Commodore Bit

Happy New Year everyone and I trust you all had a great Christmas.

Thank you for re-electing me as Commodore of AQSC for another year, I promise to give it my best shot. By the end of 2005 I will have completed a second three year term as Commodore and I will be standing down. Three years is long enough and I feel that it is important that the club should elect a new Commodore with a fresh vision and new ideas.

Under George's guidance the AGM went very smoothly. Basically the existing Management Committee was re-elected en-block. From a purely selfish point of view I was pleased about that because I know the current team works very well together.

The prize giving followed the AGM, presided over by Richard. Details of who won what can be found elsewhere in this newsletter

Finally thanks to all the ladies who prepared supper and the mulled wine, it was much appreciated

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a pantomime. Not in vogue with the younger generation I'll grant you, but that's just something missing from their education. AQSC ensures that the generation that knows how to have fun, without getting blind drunk, gets its annual 'fix'. Diana organised our first club social event of the year on the night of 13 January. This was a trip to see Dick Whittington at Richmond Theatre, reported elsewhere in this newsletter

By the time this news letter goes out we will have had three committee meetings during which we have thrashed out our 2005 club programme

The Valentines dinner at the club in early February was amazing. I've attempted to do it justice with a bit of a write-up but you really had to be there to fully appreciate the evening.

This year's programme is now ready to go to the printers and reflects a number of events which the management team hopes you will find interesting. We have arranged a visit to the Hog's Back Brewery in April together with a pub skittles evening later the same month. Bookings for those are now being taken by Diana or myself.

The end of April will also see Aquarius hosting the Mid Thames Trophy. Your support both on and off the water on the day would be greatly appreciated. The open weekend is scheduled in May. There is also a quiz night planned during May which will include a take-away delivery.

The Regatta, Jazz Night & Barbecue is in June followed by a themed evening in July. We are planning a visit to Bewl Water over the August Bank Holiday weekend. September will see a musical extravaganza at the club followed by a quiz night in October.

The year ends with a trip to the Kempton Park fireworks display and the annual dinner in November followed by the club AGM in December. That lot, Bewl apart, is off the water. There is of course a full spring, summer and autumn sailing series commencing in March and a Wednesday afternoon/evening series commencing in May. There should be something there for everybody and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on the water this year.

Mike (The Commodore) Baker