I look forward to seeing many of you at our Annual Crab Feast in September at Key Yacht Club! It is sure to be a fun time with great food and conversation.

Don't forget - Change of Watch is coming up in October and P/C Dar is on the look out for people to join in the fun and become an Officer. Yes, it is a lot of work, but it is a lot of fun too. You get to meet some very wonderful people all around the Bay.

Ask any of your P/Cs about their time in office and I am sure that you will hear some great stories. For now - have fun, stay cool, and I hope to see many of you around the Bay!

Vice Commodore Report

The MCC is in hi-gear now. On Friday, July 19th, our Board Member Lou Sauer was one of nine brave souls who competed for the title of KING OF THE CHESAPEAKE at the Key YC. There must have been 175 people there, standing room only, with a good turnout of MCC members. Our Louie put on a great show, obviously having been well coached beforehand on how to get the ladies’ attention. After seeing most of these guys strip down to their skivvies, the women needed a goodly douse of “brewski” to cool down. Don Parsons, P/C of Charlestown YC, and currently a District Representative for CBYCA, took the big prize. It’s interesting to note that both the King and Queen of the Chesapeake are from our North Bay. The more clubs we interact with, the better season will be had by all.

- V/C Donald Antos

Once again we are going to gather in September at the Key Yacht Club (KYC) to celebrate the start up of our monthly General Membership meetings by way of a crab feast. If you have not enjoyed a MCC September get together at KYC in the past, I can assure you that you have missed a real treat.

Whether it’s the crabs, corn, soup, dessert or what ever, the affair they put on can’t be beat at twice the price. So, do yourself a favor and mark your calendar on 9/21/02 with MCC Crab Feast.

- V/C Donald Antos

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it:

You say: "It's impossible," God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27).

You say: "I'm too tired," God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30).

You say: "I can't figure things out," God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6).

You say: "I can't do it," God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13).

You say: "I'm not able," God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8).

You say: "I can't manage." God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19).

You say: "I'm afraid," God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7).

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated," God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7).

You say: "I feel all alone," God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

- F/Chap Hether Shulman

Rock Hall Landing has a nice pool and is located next to Waterman’s in Rock Hall Harbor. They said that for some reason that weekend has been slow filling up. They said that they could accommodate up to 15 boats depending on size. Rock Hall Landing requests that you contact them on an individual basis.

Call 410-639-2224 and ask for Jim Lancaster, tell him that you are with Maryland Cruising Club. Depending on the turn out, we will decide on a pier party etc. Hope to see everyone soon.

B/M Lou Sauer

Our hats off to the following MCC captains and crew who opened their boats and their hearts to some of these families:

In addition, there were several members who joined onboard to lend a helping hand:

Thank you to all for spending your Saturday helping these families.

The Easter Seals staff has indicated that they try to assign the families to different boats each year, so you will usually have a "new" family each cruise. Our family this year consisted of Lisa and her eight children . . . most of whom were healthy, and then there was Craig . . . what a charmer!!!

We met the engaging young man as his infant carrier was passed onboard. He is actually 7 years old but has the body of a 9-month old infant.

His intelligence level, however, seemed way beyond his seven years.

He was fascinated by both the boat and our dogs. The questions kept coming non-stop:

Do you really have a TV on the boat??

How do you have water if you're out somewhere floating??

What do the dogs eat on
the boat??

How do you get food??

Consider that this child's whole perspective on life is seen from the confines of his infant carrier. He cannot sit up independently, or walk, or even move his tiny legs.

We moved his infant carrier to our helm seat in the pilot house so he could see out the windows . . . he had to stay in the air conditioning to keep his body temperature in the normal range since he cannot perspire to regulate body temperature. Yet, Craig was just as cheerful and "full of life" as anyone could be.

There are lessons to be learned from these children . . . the least of which is to enjoy the simplest pleasures in life. We're looking forward to next year's event.

- IPC Darlene Sauer

Labor Day Cruise To Georgetown Yacht Basin

Can you believe it???? It seems that summer just started and now we're only a month away from Labor Day!!!

Frost Bite Cruise

2003 Officer Nominations

Just like the Marines . . . . MCC is looking for a "few good people" to help guide our Club through our 2003 social/cruising year. Listed below are the positions that are available for 2003:

The Choking Gourmet

Here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting medical studies.

08/27—Carl & Liz Yeakle

08/28—P/C Nick & Teddy Stephen

09/15—Brownie & Rosemary Arms

Never having attended this pageant before, we were not quite sure what to expect from either the contest officials or the entrants themselves. The first challenge was getting the "boys" dressed in a timely manner . . . do you realize how clumsy guys can be when they try to put on women's clothes??? Although Bruce from Great Oak YC seemed to enjoy the whole ordeal just a little too much!!

Since our very own Screwie Louie had drawn the #2 position, there was no time for last minute alterations or program reviews.

Louie did great in the swimsuit competition, modeling a red, white & blue number complete with suspenders, swim goggles and a sun visor with built-in fan.

The next step was the talent competition . . . . what a treat!!! Of course, the music had to be "Louie, Louie", but where was Louie??? The audience was greeted by a tall blond bag lady in a really frumpy green print dress with a floppy hat and shopping cart. As the music progressed, the clothes started peeling off to reveal a tall blond bombshell in a Playboy Bunny outfit, complete with white cotton bunny-tail, fish net stockings and high heels.

There was little doubt that this was Louie when that little cotton bunny-tail started wiggling in time to the music!!! Except for the purple panties getting hung up in the fish-nets, it was a clean strip.

The really worrisome thing is that my husband was majorly into shopping for ladies clothes . . . and trying them on!! He did sneak most of the clothes into the men's dressing room for his fitting, but I received an email message from him complaining about having to purchase a size 16, when he really thought he should be a 14 . . .  oh my!

Anyway, the talent competition was pretty tough . . . my personal favorite (besides Louie, of course) was a gentleman from Marley Boat Club who did a tightrope walking performance, complete with pink tutu, a little umbrella, and musical accompaniment of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" by Tiny Tim. What a smile!!!!

Lastly was the question-and-answer portion of the competition . . . not too much interesting in that area. And then the waiting . . . And waiting . . . and waiting.

Finally, the judges announced the winner! Congratulations to P/C Don Parsons of Charlestown Yacht Club!!!

To all the contestants . . . a round of applause for their creativity and sheer guts. To all our friends from MCC, Sue Creek YC, Maryland YC, Key YC, Great Oak YC, Ventnor YC and Marley Boat Club . . . thanks for coming out to support Louie and helping us laugh a lot and have a good
time.

To everyone who missed it . . . well, just plan to be there next year and help us cheer for P/C Brian Hunt, who has accepted the challenge to represent Maryland Cruising Club next year . . . right, Pam???!!!!

- IPC Darlene Sauer

Can’t find it?? Go and get that envelop out of the trash, because chances are you threw it away with the envelop.

Each year, dues notices go out to the members beginning with the August issue of the Scuttlebutt. The 2002 books close at the end of September and we try to get payments for dues in as early as possible.

So please remember to mail in your dues payment.

Remember, dues rates are as follows:

If you can’t find your bill for dues, please contact V/C Donald Antos dwantos@maxinter.net

And when you have the check written (made out to “Maryland Cruising Club”, please submit your payment to P/C Pamela Hunt.

In 1971, the NVA moved us from these conditions of isolation into large rooms with as many as 30 to 40 men to a room. This was, as you can imagine, a wonderful change and was a direct result of the efforts of millions of Americans on behalf of a few hundred POWs 10,000 miles from home.

One of the men who moved into my room was a young man named Mike Christian. Mike came from a small town near Selma, Alabama. He didn't wear a pair of shoes until he was 13 years old. At 17, he enlisted in the US Navy. He later earned a commission by going to Officer Training School. Then he became a Naval Flight Officer and was shot down and captured in 1967.

Mike had a keen and deep appreciation of the opportunities this country and our military provide for people who want to work and want to succeed.

As part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. In some of these packages were handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing.

Mike got himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed on the inside of his shirt. Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike's shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance.

I know the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important part of our day now, but I can assure you that in that stark cell it was indeed the most important and meaningful event.

One day the Vietnamese searched our cell, as they did periodically, and discovered Mike's shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it. That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all of us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours. Then, they opened the door of the cell and threw him in.

We cleaned him up as well as we could. The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept. Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room. As I said, we tried to clean up Mike as well as we could.

After the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there beneath that dim light bulb with a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian. He was sitting
there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making another American flag. He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was to us to be able to pledge our allegiance to our flag and country.

So the next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you must never forget the sacrifice and courage that thousands of Americans have made to build our nation and promote freedom around the world. You must remember our duty, our
honor, and our country.

- Senator John McCain From a speech made by Capt. John S. McCain, US, (Ret) who represents Arizona in the U.S. Senate:

For any young lady who would like to apply, the 2003 form is included in this edition of the newsletter. Please complete it and return to our Vice Commodore Donald Antos for receipt by August 15th. An interview must be conducted, and the applicant must then be presented to the Board and full membership via publication in the September issue of the newsletter.

Our 2003 Princess will be crowned and installed at our October Change-of-Watch meeting.

Any questions, please contact Vice Commodore Donald Antos email to dwantos@maxinter.net or IPC Darlene Sauer screwielouie1@juno.com. Thanks!!

- V/C Donald Antos

Mosquito Repellent?

Pass this on to anyone who likes being out in the evening or is having a
cook out.

Member Pictures