Event at SCA

From Dave Bugge:

ABOUT IT! Series

INVASION! An Update on Invasive Species │Thursday, May 6, 7:00 p.m. │Free admission

Patty Birkholz, Director of the Office of the Great Lakes, moderates a timely panel discussion on invasive fish and plant species. Hear the latest on the status of Asian Carp in Michigan waterways and learn about the newest invasive plant species and what you can do to help combat them.

Sponsored by Huntington Bank, Bill Underdown-Shoreline Realtors, Bill Hess & Mike Mattern.

Dining Out in honor of shipmate Rosie Refior

From Marcia Flynn:

To Everyone!

Thursday night is "Dining Out for Life" in Grand Rapids. If you dine at any of the following restaurants, they will donate 25% of their proceeds to the Grand Rapids Red Project. This non-profit is focused on the prevention of Hepatitis C and Aids. They do this through several programs and partner with organizations such as the Kent County Health Department and Bethany Christian Services. Please join us at one of the following restaurants.

I will be "Dining Out" in honor of Rosie Refior. If you are able, please do too.

Bar Divani

Brick Road Pizza

Cygnus

Hop Cat

Kopper Top

McFaddens

Sazerac Lounge

Six.one.six

Stella’s

The Viceroy

Feel free to check out these websites for more information:

http://www.diningoutforlife.com/

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/163436/48/redproject.org

Uprigging update -- special request

The bowsprit went in easily last weekend, and Eric S. and his team have made good progress this week. This weekend (April 16-17) and next Saturday (April 23) will be our uprigging weekends this year. We will not work on April 24 (Easter).

Special request for this year's uprigging workers:
This year we have two projects going on at the same time. While we are rigging Friends Good Will for the season, Andy James is hard at work getting the Lindy Lou ready for the Museum's new river cruise attraction. He's on a tight schedule and has no time to clean up after those of us who may be working on FGW. Please respect Andy's effort and leave his workspace the way you found it. Please return the tools that you use to their proper places, including the big power tools in the Sea Scouts alcove, and do not leave any scrap wood, gear, or other clutter on Andy's benches.

Thank you!

More on gunnery training

From Phil Nager:

The Gun Refresher Training on May 7th from 1PM until 5PM will be for those who have already been through Tony Osterberg's NMLRA class.

We will be covering the following:

1. General Safety

2. Gunners Positions and commands

3. Gun Implements

4. Current firing methods and possible future firing methods

5. Gun Cleaning and Care

6. Current US Guidelines for firing Artillery.

Let me know if you have any questions and please let me know who is interested in attending so that I can make handouts.

[Contact EVC to sign up. Phil plans to offer gun training for those with no experience later in the season.]

Gunnery training on May 7 / Voyage sign-up sheets

We will conduct gunnery refresher training & drills on May 7 from 1-5pm (not 1-4pm as I said in the email). Contact me to sign up.

Sign-up sheets for our voyages have been posted in the Padnos. We are currently scheduled to visit Muskegon in May and October and visit Chicago and Port Washington in August. Check the sailing schedule on the MMM website for dates. Posted dates refer to the dates FGW will be present in the other port and do not include transit times to and from South Haven. There may also be another trip to Chicago in July and a trip to Traverse City in September, but these have not yet been confirmed.

May First Aid/CPR class rescheduled

The May 14 First Aid/CPR class has been rescheduled to May 7, 9am-noon. This class will provide first-time certification.

Harnesses for Topmen

From Marcia Flynn:

Once again, Mark Crews of Apex Outdoor Gear (www.apexoutdoorgear.com) has generously offered to discount harness and carabiner packages to any of our crew who wish to purchase their own equipment.

The Petzl 8003 harness is a top-notch full-body climbing harness that has been certified by the top two international certification organizations: the UIAA (International Mountaineering & Climbing Federation) and the CE (European Union). A lightweight, wonderfully comfortable harness that many of us thoroughly enjoy. Size 1 fits chest of 23.5"-37.4" and thigh of 16.5"-24.4". Size 2 accomodates chest of 29.5"-41.3" and thigh of 20.5"-30.3".

The Omni Lock carabiner acts to close the Petzl 8003 harness while providing certified three-way protection to fasten the harness with a tether attached.

For those looking to make their own work positioining tethers, the William Screw-Lock carabiner is an excellent selection due to its CE rating and its shape - very easy to clip in. (If you're making your own tethers, please contact me for a discussion as to types of line that are appropriate - line selection is VERY important.)

The packages Apex Outdoor Gear is offering (tax will be added to package price):

Harness Package:

(1) Petzl 8003 Full Body Harness (specify Size 1 or 2)

(1) Petzl Omni Screw Lock Carabiner

Retail: $156.95

Package: $141.25

Tether Package:

(2) Petzl William Screw Lock Carabiners

Retail $29.90

Package: $26.91

To place an order:

Contact Mark Crews directly at mark.crews@apexoutdoorgear.com or call A.O.G. at 616-940-4611. Identify yourself as crew aboard Friends Good Will so that you will receive the discount price. Let him know which of the packages you are interested in (or both). Pay for your order by debit or credit card.

Since I will be routinely traveling from GR to SH, Mark will let me know when your order is in. I'll pick it up and bring it down.

New this year, Mark has been kind enough to offer these packages for the season. So, if you didn't see it last season, this gives you the opportunity to watch this equipment in action beyond just the uprigging sessions.

First Aid refresher / Drug test update

I've talked to Dr. Springgate and confirmed that the First Aid/CPR class will be offered on April 9 from 9am-11am at the Museum.

Note that the April 9 class is a refresher class. If you have never received a First Aid/CPR card or certificate, you will need to take a longer course. The Museum will be offering this course on May 14 at 9am. You can also take it through your local Red Cross.

Email me or phone me at the museum to sign up.

DRUG POOL UPDATE

We will continue to use MCBA for our random dug pool. We are looking into setting up a system that will funnel notifications through MMM so that crew can be notified at a convenient time. MCBA will notify MMM, and then MMM will notify the selected individual.

If you've let your MCBA membership lapse and have not joined another pool, you'll have to take a drug test and join their pool or another one. If you've already signed up with another pool, you're all set.

First Aid/CPR training in April

I've been informed that our First Aid/CPR training in April has been moved to April 9.