[Paddlewise] Plug for upcoming Gulf of Maine Sea Kayaking Symposium

As some of you may be aware, the sea kayaking symposium that had been held
annually in Maine each summer for nearly two decades is being reborn.  To
quote from their brochure:

  "Once again, there is going to be a sea kayak symposium at the Maine
   Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine.  The first sea kayak symposium in
   Castine was organized in 1983 following the first of a kind sea kayaking
   symposium on Maine's Damariscotta Estuary in 1982.

   Bob Arledge, Tom Bergh, Ken Fink, Gloria Krellman, Sandy Martin, and
   Phil Wong have created a non-profit organization with the purpose of
   reestablishing the spirit of the original sea kayak symposium in
   Castine, organized **by sea kayakers and for sea kayakers**.  This is
   for all of us in the sea kayaking community.  We believe it is important
   that we have an opportunity and a place where we can come together and
   immerse ourselves in sea kayaking.  That is what GOMSKS is all about."

The event will take place July 11-13, in Castine, Maine on Penobscot bay.
For complete details, visit http://www.kayaksymposium.org/.

[ Please note: If you think you already know everything that's planned for
  the symposium, you probably don't.  Additions to the schedule were made
  at last week's organizational meeting, so please read on. ]

In speaking recently to one of those who formed the non-profit organization
to sponsor and relaunch the symposium, I found out that they really need to
get a boast in participants for this year's event.  It's going to happen
this year, definitely, but in order to make it viable for upcoming years,
they could use another 50 or so multi-day participants, or a somewhat
larger number of single-day attendees.  So, if you're in, or can get, to
the area, and can fit it into your summer schedule, please give attending
some serious consideration.  From all that I've heard, it'll be well worth
your time.

The information posted to their web site earlier in the year was a bit
sketchy.  If you haven't checked it out in a while, give it another look.
There is MUCH more detail included now.  Also, if you got the printed
brochure for the event a while back, take a look at the website as well, as
it contains more detail still.

A couple of points about the event that were made to me that I would like
to share:

  1) This is really intended as a sea kayaker community event.  It'll be a
     much more intimate gathering, with much more opportunity for direct
     interaction and rubbing elbows, than is often the case with other
     symposia.

  2) They are making a concerted effort to expand the focus beyond strictly
     kayaking.  Since the Gulf of Maine offers such a rich environment,
     they will be providing content focused directly on the area's marine
     life.

  3) The symposium will also serve as a gathering place for the various New
     England area kayaking clubs.  A round table discussion for club
     members is in the planning stage.

  4) And last, they expect to have on-water instruction on Sunday from the
     following folks, many of whom you know or have heard of:

       Wayne Horodowich
       Doug Van Doren
       Nigel Foster
       Tom Bergh

If you have further questions, visit the website at
  http://www.kayaksymposium.org/
or send email to
  <info_at_kayaksymposium.org>

If all else fails, send me a private reply and I'll see that it gets passed
on to one of the organizers.

To cover the obligatory: I have no direct interest in this event, financial
  or otherwise.  I'm just posting this as a public service.

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