Hello spring! Good bye crusty old winter socks.

Freedom Boat Club has an odd tradition where we burn our socks at the Spring Equinox. This year is no exception but I’m super excited to announce that the man who created the Burning of the Sock, Capt. Bob Turner, will be out our North Myrtle Beach ceremony this year!! He started the tradition in Annapolis, MD back in the 1980’s and has since retired to Pawely’s Island. He is already committed on the first day of Spring so we are going to do our Burning of the Socks on the last day of Winter, March 19th.

Join us at the Freedom Boat Club located at Habourgate Marina Tuesday, Mach 19th from 5 pm to 7 pm for our “Burning of the Socks” celebration.

Here’s what you can expect:
sock burning (B.Y.O.S.)
food and drinks provided by FBC
mix and mingle with members and guests
Master of the Sock Burning Ceremony, Capt. Bob Turner

Please RSVP by calling 843-732-4711 with the number of people attending.

How to beat the winter blahs plus a short history of sock burning

You haven’t been on a boat since last boating season. Tension is mounting and you have little energy within you. You are eating more to relieve stress.

One effective way to lower these blahs, according to psychologists, is to relax. But the very best way to re-energize and increase your optimism is to burn your winter socks.

How’s that?

Yes, you can both eat more and relax by burning your winter socks at the Freedom Boat Club’s “Burning of the Socks” celebration on March 19th scheduled on the last day of winter.

So what’s the “Burning of the Socks” all about?

It’s become a coastal tradition, dating back to the early 1980s, starting in Annapolis. There, Capt. Bob Turner, who managed a boatyard, got tired of the winter blahs. While working on other people’s boats all winter, his socks collected sawdust, bottom paint, caulk, fiberglass resin, and other boat yard leavings. 

In other words, his socks would stand up when he took them off at night.

One year, on the first day of Spring, he took off his socks, put them in a paint tray, sprinkled on some lighter fluid, lit them, and had a beer to celebrate.

And so the tradition began.

There are now sock burnings in boating towns across the country.

Do you enjoy attending FBC social events and meeting new people? Do you enjoy getting out to the festivals and talking to people? Do you love your Freedom Boat Club? If you answered yes to any of the questions above you could be the next Freedom Boat Club Ambassador.

• Ambassadors serve a one-year commitment, March – February
• All Ambassadors are active members in good standing
• Ambassadors have been a member for at least one year
• Ambassadors agree to participate in a video testimonial and photography shoot which FBC that may be used in marketing materials and publicity efforts
• Ambassadors are willing to write positive FBC reviews and respond to prospect inquiries about the club 
• Ambassadors will be invited to represent FBC at special events or boat shows (FBC will make advance request and Ambassador respond on availability basis)
• Ambassadors agree to attend and be officially recognized at 4 member socials per year (please contact Karen Berry or Dave Patterson in advance so we can recognize you – kberry@freedomboatclub.com or dpatterson@freedomboatclub.com))
• Ambassadors may be asked to participate in FBC marketing focus group or surveys to provide opinions on a variety of topics of interest
• Ambassadors will be provided with a monthly packet of social media materials (i.e. memes, news links/videos or content) and will be asked to use provided materials and their own to actively promote FBC via their own social media channels 

• FBC Ambassador Name Tag 
• Custom VIP polo shirt with special FBC Ambassador logo
• FBC Cap
• FBC Ambassador Business Cards
• Monthly packet of social media materials including Facebook graphics, Tweets and digital assets for sharing with your social followers
• And of course, you’ll receive LOTS of LOVE and appreciation from your Freedom Boat Club Family!

May 1st from 10am-4pm – Freedom Boating Divas Trip to Georgetown from Wacca Wache
May 5th from 11am-11pm – Relay for Life at Market Commons, we are TEAM FREEDOM
May 9th from 5-7pm – Member Social with a Tacky Tourist Contest at FBC of North Myrtle Beach
May 12th from 10am-6pm  – MayFest on Main Festival, North Myrtle Beach
May 16th from 10:30am-3pm – Freedom Boating Divas trip to Inlet View from Southport
May 17th from 5-7pm – “Docktail” Party (cocktails on the docks) at FBC of Southport
May 19th-25th is National Safe Boating Week
May 19th & 20th – Blue Crab Festival in Little River
May 22nd from 10:30am-3:30pm – Member Boat Trip to Ocean Isle Fish Co.
May 24th from 5-7pm – Safe Boating Night at Crazy Sister Marina
May 26th from 1-4pm – Open House at FBC at North Myrtle Beach
May 26th from 1-4pm – Member Social at St. James Founders Club
May 29th at 6pm – VIP Member Referral Party at Filet’s Waterfront Restaurant
May 31st from 6-8pm – Fishing Club Meeting at FBC of Southport

See below for a description of each event

S U B J E C T   T O   C H A N G E

April 2018 Events

Quick Glance of Upcoming Events

April 7th from 2-4pm – Fishing Season Kick-off Party at Filet’s in North Myrtle Beach
April 8th from 10:30am-2pm – Freedom Boating Divas Trip out of Charleston
April 14th from 1-4pm – Open House and Capt. Poo’s Swing Bridge Dedication
April 17th from 10am-4pm – Member Boat Trip to Inlet View from NMB and Southport
April 19th from 5-7pm – Member Social @ American Fish Co.
April 24th from 10:30am-4pm – Freedom Boating Divas out of Wacca Wache Marina
April 26th from 5-7pm – Member Social @ Crazy Sister Marina
April 28th – Fishing Club Fishing Trip out of North Myrtle Beach

Fishing Club Kick-off Party

The first Fishing Club meeting of the season will be held on April 7th from 2-4pm at Filet’s Restaurant (on the deck) at Harbourgate Marina.

Speakers include: Capt. Keith Logan, The U.S. Power Squadron, West Marine & Seacoast Anglers (Hook a Kid on Fishing). This will be a very informative meeting and West Marine has lots of free goodies for us!

Following the meeting we will put some appetizers out for guests to share. We encourage you to stick around for dinner and/or drinks afterwards to show our appreciate to Filet’s for letting us use their deck.

Please RSVP by calling 843-732-4711 or simply reply to this email with the number of people attending.

The fishing trip for April will be held on the 28th. For more information or to RSVP, please email Stew at fbcfishingclub@gmail.com. You can also let him know if you want to be added to the Fishing Club email list.

Freedom Boating Divas

Charleston Diva Trip
Please join the Freedom Boating Divas of Charleston on April 8th from 10:30am-2pm for a ride around the Charleston Harbor and lunch at California Dreaming. You will need to provide your own transportation to Charleston.

Freedom Boat Club will provide water, soft drinks and wine for the boat ride there and back as well as appetizers for the group to share at the restaurant.

Members and guests will be responsible for their lunch and drinks at the restaurant. Members will be billed for their share of fuel.

Guests are welcome to join us for a charge of $10 that will be collected at lunch, cash only please. The $10 charge for guests will cover their share of appetizers and fuel.

Wacca Wache Diva Trip
We will depart from the Wacca Wache Marina in Murrells Inlet at 10:00am and head to Georgetown for lunch at the Big Tuna and return around 4pm. We will practice our navigation skills using charts.

RSVP is required by calling 843-732-4711 or email me with the number of people attending. kberry@freedomboatclub.com

Capt. Poo’s Swing Bridge Dedication

You’re invited to join us for Captain Poo’s Swing Bridge Dedication Party on April 14, from 1-4pm at the Harbourgate Marina in North Myrtle Beach.

At 2pm the Little River Swing Bridge will be officially renamed the Capt. Poos’ Swing Bridge. There will be a dedication celebration along with a boat Regatta at the Harbourgate Marina.

Wanna be one of the first people to go through the bridge? We do! RSVP by calling 843-732-4711 if you’d like to ride along… or feel free to reserve a boat and go with your group. We will load up the boats around 1:15pm and go through the bridge around 2pm.

Following the dedication Freedom Boat Club will provide hot dogs and all the fixins, so stick around and have some fun, just look for the Freedom Boat Club tent.

Member Boat Trip

The first member boat trip of the year was originally scheduled for April 3rd but we have decided to move it to April 17th. We are hoping Mother Nature will warm things up a bit for us by then. This also happens to be on Karen’s birthday and she wants a boat ride for her birthday so a boat ride she shall get!

We will be departing the docks from Southport Marina at 10:30am and from the Harbourgate Marina in North Myrtle Beach at 10:00am. We will have lunch and return around 4-4:30pm.

Freedom Boat Club will provide beer, water and soft drinks for the boat ride there and back. Guests are welcome to join us for a $10 charge per person, to be collected at lunch, cash only please. This will cover their share of appetizers and fuel. Members will be billed for their share of fuel. Members and guests will be responsible for their own lunch and drinks at the restaurant.

RSVP is required by calling 843-732-4711. Space is limited and it’s on a first come, first served basis.

Two Member Socials- Two Dates

Our first Member Social for April will be held on April 19th from 5-7pm at the American Fish Company located in Southport. Freedom Boat Club will provide appetizers for the group to share. Members and guests are responsible for their drinks.

Please RSVP to DAVE by calling 910-612-0969 with the number of people attending.
Everyone Welcome!

Our second Member Social for April will be April 26th from 5-7pm at the Crazy Sister Marina located in Murrells Inlet. Freedom Boat Club will provide snacks and drinks for your enjoyment. Look for the Freedom Boat Club tent by the Wicked Tuna.

Please RSVP to KAREN by calling 843-732-4711 with the number of people attending.
Everyone Welcome!