Announcements
These announcements are to keep members and friends informed of current
events. For details, maps and links please see the full listing on our Schedule page.
Spring & Summer 2009 Schedules: the full
Spring 2009 and Summer 2009 Schedules are available for download
in PDF format. If you have any questions or if you have suggestions for programs or activities or would like to
organize or lead a special activity or meeting program in the next quarter, please contact Steve at 516-404-0693.
Next Meeting: Our next meeting is on July 11 on the water. The program
will be our a paddle in Shinnecock Bay. We will meet at 6:00 pm at Shinnecock Shores. For details and directions
call John at 917-681-0749.
Founder's Day Picnic: Join us on July 11 at
Shinnecock Shores after the
Outreach Training and Paddle for a
great Founders Day get-together over a mediterranean buffet.
Cost is $15 each for members, non-members $18. For details and registration call Renee at 516-829-9792 by July 4.
NACK Board Meetings: The NACK Executive Committee, Committee Chairs
and Board of Directors meet in joint session. These meetings are where most of activity, event and long
range planning takes place, as well as development of our policies and procedures. All members are
invited to attend these meetings - pre-registration is required. If you are interested in having a
voice in club planning please contact John at (516) 358-9267.
NACK Peer & Demo Team Practices: Peer practices offer opportunity for
members to practice skills with assistance from other members. Demo team members practice skills in order
to prepare for presentations at Outreach Events. Both groups are scheduled to practice together this spring
and summer on Monday evenings at 6:00 pm. Locations vary, consult our spring and summer schedules for
details. Practices are subject to cancellation if attendance is low, call Ann at 516-445-5504 to confirm your
interest on specific dates.
NACK Training & Skill Assessment: NACK is a club that believes in quality
skills training, assessment and certification for all its members. We use only ACA Certitified Instructors and
Skill Assessors. In general we try to schedule appropriate training in advance of skill assessements. Please
consult our spring and summer schedule for details. For more information please consult our Training and Safety
Chair, Elizabeth, at 631-563-6654.
NACK Spring and Summer Paddles: NACK offers adventure paddles for members
that have completed skill assessments. Skill requirements vary depending on the date, location and route.
Participants must register in advance. Consult our spring and summer schedules for details
on time, location and registration contact. Trips are subject to cancellation depending on interest so please
register early. For more information on NACK Trips program, please consult our Training & Safety Chair, Elizabeth,
at 631-563-6654.
ACA Annual Meeting: The American Canoe Association SEI Council
and Board of Directors will hold its Annual meeting on October 24 in Fredericksburg, VA. Those
planning to attend should contact Elizabeth at 631-563-6654.
ACA National Paddlesport Conference: In conjunction with its Annual Meeting
ACA will hold its First National Paddlesports Conference October 23-25 in Fredericksberg, VA. This is a combination
of the National Instructor Conference held last year with a new feature: the Clubs Rendezvous! Starting with the
Paddle America Club Social at 7:00 on 10/22 there will be a full schedule of Instructor and Club oriented training
and forum sessions including paddling opportunities on the nearby Rappahanock River. Be sure to check out the special
pre-conference training sessions offered on October 20 - 22. Save these dates and watch the
ACA website for additions and updates to the schedule!
Newsletter Issued: Thanks another creative effort on the part of our
Editor, Hal MacLauglin, we are treated to the second issue of the NACK Newsletter (Volume 2, No. 1). The
Newsletter is planned as a quarterly publication and Hal is now accepting input for the next issue. If you have
not already received a copy via NACK Notes, you will find an issue to download on our Library page.
NOTE: the NACK On-Line Library allows users to eat, drink and be as loud as they wish - you
won't bother us!
Congratulations and Thank You's
Long Island Paddlesport Symposium: This years symposium on 3/8/09 was an
unqualified success. Organized by NACK Training Director, Elizabeth O'Connor the second year at Dowling College
the largest turnout ever - over 500 attendees. NACK's Drill Performance by its Demo team had enthusiastic attendance.
Past President, Gordon Dayton also provided a canoe demonstration narrated by Chris Stec, ACA SEI Assistant Director.
NACK Training Director Elizabeth O'Connor received a special award from NYS Office of Boating Safety for creating and
organizing this symposium for the preceeding 5 years. NACK is proud to help support this worthy event to introduce
safe paddling to the public.
ACA Directors Elections: Member, First Past President and Founding
Director of NACK, Gordon Dayton was nominated to the Board of the American Canoe Association this year.
His status was approved during the annual elections in January. Gordon also continues to serve on the
Safety Education and Instruction Council as Clubs Liaison, and as Chair of the Coastal Kayak Committee
for the Atlantic Division of the ACA. Congratulations!
NACK Winter Pool: This year's Winter pool started in mid-January and
continued through mid-March in 10 2-hour sessions at Suffolk County Community College, Brentwood Campus. We
had peer practice, lessons and Demo Team Practices in a beautiful olympic pool. This program was well-planned
and well managed. Special thanks to Vice President, Ann Kaiser, for organizing this great program to keep us
in shape over the colder months!!!
Holiday & Awards Dinner: On January 18 we held our Holiday Dinner
Awards Dinner at the Cull House in West Sayville, NY. Thanks to all who joined us in aknowledging
this year's Skill Certificate and Award honorees. The Cull House put on a great dinner. Special
thanks to the following Awardees:
- NACK President's Award: Gordon Dayton
- NACK Training Award: Ann Kaiser
- NACK Most Valuable Paddler Award: Mike Kaiser*
*NOTE: Mike is the first non-member to receive this award for his great efforts in auditing our
financial records and preparing budgetary reports and forecasts.
Board of Directors Elections: In an incorporated club Directors
have a key position of responsibility and decision making. Elections of Directors were held this year
during the December meeting. Roy Baillard was re-confirmed as Director. Debbie Horne has joined the
Board as Director At Large and Steve McDonald, Ann Kaiser and Colin Mullen have joined the Board as
regular Directors. John Weickert has stepped down as Director At Large and has been elected by the Board
to the post of Chairman. Congratulations to all and thank you for serving.
ACA Joe Pina Award: We are proud to annouce that Elizabeth
O'Connor, NACK's Director of Training has won the 2008 Joe Pina Award for exceptional volunteer
effort on a regional and national level from the American Canoe Association. Elizabeth received
the award at this years Annual Meeting in recognition of her extensive efforts in public outreach
through NACK, the Long Island Paddle Sport Symposium, Atlantic Division Training activities, American
Red Cross Kayak Instructor Training programs, development of the first NYS Paddle Craft Safety Check
program and service on a number of local safety boards and water trails. Her efforts are awesome and
an inspiration to us all!!!
Nissequogue Triathlon Support: NACK has received a big "THANK
YOU" for our support of the paddling component of the "Strong Cops" Triathlon on October 12.
Roy ... what you did for us Sunday was awesome. There is no way in heck that we could have found our
way down that river without all of you. All of you were so nice, the volunteers in the kayaks were
cheering and yelling words of encouragement. Please tell everybody THANK YOU!!!
(Billy J. - 3rd pct COPE T2).
Shinnecock Bay Outreach & Paddle: This outreach training event
was led by our Director At Large, John Weickert on July 12. We put on a demonstration, lecture and led a paddle
for approximately 20 paddlers local to Shinnecock Bay. The event was a huge success. Thanks John!
Founders Day Barbeque: Also on July 12, our Director At-Large
graciously offered his summer home on Shinnecock Bay for our first-ever Founders Day Barbeque Dinner.
It was a wonderful time for all attending and lasted to the wee hours. After dinner President, Steve
McDonald presented the first-ever, NACK Honorary Life memberships to Elizabeth O'Connor and Gordon
Dayton in honor of three years of tireless effort and exemplary persistance in founding and building
our club. Congratulations Gordon and Elizabeth!
New Instructors: Congratulations to the following hard-working
members who have recently completed Instructor Development Workshops and Instructor Certification
Exams through the American Canoe Association and have received new, upgraded or updated certifications:
- Roy Baillard - Essentials of Kayak Touring Instructor (EKT-L2)
- Gordon Dayton - Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor (OWCK-L4)
- Gordon Dayton - Essentials of Touring Canoe, Solo & Tandem Instructor (ETC-L2)
- Gordon Dayton - Essentials of River Canoe, Solo & Tandem Instructor Update (ERC-L2)
- Buddy Ficarelli - Introduction to Kayaking Instructor (IK-L1)
- Doug Ford - Coastal Kayak Instructor Update (CK-L3)
- Steve McDonald - Essentials of Kayak Touring Instructor (EKT-L2)
- Elizabeth O'Connor - Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer (OWC-L4-IT)
- John Weickert - Essentials of Kayak Touring Instructor (EKT-L2)
New Trip Leaders: Based on the above new Instructor Certifications
in conjunction with Leadership training and mentoring through NACK the following mambers have been
awarded NACK Leadership Status or Status upgrades. Congratulations to the following members:
- Roy Baillard - NACK Advanced Flat Water Kayak (AFW-K) Trip Leader
- Gordon Dayton - NACK Open Water Coastal Kayak (OWC-K) Trip Leader
- Gordon Dayton - NACK Advance Flat Water Canoe (AFW-C) Trip Leader
- Steve McDonald - NACK Advanced Flat Water Kayak (AFW-K) Trip Leader
- Elizabeth O'Connor - NACK Advance Open Water Kayak (AOW-K) Trip Leader
- John Weickert - NACK Advance Flat Water Kayak (AFW-K) Trip Leader
NYS Paddlecraft Safety Check: Our thanks to all NACK members
who participated in and supplied support for this, the first event of it's kind in our state. Its
timing was set at the beginning of National Safe Boating Week. Special recognition goes to our
own Elizabeth O'Connor who organized and managed this event with the support of the New York State
Department of Parks, the NYS Office of Boating Safety and the US Coast Guard Auxilliary. Our Demo
Team put on a fine show under the leadership of Dan Troup. Thanks again to all involved!
Heckscher Spring Festival: Special thanks to those hearty
souls who manned the outreach booth on this dreary weekend. We met some wonderful participants,
supplied some needed public awareness education and hopefully reached some prospective members.
L.I. Paddle Sport Symposium: The 5th Annual Public Symposium, organized by
Elizabeth O'Connor with support from Sea Kayaking Skills and Adventures, the US Coast Guard,
NYS Office of Parks & Recreation - Marine Services Unit, NACK and Dowling College was a
resounding success again this year. The new location at Dowling College was absolutely
beautiful and attendance exceptional with a high level of interest and good energy. Thanks
to all our members who helped at our booth, supported the symposium, made presentations and
braved the heavy winds at the on-water demonstrations for this worth cause!
Wilderness First Aid: NACK recognizes dedicated members Cliff, Elizabeth, Gordon, Ivan, Lesley,
Mike, Mike, and Steve, who received certification this month through SOLO in WFA and American Heart
Association CPR. This training can make a critical difference if help is not immediate at an on-water
location!
L.I. Recreational Fishing Show: This year's show, hosted by the Montauk
Surfcasters Association, was held at Farmingdale University in Roosevelt Hall on January
26 & 27. Our NACK booth saw many of the 1500 attendees and welcomed some serious potential
members. Thanks to Tom for organization and to Elizabeth, Steve, Pete, George and Cliff for
staffing our booth.
NACK Honored by ACA: We are pleased to announce that NACK has been awarded the ACA Stroke
of Achievement Award for excellence in program development. This is one of ACA's highest awards and
was presented to NACK at the ACA Annual Meeting on November 4, 2006. Please turn to our
Articles section for details on this prestigous honor!
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