....Ahoy All,
The Wildwood Reservoir – the lake – is now open for boating and boat stickers and parking passes are available at the Wildwood Conservation Area office. With that development, our WSC Executive Committee is setting the stage for what is still an unpredictable sailing season in which limited opportunities may remain the norm. Here’s what’s happening now. Our Board has decided on a revised membership fee of $80 for everyone and to leave it to individuals to purchase their own boat stickers and parking passes as desired. If you don’t plan on sailing, you won’t need a boat sticker. As stated earlier, cheques already submitted to Treasurer John Cuerden will be destroyed (and cash payments returned) and we are appealing to everyone to consider issuing new cheques for the much-reduced basic fee. It is not necessary for you to submit another registration form if you already submitted one this year. For potential members who may have been holding off on membership -- and particularly for those who may already have boats at the marina -- membership renewal with a completed application form is required. We are working on a verification system to keep track of members’ boat stickers and parking passes as required under our UTRCA obligations. More on that later. Please note that owing to the continuing COVID-19 threat the usual membership requirement for mandatory work will not apply this year. Our Board, which met virtually July 30, unanimously supported a resolution to that effect. Members may, however, be asked to volunteer for necessary jobs that can be handled safely and in keeping with public health advice, including social distancing. All cheques should be made out to The Wildwood Sailing Club and submitted to John Cuerden, 174 Walsh Cres., Stratford, ON – N5A 7X7. In a related decision at Saturday’s meeting, it was agreed that any dock work to be undertaken at the marina will be done only with the approval and supervision of Docks Director Hans Rosch when he deems it safe and consistent with public health directives. Even now, a Provincial Emergency Order limiting groups to no more than six persons remains in effect to June 9 and is subject to extension. The launching jetty at the ramp is likely to be installed soon but there’s no plan at this time for additional dock assembly which, as you know, requires considerable manpower and close work. Understandably, the hold on dock works will be a disappointment to some, but the risk is pretty hard to justify for a purely recreational activity in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. Our information officer, Gerry Culliton, is rounding up some cautionary signage and hand sanitizer supplies for our club site to assist us all in staying safe. Meanwhile, limited opportunities for mooring boats are available and the sailing of smaller boats that can easily be launched and retrieved should not be a problem. Boaters should check-in with Harbour Master Don VanGalen don.van.galen@sunlife.com for possible mooring berths. Member rowers, sail boarders and kayakers have current access to the lake. And, last words for now, anyone who can pull a rake or push a broom is welcome to contribute to a bit of clean-up on site anytime. Using your own labelled tools is an idea. Stay Tuned and Stay Safe, Donal O’Connor Commodore Ahoy WSC Members and Prospective Members,
Despite the current easing of some restrictions pertaining to the Covid-19 threat, many uncertainties remain and a return to a normal Wildwood sailing season seems a long way off. Much of what I communicated several weeks ago about our "iffy" season remains unchanged as of today, May 11. The following, however, is an update on where we're at. CHEQUE RETURNS In fairness to our early-bird paid-up members, our WSC Board has decided to shred -- or return if requested -- all cheques so far submitted to treasurer John Cuerden. Club refund cheques will be issued to those members who have paid in cash. A revised and reduced fee structure that will likely leave the purchase of boat and parking passes to individuals will be forthcoming when a clearer picture emerges from Wildwood Conservation Area about public access to the park and waterway. Meanwhile, anyone wanting their registration fee cheque returned rather than shredded is asked to inform John Cuerden at j.cuerden@wightman.ca by May 31. This adjustment recognizes the unpredictability of club activities this summer and that boaters may opt for widely varying levels of participation in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. That said, our sailing club is entirely member driven and we are hoping that sailors -- including those who may be holding off on membership because of the compromised season -- will rally in support of the fee structure that's under consideration by our Board. Please remember that your club membership includes the right to store your boat at the marina site through to next spring and confers the right to participate in how the club operates. BUDGET DEFERRED At a virtual WSC Executive Committee meeting held May 9, this past Saturday, our Board deferred all budget issues -- including a proposal for a substantially reduced basic membership fee -- to the end of this month. We expect that by that time to have firmer information about seasonal boating prospects. Wildwood Conservation Area remains closed to the end of May under Provincial Order and is not expected to open for general public use until well into June, at best. Boating is just not on until boat passes are issued. BOAT MAINTENANCE That said, sailors will no doubt want to check on their boats at the marina and perhaps attend to some maintenance with the arrival of warmer days. While group activities remain suspended and our club is closed under the Provincial Emergency, members may check on their boats while continuing to respect public health directives that include social distancing. The “No Trespassing” sign on the club gate is not aimed at WSC members. I would be remiss, however, in not reminding everyone that there's no running water or readily available soap or hand sanitizer at our club site and there's no staff on sanitizing duty attending to locks, door latches, club tools, machinery or seating. Travelling with your own personal hand sanitizer is probably a good idea. I hope the foregoing has answered at least some questions that may be keeping a few of us awake at night as we long for a return to something like normal. Please stay tuned for updates. Stay Safe, Donal O'Connor Commodore Ahoy All WSC Members and Potential Members,
As you already know, we are at a critical period in attempting to stop the spread of novel Coronavirus. Case numbers continue to rise in the province and emergency public health regulations and warnings are being stepped up. Given this regrettable and continuously changing situation, Wildwood Sailing Club is compelled to postpone indefinitely our scheduled April 25 dock assembly and grounds clean-up day. Necessarily, our spring General Meeting is also postponed. Similar to every other recreational organization we surely all hope for better times as the summer unfolds. Possibly that may include some chance of limited sailing. Predictions for the next few months, however, are not promising and -- much as I hesitate to acknowledge this -- it's quite likely we won't have a club sailing season this year. Whatever we can safely do will be contingent on provincial declarations, Wildwood Conservation Area services and directives, and advice from regional and district public health officials. Several sailors will have already paid their club dues and some cheques may be on the way. Your executive committee, including treasurer John Cuerden, will need some time to figure out how to best handle possible credits for boat and vehicle passes if it turns out that the marina remains closed to sailing. Please be mindful, however, that your membership fees are important. Boat storage through to next year is a service everyone is entitled to with their membership and we still need to take care of our lease and insurance costs and do some grounds/docks maintenance when that becomes safe. A simple procedure regarding boat stickers may be that the club holds that fee and applies it to next season. That may also work tor the UTRCA parking fee if car passes aren't required this summer. Also, if we are unable to proceed with planned projects -- such as a level boat rigging area near the launching ramp -- a membership fee discount could be considered. A current difficulty, I should add, is that our board of directors has been unable to meet face-to-face so far this spring to properly discuss any of this. The bottom line as of today, March 25, is that there are far more questions than answers about our forthcoming season. For now, everyone would do best to adhere to the "social distancing" and other basic personal safety measures advised by public health professionals. Please stay safe and don't endanger anyone else. For updates visit our WSC website by Googling Wildwood Sailing Club. Looking to Better Times Ahead, Donal O'Connor Commodore |
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