Northwest Rendezvous in Blaine (at the US-Canadian Border): the Fedaks, Bob Ruth and Tracie Garner (#2327), Gary and Sue Fulmer (# 483), Leo and Sherry Glahn (#2651), Jania and Dale Robinson (#2605), and Andy and Chris Backus (#1561). And it was a thrill to see that the Glahns finally had their beloved “C’est La Vie” on the west coast, fresh from Florida by way of Victoria, BC, via transport ship from Placida, FL.

Another great thing was that we attracted six new members because of our one-on-one outreach and because of the great success we had with getting our notices into the free magazines at local marinas. Chris Lilly Backus did the publicity and she and Andy Backus arranged to have classy nametag buttons made for each participant.

Bob Smith’s diesel workshop on Sunday drew another 42 people from the community., eight of whom have joined MTOA! Bob’s reputation and a steep discount on the price drew in local boaters who didn’t know about MTOA yet and attracted a number of Port Orchard Yacht Club members (the Fedaks’ home club).

We had great weather, wonderful camaraderie and lot of fun touring each others’ boats and sharing ideas and tales of our past adventures and our plans for our next trips. We plan to return to Port Orchard again in August 2007 and plan to double attendance again under the leadership of Greg and Tina Tyler (# 3012) who will work closely with the Fedaks. Nice job everyone!

2005 Peace Arch Rendezvous

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

2002 Rendezvous Anacortes

The first PNW MTOA rendezvous took place June 2002 in Anacortes. Organizers were John and Carol Williams (R Escape) and Annie and Bob Dalby (Annie O). Other participants: Sue and Gary Fulmer (Necessity), Chris Lilly (Backus) and Andy Backus (Hepsabeth). Most came by boat. The Olsens joined us Saturday by land.

1: Restaurant meal Friday night (left front to back) Gary and Sue Fulmer, Bob Dalby (right front to back) Andy Backus, Chris Lilly (Backus), John and Carol Williams.

2: Party at John and Carol Williams home: (left side) Sharon and Norm Olsen, Bob and Annie Dalby, (right side) Sue Fulmer, Carol Williams, Chris Lilly (Backus), John Williams, Andy Backus (photo taken by Gary Fulmer)

3: "R Escape" at John and Carol Williams' dock during boat tour

Submitted by Chris (Lilly) Backus