Newsletter Spring 2015 - Northwest Chapter WCHA

website: http://www.nwwoodencanoe.org/
email: nwwoodencanoe@yahoo.com
Northwest Chapter Spring 2015 Newsletter
Spring Meet 2015
Sun! The Northwest Chapter thoroughly enjoyed a warm, sunny weekend at YMCA Camp Bishop in
Shelton, WA, May 8, 9, 10, 2015 when over 70 people gathered for this year's Spring Meet! With 30plus beautiful and interesting boats displayed on Lost Lake, sets of grandchildren and young people,
and so many old and new friends together, it was a memorable weekend!
President Vern Heikkila outlined the informal schedule Friday evening in the camp lodge, balancing
time for boating with programs, water games, potluck dinner, chapter auction, and semi-annual
meeting. After the introduction of new Camp Bishop manager John Bachtell, he and Vern reported on
the status of the camp's planned new canoe-house, which will eventually house the 1947 Old Town war
canoe from Gray's Harbor, re-launched in 2013 after major restoration. The canoe house will have a
northwest coast Native American theme, with possible Quinault accents, and will hold the camp's
smaller canoes as well as the war canoe. Permitting is complete, and funding nearly so; construction
will be aided by the participation of the Grays Harbor Community College carpentry class.
Friday evening concluded with two intriguing canoe movies, first a formal solo free-style paddling
demonstration choreographed to music. Next, Hawaiian canoeist Nappy Napoleon demonstrated
Hawaiian canoe paddle techniques in “One Paddle, Two Paddle” The teamwork, and athleticism of the
teams were impressive, as were the organization and individual assigned tasks within each crew.
Certainly anyone who has practiced entering a dry canoe from the water was in awe of the apparently
effortless crew changes—all accomplished within 4 fast paddle strokes!
After Saturday's Dawn Patrol canoe trips,
members gathered to hear this year's featured
speaker: canoeist, archivist and author Sanford
Osler. Canoeing at summer camps began a
life-long involvement for the British Columbia
resident, and he has paddled waters in various
parts of Canada in many different crafts. His
new book, Canoe Crossings: Understanding
the Craft that Helped Shape British Columbia,
discusses the many ways canoes have been an
important theme in the history of British
Columbia, and more broadly, the Pacific
Northwest. Telling some of the stories from
Ray Irons and friend on Dawn Patrol in his Penn Yan
his book, Osler talked of the eastern birchbark
canoes, and their larger versions in use in the west by fur traders and explorers searching for the elusive
Northwest Passage, including Simon Fraser, Alexander McKenzie, and David Thompson. On the
Northwest coast were the First Nations/Native American's cedar sea-going and river canoes, (one of
which, the 38' Tillikum, went around the world); in the north, skin-covered frame kayaks, baidarkas and
umiaks were utilized, while in marshy
mountain lakes, the sturgeon-nosed Kootenai
canoe was developed. In more modern times,
canoe construction, canoe journeys and racing
canoes have been keys to cultural revitalization
and identity, and components of truth and
reconciliation efforts and substance abuse
treatments. In closing, Osler showed the
wonderful sculpture “Spirit of Haida Gwai” by
Haida artist Bill Reid, as a symbol of the
powerful connections of teamwork with each
other, and with the natural world, that canoeing
always offers: “We are all in this boat
together.” We look forward to reading his
Courtney Codrington introduces his 1917 Old Town HW
book!
Next, out in the sun, with an eagle cruising the lake overhead,
people gathered for “Introduce Your Canoe.” Highlights of the
over thirty (!) beautiful craft included the noteworthy re-launch
of Kurt and Laura Schmidt's +/- 1917 Kennebec. The canoe
was bought in 1948 by Kurt's father when a college student; he
removed its fiberglass, and then moved his project carefully
around the country to three different homes without time to
work on it further. Kurt took over the boat 4 years ago, and
today, the shiny red canoe with its sporty short cap rails slid
happily (finally!) back into the water! Des and Ivy
Winterbottom's blue Huron glowed after a complete restoration
1917 Kennebec Relaunched after 66 Years!
that involved removal of every plank and every fastener.
Courtney Codrington showed his 1917 Old Town HW, restored with cherry rails and a free-style paddle
thwart. Michael Davidson and Ginger Fortier brought their recently acquired Faber Huron transformed
with new paint, and awaiting gunwales, along with their
classic red 1928 Old Town with its elegant original gold
striping. Bob Moore's sleek Morley was displayed in a
custom portable cradle. Dick Cross showed three beautiful
boats, including his Geoffrey Burke lapstrake “Wee Lassie”,
light enough to be used by 7 year-old Phoebe with a double
paddle; the boat has natural hackmatack (tamarack or eastern
larch) stems, from wood gathered by the builder. Next was a
$75 Craigslist find—a Kingsley Charles River design boat
with distinctive “W” decks, now a gleaming elegant deep
blue, and ready for its next life. Finally, Dick showed off his
7-year- old Phoebe in Geoffrey Burke "Wee Lassie"
lovely white Robertson Courting Canoe with its flying swan
ornamentation and long, elegant sweeping decks—plus its duplicate in exquisitely detailed miniature,
built by a friend so that Dick could admire his boat
indoors, too! Dick showed photos of the courting
canoes in action as rafted-up crowded social events
complete with parasols, and music from Victrolas!
After lunch, chapter members took to the water for
a formal portrait of (almost) all boats courtesy of
photographer Mike Livdahl. Next, President Vern
entertained the group with canoe games from his
1956 Red Cross Canoeing manual. First was the
ever-popular numbers game, where boats search the
lake for the small wooden square with their
Dick Cross's Robertson Courting Canoe and minature
individual number—quickly won by the speedy and
lucky Frank and Janice Gunness. Canoe jousting was next, with Vern and Steve Ellsworth
demonstrating jousting and splashing techniques on handy victims Annie McElroy and Susanna
Kalaniecki. Finally, canoe tug-o-war was demonstrated in the War Canoe, as Vern, Colleen Hovey, and
Martin Ferwerda took on Janet Heikkila, Steve Ellsworth and Claude DeLilse, with great energy,
splashing and thrashing! The warm day encouraged splashes and soon, some people even enjoyed short
swims!
Dinner, by popular request,
was a repeat of past years
salmon barbecue plus potluck,
with fresh salmon and shrimp
brought from Westport by Vern
and Janet Heikkila. Salmon,
shrimp, varied salads and side
dishes followed by luscious
rhubarb, apple and berry pies Canoe Jousting
and cobblers—yum!
After dinner was auction time, with a large array of outdoors and boating-oriented goods. Many items
were the kind donations of equipment from the families of Bill Dengler and Tucker Stevens. Sandy
Dengler and Craig Dupler acted as auctioneers, and speedily converted three tables of items into
bargains for the crowd and money for the chapter. Topping the auction was a beautiful, hand-built
wannigan from Gordon Bilyard, with steam-bent ribs, contrasting natural woods and brass trim. Thank
you to Gordon, and all who donated and bought, raising funds for the chapter's activities!
Canoe Tug o' War in 1947 Old Town War Canoe restored and re-launched in 2013 by Vern Heikkila and volunteers
Many canoes took to the water for a sunny Dawn Patrol on Sunday morning before breakfast. The
chapter then gathered for a short board meeting, and site clean up but many were soon back on the
water again for last trips before loading canoes and gear for home. Thank you to Vern and Janet
Heikkila for organizing such a good Spring Meet, and all who helped make it go smoothly! See you at
Camp Sweyolaken, on Lake Coeur d' Alene for our Fall Meet, Sept. 18, 19, 20 2015!
Spring 2015 Board Meeting
The meeting was called to order by President Vern
Heikkila, at 9:30 in the main lodge.
We had 69 people through the Saturday dinner line, with
4 more people arriving after that, for approximately 73
people in attendance, and at least 30 boats!
Treasurer Joan Ellsworth reported $8,000 in the treasury;
we took in approximately $1600 for the weekend, and
will need to pay costs of about $1400. The auction
generated $959.
Next year's Spring Meet was discussed, and the group
decided to return to Camp
Phoebe, Ava and Maddox messing about in a boat . . . Bishop on the same Mother's
Day weekend in May, with
hopefully an earlier Friday entrance time. Camp Bishop is central,
economical, and well set up for indoor activities and accommodations in case
of rain.
The auction was discussed, with concerns about the low selling prices on
many valuable items. By consensus, reserves may be set on some items, and
specialty items, such as Gordon Bilyard's hand-crafted wannigan, might better
be raffled instead. Gordon will build another wannigan which the chapter can
raffle at the next spring meet.
We will need to elect new officers next fall.
Owen: Shall I go fishing
or boating or fish from a
boat?
The Fall Meet is September 18, 19, 20, 2015 at
Camp Sweyolaken, on Micah Bay of Lake Couer
d'Alene in Idaho. The Camp Fire camp has been
very accommodating in the date and numerous
policies, and are anxious for us to come to their
camp. Parking is a short, sheltered canoe trip from
the camp, and a ferry run may be scheduled to
carry heavy luggage. Various shelters/cabins are
available. A site visit by several members prior to
the meet will give more information about
logistics. An effort will be made to contact
Steve and Joan Ellsworth enjoy the sun.
interested Idaho, Montana and Canadian people
about the meet via the WCHA membership list. Program ideas were solicited for the Fall Meet. Harvey
Golden, author of a definitive book on kayaks, has been suggested as a speaker. Vern will see if he
might be available.
The new canoe house at Camp Bishop was discussed.
We want secure, safe housing for the War Canoe that
Vern and volunteers restored, and the chapter partially
funded, and we want to promote young people's
interest in canoeing. The chapter voted to donate
$1,000 to the fundraising effort for the building
construction.
Bill Paine finishes the numbers game!
New and Interesting Books
Anyone interested in epic canoe journeys
will be glad to see Freda Mellenthin has
written a book about their trips! You can
sample some of her travel diaries on the
Canadian Canoe Routes website, but you
need the book for the full stories and the
great photos!
Explore the broad themes of canoe and
Northwest history introduced by our
featured speaker, canoe historian Sanford
Osler, in his new book!
Remembering Friends
Bill Dengler (1939--2014)
Bill grew up in Lititz, PA, and met Sandy in 1963,
while both were graduate students at Arizona State
University. Following a degree in Range
Management, he went on to a 34-year career as a
ranger and naturalist in the National Park Service,
with time in a number of National Parks, including
Acadia, where they purchased their Old Town
canoe. Bill had many lifelong interests and skills.
He was interested in the northwoods, Hudson's Bay
Company and voyageur history, in historic ships of
all sizes, in canoeing and wooden canoes, in Indian
history and culture, and music. He was a member
of the International Guild of Knot-Tyers, and taught popular classes at the Northwest Maritime Center
in Port Townsend. He was a volunteer on the Adventuress sailing ship, collected, carved and played
Native American wooden flutes, and helped with the northwest Tribal Canoe Journeys. Bill was a
founding member of the Northwest Chapter of the WCHA. His expertise, historic knowledge and quiet
humor will be missed by all his canoe friends.
Tucker Stevens (1941—2014)
Tucker had a deep interest in people, and in his community, and
was always willing to help them. He and his wife Kathy met as
high school sweethearts, married and divorced young, and later
reunited. After a career as a teacher and educator, Tucker retired
as school district superintendent, and continued to work as a
substitute teacher. He was a civic leader devoted to his Langley
community, serving on the city's Civil Service Commission, the
Historic Preservation Commission, and the Parks and Open Space
Commission. He was active in the Langley Community Club, its
children's Soap Box Derby project, and fundraisers for many local
causes. He often simply worked behind the scenes to get a useful
project done. Tucker's ready smile and enthusiasm brightened
many Northwest Chapter meets, and he will be missed by his
gmany friends.
President's Message
The spring meet drew a great
combination of people and canoes from
all regions of the northwestern states and
western Canada. The meet reflected the
views of this year's speaker and author,
Sanford Osler. His theme, the canoe as a
uniting factor, certainly came into play.
Participants from Alaska to Oregon came
together with a common interest to share
ideas, meet new friends, renew old
acquaintances, and enjoy a marvelous
weekend.
As we move forward, lets hope the canoe continues to bring us together to enjoy the camaraderie and
good will. I would like to thank all of you who made the meet a great success.
Vern
The Fall Meet is September 18, 19, 20 2015 at Camp Fire Camp Sweyolaken, at Micah
Bay on beautiful Lake Couer d'Alene, in northern Idaho. See you and your friends
there!
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Thank you!
Website: http://www.nwwoodencanoe.org/
Email: nwwoodencanoe@yahoo.com
41502 SE Reinig Rd
Snoqualmie, WA 98065
Vern Heikkila
Lin McElroy
Joan Ellsworth
Colleen Hovey
Claude Delisle
Joe McElroy
Craig Dupler
Martin Ferwerda
Mary Norton
Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Webmaster
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