JUNE NEWSLETTER HERE NOW!

Big weekend ahead!

Friday: Firecracker Regatta: Three races, all racers welcome. 11 a.m. skippers’ meeting, 1 p.m. start.

Saturday: Bill Sanders Memorial Regatta. Skippers’ meeting 9:15 a.m.

Fireworks at the dam: Courtesy the Perry Lake Association, 10 p.m.

Bill Sanders Memorial Regatta Saturday

The annual Bill Sanders Regatta will take place Saturday, July 4. Skippers’ meeting will be at 9:15 a.m. at Leone's landing. We will havethree classes of racing:

- Novice-crewed Sunfish

- Intermediate-crewed Sunfish

- Solo Sunfish.

Decorated Boat Contest

 The Perry Lake Association is having a Decorated Boat Contest on Satuday, July 4. Judging will be from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. at Dedication Point at the dam. Radio station WIBW personalities are scheduled to broadcast live and judge the contest from the Rock Creek Marina pontoon boat, which will be anchored at the east end of the dam, outside the fireworks danger zone. The winners will be announced on WIBW's live broadcast, There will be three classes of boats:

- Powerboats (including pontoons)
- Houseboats

- Sailboats (under power)

 Boats should be courteous as they line up to parade past the judges. Within each class, there will be three prize categories:

- Most patriotic

- Most colorful

- Most humorous.

The prizes, one in each category:

- First: A one-night, off-season cabin stay at Rock Creek Marina & Resort

* Second: Lifejackets from Lake Perry Yacht & Marina

* Third: One pontoon-boat rental from Lake Perry Yacht & Marina, one pull tub from Frank's Marine in Lansing, Kansas, and one prize to to be determined.

Prizes can be picked up at Rock Creek Marina & Resort or at Lake Perry Yacht & Marina.

Penny Morgan and/or Cheri Sharkey will be available Friday, July 3, to sign up contestants and give them a number. The number will be attached to your boat and you'll get directions to Dedication Point.

Good news on several fronts

By Scott Kessler

2009 PYC Commodore

We've just received word that our request for a federal grant to help pay for a new harbor pumpout station has been approved. That means the club will receive about $32,000, or three-quarters of the total necessary for the work. The money comes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Clean Vessel Act; the approval was relayed through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. As you'll recall, we're under orders from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to find a replacement for Mr. Thirsty by the end of 2009. Now, we'll seek bids for the project, which will be constructed on a new courtesy dock at water level. It will pump sewage up to our existing lagoon.

 Meanwhile, Corps representatives recently performed their yearly inspection of PYC and found only one minor item for correction (a non-functioning ground fault circuit interrupter). In our compliance letter the Corps stated, “The overall appearance of the entire area is superb.”

During the Corps inspection we received a little more clarification about what work can be performed on club grounds and by whom. The gist is that, under our lease, the Corps considers our facility subject to the same constraints imposed on Corps-managed parks. Commercial operators cannot perform “major” work on boats, such as bottom jobs, engine overhauls and the like. They gave as an example an RV in a Corps park; it's OK for a mechanic to perform minor repairs, but the Corps doesn't want to see engine parts lying around.

The long and short of it is this: outside contractors can offer put-in and haulout services, but most work should be performed at one of the commercial marinas or elsewhere off the club's leased property. (FYI, Spurgeon’s Port-O-Call has signed an agreement with Lake Perry Yacht & Marina to provide full services on LPY&M grounds near the dam, so Rock Creek Marina, Lake Perry Yacht & Marina and Spurgeon’s are the options I’m aware of). Probably, the Corps would prefer that boat owners not perform their own bottom jobs on club property, yet the Corps representatives indicated they would allow it as long as we ensure that dust is collected properly. That means you'll need to place drop cloths beneath your boat, use vacuum-assisted sanders, wear a dust mask, etc. Use your judgment, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Additionally, I’ve received a letter from the Corps that modifies our lease in regard to camping. The new language extends the allowable time for camping from four consecutive days to 14. Note that the new wording also says, “Unoccupied camping trailers and equipment shall not be stored on the leased premises at any time.”

Several campers have told me that our facilities are seeing more use than in the past and we're nearing or exceeding the capacity of our electrical pedestals. If you bring an RV or camper, please endeavor to park it in a way that allows as many folks to access power as possible. Meanwhile, we are obtaining approval from the Corps to add a couple more pedestals.

The issue of loose dogs has come up again. I’ll admit that your current commodore hasn’t always set the best example. Nevertheless, we all need to adhere to club rules. Keep your dog on a leash when it's on club property and out of the clubhouse area at mealtime. We’ve added poop stations to encourage owners to pick up after their pets. Please be courteous to others; not everyone is a dog-lover.

Remember, too, that fireworks are to be used only around the Fourth of July weekend, and then only on the beach and in the lower parking lot.

Finally, it appears we’re very close to deciding on a new caretaker’s residence. My thanks to Jean and Monroe Dodd, Penny Morgan and Ric Tucker for all their work and research into the various options. With any luck we’ll have a final decision at the next board meeting and site preparation will begin shortly.

As always feel free to contact me or other board members if you have any problems, questions or comments.