2024 Spring Rendezvous Wrap Up

After many years at the Sheraton Waterside, this year’s Rendezvous was held at the Marriott Waterside where we were able to accommodate more attendees. The Marriott staff did an amazing job taking care of our large group and everything went without a hitch so we expect to return there for our 2025 Spring Rendezvous.

In addition to route sessions covering the northern portions of the route, attendees learned about anchoring, locks, making the most of space aboard, staying fit, what a typical day on the Loop looks like, and so much more!

New for this event was a line handling workshop with hands-on training down at the docks. It was a hit and members have expressed interest in having more hands-on classes in the future.

Each spring, we honor the Harbor Host(s) who went above and beyond to assist Loopers the past calendar year. This year, we presented the True North Harbor Host of the Year Award to Lynda & Eric Baumer. Not only can you regularly see them running through town, gathering items/information from local businesses to give to Loopers coming through, but they assisted a Looper couple with mailing some items left behind on the boat when the crew had a medical emergency.  Eric & Lynda even worked with a local marina to assist in getting the boat hauled out/shrink wrapped/stored for the winter.

This is exactly what the Harbor Host program is for: Loopers helping Loopers.  You have a friend in every port!

As some of you may know, the boating community lost Jeremy Fowler last year. Jeremy was the Harbormaster at Heritage Harbor Marina in Ottawa, Illinois. He was invaluable to Loopers, sharing his extensive knowledge of the inland river system that many of them may have never cruised before climbing aboard their Loop boat. He knew the ins and outs, and members reached out to him with questions no matter where they were on the rivers. He held briefings each evening and went out of his way to take care of Loopers and their vessels. 

In honor of all he did for the Looper community, we honored him at the Spring Rendezvous with a Bravo Zulu Award. Originating as a Naval signal meaning “well done”, the Bravo Zulu Award is presented for outstanding contributions made by an individual, and Jeremy did that for Loopers year after year. The award was presented to his family along with a digital scrapbook filled with photos and memories from our members. He will be missed.

The Rendezvous is more than just education for members ~ it’s also about building community. When you hear a Looper say their favorite part about the Loop was the people they met along the way, Jeremy, Lynda, and Eric are the perfect examples: those that have helped make a member's Loop the best it could be. Whether you laughed with them during docktails, guided them through unfamiliar waters, or helped make a medical emergency away from home a little less stressful…this is what being a Looper is all about.

Keep an eye on our event calendar for future events and plan to join us!