Community Centre

Community Centre Breaks Ground for Addition

It was a happy and joyous occasion when several hundred people gathered following Vesper Service on June 13^th to witness the groundbreaking for the additions to the Community Centre.

Mary Gnau, Theresa (Tee) Cooper, Dan McCormick, Mary Frances Thomas and Al Cooper

The ceremony was presided over by T Thomas, President of the Community Centre. During his remarks, the following "street captains" were recognized for the important role they played and the success they had in making contacts and soliciting for the gifts: Patty & Jim Patek; Mary & Eric Gnau; Martha & Tom Briant; Sally & Frank Delligatti; Joan & Jerry Burke; Rita & Harry Merrill; Joan & Lloyd Arnold; Kay & Al Santoni; Pat & Ralph Goodison; Arlene & Larry Grimsley; Catherine & Bill Merritt; Georgia & Bruce Reeder; Ellen & Leon Long; Jennifer & Jerry Helms; Susan & Allan Price; Phyllis Conrad; Eunice Caro; Nancy Harney; Judy & Paul Hummer; Ann & Ralph Petrea; Mike Pepin; Nancy Connell; Marci & Gail Shinall; Page Miller & Charlie Davis; Peg & Roy Thomsen; Bobbi Hering; Sandy & Bill Buschur; Tee & Al Cooper; Judy & Maurice Moore; Mary Frances & T Thomas; Bonnie & Rich Combes; Jane & Ben TenEyck; Hildy & Don Aldrich; Diane McGarry; Jennie & Tom Conner; Nancy & Steve McKay; Carol & Ray Atherton; Stephanie & Phil Webber; Peg Gorham; Cathy & Carl Crockett; Kerry & Rick Friesen; M.J. & Trigg Combs; Patti & Buck Mathews; Zan & Bobby Dukes; Gerri Burson & Gary Zimmerman; Gay & Cliff Spann; Alice & Jim Parks; Jay Harbeck; Pat Reilly; Nancy & Jack Rudy; Jane & Paul Cuffe; and Michelle Basso.

Also recognized for their significant part in the program were Dan McCormick, who organized the solicitation drive; Long Range Planning Committee members Al Cooper, Lloyd Arnold, Dick Anderson, Bill Robinson, Larry Grimsley, Maurice Moore, Ralph Petrea, Mike Pepin, Don Aldrich, Dean Pelley and Patty Patek; and the Building Committee headed by Budd Catlin with Mike Pepin, Hutch Hutchingson, Larry Grimsley, Jerry Burke, Tony Colucci, and Jerry Weithman.

Special recognition was given to Larry Grimsley, who took all of the ideas for the additions and brought them together in drawings of what our new facilities will look like with the new additions.

It was announced during the ceremony that we have received a total of $356,583 to date in contributions to the Building Fund of the Community Centre.

Al Cooper, one of the original organizers of the efforts to make additions to the Centre, and Chris Assaf, President of the Centre when the final plans were made and most of the money was raised, participated in the actual ground breaking. With their purple handle golden shovels signifying a successful fund raiser and the purple ribbons identifying those who gave, the ground was broken amid the applause of the crowd.

The ceremony ended with a benediction by Rev. Jerry Hammet.

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Community Centre Looks into a New Program

• The Community Centre Board has given its approval to look into the feasibility of inviting Ministers, Priest, and Rabbis recommended by a member, to spend a week on Fripp Island, during which they will conduct the Wednesday Vesper service in our All Faiths Chapel. In addition they would be available should there be a family emergency. Their week of service will begin on Sunday afternoon and end on Saturday. Or any portion of that week.
• To do this will require a good bit of organizational work initially, and on an ongoing basis. This will include a canvas of our property owners, requesting the use of their home and hopefully a golf cart for a week. Another important part of the process will be obtaining recommendations from property owners. It is expected they will recommend their current or prior Minister, Priest, or Rabbi.
• Perhaps the most difficult part will be matching our schedule of available houses to their schedule. In effect each will be invited to spend a week on Fripp Island in a furnished house with a golf cart. This will be provided in lieu of the current honorarium.
• It will be their responsibility to provide transportation to and from the Island and the cost of use of the Resort amenities and food. The Resort has offered to provide the convenience of the use of amenity cards, allowing them to use the amenities. And for this we are very grateful. The Centre would be responsible for the cost of the clean up of the home at the end of the week.
• This plan has worked very successfully on Bald Head Island, N.C. They now have a list of over 120 candidates available, hoping to be chosen for this week of service.
• Please think about this positively and give us your feedback and thoughts. Should you have a house you would like to make available for this program, please email the Community Centre at ficc@islc.net.

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Island Services

CHIEF'S CORNER

We have received numerous complaints in reference to domestic pets. They include failure by owners to clean up after a pet does their "business", pets being walked without a leash, dogs and cats being allowed to run at large.

FIPOA Regulations Section III: Animal Control states: Control of pets is necessary to protect Island wildlife and residents.
(a) Only domestic pets (dogs, cats, birds and the like) may be kept on the Island.
(b) All pets off the owner's/renter's property must be on a leash.
(c) All pets must be properly licensed and have the shots required under South Carolina law
(d) People walking pets are responsible for cleaning up and properly disposing of their pet's waste.

Citations for a violation of the Island animal control rules may be issued in the amount of $25 for the first offense and may be doubled after each subsequent offense.

For the convenience of our residents and guests, doggie waste stations have been set up at
(a) Rock Beauty Beach Access
(b) Tarpon Blvd @ Remora
(c) Sunset View
(d) Davis Love Park
(e) Audubon Park
(f) Crossover # 2 on Marlin Drive
(g) Crossover #21 (h) Near the Sawgrass footbridge

Residents and guests are reminded that we are in the turtle nesting season and that light visible from barrier island beaches or dunes, caused by flashlights, camera lighting or house lighting is a violation of Beaufort County's lighting ordinance, State and Federal law.

If you have any suggestions on how we can improve the quality of life on the Island, or wish to discuss a particular problem, please contact me in person, telephone at 838-4113 or e-mail

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Know Your Officers: Jim Irby

We would like to highlight Officer Jim Irby in this issue. Officer Irby has been a member of the Fripp Island Patrol since March of 2002. He currently is a Gate Officer on the 11:00 pm to 7:00 am shift.

Officer Irby has called Beaufort his home his entire life and lives there with his wife Carolyn.   Prior to joining our team Officer Irby spent over 27 years with the Beaufort Police Department and retired as a Captain, and was in charge of the Investigation Bureau.

Jim is the Pastor of the Second Goodwill Baptist Church in Beaufort and enjoys singing with their choir. He also volunteers with Helping Hand to distribute food to the needy

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Emergency Water Line Shut Down

• On Wednesday, May 9, 2007, the Beaufort-Jasper Water Authority (BJWSA), which provides water to most of Beaufort County, shut down one of the 12-inch lines while repairs to the McTeer bridge are being made. The water line will remain out of service until repairs to the bridge are completed sometime in late July.

• The Fripp Island Public Service District has asked all of its water customers on Fripp Island to begin conserving water immediately by limiting their landscape irrigation.

• • Customers with addresses ending in even numbers should irrigate only when necessary on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
• • Customers with addresses ending in odd numbers should irrigate only when necessary on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
• • No one should irrigate on Mondays, which allows the BJWSA water treatment facility time to replenish reserves.

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FIPOA

General Manager's Report

Are the FIPOA's Rules Reasonable?

• The Association has a number of rules and regulations that we ask you to observe so everyone can safely maintain quality of life and property values. We always try to be reasonable with our rules by following the guidelines below. If you believe a rule fails the "reasonable" test, please do not hesitate to contact me or let the Board know at the next meeting. We’ll consider how we can improve it.
• • We make every effort to enforce rules uniformly, taking into account the consequences.
• • We think developing rules for the sake of having rules is unnecessary. The Association develops rules only if they’re really necessary.
• • All our rules are based on proper authority—either our governing documents or state or local law.
• • We don’t make rules to limit your activities. We’re trying to ensure that each owner and guest can enjoy the community, free from the disruptive or harmful behavior of others.
• • We really don’t want to punish anyone. We try to make rules that encourage understanding and compliance.
• If you do not have a copy of the latest FIPOA Rules and Regulations, please contact the POA office and we’ll mail you one or go to the website - http://www.fipoa.org/rules.html to download a version.

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Personality

Volunteer Spotlight

Al Cooper

• AL COOPER and his wife, Theresa, moved to Fripp Island as full time residents in 1985 from Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Al's career started as a metal worker where he moved up the ranks to become plant manager of Research Cotreal, Inc. (an air pollution company). After 28 years with them, he retired at the age of 58 and moved with Tee to Fripp.
• Al started volunteer work early on in his life with the Boy Scouts and starting up a neighborhood basketball team for young boys in New Jersey. When he came to Fripp, it wasn't long before he was volunteering here. He served eight years with the Fripp Island Fire Department and he was instrumental in organizing the first Men's Member Guest Golf Tournament, which is now celebrating it's 20th year. He also worked for seven years with the FIPOA in various positions.
• Al started out as a Board Member of the FICC and moved up to be a Vice President and then as President in 1991 and again in 1996. As a Vice President under John Watson, he organized the first renovation of the Community Centre kitchen and room extension. Al served a total of seven years on the board of the Community Centre and served as President twice. He can remember when the choir would be lucky to have 8-10 people singing in it, and today there are 20 people. Al, along with Bev Edwards, Jack Muhlhauser, Lou Cashdollar, Paul O'Hara and Don Boyce, saw the need for a "columbarium" so they volunteered to see it completed in 1996 on land donated by the original developers of Fripp.
• Because Fripp was seeing such growth in the early 90's, the Community Centre became more actively used. With more and more clubs, weddings, memorials, and others using the facilities, it became apparent that it was time for expansion and who better to lead the Long Range Planning Committee than Al Cooper. He became the President of this committee and with the input of the Board at that time, he pushed ahead getting people together and got the volunteers to see the goal attained. He has said that if it weren't for volunteers we wouldn't have a Fripp. Think of all the organizations, clubs, and activities that make it fun to live here but are made up of volunteers, like himself, that give of their time and effort to make sure all these activities succeed and meet our expectations.
• He said that all you need to do is "ask people and they'll help you do it." This has been proven with the Because We Care campaign to raise the funds for the expansion of the All Faiths Chapel and Community Centre. Al knew we could do it, and thanks to all of you who volunteered to help, your contributions, and his leadership in the Long Range Planning Committee, the Chapel and the Centre will start its expansion this summer.
• Thank you, Al (and Tee) for all you have done for the Chapel, the Centre and for Fripp.

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Travel

Audubon Club Members Take an Armchair Photo Safari

• Putting the lie to the fact that other people’s travel photos are usually boring, the Audubon Club’s March program was a spectacular tour through desert and riverine areas of Botswana, as experienced last September by Island residents Ricky and Leiter Doolittle. Highly informative commentary by the Doolittles and their travel companions accompanied extensive video footage and still photos of wildlife, local inhabitants, and safari camps in three sites.
• The greatest variety of Botswana’s wildlife species is primarily found in the Okavango River delta, a unique inland network of swamps and bogs with papyrus and bulrushes. From boat and safari vehicles the travelers captured, images of many types of animals, including endangered species such as white rhino and African wild dogs.
• They also photographed an extraordinary variety of birds, many visiting the delta on their annual migration. The program also highlighted, in spectacular close-up photos, fish and basildore eagles, red cormorants, white pelicans, open-bill and bottle storks, and a lilac breasted roller all brilliantly rendered by the travelers’ lenses.

  
  Yellow-billed and maribou storks.

• In the Kalahari desert, the Doolittles also experienced the culture and nature lore of the indigenous San people. Villagers demonstrated their desert survival skills and performed dances depicting hunting for the visitors.

  
  San villagers in the Kalahari Desert.

• The photo program did not neglect the three safari camps and one lodge visited by the travelers. Edo camp was completely "green," powered and watered by solar panels. At Shindy camp, they followed a leopard for an hour until it nestled in the crook of a tree.

  
  Leopard relaxing in a shade tree.

  They saw a pride of lions devouring a young hippo near Kanana camp. At Chobe Safari Lodge, they photographed orderly groups of elephants drinking at the riverside.

  
  Lions feeding on a young hippo in the Okawango Delta, Botswana

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'Let's Go!' Off the Coast of New Caledonia

A Passage Through the Coral Sea

• It was a rainy and cool Saturday in January when I made my way to the back of the storage closet that held our nautical charts from 1981, rolled up and hidden away for over two decades. There were charts that Patty and I had used in our previous voyage to the South Pacific and there were charts that had been acquired that still held the allure of an island not yet visited.
• After two Southern Hemisphere winters in the South Pacific and two summers sitting out the cyclone season in New Zealand, it was time to once again head west. As we scattered our old charts across the floor, I saw the unused charts of the French territory of New Caledonia, an island to the northwest of New Zealand we had missed on our previous voyage. Then, we spied the charts of the east coast of Australia, where we had quickly transited while from Papua New Guinea back to New Zealand in late 1982. We recalled sailing south past the Whitsunday Island group under a full moon and wistfully thinking about what we were missing. We had vowed then to return one day. And so, the sailing plan emerged. We would sail from New Zealand to New Caledonia, then across the Coral Sea to Queensland, Australia.
• Let's Go! sailed out of Auckland Harbor for the 975 mile journey to Noumea, New Caledonia on June 6 under sunny skies. Our weather guru had promised an ideal voyage, but, three days out, she warned of an extremely deep low forming off of Sydney, Australia that would travel across the Tasman Sea and impact our location. She urged us to seek shelter. Aware that there was only Norfolk Island and it offered only marginal anchorages, we sailed due north to put distance between us and the low. This proved wise and by the time we crossed the low’s frontal boundary, we were only 90 miles from our destination, Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia.

Yellow-Billed Booby Bird

• While the comfort of Noumea’s international marina was compelling, we did not wait long to commence our cruise. Patty and I, our son Josh, and friends from New Zealand explored the southern end of the main island, Grand Terre, followed by the Isle of Pines, deemed by the locals to be the "gem of New Caledonia." The Isle of Pines was indeed a gem of white sandy beaches, numerous coral islets and pretty anchorages, many of which were accessible only to shallow draft vessels such as Let’s Go!. However, being within reach of the cruising and charter fleet in Noumea, it was too crowded for my liking and as soon as our friends from New Zealand headed home, we pulled anchor and sailed overnight the 130 miles to the lagoon of Ouvea in the Loyalty Islands with its white sand as fine as flour and perfectly clear water. Another overnight sail of 100 miles brought us back to the north end of Grand Terre and anchorage on the landing place of New Caledonia’s discoverer, Capt. James Cook.
• Our sail over the top end of Grand Terre provided numerous protected and private anchorages and it was common to explore a few each day, settling into an overnight anchorage in the late afternoon. They each had their own character, some on the main island, protected by high hills and mangroves with the mountains of New Caledonia close at hand, others, small islands of volcanic rock fringed with sand covered in sea shells. We saw few local people and shared no anchorages. We had entire islands to ourselves.
• Our next objective, about 350 miles west, was the remote and uninhabited Chesterfield Islands in the middle of the Coral Sea. Strong winds guaranteed a fast passage and we arrived in brilliant sunshine anchoring behind a narrow sand spit connecting two bush clad islets, each crowded with circling and nesting seabirds. Soon, the more curious were hovering at deck level within a few feet of us, inspecting the new arrivals. Going ashore as quickly as possible, Patty gathered seashells while Josh and I focused on taking photos of this once in a lifetime landfall. Alas, an updated weather forecast predicting yet another frontal system followed by strong southerly winds saw us sailing out of the Chesterfields for Australia only 24 hours after our arrival.

The High Seas

• The 500 mile sail to Gladstone, Australia on the Queensland Coast was a study in weather systems as we were belted by fronts that made for squally conditions and large seas. We sailed down the Gladstone Ship Channel with a 45 knot tail wind against the outgoing tide to be welcomed by Customs and Quarantine officers to Let’s Go!’s new home. It was, in all respects, a successful cruise.

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