Summer is almost here, and most members’ boats are in the water. It is time for us to spruce up the club grounds now that the boats are out of the way! Our club is an all-volunteer organization, and that means we rely on all of our members to “Keep ECSC Beautiful.”  If you used concrete cinder blocks to support your trailer over the winter, please return them to the area next to the dumpster. If you have an extra mast, rudder, personal ladder, or sawhorse, please secure these items onto your boat trailer or take them home, as they shouldn’t be left lying in the parking areas. We are looking at setting up a summer work party this month to work on additional cleanup and projects to improve the overall appearance of the club. There is also a link on the ECSC website to “signup genius” where there are projects you can find to do on your own schedule and earn work credits. The board has extended the 15 extra work credits you can earn by working on Grounds projects through this year. All work credits earned on these projects and the summer work party can be applied.  Have fun, enjoy the summery weather, and everybody be safe on the water! Mark Walker ECSC Commodore 2108 Geoff Endris would like to extend an invitation to ECSC Club members to the 2018 Great Lakes  Cruise.  Information is provided below.    2018 Great Lakes Cruise The Great Lakes Region of the Catalina 22 fleet holds an annual cruise on one of the Great Lakes.  The 2018 Great Lakes Cruise for Catalina 22s is planned for August 12-18 on Grand Traverse Bay. Our trip is not limited to C-22’s.  If you have a trailer-able boat and want to come along, contact Geoff Endris.  The more the merrier.  We could turn this into an annual ECSC trip! We will be launching at Elk Rapids MI.  They have a very nice marina and plenty of parking for our trucks and trailers.  They also have a nice beach right at the marina!! Our itinerary for the week looks like this: 12 August – Launch at Elk Rapids on “East Bay”, Welcome picnic. 13 August – Sail around the tip of the Old Mission peninsula to Northport. 14 August – Sail to Suttons Bay with a stop at Omena Bay at the Leelanau Cellars Wine Tasting room.  Nice beach at the marina.  Best ice cream shop only 2 blocks away!!  Christmas in August Gift exchange. 15 August – sail to Traverse City and see the “Cherry Capital”.  Great shops and restaurants, beautiful views and a very nice marina.  May have evening race with the Grand Traverse Yacht Club.  Details TBD. 16 August – Sailors Choice:  sail to Marian Island and anchor out overnight or stay in Traverse for another day.  17 August – sail around the tip of Old Mission Peninsula back to Elk Rapids.  Dinner as a group. 18 August – Haul out and head for home. The agenda is subject to change as we get closer and find out more about local events in the towns along the way.  We will have a skipper’s meeting every evening to go over the next day’s activities and answer any questions.  This will give all the participants the opportunity to sail in some “big water”.  Grand Traverse Bay is over 400’ deep.  There are plenty of wineries scattered around for off-boat activities.  We will try to sail up and dock at the Leelanau Cellars Tasting Room at Omena Bay if the water level will allow.   Don’t be concerned about taking your boat on such a “grand excursion”.  The distances are short – maybe a few hours.  We all sail together and stay at a marina most nights so it can really be a fun vacation.  And you may be surprised at how easy it is and how much you will learn about your boat and sailing. Let me know if you are interested.  There is still plenty of time to get that trailer checked out and ready for the trip.  If you have any questions, drop me a note.  Geoff Endris