Welcome to the start of the planning season — as non-canoeing time of the year is called. This past summer was without a big trip for us — something we try not to have happen too often.

However, the seed has been planted for a possible HACC expedition next summer and there is also the chance of doing some more TV work which we will tell you about as it develops.

You might have noticed a small change on the bottom of the front page of Che-Mun. It concerns our Web presence which has been transferred to the Ottertooth Web site run by Brian Back, a Canadian living in Wisconsin. Brian is perhaps best known as historian for the history of Camp Keewaydin, the oldest canoe camp in North America. His Ottertooth.com site has extensive Keewaydin info along with a focus on the environmental aspects of Temagami and the Rupert River.

You will find Che-Mun posted there — always a couple of issues behind the current one you are now reading. We need the support of you subscribers — now more than ever — as they say in the movie trailers! The Ottertooth site will also allow us to expand more of what you get in Che-Mun–using more (colour) photos and some additional and expanded features.

  For many years the one of the highlights of the Christmas season was the annual HACC Dinner. It was held each December 28, the birthday of our late Patron Eric Wilton Morse, who was born in 1904.

After a few years off due to geography, kids etc, we are reinstating The Dinner this year and thanks to the advancing of inkjet technologies, we can provide great illustrations from the 20 years of HACC trips to decorate the walls. And it’s really fun to dig up shots you couldn’t–or wouldn’t–use over the past two decades.

The Chief Guide, Guide, Piscine Director Quartermaster, Research Director and Governor and their spouses will all be there. Unfortunately, our Chaplain (Director of Pastoral Operations) will be with family in Ottawa. It’s a special time to celebrate and truly appreciate the wonderful thing we have going here. After 20 years, we realize it can’t last forever — and neither will we.

                                       Michael Peake