Enough Water?

The number of activities to participate in at AYC is really quite remarkable.  The summer series has begun, and the social committee helped us celebrate the completion of the spring series with a delicious gourmet meal.  During two weekends in April, ten new sailing instructors were certified at the US Sailing Level 1 class taught by AYC’s  Steve Gay.  Friday evening “Beer Can” racing and Wednesday night Sunfish/Laser racing are in full swing.  Roadrunner junior practices take place twice a week, and on Sunday afternoons coach Kate Noble is at the Pavilion helping kids and parents take out training boats for a family sail.  Our re-finished pool is open for the season.   PBJ learn to sail and the Summer-camps are just around the corner, so sign up the kids, bring a friend or two, and come out and enjoy your club!

Our next major invitational event is Turnback  Regatta, and Chair Wade Bingaman has planned a blockbuster.  Racing will start and finish at AYC on both days.  Whether you’re racing or not, you’ll want to come out for the Crawfish feast and music festival.  Six different bands will play genres ranging from Polka to Country, Blues, Marimba and Rock. 

After Turnback, come out during the last week of May and first week of June to watch the spectacular racing of the College Nationals.  If you want to get more involved and have time to volunteer, contact Vic Manning, and he’ll let you know how you can help.

After many years of loyal service to AYC, our Bookkeeper, Pam Radebaugh, has given notice that she will be leaving AYC.   Please join me in wishing Pam well and expressing our gratitude for the many contributions she has made to our club.  Drop by the office and welcome our new Bookkeeper, Jackie Wheeless, who started with us on May 7^th.  Jackie will be training with Pam during May, and she’s very excited to join the AYC staff.

At our April Board meeting, Conrad Werkenthin gave a very enlightening and concerning  talk about the unreasonable risks that the LCRA’s current water management practices are imposing on all of us who depend on the highland lakes and Lake Travis for our drinking water.  Money talks, and the people who stand to lose the most from the LCRA’s reckless practices (Us!) are not yet fully aware of how dire the situation could easily become.  In order to favor a politically entrenched few, the LCRA is essentially playing Russian Roulette with the homes and livelihoods of millions of people in central Texas, and with our regional economy valued in the $100’s of Billions.  If we are in a 10 year drought cycle similar to that of the late 1940’s and 50’s, there is a real possibility that the city of Austin could run out of water due to the LCRA’s current practices.  Though the much touted 2012 water management plan is a slight improvement, it does not do nearly enough to reduce this risk.  The best way for us to begin tackling this problem, is to inform as many people as possible of the risk that the status quo subjects us to.  Take a minute to read Conrad’s information, printed in this month's edition of the Telltale, and pass it on!

See you on the water (while we still have some!) - Johannes

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