Lake Oconee, September 16, 2006: The Reynolds Rendezvous
A speacial note from Jennifer Mosher (pics soon to follow):
I just wanted to ‘THANK EVERYONE’ for their participation this past Saturday at Reynolds Plantation.... We were able to pull off another successful gathering or "Organized Chaos" as I call it. We figure there must've been around 150 or more people, and I couldn't have done it without you all and I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.
Lu Everett & Kat Bonson, we will anxiously await the pictures. I saw a preview of them - they are FANTASTIC - and I know everyone will be excited when they arrive.
H & Christy Smith: H, I knew Retrospective would be "the" boat this year, and you didn't disappoint. There wasn't a whole of pictures of you because you were always out on a run! Christy, thank you for keeping on top of the food, the drinks, and handling the pavilion area.
Chris Boers, you were the workhorse this year. Your boat was always jammed packed and you picked up the slack when 3 boats temporarily went down you were there to pick us up.
John Walton, I know it's a long day for you coming from Blue Ridge. I also know that BTFC is special to you and you've never let us down.
Dick, Eric & Richard, what would a gathering be without the Russell’s?? You all are my right-hand men, and are always there doing whatever needs to be done. Eric as our go-between with MAW and Richard and Dick as boat captains, which frees me up to do whatever it is that I do. LOL!
Hal & Jean Crawford, Hal, bless your heart, you have the patience of Job. I've heard firsthand of your passengers, and bless you for being good-natured and always putting a smile on so many faces. Jean, thank you for bringing us plates and utensils which helps keep costs down.
David Thomas & Ron Schlumper for bringing Bud's boat, it was the 7th one and provided us with just enough so that everyone got their rides. Bud, I'm sorry that you weren't able to captain your boat, but thank you for trusting David & Ron with her, she is a beauty. I hope you can make it next year!
Bob Churchill, what can I say? You've been there every year, and Classy is a workhorse as well. You let the kids drive, and this year the stuffed animals you got were a big hit. Even a broken hose didn't keep you sidelined for long! Thanks for bringing your friend Wes and his kids, they undertook the job of cooking, which again freed the rest of us to be with the boats, and they did a good job!
Ken Winter, your Out boarders group was fantastic as usual and one fellow had quite a display that garnered a lot of attention. The Southeastern Out boarders has been our partner for this event and I can't think of doing it without their participation.
Tom Riggle, THANK YOU for suggesting to Blue Ridge Chapter that they fund this event. We couldn't have done it without Blue Ridge's sponsorship and next year we'll try to schedule it on a day when you won't be out of town.
I don't know who benefits the most from the day. My initial thought is the kids, of course, but then I look at how the boaters, all of us, have benefited as well. The more I reflect, the more I've come to that it's us that benefits: these kids are such an inspiration, as they've battled such adversity at their, often very young, ages and yet they still have the ability to laugh, smile, hug and, well, just be a kid.
As the day ended, one grandmother thanked me profusely for all that had been done. I thought to myself, "I should be the one thanking you." Thanking these extraordinary children and their families for allowing us into their hearts, for allowing us to share our love of wooden boats with them, for being the everyday heroes that they are.
I'd love to invite you to join us next year. I know it's not a traditional boat show, but it is a lot of fun. No fancy awards will be presented, but there will be lots of smiles that radiate and make the sun shine even brighter. No masses of people will be coming to admire the boats, but there will be grateful families, most of who have never been exposed to wooden boats. In addition to the smiles that you'll get, there will be plenty of hugs for payment. I'd say that's enough. Wouldn't you?
Without ALL of you this wouldn't be possible, so give YOURSELVES a round of applause, a hug and a pat on the back for a JOB WELL DONE! You all touched lives on Saturday and provided a ray of sunshine for some very special kids and their families.
Thank you Blue Ridge Chapter for helping us continue the dream!
Jennifer Mosher
