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March, 2024
The official (and ONLY) online publication of the BIRCH LAKE YACHT CLUB |
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Please note:
Some computer Internet Service Provider services (like Comcast and AOL) block the /Online Birch Barker as "spam," and refuse to send it out. Unfortunately, if you use one of these there services, there is nothing I can do to ensure you will receive the Barker when I send it out. If you are not getting Barker via email, you may be able to contact your provider to learn how to "unblock" or "whitelist" the Barker and/or my email address (onlinebarker@gmail.com) so you can receive the Online Barker and Birch Lake-related special notices. |
Yes, those are a bunch of spring flowers that I found on March 2 ... and, yes, there are already a number of piers in the lake as the unseasonably warm and spring-like weather continues.
Commodore's Comments
Oopsie! Where is AutoCorrect when you need it? In the last Barker, information was printed related to the Boating Safety Course and Michigan licensing requirements. I erroneously stated anyone born after July 1, 1976 needed to pass a boating safety course. The correct birth date is July 1, 1996. My apologies to all.
Your officers and event chairman and chairwomen are busy organizing our BLYC 2024 Summer events. We are excited to introduce a few new activities and are fine-tuning the old.
The Earl Troeger Memorial MC Interlake Regatta is a huge undertaking for our lake community and we are excited to be this year‘s host. Steve Frew and the Regatta committee members are diligently working to make this event a success and giving our lake and sailors the showcase they deserve.
Card night will be scheduled once a month at the Yacht Club. Games will include but not limited to euchre, poker, and 65. Friendly competition is encouraged and card playing expertise is not a requirement.
I am continuing to work on the Kidz Triathlon and hope to include info on the event in the following Barkers.
The Spring Dinner is scheduled for May 18 at the Pineview Golf Course, just outside of Marcellus. The theme is “Derby Days,” and ladies are encouraged to wear fancy hats. Not to exclude the gentleman attendees, bow tie and Derbies would be appropriate attire, but certainly not required. The ticket price and menu selection will be included in the April and May Barkers.
Continuing on with the music theme “Did you know…?” How many of you remember the song “American Woman” by the Guess Who? I’m betting quite a few of my fellow Birch Lakers do, however how many of you remember “The American Woman“ of Birch lake? In 1970 many of us teenagers decided to erect a houseboat of sorts on pontoons with the lofty goal of floating it around Birch Lake. Current lakers such as John Ball, Tim Burchell, Jill Tunnicliffe (Scholes), Darlene Schofield (Troyer) and your current Commodore worked hard on the summer project. Walls were built and painted, portholes cut, and pontoons patched for sea worthiness. Carpet samples were laid wall-to-wall and a small outboard motor was attached. The boat was built in the field behind the “Lazy Lodge” (Wozniak, formally Pete Winarski‘s) house, (east side) a significant distance from the landing. The engineers’ next obstacle was to haul it down Birch Road behind the wheels of Tim Burchell’s father‘s 1966 Pontiac Catalina. The boat was towed down the mile-long stretch of road with only one or two stops for an overheated engine and a westward list. (see photo) The adults were skeptical that it would make it to the landing in one piece or if it ever would float. We proved them wrong as “The American Woman” made it out to the middle of the lake where it was proudly moored for the remainder of the summer, albeit badly listing to one side. A few parties took place out there, as I was told, because after the boat embarked from the landing, our dads proclaimed that “The American Woman” was off-limits to Jill and myself. After its brief summer of 1970 “The American Woman” was sold to Major O’Brien (north side) well below the sticker price of five dollars, and another group of Lakers continued to enjoy her wondrousness. Where she is now, I don’t know. If anyone does, please let us know.
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Birch Lake's American Woman being transported in the 1970s |
So for now, “May the memories remain, and the view stay the same” on our golden pond.
~Commodore Sue Davis
BLYC, Facebook and social media
The Birch Lake Yacht Club DOES NOT have a Facebook page, nor is it participating in any form of social media. If you see Birch Lake Yacht Club information on any social media, the information has not been provided, checked or approved by the BLYC, and may be incorrect or misleading. If you have questions or concerns, please check http://www.philvitale.com/Barker/BirchBarker.htm, or contact any BLYC director or officer (see “officer and director” information in any edition of the printed or online Barker).
Birch Barker Kids of the Month
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Rick and Patti Russwurm (north side), and Sandy and Phil Vitale (east side) were joined by longtime mutual friend Deb Voltz-Miller on a trip last month where they sailed from St. Lucia to Grenada. This photo was taken at the restaurant some friends their Frankie (the handsome one) and Zico on the island of Mayreau near the Tobago Cays in the Grenadines.
Summer Barker delivery route help is still needed
The Birch Barker is in need of a person to delivery about 35 printed Barkers per week for 15 weeks next summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day) on the far south side of Birch Lake (from approximately the Yacht Club to the turn around). If you can help, please contact Ron Niezgodski at 574-532-6710 or email birchbass1@gmail.com
Fleet Captain's Corner
Sailboat racing on Birch Lake in only 11 weeks!
The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame enjoy broad support here at Birch Lake, but with the passage of well over 200 years, the name of a certain fighting Irishman of the American Revolution is heard less often. He was known as "Mad Anthony" Wayne, and he was one of George Washington's favorite generals.
Anthony Wayne was born on a farm in Pennsylvania on January 1, 1745. His father had immigrated from Ireland, and had served as a captain in the French and Indian War. As a boy, Anthony was enthralled by his father's war stories. But the father may have later regretted telling those stories, when as a young man Anthony refused the father's desire that he stay on the family farm. Instead, Anthony Wayne was elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and helped raise a Pennsylvania militia unit.
On April 18, 1775, British troops on the way to confiscate arms and ammunition from colonists in Concord, Massachusetts were met on the village green at Lexington by an armed group of farmers. The "shot heard 'round the world" was fired--it's unknown by which side--and the Revolutionary War had begun.
By 1777, the British had won a string of victories, and were threatening our nation's capital city of Philadelphia. General George Washington sent a force led by now General Anthony Wayne to harass the British and disrupt their supply chains. Wayne's division of about 1500 men set up camp near Paoli Tavern, outside of Philadelphia, but the British were alerted by spies. At 1:00 a.m. in the dark night of September 20-21, 1777, bayonet-wielding British Redcoats silently approached the the Americans' camp through nearby woods. Their muskets had no flints in order to maintain silence and the element of surprise, so they were armed only with bayonets. In the ensuing attack, Wayne's division lost 272 killed, wounded or captured, with at least 53 dead, while the British lost only 5 men. According to contemporary accounts, many Americans were bayoneted while defenseless and offering no resistance, and the battle is remembered as the Paoli Massacre. Five days later, on September 26, the victorious British Army captured Philadelphia. Both Washington and Wayne had learned a bitter lesson about the effectiveness of the surprise nighttime bayonet attack, but it was a lesson that they would later use to good advantage.
General Wayne was investigated for alleged negligence at Paoli, and found guilty of a tactical error. Outraged, the fiery Wayne demanded a full court-martial to clear his name. The court-martial exonerated him, and found that he had acted honorably.
By May of 1779, the war was at a stalemate, with the British holding New York City, Philadelphia, and Savannah, and Washington's army hunkered down in New Jersey, just outside of New York City.
To break the stalemate, the British planned to divide and conquer by luring a large portion of Washington's army away from New York City and into a trap. The trap they chose was the American fort at Stony Point, 30 miles north of New York City on the west bank of the Hudson River. Stony Point, known as "Little Gibraltar", is a natural fortress on a peninsula, almost an island, 150 feet high with steep sides. The fort controlled boat traffic on the lower Hudson River, and the major commercial ferry crossing between Stony Point and Verplanck's Point on the opposite shore. Twelve miles north of Stony Point was the American fortress at West Point, vital for control over the upper Hudson River.
To set their trap, the British sent 6,000 soldiers who easily captured the American fort. They expected Washington to bring a large force out into the open and attempt to recapture Stony Point. But Washington did not take the bait. Instead, he waited nearby to see if the British would try to attack West Point. Their trap having failed, the British withdrew all but 600 soldiers from Stony Point. And this gave Washington and Wayne the opportunity to get payback for the Paoli Massacre, and give the Americans a much-needed morale-boosting victory.
Washington had recently placed Wayne in command of the newly formed and elite Corps of Light Infantry, consisting of 1200 highly trained and highly disciplined soldiers. Together, Washington and Wayne personally surveyed Stony Point from a nearby mountaintop, and came up with a strategy that used the nighttime silent bayonet attack from the Redcoats' playbook at Paoli, with a twist. A diversionary column would stage a conventional direct assault down the neck of the peninsula, firing muskets to attract the Redcoats' attention. Meanwhile, two silent columns armed only with bayonets would simultaneously climb the steep north and south slopes. The main silent column, on the south slope, was to be led personally by Wayne.
An hour before the assault, Wayne wrote a letter to a friend asking him to look after his children, and said that he would be eating breakfast "either within the enemy's lines in triumph, or in another world." The three columns moved out shortly after midnight on July 16, 1779, and the strategy worked almost perfectly. The British focused on the diversionary frontal assault until it was too late. As Wayne led his stealth column up the south slope, a British musket ball grazed his head and knocked him to the ground, dazed and bleeding. He cried "March on, boys! Carry me into the fort! For should the wound be mortal, I will die at the head of the column." The north and south silent columns arrived simultaneously at the summit and overwhelmed the British, who soon surrendered. A few minutes later a bloodied but victorious Wayne was carried into the British works to the raucous cheers of his men. Wayne quickly jotted a letter to Washington: "The fort and garrison with Col. Johnston are ours. Our officers and men behaved like men who are determined to be free.”
The British soldiers huddled in the center of the fort, in fear of being slaughtered in retaliation for Paoli. But no such slaughter occurred. Instead, Wayne and the Americans gave mercy and quarter to their prisoners. ("Quarter" means prison, and "to give no quarter" means to take no prisoners, and to kill all of the enemy.)
The battle resulted in 15 Americans killed and 83 wounded. The British had lost 20 killed, 74 wounded and 472 captured.
On July 26, 1779, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to Anthony Wayne in a ceremony before Congress, for his heroism at Stony Point. Wayne later became known as "Mad Anthony" Wayne for his great personal bravery and inspirational leadership at Stony Point and in other battles. While rash on occasion, he was one of the most successful generals of the Revolutionary War, and one who always looked out for his men. He treasured the medal and the nickname for the rest of his life.
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Photo 1 (left). Brigadier General Anthony Wayne Photo 2 (below). The wounded General Wayne being carried victorious into the captured British fort at Stony Point. Photo 3 (bottom): Reconstruction of British Redoubt #10, scene of the climactic American bayonet charge at the Battle of Yorktown. |
Two years later, on October 14, 1781, Washington once again used an evening silent bayonet charge that captured the key fortification known as British Redoubt #10 at the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia, in the climactic conclusion to the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. And once again, surprise was complete, victory was bloody but swift, and despite recent atrocities by the British, the Americans gave mercy and quarter to their prisoners.
~F.C. Steve
BLYC Dues, Contribution & Donation Form
$____ - BLYC Member Dues ($30 / year)
$____ - BLYC Associate Member Dues ($10 / year)
$____ - Homeowners’ Assoc. ($10 / year)
$____ - Sailing Fees ($15 / year)
$____ - WATER QUALITY and INVASIVE SPECIES TREATMENT
$____ - Building Improvement Fund
$____ - Fireworks Fund
$____ - Safety Committee
$____ - Other non-party related expenses
$____ - BLYC Roof Fund
$____ - BLYC AED Fund
$____ - Misc.
Total contribution:
$__________________
Include your name and address and make checks payable BLYC and mail to:
BLYC, c/o Deb Spratt at 18100 Farmington Hills Drive, South Bend, IN 46637, or go online to HTTP://BIRCHLAKEYACHTCLUB.COM to pay dues and/or make donations
MAY
May 18 -Board meeting - 9am @ YC
May 18 - Spring Dinner @ 5:30pm Pineview Golf Club -"Derby Days," Sue Davis, Julie Dickey
May 25-26 - Memorial Day Weekend Sailboat Races Races Sat/Sun, with Monday as backup
May 30 - Card night -7pm @ YC
JUNE
June 1 - Board Meeting - 9am @ YC
June 8 – Boating Safety Course 10am-4pm @ YC
June 8 - Trivia night - 6:30 pm @ YC, Holly Troeger, Sue Williams, Blair Garceau
June 15 - Commodore/Vice-Comm. Stock the Bar Party - 6:30pm @ YC, Jimmy Buffett Tribute Night "Margaritaville," Sue Davis, Julie Dickey
June 29 - Spaghetti Dinner, Cam Butler, Stacia Andriano
June 27 - Card night 7 pm @YC
JULY
July 6 - Boat Parade - Line up at 2:30 pm start at Waxmans', 3pm, theme TBA, Dan Waxman
July 6 - FIREWORKS, 10 pm, Bernie Garceau
July 6-7 - Fourth of July Regatta
July 13 - Board Meeting - 9am @YC
July 19 - Women's Golf Outing - Details TBA, Blair Garceau
July 20 - Family Picnic, Details TBA, Sara Petty
July 20 - Kidz Triathlon - Details TBA
July 25 - Card Night - 7@YC
July 26 - Men's Golf Outing- Details TBA, John Ball
July 27 - Don Harman Kidz Sunfish Regatta (Tentative date), Bob and Leslie King
AUGUST
Aug 3 - Corn and Sausage Roast 5:30-7pm @ YC, Blair Garceau
Aug 10 - Board Meeting 9am @ YC
Aug 17 - Earl Troeger Memorial MC Interlake Regatta - Details TBA, Barb Cassidy
Aug 23 - Women's Style Show and Luncheon - Woodfire Restaurant, Details TBA, Ronni Eshleman
Aug 24 - Fall Dinner and Annual BLYC Meeting - Details TBA, Vice-Commodore, Julie Dickey
Aug 29 - Card Night - 7pm @YC
Aug 31, Sept. 1- Labor Day Regatta- Races Sat/Sun with backup Mon.
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 7 - Board Meeting - 9asm @ YC
Other events TBA
TBA - Sailing Award Luncheon
TBA - Patty Luecht Crockpot Challenge - Karen Curtis-Miller
BLYC Classified Ads
SERVICES:
I do sewing and mending at fair prices - zippers, hemming, small alterations; call Kathy at 476-9317
FOR RENT:
Birch Lake cottage for rent: Three bedroom, one bath cottage with tub and shower. New granite kitchen, new stainless appliances w/dishwasher, washer and dryer. Nice pier w/ big platform. Plenty of parking. Possible ski, pontoon, row boat and sailboats for rent. Sleeps six in beds, room for more. Call/text Pat McGann 574- 532-5377.
FOUND:
Found: Turtle board washed up on the south side just east of the yacht club. Call Chris Stevens @ 317-771-8531.
BLYC Contacts
BLYC OFFICERS
Sue Davis (E) Commodore
574-993-6031 eyesnd76@gmail.com
Julie Dickey (E) Vice Commodore
574-220-9132 jdjuls@aol.com
Deb Spratt (N) Treasurer
debspratt@comcast.net
Mike Sheffieck (W) Secretary
708-220-1506 mcsheffieck@gmail.com
Steve Frew (E) Fleet Captain
708-285-2999 stephenbfrew@gmail.com
BLYC DIRECTORS
Dave Carroll (W) 574-850-8359
arrolldavid39@gmail.com
Barb Cassady (E) 574-229-9815
barbcassady49@gmail.com
Ed Chester (E) 476-1010
ed@chesterlawoffice.com
Karen Curtis-Miller (E) 574-261-6712 krcurtismiller@gmail.com
Bernie Garceau 476-9862
bgarceau@norcoind.com
Deb Hall (C) 219-765-8691
debbershall@gmail.com
Pat McGann (E) 574-532-5377
pat@mcgannhay.com
Ron Niezgodski (W) 574-532-6710
birchbass1@gmail.com
Laura Pence (E)
lpence3@gmail.com
Sarah Petty (N) .574-274-9202
sarahkpetty@gmail.com
Claudia Phipps (N) 476-7073
claudia2154@gmail.com
Vickie Rogers (C) 476-2383
tvrogers@frontier.com
Rick Russwurm (N) 476-2407
paramountp@aol.com
Ray Scholes (S) 567-429-9569
rqs72@aol.com
Scott Troeger (E) 476-9898
scott.troeger@btlaw.com
Phil Vitale (E) 476-1680
sailorphil@philvitale.com
or onlinebarker@gmail.com
Sandy Vitale (E) 476-1680
sv6102@gmail.com
Dan Waxman (E) 317-506-1680
DWaxman131@outlook.com
Denny Weesner (S) 219-765-8602
dkwees@cs.com
Sue Williams (S) (574) 298-2839
smwilliams226@gmail.com
OTHER CONTACTS OF INTEREST
Paul Fallon (E) Chairman, Water Quality
476- 1467 pauljfallon49@gmail.com
Blair Garceau (E) Chairman, Homeowners
476-9862 blairgarceau@gmail.com
Barker Funnies
THE BARKER ONLINE...
The Online Birch Barker is owned and operated by the Birch Lake Yacht Club. It is produced voluntarily (without pay) by Phil Vitale. You may subscribe to receive this e-mail monthly (or as regularly as I get it out) at no cost — and you can unsubscribe at any time — or simply add this site to your favorites and check it monthly for updates
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ONE MORE ...
Thanks to Mr. Bob (King, north shore) for the cool photo or the schooner Wind Mill frozen in the ice ... we're not sure where it was, but it's a good bet that's not Birch Lake ice.