OUR HISTORY

Becoming a Chapter

An organization’s beginnings start with a desire...a need...from within a group of people who share a set of values and hold a determination to go through the process of establishing their existence. This group needs a person to spearhead an agreement and a path to follow in obtaining the necessary certifications for the organization. Twenty-five years ago, we were most fortunate to have had Gary Wilson, and a group of boating friends, who had the foresight and desire to do just so by establishing the Lake Champlain Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society.     

 

It all started with an initiative of Gary Wilson’s in sending out invitations to fellow boaters entitled “Wooden Boat Renaissance”. This invitation invited them to a dinner/meeting at the Indian Bay Marina in Willsboro, New York for Sept. 7, 1985. The topics he proposed to discuss were to plan for the future of their boating adventures and to see if there was interest in becoming a recognized chapter of the national ACBS. Gary was already a member of the national ACBS organization, through his membership with the NY Adirondack chapter, but saw a need for a separate chapter, which would include members from both sides of Lake Champlain.

Today the chapter has 120 members.  As a 501.c.7 one of our key objectives is to share not only our enthusiasm for antique and classic boats but transfer useful and fascinating information about boating history and the care and preservation of all types of boats.