US Snipe Sailor To quote Mark Twain, “Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.” Well, maybe not so exaggerated at that. Long story short, on the morning of July 30, just days before Louise and I were planning to fly to San Diego for the 2015 Nationals, your National Secretary got out of bed and promptly fell down (no jokes please – OK go ahead and yuck it up – Brainard Cooper, I’ve earned it). I tried again to no avail US National Secretary and ended up in the hospital for a very long week, during which time, in addition to the inability to walk unassisted, I developed a case of Bells Palsy and shingles in the ear canal of my right ear. Those interested in further research can look up “Ramsey Hunt Syndrome” for the not-so-interesting details. For the record, it ain’t much fun. I was even hospitalized for almost a week a few days after the first hospitalization, following the US National results on the internet instead of on the water. So, here over two months later, I’m walking, sometimes unsteadily, with a cane, wearing an eye patch most of the time (still have the Bells Palsy and I’m getting tired of it), and have lost the hearing in one ear. But, today (Oct. 7) I was cleared to drive (without the eye patch – of course). Over two and a half years ago when I was approached about taking the SCIRA USA National Secretary’s position, I agreed with the stipulation that I would serve only until the end of 2015, at which time I would be eighty years old {that’s eighty, as in eight-oh – 80!). Nature tried to cut that short this summer, and I would like to personally thank Art Rousmaniere (our nominee as my successor starting Jan. 1) for filling in so ably since I fell ill. Art will be a great National Secretary, and I look forward to the coming years with confidence that we are in such capable hands.
SCIRA USA 2812 Canon Street San Diego, CA 92106 619-222-0252 Danielle Richards, Executive Administrator danielle@odmsail.com Sherri Campbell, SCIRA Finances sherri@odmsail.com Jerelyn Biehl, SCIRA Executive Director jerelyn@odmsail.com or scira@snipe.org
Before “signing off” for the last time as National Secretary, I’d like to say how much I have enjoyed my time in management of our Class, going all the way back to 1987. You, the Snipe sailors have made it a joy, and I thank you. -
B.C.
Greetings, fellow Snipers. Many of you know me as skipper or crew for / with my wife Jennifer, or one of our kids Adam and Kelly in one of our Muppet-named Snipes in the upper right part of the country. After all, we have been doing this for over 30 years. So I am thrilled to accept the baton as National Secretary from Brainard. If you are sitting as Art Rousmaniere you read this, please rise for a remote standing ovation to incoming US National Secretary Brainard as he has led the US class with energy and passion for the recent years. Thank you Brainard! My first action in my new role is to ask a favor of each and everyone of you: please communicate. We all do Snipe and dinghy sailing for a variety of reasons: to party, to be with family or friends, to learn a new game, to race at the highest level of competition the world can offer, any others? But I will bet money that all of use would like to include more sailors / Snipes in this sport we love. Please communicate by sharing your experiences: what works for you and what is not important. And how do get away from the “just-in-time” major regatta scheduling that has plagued us in recent years? Please communicate by helping us find locations that could work - think out of the box on this one. And talk it up: communicate in group discussions on what lights your fire, as was done at recent NA’s in Hamilton (see photo of discussion on juniors in Snipes). There is much to do and you will hear more in the future, including: how do we “re-purpose” the Minneford Trophy (currently the international trophy for fleet racing that has gone fallow), and “it takes a village” - the tale of how having fun requires everybody’s help, and what are YOUR go-to fleet-race activities and regattas? Communicate with me..... - Art e-mail: art.rousmaniere@gmail.com “I cannot not sail” - E.B. White
Fall 2015