News

The 44 km paddle from Tokaanu to Lake Taupo Yacht Club will be back for its 5th year on
March 17 2012.

Entries for this amazing event will open by 1st December 2011 at www.transtaupo.co.nz
Organisers are planning for a huge number of all type of paddle craft joining together for a
great day on the Great Lake.

The event is open to Kayaks, Surf Skis, Sea Kayaks, Waka Ama, SUP’s, Ocean Kayaks and Surf
Boats.

For more information, please contact Rob McKnight at :

Rob McKnight, The Sports Central Group, PO Box 386, Taupo.
Email: rob@mcknight.co.nz Phone: 027 444 2420

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After a well deserved post da coast lay off, its time to get Tuesday night sessions started again! So from the 7th of June through until MKRC's Rubber Duckly series starts in September, meet at the Kupe sheds on Tuesday nights in time to be on the water at 6pm.

All speeds will be catered for, with the night's session taylored to whoever turns up (an Oriental Bay intervals session is particularly 'good' for a group of mixed abilities...).

You do need to be confident in your kayak though - we're paddling in the dark after all! Use your judgement as to what craft you use and whether conditions are right for you.

Harbour rules require all craft to have lights. Specifically, a steady white light 1 metre above the waterline that can be seen from all directions. Fashioning something out of a cheap bike light and a stake shoved in the back of your pfd does the trick.

It’s only a week to the AGM, so please ensure that next Tuesday after the race is in your Diary, and in the meantime don’t be shy about approaching committee members to put yourself forward for positions.

Clubrooms update
The attached letter has been sent by the committee to Wellington City Council and the WCCT, and we feel that it’s important that members are aware of the situation.

Clubrooms – changing rooms
On behalf of the trust we wish to remind paddlers that the changing rooms are a shared facility, and that left clothing may be treated as 'lost property' and given to op-shops.One day a member of the trust committee noted :· 

• There are a number of wet-weather tops/shower proof gear in the ladies shower/toilet area - could they be Kupe members'?
•  The male toilet area lights were on this afternoon when I was at the Centre - must have been early morning people as the Amokura cadets switched everything off Wednesday night.

AGM 
The Kupe Canoe Club AGM will be held at the Kupe sheds in Evans Bay on the evening of 11th October 2011. All relevant documentation will be circulated soon via the website.

The AGM will follow the Tuesday night kayak race run from the sheds, and will include some refreshments and an opportunity to mingle with other club members - approx start time 7:30pm (ish)
We strongly urge you to attend this annual meeting, to have your say in the club, and would like you to consider joining the committee to help in the running of the club over the next year.
Several members of the committee are long serving members, and as such some will be standing down this year, in particular the positions of 

Club President - role is to lead the club, set direction and strategy for each year, head the committee and liaise with key stakeholders such as WCCT, WCC and other clubs.
Club treasurer - responsible for the financial health of the club and accounts etc.
General committee - the engine room of the club, decide on what events club will run, operational decisions etc.
Secretary - Compiles minutes of committee meetings, runs meetings
Webmaster - conduit to get updates and info on the Kupe website, some computer experience required.

So if you have presidential or accounting experience, or would just like to get involved in the running of the club then any member of the committee would be more than happy to talk to you about helping out. Please make yourself known to any of the committee members ASAP if you have an interest in any of the roles.

Tuesday night racing

Kupe will be running the Tuesday night race series from 10 Jan until end of daylight savings. The webmaster will announce on the Kupe website (www.kupe.org.nz) at midday Tuesday that day’s race venue depending on wind, tide and any other relevant factors or in fact if it has been cancelled. FREE RACE ENTRY for fully paid up Kupe members and $5 for all others. An end of series BBQ will be staged at the Clubrooms and various prizes etc. will be doled out then. Prior to 10 Jan Mana Kayak Racing are running a race series - same place, same time (to be confirmed).

Paddles up

Liam Drew

Kupe Membership secretary