Our annual CDSOA Meeting in Groton

[s.v. LaVida]

I just wanted to take a moment to express all the FUN we had and the pleasure of seeing everyone, in person, at our annual meeting in Groton this past weekend. I had a blast!

Thanks to the extraordinary effort put forth by our Commodore and all those who helped her put on an amazing event.

The insight into CD's was awesome and the music was the best!

For those of you who couldn't make it you missed a real hoot!

I can't wait till our 10th Anniversary Meeting, its gona be something else.

Sea u,
Mike
GLF Captain

[Guest]

Hi there. I think you got some of this wrong. But on the other hand there are a few things you acctually convinced me with. Can you add more to that?

[s.v. LaVida]

????

[Chuck]

Mike,
Carl and I had a great time also. My thanks to Commodore Sharon, and all involved for a wonderful meeting. "All involved", now doesn't that tell you guys something. GET INVOLVED!
Looking forward to next year,
Chuck
Gulf Coast Fleet

[Bob Ohler]

I thought it was perhaps our best meeting ever! We had never before had musical entertainment, or the number of door prizes that were presented. It will be difficult to top Will Keane from Edson International as a guest speaker. Leo left with the most coveted bronze dorade vent. A lot of effort went into the meeting and it certainly showed!
Sorry we couldn't please the "guest" further up in this thread! I find it interesting that someone would attempt to compromise the initial complimentary posting but would not sign their name to it. I guess you can't please all the people all the time!

[s.v. LaVida]

I agree Bob.

Why do some people post things like that?

Must not be a CD'er.

Mike

[Bill Goldsmith]

Almost looks like an automated spam posting, it's so non-specific. Is that possible?

Anyway, I would have liked to attend but couldn't make it. Maybe next year....

[Tod Mills]

...it looks like that or else a confused poster thinking he was replying to a different post. At any rate, it sure doesn't look like a response to Mike.

[bottomscraper]

Here is a link to some pictures I took, sorry but I haven't had time to add captions.

http://sailmahalo.com/cdsoa_groton_2005/

[s.v. LaVida]

Nice job and thanks for sharing!

[Carter Brey]

Almost looks like an automated spam posting, it's so non-specific. Is that possible?

Anyway, I would have liked to attend but couldn't make it. Maybe next year....

Bill is right; our site got flooded a few days ago by spam robots trolling old message threads. It's a pretty sophisticated hack that looks for bulletin board sites and plugs "responses" into the end of threads. That's why all these moribund threads from months ago-- Rick Santorum, favorite CD photos, etc-- suddenly sat up like Lazarus, sporting either weirdly nonspecific guest rejoinders or obvious spam ads for products whose name rhymes with Niagra.

An unfortunate byproduct of our site's being programmed to bump threads with new messages to the top.

Nice photos, by the way, Rich. I wanted to attend but was busy that weekend.

CB

[skairis]

Thank You All! ? What an awesome team effort! Thank you also, for your continual support and dedication! Its greatly appreciated !!

As for 2005?s Annual Meeting ? its now a pleasant memory! All 5 Fleets were represented and members arrived from more then 15 states! Couple that with the generous support of sponsors who donated awesome door prizes, and CDSOA's special friend and guest speaker, Will Keene and our evening troubodor, Matt Dodd and the day went off without a hitch! Dinner was good the company even better and just about everyone was laughing, tapping their toes and singing along by evenings end. The feedback and emails have been most favorable and it sets the stage for our upcoming 2006 10th Anniversary Celebration next Fall!

It certainly seemed like everyone truly had a phenomenal time at the Groton Inn in CT on Nov 5. There was a lot of chatter, laughter, toe tapping, and singing that accompanied dinner entertainer ?Old Sailing Days? troubadour, Matt Dodd!!. A fitting end to a very full and productive year, that?s for sure! It couldn?t have happened without all of you! Every CDSOA Board Member, Fleet Captain and Committee Chair contributed to the early morning Board meeting--having traveled in from more then 10 states--OK, TX, NC, VA, DC, MD, PA, NJ, CT, MA, and NY just to participate in closing this year and setting a course for 2006

The momentum and camaraderie continued to build and carried on into the afternoon with the arrival of each CDSOA member or guest such as, Will Keene, CEO of Edson International who was a Cape Dory employee in charge of quality assurance while many of our boats were being manufactured . Will graciously donated his afternoon to address the General Membership/business meeting as he fielded an endless array of questions from our members. Will has been invited back whenever he?s able to join us and was presented with a unique framed ?Special Friend to CDSOA? burgee with a red heart set center on a blue star. This was the first of many CDSOA burgees awarded: ?Past Commodores?-- John Sill and Bob Ohler received one with a silver star. Fleet Captains: Jeff Wright/Chesapeake, Lou Ostendorff/Carolinas, Chuck Gardner/Gulf Coast, Mike Ritenour/Great Lakes, Catherine Monaghan/Northeast Fleet, along with former Fleet Captains Carl Jones/Gulf Coast received Fleet Captain burgee with the traditional four blue diagonal stripes.

Then , just as the sun was setting and CDSOA members began gathering and getting to know one another better while waiting for the dinner bell, special awards were presented to more then a dozen individuals recognized for distinguished service and dedication-- Chuck Gardner /Gulf Coast Flt. Captain nominated Carl Jones for this year?s Navigator?s Award for all of the support he provided to the membership their in the Gulf and through out CDSOA by assisting others to Navigate through Life! Bruce Halley has handled the registration for the Annual Meeting as far back as I can recall, Ruth MacDonald assisted him this year by working with the Groton Inn, on menus, accommodations and centerpieces. Mike Kairis pulled together the Captain?s Bags. While Chandlery Offices, Don and Diana Paquette managed the CDSOA Chandlery (store) for the past 3 years and display the merchandise and process orders and requests at the annual meeting, fleet meetings and on special occasions throughout the year! Also the first registrant from the Early Bird Registration was recognized and awarded ? a ?Dark & Stormy? Kit --which seems to have become the ?unofficial? ? OFFICIAL CDSOA LIBATION OF CHOICE!

Once dinner was completed and just prior to Matt Dodd?s fantastic nautical music one man show, Rear Commodore, Leo MacDonald handed out a few awards to the Northeast Fleet, and then the enormous generosity of our sponsors was displayed as Vice Commodore Bud Menchey assisted in raffling off door prizes that included the usual T-shirts, flash lights, hats, gift certificates, etc. In addition several high ticket donations that exceeded the price of dinner and/or a years dues were awarded! (i.e, ?Nauti? Sail Cloth Duffels, Spa baskets, Linen/Galley baskets, Canvas Boat Tool Caddy, Lobster basket, Hawiian Snack Cooler, Nautical Games Chest, Travel Table, Tilley hats, Thanksgiving basket, Fleece Bankets, and Gift Certificates from sponsors such as: Fawcetts, SunSail, Mack Sails, Linthicum Sails, Mystic Boat Stuff to name a few. EVERY TICKET WAS CALLED - yet one prize remained unclaimed. By design, Mariner Hardware?s bronze (powder coated) Cowl vent with matching deck plate had been set aside for a special drawing at evenings end in which everyone had an equal opportunity to win!

I?m sure there are some members whose names should appear here?they saw a need and just pitched in. They are our UNSUNG HEROES. If you are one of the unsung heroes of the evening (you know who you are) the type that keeps a low profile, but steps in and pitches in by taking tickets, or greeting and registering guests as they arrived, or perhaps took pictures and are sharing them - THANK YOU!!

Such good deeds don't really go unnoticed, hopefully someone will take a moment and pass the information on to Ed Haley, CDSOA's Masthead newsletter Editor for inclusion in the new "Unsung Heroes" column.

One final observation, while there may be a finite number of Cape Dories manufactured...there is certainly an infinite number of caring people, who share their knowledge and love for the sea and sailing--especially in a Cape Dory!

Fair Winds,
Sharon Kariis
Commodore CDSOA, Inc.
www.capedory.org

PS Though you may have missed the November meeting...
DON'T FRET...
CDSOA's Winter Fleet Meetings are being scheduled
and plans are in the making for a spectcular
2006 CDSOA 10th Anniversary Celebration

I hope you consider joining in...in 2006!
________
125 S