Commodore’s Report
By: Commodore Charlie Downs
Thanks to all who attended the 2010 YCM Commodore’s Night . I have heard many good comments about it. I hope all had a good time and enjoyed themselves. Thanks to Crescent Yacht Club for hosting this event. The meal was fantastic, thanks to the efforts of Nance Discher and her staff. Thanks all.
Also thanks to my daughter Karen who did the crab favors and deserts and to my son-in-law who took the photos. And what about those centerpieces! First Lady out did herself designing them. Thanks Judy.
The 4 X 500 raffle will take place at the YCM Christmas Party. Commodores, please make sure that the tickets that were given to you for your club and the sales are turned in to IP/C Dan Miler. If you have any unsold tickets, please sell them or send them to Dan so another club can sell them. The proceeds help to offset the costs of the publication of the annual YCM Yearbook.
Speaking of the yearbook, as the clubs change officers, please contact R/C Cliff Katzin to update your club’s page for 2011. Also, Commodores, please send V/C Steve Rockel your e-mail address so that you receive this newsletter electronically.
The next event is the annual YCM Christmas Party at Laurel Park. See Kathy Hellner’s article and contact her to make reservations. We always have a good time.
Thanks to Wellwood Yacht Club for hosting last month’s board meeting.
Judy and I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.
Vice Commodore’s Report
By: V/C Steve Rockel
I would like to thank Wellwood Yacht Club and their officers for hosting YCM’s October Board Meeting.
Our November meeting will be held on November 17, 2010. It is a General Membership and will be held at Key Yacht Club. Dinner will be served at 6 PM. Meeting will start at 7PM.
Our December meeting will be held on December 18, 2010 and will be held at Laurel Park just prior to our holiday party. YCM officers and board members should plan to arrive 30 minutes early to allow for a brief board meeting for the record.
Our January, 2011 meeting will be held on January 26, 2011. It is a General Membership and will be held at Bush River Yacht Club. Dinner will be served at 6 PM. Meeting will start at 7PM.
The next Newsletter Deadline is December 12th.
As always, all member clubs and guest writers from our yachting community are welcome to provide articles. Please send articles to Editor Steve Rockel at .
PLEASE SEND US YOUR COMMODORES BALL INFORMATION!!! Please check listings in this newsletter to see if we have your club listed yet!!!
With the changing of officers, New Commodores, please advise this editor with your e-mail address so you are added to our electronic distribution list.
YCM needs host clubs for the following meetings:
Feb 23rd- Board Meeting
*May 25th - General Meeting
June 29th - Board Meeting
Aug 31st - Board Meeting
Oct 26th -Board Meeting
*Nov 30th - General Meeting
*Dinner Meeting
Please contact me if your club will host any of the above dates.
Terri and I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Rear Commodore’s Report
By: R/C Cliff Katzin
This past Saturday we had the honor of representing Yacht Clubs of Maryland at Miles River Yacht Club’s 90th Commodore’s Ball. It was a long ride down there, but well worth it. Colleen and I were welcomed by a lot of friendly faces with warm handshakes. We want to wish P/C Harvey and the rest of the club, 90 more great years.
We’re looking forward to starting work on the “Fleet Captain’s Dinner” and the Ship’s Log.” The latter will require a lot of hard work to equal the quality of past editions. The former needs this officer to plan carefully and not be too ambitious.
Thanksgiving is fast approaching. We hope everyone reading this has a great Holiday, andoldHoliday, takes a few moments to count their blessings, and appreciate boating on the Chesapeake Bay.
Boating, Waterways, and the Environment
By: Legislative Affairs Officer Janet Yodris
IMPORTANT ISSUE: Tentative Determination General Discharge Permit No. 10-MA
Website for MDE: http://www.mde.state.md.us
It is my understanding that the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) mailed to the Yacht Clubs a “Fact Sheet and a 40+ pages Tentative Determination General Discharge Permit No. 10-MA” draft dated August 24, 2010. If your club has not received same, please e-mail me and I will send it to you. This is a very important document to review.
SOME ISSUES: Permit Restrictions; Restriction on wash water discharge; Oil and Grease; etc.
On October 27, 2010 I spoke with Ed Stone of MDE – who advised that there was a hearing on September 29, 2010 on this Permit. Commentaries closed on October 5, 2010. They are in the process of reviewing comments, concerns and questions concerning this permit. Within 30 days they hope to publish the results and have a final permit to be enacted.
I hope to have an update by the November YCM meeting.
MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2009
2009-10 Legislation passed this year bills concerning the Chesapeake Bay
Senate Bill 554/ House Bill cross-filed with House Bill 176 - Chesapeake Bay Nitrogen Reduction Act of 2009: Prohibiting the installation of on-site sewage disposal system in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area to service a newly constructed building, and prohibiting the replacement of an on- site sewage disposal system in the Area, unless the system utilizes nitrogen removal technology; requiring the Department of the Environment to assist homeowners in paying for specified costs under specified circumstances; establishing penalties and enforcement mechanisms; etc.
Senate Bill 553 cross-filed with House Bill 609 - Chesapeake Bay Phosphorous Reduction Act of 2009: Establishing labeling requirements for lawn fertilizer on or after April 1, 2011; prohibiting a person from selling or distributing lawn fertilizer that is not low phosphorous fertilizer on or after April 1, 2011; requiring specified manufacturers to reduce specified phosphorous levels by April 1, 2011; prohibiting specified manufacturers from exceeding specified phosphorous levels under specified circumstances; requiring specified reports; authorizing the Department of Agriculture to adopt regulations; etc.
Senate Bill 271 cross-filed with House Bill 312 - Aquaculture – shellfish – leasing: Repealing specified restrictions, eligibility requirements, authorizations, and procedures relating to leasing specified areas in specified waters of the State for the purpose of protecting, sowing, bedding, or cultivating specified shellfish; repealing specified provisions relating to revenue derived from private oyster culture; repealing a specified recording fee; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to designate a public shellfish area in the Chesapeake Bay; etc.
ETHANOL ISSUE
News from Boat US dated September 28, 2010 Boat US urges Boaters to speak up on Ethanol: EPA decision coming very soon. US EPA is expected to announce its decision on whether to approve the addition of up to 50% more ethanol in the nation’s gasoline supply, form the current 10%, concentration to a potential 15%. Ethanol has been known to degrade fuel systems and lead to expensive repairs. Last year a record number of recreational boaters asked EPA to test marine engines before allowing the 15% in gasoline. The testing has not been completed and Boat US believes the EPA is getting ready to announce its decision on the increased ethanol in the next couple of weeks. Boat US feels it may allow the 15% in some engines; but not in others. Many boaters have suffered through the last ethanol transition to 10%, agree that we should learn from recent history and understand what the new fuel will do before approving its use in boats. It may be harmless; but what if it is not? What happens if safety is affected or boaters are forced to pay for expensive repairs? Remember that most boat engine warranties are void when using ethanol beyond the 10% level.
Update as of October 13, 2010 EPA issues decision on E15 The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a decision to allow the use of E15, gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol, in model year 2007 and newer automobiles. This is one step in the process of allowing more ethanol in the nation's fuel supply. It is also expected that a decision on the use of E15 in model years 2001 to 2006 automobiles will be issued in November. No decision was made on the use of E15 in other engines, including boat engines.
For additional information from EPA: EPA Fuels and Fuel Additives Web Page
BACK RIVER RESTORATION REPORT
On October 16th BRR had a cleanup at Back River Bridge, Cox’s point, and Hyde Park. Winds made it difficult to pick up the trash; but the 140 volunteers did clear up the beaches of trash that had washed up from the September 30, 2010 storm
October 11th the Cox’s Point Tree Planting was a huge success. 110 students from 5 high schools were able to plant trees and shrubs.
On November 6, 2010 from 8 am to 2 pm - there will be a cleanup at the Bread and Cheese Creek. The location will be maintenance clean up encompassing the area from Merritt Blvd to Plainfield Road. Need to clean up the trash that has accumulated between the 2 shopping centers before it washes off the banks and further downstream into Back River and the Chesapeake
Bay.
Federal report faults farmers' Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts
Despite progress, most croplands need more pollution controls
By Tim Wheeler
Seeming to contradict assertions by farmers that they're doing their share to protect the Chesapeake Bay, a new federal report finds major shortcomings in what crop growers are doing across the six-state region to keep from polluting the troubled estuary.
While farmers have made "good progress" in reducing the amount of soil and fertilizer washing off their fields into the bay and its rivers, more pollution controls are needed on about 81 percent of all the croplands, says the draft report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And nearly half of the region's 4.3 million acres of croplands are "critically undertreated" to keep pollutants from running or seeping into nearby ditches and streams.
The 161-page federal report — the most comprehensive analysis of farm conservation practices in the bay region to date — relies on computer modeling and hundreds of soil and other samples taken across the region, plus a survey of farmers. It has not been officially released, but an Internet link to a "review draft" was distributed Tuesday to news media and to environmental groups.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service released a statement late Tuesday saying that the draft report, though still under review, "suggests that conservation practices in the Chesapeake Bay are working but "more work remains to be done."
oldHoliday,Secretary’s Report
By: Secretary Cheryl Blakey
No Report
Treasurer’s Report
By: Treasurer Fred Chew
No Report
Dates to Remember
General Mtg. – Key Yacht Club – Nov 17th
YCM Christmas Party-Laurel Park- Dec 18th
General Mtg. – Bush River Yacht Club – January 26th
YCM 2010 4-by-500 Ticket
Calling all 2010 Commodores. During the opening season you or your representative was given six (6) YCM raffle tickets to sell. Please check your pockets because many of these have not been returned. Attached are a list of clubs and the number of tickets they have sold / returned. Please see what you can do to get these in.
This year we have a gift for the club that returns the most tickets. In case of a tie, the first club to return the most tickets will win the honor and the prize. Check out the derby status attached to this newsletter. If more tickets are needed or you are having trouble selling the ones your club has, please contact me. The drawing will be held at our annual Christmas Party at Laurel Park Race Track. Thank you for your support and good luck.
YCM 2010 4-by-500 Ticket CountMEMBER CLUB NAME / Tickets sold
Amber Lighthouse Yacht Club / 0
Baltimore Yacht Club / 0
Belvedere Yacht Club / 0
Bodkin Yacht Club / 0
Boumi Shrine Yacht Club / 0
Bowleys Point Yacht Club / 0
Bush River Yacht Club / 0
Charlestown Yacht Club / 0
Chesapeake Commodores Club / 6
Crescent Yacht Club / 0
Eastern Yacht Club / 0
Galloway Yacht Club / 6
Glenmar Sailing Association / 0
Goose Harbor Yacht Club / 0
Great Oak Yacht Club / 6
Kent Island Yacht Club / 0
Key Yacht Club / 0
Marley Boat Club / 3
Maryland Cruising Club / 0
Maryland Yacht Club / 0
Middle River Yacht Club / 6
Miles River Yacht Club / 0
North East River Yacht Club / 2
North Point Yacht Club / 13
Otter Point Yacht Club / 6
Outcast Yacht Club / 6
Red Eye Yacht Club / 5
Riverside Yacht Club of MD / 6
Sue Haven Yacht Club / 8
Ventnor Yacht Club / 0
Veterans Yacht Club Association / 0
Wellwood Yacht Club / 6
White Rocks Yacht Club / 0
Thanks P/C Dan Miller
YCM Christmas Party
at Laurel Racetrack
By: P/C Kathy Hellner, Belvedere YC