October 2013 - celebrating the life of Gaye McOnie

[webberg]

On 19th October 2011, we learnt that our team mate Gaye McOnie had unexpectedly passed away at a tragically young age.

In the words of another team mate who knew her well:

Gaye was a most amazing woman in her strength and valor. She cared deeply about people and was loved and respected by her community. She was always giving of herself and never asked anything in return. I don't think there was ever a bad thought in her body

In October 2013 we would like to remember Gaye and her achievements, especially the nearly 15 million lifetime metres and more especially the help and support she gave, without question, to others. She joined Free Spirits in 2007 and participated in the forum and challenges from that time in the true spirit in which this team was formed and which I'm very happy to report is alive and well thanks to the efforts of people like Gaye who just enjoy people being themselves.

We would like to ask 100 FS members to each row 3,861 metres on 19th October 2013. 3,861 metres being 1% of Gaye's 2011/12 season at the time of her passing. We would like to ask those 100 to post just 3,861m that day. (If you do more, save them for another day).

We can organise logistics later but this will be first come, first served.

There is a concurrent CTC challenge for the same distance. If you are going to try this, why not enter the CTC as well?

We're pretty sure that this is something that Gaye would have joined in with and embraced with her usual generosity of spirit and cheerfulness.

Please register an interest below if you would like to celebrate Gaye's life with us.

In organising this challenge and the CTC challenge for October that will run alongside it, we gratefully acknowledge the support and generosity of the Forum Flyers team who gave up their choice slot for us and Dougie and his crew at CTC. Many thanks to you all.

[webberg]

Probably a bit inappropriate to be the first response to my own new topic, but here goes.

Slots 1,2 and 3 of the 100 needed for the challenge I have reserved.

Slot 4 = webberg

[billwright]

Slot 5 = Bill Wright

[commodoreann]

In the words of another team mate who knew her well:

Gaye was a most amazing woman in her strength and valor. She cared deeply about people and was loved and respected by her community. She was always giving of herself and never asked anything in return. I don't think there was ever a bad thought in her body

I remember writing the above quote and just recently, Peter and I went to Ottawa to visit with Dave.
I would me most honored to row in slot 6 in her memory.

Ann

[hewitt]

Slot 7 = Kathryn Hewitt

Slot 8 = Jason Hewitt.

[strider77]

Slot 9 = Alan Wisniewski

[paulgould]

Slot 10 = Paul Gould

Paul G

[Stan]

slot 11, Stan

[webberg]

Ann, you are in fact slot 2.

I have not had time to PM you.

I had a brief exchange with David who is slot 1.

I wasn't sure if Mr Ann wanted to be slot 3?

[KiwiCan]

Thank you for the very kind thoughts of Gaye. I told Webberg that I will be cleared to start rowing again in September (dislocated shoulder) and my personal aim is to row the challenge every day in October.

Gaye would definitely have rowed the challenge herself.

Dave (kiwican)

[Paul Victory]

Not sure what number we're at, but please slot me in.

Paul V

[stumpy]

What a lovely idea, please count me in. 12?

[Daz]

I'm in.

[Grobi]

Please count me in, whatever the slot is right now.

[webberg]

Slots taken:

1 = Dave McOnie (Kiwican)
2= commodore Ann
3 = unallocated but perhaps Mr commodore Ann?
4 = webberg
5 = Bill Wright
6 = Kathryn Hewitt
7 = Jason Hewitt
8= Alan Wisniewski (Strider)
9 = Paul Gould
10 = Stan
11 = Paul Victory
12 = Stumpy
13 = Daz
14 = Grobi

I will unashamedly keep promoting this to the top of the forum topics and will PM/e-mail as many people as I know to get the 100 filled.

I would encourage you all to do so.

Thanks

[plummy]

Put me in!! I met Gaye at the Crash-B's. It 'would be an honour to row the 3861m in her memory.

Plummy

[webberg]

1 = Dave McOnie (Kiwican)
2= commodore Ann
3 = unallocated but perhaps Mr commodore Ann?
4 = webberg
5 = Bill Wright
6 = Kathryn Hewitt
7 = Jason Hewitt
8= Alan Wisniewski (Strider)
9 = Paul Gould
10 = Stan
11 = Paul Victory
12 = Stumpy
13 = Daz
14 = Grobi
15 = Plummy

[JLiddil]

Lurking of late. Slot me in

[Rodger]

Number 17 reporting.

[webberg]

1 = Dave McOnie (Kiwican)
2= commodore Ann
3 = unallocated but perhaps Mr commodore Ann?
4 = webberg
5 = Bill Wright
6 = Kathryn Hewitt
7 = Jason Hewitt
8= Alan Wisniewski (Strider)
9 = Paul Gould
10 = Stan
11 = Paul Victory
12 = Stumpy
13 = Daz
14 = Grobi
15 = Plummy
16 = James Liddil (currently second on the MB and very welcome)
17 = Rodger

Thanks to you all.

Let's keep promoting the event.

[JohnTee]

I'm a bit of an infrequent rower at present, but I'm happy to put my name down for what seems a touching tribute if that's OK? I shall set an alert on my phone and make sure I sit down and crank out the required on the day. This kind of thing really does make one pause and think.

[webberg]

Thanks John, I appreciate your effort.

18 and counting

[Pepe]

I will gladly take part in this.
Hazel & I met Gaye and Dave at Crash B's in 2010.

[Liefcat]

Fantastic idea and initiative, Graham, Stan and others

Can´t believe it´s already 2 years ago now - that we were following this tragic incident here on FS threads, Facebook and that special webpage that was made Hope Dave is OK

Thanks a lot for your PM, Graham Most certainly I want to participate in this remembrance somehow

It´s just that I don´t know about the logistics right now...

First challenge is that I don´t dispose of my own erg. The gym I attend here in Randers has opening hours from 7 - 15 GMT on Saturdays. Another possibility is my rowing club - don´t know right now if I can get access to one of the ergs right now - despite a certain reluctance from a number of OTW rowers - erging (classes) during the cold season has become quite popular - which is of course a good thing

Second challenge is that I might not dispose of internet connection while rowing - that I might "have to" log the meters a bit later on - but I might come up with a solution - I have some level of internet connection on my SmartPhone - and in my rowing club there´s a computer available in the erging room...

Once again - I would really like to participate in this somehow - and will certainly do the row on Oct 19 and enter the result on the ctc site - and if I have the logistics sorted out I would certainly like to take part in one of the slots (I´m not sure I understand 100% what this means) if one slot is vacant

[webberg]

1 = Dave McOnie (Kiwican)
2= commodore Ann
3 = unallocated but perhaps Mr commodore Ann?
4 = webberg
5 = Bill Wright
6 = Kathryn Hewitt
7 = Jason Hewitt
8= Alan Wisniewski (Strider)
9 = Paul Gould
10 = Stan
11 = Paul Victory
12 = Stumpy
13 = Daz
14 = Grobi
15 = Plummy
16 = James Liddil (currently second on the MB and very welcome)
17 = Rodger
18 = Pepe (Philip Price)
19 = Liefcat
20 = Gooner Neil

In terms of logistics, given our various time zones a simultaneous row is not practical.

All I'm looking for is for an entry in you log books on 19th October which appears in our MB.

The reality is that the 100 pieces will be split over 2 metreboard days probably, but that's fine.

just be careful, if you do more than 3,861, that you wait long enough to log the balance that the MB does not pick it up in the same day. The MB works by comparing totals at the end of each hour with the previously hourly total. You therefore need to wait at least 24 hours before posting the balance.

Thank you for listening.