"Believe me, my young friend there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
Club motto from Ratty, in Kenneth Grahame's The Wind In The Willows
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Water Rats Newsletters
Water Rats News Letter - July 12, 2011
The BBQ is this Thursday after 8pm. We still need some help. Please contact Elizabeth Lee (leeelizabeth@rogers.com) to volunteer your help. This is our annual steak dinner night. August BBQ is on August 11.
Trailer jacks are still needed to be installed on trailers (larger than a dedicated Laser trailer) both on empty trailers and those that have boats stored on top. This is so that we can move trailers to make lawn maintenance easier. Please do not lock the hitch in the closed position as we cannot tow it out of the way. Deadline to comply with this is by August 1, 2011.
All dogs must be on a leash while on club property (this was passed at the last AGM) and cannot be roaming freely. This is the policy at all sailing clubs and follows the City of Toronto Bylaw regarding dogs on city property (we lease our land from the City of Toronto). A dog-off-leash park is west of us on Cherry Beach, about 600m away.
Due to increased water levels this year, our beaches are getting littered more frequently by debris in the water. Constant cleaning of the beach is necessary and any hours contributed will go towards your Work or Pay contribution.
We are in the final throws of obtaining one more quote for a club house and will be holding a general meeting to present 3 options to the members to be voted on. We will inform everyone ahead of time of the time and place of the meeting.
Please be vigilant of questioning anyone on our club property that doesn’t look like they belong. The easiest way to ensure they are a member is to request that they show you their gate key. Occasionally, people do wonder in from the front gate thinking it is part of the beach when it is left open. We unfortunately lost 2 boats to vandals who went on a joy ride over the last long weekend. We will be increasing the height of the fence on the west side of the property shortly, to make it more difficult for the partiers that hang out on that point to climb over.
Midsummer clean up day is moved to Aug 6 as the grounds are very tidy. Thanks to those who cleaned the area.
Film crew on Regatta road this Monday Regatta road will be closed intermittently for filming during Monday evening, May 30 from 5pm to 9pm. The film crew will hold up traffic intermittently on Regatta Road between the dead end and Unwin Avenue. The crew will also be constructing props on Sunday May 29th, during the day. They did not indicate whether prop construction would cause delays.
Trailer Jacks Required All trailers (except purpose built trailers for Lasers) must have a retractable trailer jack installed for ease of movement during lawn maintenance. Trailer jacks are available at all marine stores including as West Marine, Fogh and Canadian Tire. Prices range between $25 and $50. If you have a trailer, please install a trailer jack as soon as possible. Trailers must have jacks installed before the end of June. This new rule was passed during last November's AGM.
Notice for All Members Who Keep Boats on Racks Recently, a sailing member's boat was severely damaged by a canoe that had fallen off its rack in high winds. In response the Executive urges all members who store canoes or kayaks on racks to securely attach their boats to the racks at both the bow and stern, at all times. We hope this simple measure will help to prevent such incidents in the future. If you have questions, please contact our Paddle Rat at katelazier@gmail.com.
Beach Clean-up Needed Due to the weather we have experienced a huge influx of garbage deposited on our 3 beaches (south beach, lagoon beach and cat row beach). This is a great opportunity to complete your work-or-pay hours.
June 4-5, 2011 - Spring War The first race starts at 11a.m. on Saturday and 10:30a.m. on Sunday. The BBQ is on Saturday Jun 4, and normally starts around 4p.m. Volunteers are needed to help with the Spring War BBQ on Sat June 4. Please contact Nigel Heath, Race Rat. Download the Notice of Race
June 9, 2011 - Club BBQ The next club BBQ is Thursday June 9. Volunteers are also needed.
Water Rats Newsletter – May 3, 2011
Clean-up and Registration Day - Saturday, May 7th
Clean-up and registration day is this Saturday, May 7th from 10:00am – 4:00pm. The rain date is Sunday May 8th. Environment Canada is predicting reasonable weather for Saturday, so it is unlikely we will need to postpone the event. To be certain, please check our website for details. Information about Toronto weather is conveniently located on the right hand side of our home page. Please bring a rake, gloves, and a snack or lunch. We will hold a BBQ after 3pm.
2011 Registration Checklist
A. 2 Cheques for annual dues and Work or Pay.
1-$225 Cheque for renewing members.(if you register after May 7th, add $100 late fee.)
1-$100 Cheque post dated Oct. 31 for Work-or-Pay Policy
B. Insurance
Copy of Proof of Current Insurance.(we will keep this on file 8½ x 11 copy is preferred.)
C. Key(s)
Your Current Key(s). Locks will change on cleanup day.
Follow this link to download the full registration notice and checklist (PDF).
Other Important Announcements
1. Tues/Thurs evening racing begins this week. First start is at 6pm.
2. A list of Work-or-pay jobs is now available on our website. Please view the Work-or-pay-jobs page and let the appropriate person on our executive know if you are able to help out.
3. If you have a canoe or kayak and use rack space, please ensure the Paddle Rat, Kate Lazier, knows where your boats are located. Kate will available to discuss and confirm your rack assignments during the registration process and clean-up day. Members may only use rack space that have been assigned to them by the Paddle Rat.
4. If you have belongings stored in the upstairs of Toad Hall, please let paddlerat@waterrats.ca">Kate Lazier, our Paddle Rat know. The Executive/ Building Committee needs this information for future club house planning.
5. The Spring War (June 4-5) is a Gold Cup event this year. We need 3 volunteers for food prep (important!!) Please mailto:racerat@waterrats.ca">contact our Race Rat.
6. Water Rat BBQ's will be held on the second Thursday of every month, from June to August, and on Sunday, the 11th of September. The Social Rats need your help organizing and running the BBQ. If you can help out mailto:partyrat@waterrats.ca">contact our Social Rats.
7. Building Committee Update
The committee is currently putting the final touches on the long awaiting "new Clubhouse" report. In the very near future the members will be presented with cost options and a recommendation from the Committee. At that time the membership will be asked to make several decisions. A special General Meeting will be called at which the various options will be presented visually along with the spread sheet detailing the costs. It is hoped that as many Members as possible will attend this special General Meeting as this will mark a major step for the club. For details, please speak with Bruce Silzer, the committee chair.
Please do not respond to this email. To contact the Water Rats, please use our contact form and select the appropriate club executive.
November 7, 2010 - Water Rat's Annual General Meeting
When: Sunday
Time: 10:30 am
Where: St Jamestown Sailing club at 10 Regatta rd (3 clubs west of the Rats)
Last year we had one of our largest attendance, please come out as it is your club, your money and your voice. We need input by our members.
Topics
Club Update
Club house building committee update
Financial update
Membership Update
Open Forum
Elections
Return of work or pay cheque if hours are completed
Christmas Party Tickets purchased - bring a cheque or cash - $30/pp
Work or Pay Chits : must be deposited in the mailbox outside the club house by end of day Saturday Nov 6. All completed
work or pay cheques can be picked up after the AGM or they well be shredded. Non completed work or pay cheques will be deposited in November
Executive positions available for 2011
Chief Rat - Steven Hoke
Money Rat - Stuart Lawrie
Paper Rat - Bruce Silzer
Race Rat - Nigel Heath
Grounds Rat - Ben Friolet, Mike Doell
Web Rat - Gavie Brown
Party Rat - Elizabeth Lee, Phillip Fotheringham
Body Rat - Lead Don Coleman (stepping down)
Paddling - Kate Lazier
Dinghy's - Heinz Gebauer
Communications - Julie Hughes
Executive Elections
All positions are available except for the Badger (past commodore) If you would like to run for one of the positions please let me know beforehand of your intent and brief description why you feel that you would be good for that position send to water.rats.commodore@sympatico.ca . All descriptions will be read at the AGM and the membership will vote on it. Our club would not run and exist if it was not for the generous donation of time and dedication by our members who steer the club on the executive. This is a volunteer position and there are no perks for the job but there is great satisfaction of knowing that you are part of a successful and financial stable organization with a large membership base and a wait list of future members.
Saturday October 30, 2010 - Last Chance for Work/Pay Hours is this weekend
Fellow Water Rats.....this is your last chance to get your work or pay hours in for this year. Saturday Oct 30th is WRSC final clean up day. The end of year clean up day ensures that we get a head start for next year.
For those that can't make it on Saturday there might be some left over jobs on Sunday Oct 31 (though they may be limited!)
Starting times are from 10 AM until 1:00 PM (no starting after 1:00 p.m. as there may not be someone to sign your chit)
Areas that need to be addressed
Leaves need to be racked
Beaches need to be cleaned and the already gather piles need to be disposed of
Branches at the firepit need to be taken to outside the fence
Sand needs to be spread out at the lagoon beach
Please put leaves in a dedicated pile outside our fence
Please put branches and rotted/waterlogged wood in a separate pile outside the fence
Non organic and trash can be placed in our garbage bin
See you on SATURDAY!!!
Remember all members must put in a minimum of 4 hours or their work or pay cheque will be cashed at the end of the season and the proceeds will go towards general revenue for our club for upcoming additions and improvements.
December 11, 2010 - Christmas Party
2010 will be the best Party yet, with live music and dancing.
Where: Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club (ABYC)
Date: Saturday December 11, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. Cocktails followed by dinner
Live Music with Jack Connelly and Doug Hennessy (Joe will you join in?)
Cost per person: $30.00 includes dinner and 2 bottles of wine per table
RSVP: by December 1st (tickets will be available at AGM)
If you haven't already heard, there have been a number of break-ins at Waterrats this season, and a number of boats have been lost or damaged. The offenders often seem to be coming around the southwest edge of fence, across the water. The executive discussed this at a recent meeting and decided on a number of initiatives:
Hiring Intelliguard for 6 weeks to surveil the property. They are making random patrols after 9:30pm, and have the ability to arrest anyone on site who does not belong, so ensure you have your club key with you, as this is the only identification we have to prove membership.
Putting up some "do not trespass" and Inteliguard security signs around the perimeter.
Reinforcing the fence with barbed wire in vulnerable areas.
Planting thorny bushes in breach areas.
Here's what you can do:
Always lock the gates when entering and exiting the club.
Keep your boats secure.
If you see suspicious/illegal behaviour such as drinking or bon fires in the public land around the club (especially in the area just southwest of the club) call the police at 55 division, 416-808-5500. (This was the advice the police gave us!)
Ask people who are not members or members' guests to leave club property; you can identify members by asking them to show the current club key.
Clean Up Day - The Sequel
It's been 2 months since clean up day and the club is starting to look a little shabbier. Come to Clean Up Day on Saturday July 24 from 10am-2pm to help make the club look its best. Tasks that need doing:
Beach and General Clean Up -- also remove debris from the water such as glass bottles and cans.
Spreading the newly acquired sand out on the beach – don’t forget to clean the beach before spreading!
Cut the grass particularly around your boat.
Tidy up the club house.
Sweep the area around the new boat house as there is lots of debris from the demolition
Clean out the BBQ's.
Trim the tall grasses around trees and fixed objects. Gas trimmer is in the storage container.
Remove the large bricks that are in the water north of the Lagoon ramp.
Other Work or Pay Projects (contact the executive for scheduling)
We need some people to help with fixing and expanding the south ramp.
We need help in fixing the west fence to strengthen against intruders including stringing more barbed wire
Your club keys will allow you access into the new storage container along the fence. If you enter the north door you will find clean up tools, a trimmer, lawn mower and gas. Please put garbage into the metal container near the washrooms. Any organic materials you collect can be placed outside the north fence like we do for all clean up days (divide the areas between logs, branches and leaves). Executive members should be around to sign your work or pay chits. If you cannot find one when needed, please document your tasks and hours on the back of your chit for future reference.
