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Activities for the Year 2008

Month Activity

Feb. 6-10 St. Louis Boat and Sportshow (Edward Jones Dome). Note 1

May 17 Classic Boat Displays

US Army Corp of Engineers “National Safe Boating Week”. Note 2

“Road Trips” to Classic Boat Shows. Note 3

March 26-30 Sunnyland Boat Festival – Traveras, FL (Sunnyland Chapter)

May 16-18 Muscatine Boat Show – Muscatine, IA (Clear Lake Chapter)

June 6-8 Cruisin Woodies Weekend at Table Rock Lake – Branson, MO (Heartland Chapter)

June 20-22 3rd Annual Grafton Harbor Classic Boat and Outboard Show

Sponsored by Mississippi Valley Chapter. Note 4

TBD “Beach Parties”, ongoing throughout summer months. Note 5

July “Blessing of the Fleet” Cruise. Note 6

Aug. 23 Chapter Picnic and River Outing. Note 7

Sept. 19-21 8th Annual Quincy Classic Boat and Outboard Show – Quincy, IL. Note 8

Oct. 25 3rd Annual “Fall Classic” River Cruise – Grafton Marina. Note 9

TBD “Work Days” – Projects to help preserve and restore member’s boats. Note 10

TBD “How To” Work Shops – Demos of preservation and restoration methods. Note 10

Our goal, through these activities, is to expand knowledge of the ACBS, increase interest in historic, antique, and classic boats and to provide resources to help preserve their history.

For further information about activities or to join us please contact one of our officers.

Notes:

1. Our Chapter participates in The St. Louis Boat & Sportshow each year at the invitation of The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) who sponsors the annual event. This year, the 54th annual show, we will expand our exhibit and extend our opportunity for promoting The ACBS through our local chapter. Our exhibits will include many antique and classic boats along with a continuous video and slide show of our recent events. We have become a very popular attraction at this venue.
   

2. The US Army Corps of Engineers, in conjunction with National Safe Boating Week offers our Chapter an opportunity to provide a small display at their annual event at Lock & Dam 26 on the Mississippi River. This gives our chapter another great opportunity to promote the ACBS and safe boating.
   

3. Road Trips are not only a lot of fun but they also serve to show our support to other chapters and to share ideas that may improve our own events each year in promoting Our Mission.
   

4. The 3rd Annual Grafton Harbor Classic Boat & Outboard Show promises to be bigger and better than ever. Click here to see highlights of last year’s show and to learn more about our premier “on water” public showing of antique and classic boats and outboard motors.
   

5. Beach Parties on the Mississippi? Why not? Where there’s water, there are usually sandy beaches and the Alton Pool is no exception. These are casual gatherings of chapter members who enjoy an outing to one of the many beaches to picnic and BBQ, to socialize, to share photos of recent events, to just lay back and relax. Any gathering of old boats attracts curious folks, thus, these parties become opportunities to promote our ACBS Chapter.
   

6. The annual “Blessing of the Fleet” cruise is a popular July event on the Alton Pool with literally hundreds of decorated boats participating in a parade past beautiful Our Lady of the Rivers, a 45 foot statue of Mary facing the Mississippi River in Portage des Sioux, MO. The participants receive a blessing by the town priest as they pass the Shrine. Awards are given for best theme, best decorated, etc. in a celebration following the parade. Our chapter group follows the classic boating theme and promotes the ACBS Mississippi Valley Chapter in the parade.
   

7. Chapter Picnic and River Outing. It’s becoming an August tradition for our chapter to gather at “Little Margaretville”, one of our member’s private river home for a fun time on the river and on their fabulous party deck.
   

8. Our chapter participates in The Quincy Classic Boat and Outboard Show at the Quincy Boat Club in (you guessed) Quincy, Illinois on the Mississippi River. Last year our chapter was well represented with classic runabouts and 3 classic cruisers. The cruisers made the 115 mile journey from the Grafton area, “locking” through 4 locks and dams and encountering a rotating railroad bridge. It was quite an adventure for these classic cruisers and something to look forward to doing again.
   

9. The Annual “Fall Classic” River Cruise is another opportunity to gather our old boats for a fun day on the water. It demonstrates that our antique and classic boats aren’t just great museum displays but can indeed be functional, fun and safe pleasure craft while preserving their history.
   

10. “Work Days” and “How To” Workshops are not only opportunities to help fellow members work on their boats they but also serve as means to learn the different aspects and techniques that are important in our hobby of preserving or restoring historic, antique and classic boats.