Some improvements already achieved this year are remodeled bathrooms in the starboard room and the ladies room in the clubhouse, also the clubhouse has new interior wall covering and blinds. The brass has been polished at the bar and new air vents have been installed to divert the air conditioning properly. On the outside we have the grounds cleaned up, new perennials planted, fresh mulch, new steeping stones on gangways A Thru F, as I am writing this the pool is being painted, a new salt generator installed to minimize the maintenance and keep the water cleaner. Thanks to our harbormaster Mike Eberhardt for making sure that all of these improvements are done with quality material and in a professional manner. Also our director of water Tom Morhaus is overseeing our newly developed harbor maintenance program and dredging operation that is in progress now. Tom has put together a great plan and it should be completed in about four weeks, the operation will not affect mobility in the harbor. Remember folks move them boats, under by-law rules all boats are required to move into the river under their own power at least once every 60 days during the boating season, this also helps with keeping the harbor clear among other reasons. Thanks Tom and Mike, the place looks great.

At the office, our secretary, Linda Handley is making sure all bookwork is in order and doing one heck of a job documenting what is addressed at the monthly board meetings, Thank you for a job well done Linda.

At the bank, our treasurer Bill Bishop is making sure our bills are paid and our money is accounted for and safe, big thanks for all you do Bill, no pun intended, but we count on you.

In the kitchen, director of restaurant, past commodore Russ Laramie along with executive chef Mark Bachman is making sure restaurant and bar operations are running smooth, had to buy a few new pieces of equipment and a little refrigeration work, everything is in check. The atmosphere is great and the food is excellent so after that fine day of boating on the river come on in and enjoy a terrific meal with good friends and good times. Thank you Russ and Mark for the best food and best times you can find on the Mississippi river.

In other news our director of insurance Stephen Bernstein has found a flaw in the language used in our By-Laws on how our boat insurance rules should read in regards to additionally insured. Steve has been working with owner and member Rich Edwards who is helping with the legal wording to change the language in the By-Laws, by the time you read this hopefully you have received your ballot and returned your vote to help correct this important issue. Thank you, Steve and Rich for taking care of this matter.

Owner and member T.J. Kirgin and his company Anchor Communications are responsible for keeping our website www.ducktalesonline.com updated with calendar of events and other forms of communications. He would like to build an archive page on the site with the history of the duck club so if anyone has material to use for this project please contact either myself or T.J., any sort of information pictures, stories, facts, etc. Would be helpful. Thanks in advance for anything you can do.

Duck Club Yacht Club board meeting is the first Monday of every month in the main dining room at 7:00 pm, we welcome and urge all members to attend.

In closing I would like to remind everyone to please keep the clutter off the docks, keep the young ones out of the bar after 10:00 pm, get in them boats and have a safe and exciting boating season. See you on the river.