Hello EYC members and welcome to the 2021 sailing season.  I hope this email finds you all well.

With the assistance of the Sunshine Bay Yacht Club we have been able to confirm with Alberta Health Services that we can function as a recreational facility within the current public health guidelines including placing in our docks. Shortly you will be getting the all call for volunteers from our Harbour Masters. It is absolutely critical that we conform to public health orders, first and foremost to keep everybody safe and healthy. We need to also remember that the docks-in procedure is a very public event and we want to give our neighbours and the Village of Seba Beach confidence that we are functioning safely.

What you can expect on the day of docks in:

1. We will be using the fewest possible volunteers to complete the work (but please come out if you can).
2. To reduce contact between members, the standing docks, the floating docks and the mooring field will be completed on different dates and the Harbour Masters are completing as much work as possible in advance.
3. Volunteers will be required to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times including face masks (we will have some on hand but you can use your own if you would like) and eye protection.  You need to bring your own eye protection in the form of a face shield (ex, grinding mask) or safety glasses (ex, any from Home Depot or Canadian Tire). If you wear prescription glasses you will need to wear safety glasses over top of those.
4. Volunteers must bring their own food and drink, no sharing of supplies please.
5. The clubhouse will be available for washrooms only.
6. There will be a mandatory safety briefing prior to the work commencing.
7. Members will be asked to sign in as part of required contact tracing.
8. Volunteers will be asked the following screening questions.

Risk Assessment: Screening Questions

You must be able to answer no to all the following questions in order to participate:

1. Do you have any of the following symptoms which are new, or worsened if associated with allergies, chronic or pre-existing conditions: fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat, and/or runny nose?
2. Have you returned to Canada from outside the country (including USA) in the past 14 days?
3. In the past 14 days, at work or elsewhere, while not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment:
4. Did you have close contact with someone who has a probable or confirmed case of COVID19?
5. Did you have close contact with a person who had acute respiratory illness that started within 14 days of their close contact to someone with a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19?
6. Did you have close contact with a person who had acute respiratory illness who returned from travel outside of Canada in the 14 days before they became sick?
7. Did you have a laboratory exposure to biological material (i.e. primary clinical specimens, virus culture isolates) known to contain COVID-19?

Things are going to get better this summer.  We'll be watching for updates (along with everyone else I'm sure) and hopefully sometime this summer we'll get back to enjoying full use of the club again.
 
Looking forward to seeing everyone very soon,
Don Simoneau, EYC Treasurer & COVID-19 Committee Chair

The major races in 2021 (with the host club in parentheses):

• Spring Series (EYC) June 5 and 6
  
• Down the Lake (EYC) June 19
• Single Handed Race (SBYC) July 3
• Rose Cup (EYC) July 17
• Jack and Jill (SBYC) Aug 7
• Splice the Main Brace (EYC) Aug 21 and 22
  
• Fall Series (SBYC) Sept 4 and 5
• Night Race (SBYC) Sept 18
• Pursuit Series (SBYC) June 9, 16, 23, July 7, 14 (start time 19:30)
• Pursuit Series (EYC) July 21, 28, Aug 4, 11, 18 (start time 19:00)

For more information, write to

• EYC Fleet Captain Michael Morris
  
• SBYC Fleet Captain Bonnie Reib
• or go to the Racing page for EYC or SBYC.

SBYC's Bob S writes, "Parkland County has informed the WWMC that construction of the boat launch on the south side of the lake (Sundance) will soon be proceeding, beginning with land clearing and the preparation of a timeline of events.  The latter will be made available for the public on the project web page.  Scroll down to the bottom of that page to sign-up for an email notification of updates about the project."

Sold, mid April! Richard T wrote to us, "I am selling my San Juan 26 with a shoal draft keel and retractable centre board which is suited to Alberta lakes and is easily trailered." Contact Richard at [redacted upon sale].

Past Commodore Rob Martin wrote this note on recent reno work...

The project is/was West Wall Window/Siding Replacement in the clubhouse. Necessary due to window and siding leakage which cause rotting of wood in some areas. Between the aforementioned and the old roofing (replaced earlier this summer) these were major sources of water penetration to the interior of the building.

Saturday August 29 crew consisted of Jeff Willis (lead hand and our expert), Jo-Ann Willis, Rob Martin, Don Simoneau, Mike Morris, Ian Johnson, Rob James and Doug Crieghton.

Sunday August 30 crew was Jeff Willis, Mike Morris, Mark Vanderlinden, Doug Crieghton, Rob Martin, Terry Chugg.

A lot of work was done, especially on Saturday, with the old siding (other than furthest west wall) & windows being removed. All rotted out studs, plates and sheeting were replaced. Interestingly the north entrance vestibule had the most rot to take out and replace.  Yeoman’s work on that by Don! (he was booked to go sailing that day).

On Sunday our new window installation experts were Jeff & Mike with the rest of us finishing off repairs, installing Tyvek and cleaning up the mess.

Olly Romanowski and Jo-Ann Willis put a major dent in cleaning up the mess left by our bathroom reno from earlier in the year.  It was a big job!!

The race took place August 22, 2020. The results below are corrected for handicap. The boat names were provided by the race committee. The webmaster pulled boat names from previous race results and other records.

1. Reflection, John Semple
2. Point of Order, Don Iveson
3. Windswept, Paul Kantor
4. Sea Dawg, Greg Gillingham
5. Wee Beastie II
6. Flyaway
7. Arabesque, Olly Romanowski
8. Tobermary
9. Oatcake, Jeff Burton
10. Hobie 16

DSQ Start Slipstream
DSQ Start Addiction 2

If you had a chance by now to enjoy your new bathrooms and showers you will have noticed that our towels are now in keeping with a more modern way of  dispensing. This is thanks to a suggestion by Greg that the way to keep the walls clean and free of cumbersome dispensers, he suggested a basket with the folded paper towels. Remaining is still a modern rim for the waste baskets and more modern metal waste bins to keep with the theme of brushed nickel and shower rods that need to be properly affixed to slide the hand showers up and down, in the larger shower stalls.

As part of the ongoing clean up efforts we would like to have the owners identified of the items in the Quartermaster shed. Past Commodore Rob Martin mentioned that this is a storage shed for members to rent a stall, in order to store items for a fee (not sure if the board has put those charges on bills or knows who owns what). Currently we have sails and boat cushions that we do not know who they belong to and four outboard motors of different vintages that do not seem to have an owner identified. There are beach toys for children and an old stereo and two old TV's, as well as various sails. Please send an e-mail describing if you own any items and indicate if you want to have a stall assigned to you that these items should be stored in.

This is expected in the next 2 weeks, at which time the board will decide on how to allocate the limited space if you want a stall or want to remove it yourself. Any items unclaimed will be regarded as abandoned and we will remove them. Please send an email to Commodore Tim Bowles or Thomas Kelm and we will make sure your items are properly stored in a stall assigned to you.

The front room of the clubhouse has multiple picture frames and IKEA shelves. We would like to put some of the shelves to use for members in their trailers or cabins. If you take a look at the shelves and would like one, please send an e-mail to indicate and one will be reserved for you. If demand is higher than we have shelves for, they will be allocated on a first email, first allocation rule. We have nine complete shelves. Send e-mail to Thomas.

We have paint cans that we do not know at the moment what cabin or area they should be allocated to, if you have a paint theme that was used for your cabin and would like us to keep it, write it on the can with the cabin number or your name and we will make sure to keep the left-over paint.

In the fall some siding and window replacements are slated for the clubhouse as part of the ongoing upgrading of our assets.

Thank you for your help on this to further get our clubhouse and grounds back to good working order.

Renovation committee.

Recently a number of concerns have been brought to the attention of the EYC board regarding the care and behavior of dogs their owners have on club property. As a result the board plans to update its pet policy.

The current pet policy as found in our Members Handbook reads:

“Pets are welcome but are required to be under control and supervised at all times and owners must clean up after their pets immediately. Pets that become a nuisance may be banned from the club.”

The board plans to specify that dogs must be on a leash at all times and the length of the leash must be short enough i.e. 6’ that the pet cannot interact with members/members pets using common walk ways/paths.

Pet owners must always be in a position to maintain control of any pet they own. Members are also responsible for the care attention of their guest’s pets to which the same rules will apply.

When setting stationary lease anchor points the anchors must be secured firmly. And be placed where they do not interfere with common walking areas, with enough leash for the animal to move freely but not make contact with passers-by.

Members with pets are asked to be aware of potential interaction of their pet with other member’s pets.

Anyone who cannot control their pet will be asked to leave the pet at home or kennel it off EYC property.

The EYC board wishes EYC to remain a pet friendly community and thank you for your efforts. Only with your help can we achieve this. We appreciate your cooperation in helping to maintain a healthy and warm family environment by doing your part.

Your EYC board is looking for feedback from members on the proposed additions to the Pet Policy. Please send your comments to our membership director Olly Romanowski, membership@edmontonyachtclub.ca.

Captains with their cohort crew can compete in the 2020 Down the Lake Race, Saturday, August 22. Here are the Notice of Race (with registration form) and Sailing Instructions. For more information, write to Fleet Captain Michael Morris at fleetcaptain@edmontonyachtclub.ca.

Dear members

As you may have heard Alberta has started Phase 2 of reopening following the COVID-19 response on 12 June 2020.  As well the renovations are starting to wrap up.

EYC will be transitioning the washroom use of the clubhouse to the main floor with 24 hr access via the Key pad locked door on the afternoon of Saturday, 20 June 2020. The showers will also open for use as well. The sanitizing protocols will remain. Sanitize you’re hands before entering and when leaving. Periodic sanitizing of the washroom with log in sheet will continue and your help is always appreciated. The washroom use will continue with one cohort at a time in each washroom. One cohort may use the washroom if a second cohort is in the shower area as well (i.e. if someone is showering you may still use the washroom).

The kitchen will also be opened for limited use of one cohort at a time with similar protocols as the washrooms for sanitizing (sanitize your hands before and after entering and periodic sanitizing of high touch surfaces).

Members will be able to use the stove, refrigerators and sink. Each member however will be asked to bring all of their own utensils, plates, dish cloths and towels and all other personal supplies. The counters and cupboards will be cleared of items and the cupboards will remain off limits due to contamination concerns.

The main floor group area and the upstairs of the clubhouse will remain closed at this time.

EYC  continues to ask the members to have only single cohorts in cabins, trailers and boats. AHS however has redefined a family cohort:

• members of one household can partner with other households to create a cohort family, up to 15 people maximum.

Members can now enjoy the club with their family cohorts as defined above.

The EYC board of directors appreciates all the extra efforts members have made to accommodate the COVID-19 restrictions and we’re looking forward to seeing the docks full of boats and all the members enjoying their club.

Don Simoneau
Chair, EYC COVID-19 Response Committee

With the wind forecast again calling for strong east and southeast winds Friday and Saturday, the Harbour Master & Assistant Harbour Master (Mark Vanderlinden and Bob Iveson) called for volunteers to put in just the standing docks. This happened Thursday, June 4.

The hardy souls who worked with Mark and Bob are Mike Morris, Len Eddy, Dwayne Kegler, Tim Bowles and Winston Childs.

Treasurer Don Simoneau wrote, "Never have so many owed so much to so few." Man, can that guy turn a phrase! 😉

Commodore Tim reports that masks were worn and all safety precautions taken. And there was innovation: the stanchions were floated out; much easier. (Our stanchions are beastly metal frames that sit on the lake bottom and hold up the standing dock sections.)

The plan now is to keep an eye on the weather forecast and put the floating docks in on the first nice day we have, which may be the middle of next week.

Please email us if you can be available to help install the remaining docks. We will give people as much notice as possible but that may be be only one day's notice.

An update from your Board

The revised Government of Alberta directives allow us to begin EYC operations.

Here are your quick facts :

• May 30 Weekend – Docks In  and  Washroom access
• June 6 – Full Access to Hurry Inn including Overnight Stays in Cabins and Trailers
• June 6 or 13 – Crane In (SBYC to confirm date)
  
• Fees for 2020 (membership, moorage & cabin/trailer spot) will be 20% less than the 2019 fees.
• Washrooms will be open, but no access to Kitchen or other parts of the Clubhouse.
• Access to the Club will be limited to Members only and their Family Cohort.

As Individuals and as a Club there are several conditions we have to meet to open and remain open this summer including 2M (6 feet) Social Distancing, Signage, and proper Cleaning and Disinfecting.

With Docks-In fast approaching, the Covid-19 Committee and Harbor Masters are working on the details & protocols and acquiring PPE. They will communicate the plan to membership in the next couple of days.

This is a new journey for all of us, and our Members' safety will continue to guide us as we work through this season and will do our best to update you as things progress.

Many thanks to the Covid-19 Committee of Don Simoneau, Terry Chugg and Don Iveson for doing the leg work, reaching out to AHS and preparing the reports that have enabled the Board to make an informed decision to proceed with the Season. The committee will also continue their work helping to implementing the various protocols required to enable EYC to operate this season.

EYC members should have received links to the Covid-19 Committee's Recommendations and Full Report in out May 21 email newsletter. There is much useful material in those documents.

Hello all, here is the latest from your Board of Directors regarding the upcoming season:

It is unlikely we will be putting docks in May 9 and mid-summer is a more realistic goal.

Due to this uncertainty, invoicing will be delayed and membership dues will be payable June 1.

Fees will be reduced, but again, due to the uncertainty we don’t know by how much.

Members should also be aware that if we can’t put the Docks in this season, The Club would still incur fixed costs of $25,000 to $30,000. This amount assumes we do not hire staff and the maintenance of Hurry Inn and the Clubhouse is done by volunteers. The basic Membership Dues of $673 would cover these fixed costs, so that is something for Members to consider. Potentially there are other ways the Club could address this shortfall but these won’t be addressed unless it becomes obvious the season will be lost.

The Board has formed a Committee whose purpose is to advise the Board on the feasibility of Docks In and Operations for this year. They will be gathering more information from the Village of Seba Beach and County of Parkland. They will also strive to get additional details on recent Provincial and Federal Government regulations and how they specifically apply to EYC. The Committee will also be drawing on the expertise of our fellow Club Members in Government and Healthcare. The Committee consists of Don Simoneau and Terry Chugg. Comments can be emailed to Don at treasurer@edmontonyachtclub.ca.

As we gather more information over the next several weeks we will provide updates through the Newsletter.

Our goal is to Enable the Members to enjoy the club for at least part of the summer – but only if it is safe and responsible to do so

We received this email December 14, 2019, from Fallis resident Shirley Munro...

I am sending this out as a mass community email for anyone that may be interested.  For the past year, the Wabamun Physician and Health Care Professionals Recruitment and Retention Committee (WPHCPRRC) has been working hard to recruit a physician or health care professional for the Wabamun Medical Clinic. We are very close to having this become a reality with one hurdle left to accomplish -- obtaining funds primarily for the salary of a Medical Office Assistant (MOA) or Receptionist.

The Clinic has been operational for many decades, however it has now been closed for about 4 1/2 years after the sudden passing of the physician practicing there, and also due to the dissolution of the Physician Management Group that subsequently worked there on a part-time basis.

WPHCPRRC was recently approved to have a Nurse Practitioner work 4 days per week.  A NP has similar skills as a physician and can independently provide all necessary health services for a Family Medical Clinic.   

The existing building, associated overhead expenses, technology costs, and salary for the NP have been agreed to be assumed by the Wabamun Village and the Westview Primary Care Network in Spruce Grove.  

The Wabamun and Area Medical Society (WAMS) was recently formed as the fund-raising arm of WPHCPRRC and has an initial short-term goal of $10,000 to hire a MOA to allow the Clinic doors to open and start operating. We have recently sent out 1700 letters to residents, non-profit groups, and Community Halls in Wabamun and the surrounding area, and we are pursuing grant applications and other fund-raising avenues for long-term health service delivery.

As one of our fund-raisers, the Wabamun All Seasons Bottle Depot (5117-52 St.) has agreed to collect any donated bottle return refunds for WAMS account during December and January.  A Wabamun Village Bottle Drive will also be held January 4 from 10-4 (poster attached).

We hope that you will donate your bottle returns to WAMS and towards the reopening of the Wabamun Medical Clinic. We believe that health care is an important service for a community, and Wabamun is fortunate to have this opportunity with the support of the stakeholder commitments.

WAMS extends gratitude for your generosity and support in contributing towards this valuable service for the residents of Wabamun and surrounding area.

There is also office space for lease (10ft x 11ft) in the Clinic Building.  Proceeds from the lease would be used towards the salary of the MOA.  Contact the Wabamun Village at 780-892-2699 for more information.

If you write to the EYC Webmaster, we'll pass on your questions & feedback to Shirley.