Water Wonderland Chapter

On June 8, 1987, the first organizational meeting of the Water Wonderland Chapter/ACBS was held in Traverse City, Michigan. The chapter charter was presented to Dennis Mitchell, first chapter president, at the inaugural winter meeting on February 20, 1988. As an historical note, prior to its organization as a chapter of ACBS, this organization had been organized as the Long Lake Wooden Boat Club.

LEADERSHIP

The Water Wonderland Chapter, as with any similar organization, relies entirely on the dedication of its volunteer staff. Having a four-officer Executive Committee (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer), along with an 8-member Board of Directors, the chapters' course has been navigated with due diligence.

Since its founding in 1987, the list of Water Wonderland Chapter presidents is as follows:

President: Years of Service:

Dennis Mitchell 1987-1988

Dale Schneider 1988-1990

Barbara Woodrow 1990-1992

Jed Mooney 1992-1994

Jeff Rogers 1994-1998

Richard Sligh 1998-2000

James Mersman 2000-2002

John Bergrstom 2002-present

GEOGRAPHY

Although the Water Wonderland Chapter was founded in Traverse City (northwest region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula), its members not only hail from throughout the state, but across the Midwest. Our predominant "market", however, tends to be the western and northern portions of the Lower Peninsula, along with the entire Upper Peninsula. Accordingly, chapter officers and directors make a concerted effort to plan events throughout the region, as to not only appeal to the entire membership, but to visit new and unexplored locales.

ACTIVITIES

As is fitting with antique and classic boats, tradition plays an important role in the yearly activities of the chapter. After a long, cold winter of howling winds and drifting snow, members are quite eager to embark upon another season of Michigan boating. A chronological list of chapter activities is as follows:

PRESIDENT'S TOUR

Usually held in April, this offers chapter members their first opportunity to once again savor the aroma of sanded mahogany and fresh varnish after a winter hiatus. Whether headed to a restoration shop, marine museum or another nautical-related venue, it marks the reawakening of the hobby for the year. Past adventures have included:

- Michigan Wheel Corporation --- Grand Rapids, MI

- Chris Craft factory --- Cadillac, MI

- Yankee Girl Boat Works --- St. Clair, MI

- Hacker Craft factory --- Mt. Clemens, MI

- Van Andel Museum --- Grand Rapids, MI

- Mayea Bros. Boat Works --- Fair Haven, MI

- South Haven Maritime Museum --- South Haven, MI

- Century Boat Co. factory ---Manistee, MI

- RESTORATION SHOPS of:

Cadillac Boat Shop / Russ Arrand

Grand Craft Corporation / Richard Sligh

Olde Tyme Boat Shop/ Tom Bolhuis

Northwood Boat Works / Dave Moore

Timepiece Marine / Don Danenberg

A&A Marine / Danenberg Boat Works

Macatawa Boat Works/Steve Northuis

SPRING DINNER:

By May, spring is in full swing, boats are beginning to find their way from trailer to water and the WWC/ACBS dinner is always a hit. Alternating every year from a northern to southern location, chapter members have enjoyed dinners in as varied spots ranging from quaint country inns to secluded lakefront restaurants. In most cases, a guest speaker will present a program as well. One year, our chapter was honored to have fellow member Chris Smith (grandson of the founder of Chris Craft) as our featured speaker at our spring dinner. His presentation and personal narration of an old Chris Craft black & white factory film was professionally filmed and has since been produced in video cassette form for the ACBS archives.

SUMMER RENDEZVOUS:

Each summer, various club members volunteer to organize four or five day trips where participants can bring their boats and navigate lakes and waterways within Michigan. Usually ten to twenty boats create quite a site as they cruise around the lakes. Boating in a group setting is quite a thrill and since they are guided it adds to the pleasure and relaxation of the day. The trips usually include an informal picnic style dinner at a chapter member's home and a brief lesson in local points of interest such as old hotels, marinas, or significant historic homes. The dates and locations vary every year but usually are on weekends.

BOATS on the BOARDWALK:

For those unfamiliar with Traverse City, it is located at the foot of Grand Traverse Bay (on Lake Michigan). Beginning at West Bay and continuing through the downtown business district is the Boardman River. Construction of a boardwalk along a large expanse of the river year's back provided the perfect location for which to display our historic, antique and classic boats. On the first Saturday of August since 1987, from 35-60 boats have lined the riverbank, allowing thousands of residents and tourists alike to enjoy this unique display of watercraft at no charge. The beauty of the boats notwithstanding, another remarkable part of Boats on the Boardwalk is the outstanding volunteer effort that is put forth to ensure the show's success. With activities ranging from staffing the parking lot and launch ramp at 7:00 AM, guiding boats to their proper dock locations through the use of two-way radios and assistance in docking and retrieval, the chapter members' love of wooden boats is evident to all in attendance and perpetuates the shows' success year after year.

Perhaps the hallmark for those exhibiting boats at Boats on the Boardwalk is the awards given. Since the shows' inception in 1988, dedicated chapter volunteers have created a handmade miniature mahogany "transom" plaques, which each participant receives. Each winner of an award receives a similar transom, but with the award name printed in gold leaf.

LES CHENEAUX POKER RUN/PICNIC:

On the Friday before the Les Cheneaux Antique Wooden Boat Show, beginning at 10:00 am participants venture and navigate through the islands in search of secret locations to collect playing cards all in pursuit of the coveted annual traveling poker run trophy. Around noon, a lavish smorgasbord of picnic fare is prepared for the membership at a different location each year throughtout the islands. Those passing the picnic site unknowingly may assume a boat show was being held, as the 20+ wooden boats lining the docks offer a hint of what will follow on Saturday. In recent years, this event has surged in popularity, often surpassing 100 guests for lunch.

LES CHENEAUX ISLAND ANTIQUE WOODEN BOAT SHOW:

Although not sponsored directly by the Water Wonderland Chapter, this boat show has become another highlight of summers in the Great Lakes State. After having visited the antique boat show in Clayton, NY the year prior, local residents held the first show at the Hessel marina in 1976. Especially familiar to those fond of Chris Craft, the tiny village of Hessel, MI is also home to the world's first Chris Craft dealer, the E.J. Mertaugh Boat Works, which was granted a territory as "everything north of Bay City, including Canada" in 1926.

Sponsored by the Les Cheneaux Islands Historical Museum, it annually attracts from 120-190 boats from across the nation. Additionally, as many cottagers throughout the 36 islands still use wooden boats as daily transportation, one can enjoy a veritable boat show simply by sitting on the dock.

Always scheduled for the second Saturday of August, for many chapter members, the show in Hessel marks the end of a week of wooden boating, beginning with the Boardwalk show the Saturday prior.

FALL RENDEZVOUS

Fall 2001 marked our first weekend long boat rendezvous. Indian River, Michigan was the home port for three days of beautiful fall cruising on Michigan's famous inland waterway. The success of this event has prompted us to try it again in early September 2002. The location has yet to be determined but we are hinting at the Antrium county chain of lakes including the beautiful Torch Lake.

FALL DINNER & ANNUAL MEETING

The onset of autumn colors throughout the hardwoods of northern Michigan foreshadows the conclusion of another season of Michigan boating. Wanting to take advantage of this beautiful fall foliage, the chapter has traditionally held this event in Leland, a quaint "fishtown" along the shores of Lake Michigan on the Leelanau Peninsula. As is probably the case with most ACBS chapters, legendary tales of boating adventure are swapped, winter projects discussed and the camaraderie of the chapter strengthened.

After dinner, the WWC/ACBS Annual Meeting is held, which includes: an overview of the past years' activities, new business facing the chapter, various awards given to recognize some of the more noteworthy events and election of officers and directors.

OTHER CHAPTER ACTIVITIES:

In February of both 1997 and 1998, the Chapter organized "The Heritage of Michigan Boatbuilding" exhibit at the VanAndel Museum in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Each year, eight vessels, ranging from rowboats to runabouts, were showcased in the museums' Galleria. Our exhibit was scheduled to coincide with the annual Grand Center Boat Show. For two consecutive winters, thousands of Grand Rapidians were given an opportunity to view antique and classic watercraft that they otherwise would never have seen.

As for charitable contributions, the Chapter has been proud to have been a benefactor of the Maritime Heritage Alliance (Traverse City) and the Les Cheneaux Maritime Museum (Cedarville).

VISION FOR THE FUTURE:

The Water Wonderland Chapter/ACBS has enjoyed consistent growth year after year --- our officers and directors work diligently to ensure this continues to be a hallmark of our chapter. We are also constantly seeking to expand upon and/or improve the activities of the chapter, meeting the needs of the membership as that membership changes.

Towards that end, we realize, as does the ACBS, that the future of our collective organizations can only be found in today's youth --- more specifically, first attracting their interest in antique and classic boats and secondly, retaining that interest through appropriate benefits and activities.