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Chatting with the Commodore
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Valerie Rhodes, Commodore
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In the four short months since we relaunched WSA-OC (formerly WORSA), we've accomplished much with the help of our hard working Board of Directors and other dedicated members. We've re-evaluated and expanded our mission and rebranded our organization to reflect these broader goals with a new name and a new logo.
We continue to sign up new members at a brisk pace, many relatively new to the sailing community. We are lucky to have such a diverse membership with a broad range of skill sets. I've been so impressed to already see our more experienced sailors serving as mentors and coaches to our newer, less experienced members as we prepare for multiple upcoming on-the-water events. I'd like to acknowledge and thank Susie Campbell, Lisa Doliva, Brenda Highley and Wayne Wallace for generously making their boats available for upcoming coaching and cruising events with other WSA-OC members.
Finally, I wish to thank so many of you who have shared feedback on what we are doing right and offered suggestions about what we can do better. If you have any thoughts you'd like to share or want to get more involved, please drop me a note at [email protected]
Happy sailing,
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"Let's All Become Citizen Scientists"
Our April general meeting featured guest speaker Annie MacAulay, President CEO of
Mountain & Sea Adventures, which is located in several locations in Southern California. MSA's focus is "Making World Changers, Earth Stewards & Fear Breakers."
The way this is achieved, whether she's speaking with school children or adults, is to provide knowledge and share her love of the ocean, "If you love something, you're less apt to destroy it."
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| Annie MacAulay accepting a gift from Commodore Rhodes. |
Our oceans are in peril. One of the biggest problems is plastics in the water. It affects ALL sea life as plastics are not completely biodegradable. The wildlife eat the plastics (except the color blue, because it is not mistaken for food) a
nd feel
full. However, they are starving or becoming ill or dying or all of these things.
This is just a small example of what MSA teaches, via a hands-on approach, to [primarily] middle school aged inner-city children at their camps. Many of the camp attendees have never seen the ocean let alone a crab or a fish. The goal of MSA is to encourage youth and adults alike to become "citizen scientists."
If you are interested in helping out MSA is a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization, in need of volunteers.
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If you were at our April General Meeting, you were present for the unveiling of our new WSA-OC logo.
Board Member Kathleen Brown worked many hours to design a new logo which honored the familiar 3-pink-sails logo from WORSA with an updated, fresh look. To celebrate the new logo and help grow familiarity with the WSA-OC name and look, we handed out static-cling (no nasty adhesive) car decals to members in attendance at the April meeting.
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Name Tags & Membership Cards
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Special Value for Current Members!
The club will be purchasing and providing name tags and new
membership cards for all current members at no charge as our way of saying thanks for the strong support we've experienced from WSA-OC
members. Please carefully review the roster that will be sent in the next few days to confirm your name is spelled correctly and let us know if you'd prefer to be known by a nickname. There is space to include your S/V name if you like, so please check roster to be sure this is accurate as well.
The deadline for corrections and/or additions must be submitted to Membership Director Shannon Harshman by April 30th
in order for them to be distributed at
the
June meeting. Anyone who submits changes or joins WSA-OC after
April 30th
will be charged
$15
for both, so
join WSA-OC
now!
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Are you a skipper who needs a crew member? Are you a sailor without a boat, but would like to lend a hand? Are you interested in seeing what everyone else is doing out on the water?
The best way to, currently, interact with other WSA-OC members is to post on our Facebook page. This is a temporary solution until the website is updated with an interactive forum page. The forum will allow for easy direct communication between WSA-OC members. Our Facebook page also contains the most current and timely information.
Follow our Instagram to see what our members are doing out on the water. Tag your photo(s) @wsaoc or hashtag #wsaoc in the comments.
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Mark Your Calendar!
May 2015
In lieu of a regular general meeting in May we will be hosting the above mentioned Safety on the Water seminar on May 9th in Dana Point.
June 2015
General Meeting
Date: Tuesday, June 2nd
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: TBD
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What's New?
WSA-OC has a
new mailing address:
P.O. Box 973
Dana Point, CA 92629
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June 14th Newport Day Sail
WSA-OC is planning a day sail from Dana Point to Newport on
Sunday, June 14th
. The plan is to leave Dana Point bright and early. We will motor up the coast and meet at the dock at The Cannery and enjoy lunch before an afternoon sail back to Dana Point.
RSVP to Gabi
to crew or skipper.
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⛵️
⛵️ Safety on
the Water ⛵️⛵️
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Saturday, May 9th
Email us
if you'd like to be placed on the wait list for this event.
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These window cling stickers, with our new logo, were handed out at the April meeting.
Couldn't attend, but want one? Come to our next meeting on June 2nd or s
end a note to i
[email protected]
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The Anchors Away Youth Sailing Regatta is Sunday, April 19th serving youth in the Olive Crest Foster Care Program.
We have lots of youth signed up to participate and many skippers have generously donated boats but we are still short on crew members. Please email
Midge Patrick if you can serve as a First Mate or a Safety Monitor during this fun event.
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Special Offer For WSA-OC Members!
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Exclusive to current WSA-OC members.
Aventura Sailing Association
will waive their $575 initial membership fee for WSA-OC sailors who pass a sailing test and will discount monthly dues to only $50 a month. This offer is only good through the end of April so act now to get set up to charter before summer!!
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WSA-OC
Board of Directors
Commodore
Valerie Rhodes
Vice Commodore
Gabi Schwaiger
Treasurer
Wayne Wallace
Secretary
Brenda Highley
Membership Director
Shannon Harshman
Director
Kathleen Brown
Director
Bonnie Gibson
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Newsletter Editor
Tracy Gallucci
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