•Boat Virginia Classes

•Debris Onslaught

•Board Meeting Minutes

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Contact Information:

•Phone: 540-674-0166

•Fax: 540-980-3540

•Email: darla113@verizon.net

There are currently 3 scheduled Boat Virginia Classes. These classes meet the requirements of the new Virginia boating laws.

First Class
WHEN: Saturday, February 6, 2010 - 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
WHERE: Claytor Lake State Park
CONTACT FOR REGiSTRATION: Mendy Harman mendyh@comcast.net

Second Class
WHEN: Saturday, February 20, 2010 - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
WHERE: Galax Recreation Center
ADDRESS: 601 South Main Street, Galax, Virginia 24333
CONTACT FOR REGiSTRATION: Tony Quesenberry (276) 236-3218

Third Class
WHEN: Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
WHERE: Christiansburg Rescue Squad Building
ADDRESS: 190 Depot Street, Christiansburg, Virginia 24073
CONTACT FOR REGiSTRATION: Mendy Harman mendyh@comcast.net

Subjects: Choosing the Right Boat, Boat Hulls, Motors, Legal Requirements, Navigation Rules, Cruising, Docking, Anchoring, Knots, Accidents, Alcohol Consumption, Fire on Board, Weather, Trailering, Water Sports, Personal Watercraft

Cost: Instruction, textbook, and supplies are free. 

Bring a snack and drink.

Each graduate earns a wallet card showing successful completion of the class and is also registered with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Education Division in Richmond, Virginia. 

This course is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and recognized by the United States Coast Guard.  Instructors are certified by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Most major insurance companies endorse the course and allow insurance premium discounts to graduates.

A runaway pontoon and debris in front of a ghostly silhouette of Lowman's Ferry.

View through a dock.

A runaway paddle boat cradled in the debris.

FRIENDS OF CLAYTOR LAKE • Board Meeting Minutes • November 12, 2009

Present:  Ronnie Powers, Darla Jennings, Bill Cunningham, Dean Jackson, Cheri
Strenz, Alan Stratton, Chris Meade, Alan Graybeal, Mike McLeod, Laura Walters,
Dave Dobyns, Ranny Akers, Larry Bandolin, Pete Huber, Jackson Beamer, Mike
Spraker, John Johnson, Jeff Arnold, Phillip Martin, Larry Moore, Dave Stevenson,
Mary Rhoades, Laura Bullard, Donald White (RU), Clarissa Clarke (RU)

Board Nomination:  Dave Dobyns’ nomination to the Board by Cheri Strenz was
unanimously approved.

501c3 Nonprofit Restrictions:  Phillip Martin, CPA, provided information about
501c3 restrictions.  According to Phillip, FOCL’s mission stated on its tax form is
Claytor Lake clean-up and water quality monitoring; tax implications can result
from deviating from this stated mission.  He recommended being cautious about
what FOCL goes, and suggested changing its mission if necessary.  However,
since doing so could impact its nonprofit status, he recommended FOCL contact
the IRS.  Ronnie suggested the Board revisit its strategic plan.  When asked about
FOCL’s responding to FERC on relicensing, Phillip offered it should relate to clean-up
and water quality, and that serving as a conduit of public opinion or response could
be acceptable.

FERC Relicensing Comments:  Laura Bullard asked for the Board’s response to
Appalachian’s statement in their Environmental Report Executive Summary that
operation under the new proposed license “should not have any significant impacts
on environmental resources or properties in the Project area.”  The Board discussed
information on reported use of drawdown by property owners, and concerns about
negative impacts to resources and property if drawdown is discontinued.  Need for
drawdown was expressed, and modifications, such as changing frequency, timing and
depth of drawdown were suggested.  Negative impacts on mussels were also
discussed and mitigations, such as raising and restocking mussels, were suggested. 
Cheri Strenz also offered concerns about proposed dock size regulations being too
restrictive and unsafe; and Laura Bullard offered concerns about impacts of increased
boating and proposed shoreline classifications on erosion.  Following a motion by
Laura Walters and seconded by Jackson Beamer, the Board voted 13 in favor, with
two abstentions (Ranny Akers and Mike McLeod) to: 1) form a committee to craft a
comment letter to FERC by the Nov 28, 2009 deadline stating possible impacts,
alternatives and mitigations as discussed in the meeting; 2) pass the letter by Phillip
Martin for his opinion on 501c3 compliance; 3) email the letter to the Board for a
vote via email; and 4) forward the draft or letter as soon as possible to Pete Huber
for the County’s consideration in a letter they are sending FERC.  Committee
members will be: Larry Bandolin, Cheri Strenz, Alan Stratton, Dave Dobyns, and
Laura Bullard.

Minutes of October 8, 2009 Board meeting were approved with correction to spelling
of names for Larry Moore, and Dave and Susan Dobyns.

Income/Expense Report was approved as presented.  General Fund:  $4,869.10.

In-Kind Sheets for 2009 were requested by Darla by Dec 31, 2009.

Smith Mountain Environmental Committee Meeting was attended by Jackson
Beamer; more information will be provided in the future.

Organizational Development Committee is continuing to work on the annual
membership meeting

Christmas Meeting has been changed to Dec 8, 2009.

Meeting was adjourned.