Mary Jane Schalk: Ready For Some Time Away

Steve and Mary Jane Schalk

Via Mary Jane Schalk, Fontana, WI

Hey Ice boat racers,

I just want to thank all of you for so many years of helping me with one of the coolest things I have ever done. We have all been through so much together.

I think I started scoring ice boat regatta’s back in the 90’s. Remember way back then and I did all the tabulating with a pencil and a very long sheet of paper. There were some interesting stories and memorable situations back then! It took a while but so worth it to graduate into computer scoring.

I had so many great people to work with. First of all many of you sailors were my callers, and then I had Renate Intini, Julie Jankowski, and then Deb to work with. As you know Deb and I had some pretty good and crazy times together. We could figure out ways to entertain ourselves during a postponement, and had way more fun that we probably should have!!! Thanks Deb for all the fun times. I would also like to thank Shari Lundberg for teaching me in the beginning all about scoring and tabulating.

I stopped scoring from the ice to help take care of my mom and then we had so many cats that needed care like insulin shots twice a day, fluid under the skin, and medicine that – that kept me from coming back. But I was then able to do the tabulating from home.

I was still a helper by arranging hotels, banquets, and meetings for regattas. I drew for your starting positions from home and called them into Deb. Deb would take a picture of your finishes and call them in or send them to me. Now with me being able to post to the web page on a good day I could score the race and get it posted before the last finisher got out of his boat. That is way cool.

But I am ready for some time away. I have lots of plans for some fun activities while the regattas are on. Maybe I’ll just go down and visit some other retired ice boaters like Gary and Kenny Kessler. Now that would be fun!!! Deb asked one of the DN tabulators, Ann Foeller of the Toledo Ice Yacht Club, if she would score the ISA and NW regattas and she agreed. I wouldn’t leave without a replacement.

I am so happy to have met so many really cool and fun ice boaters. We have had lots of fun times, and made great memories. I can hardly wait for a regatta to come to Geneva Lake, as then I can hang with you all on the ice, and not be stuck at home in front of the computer.

Have fun everyone, be careful on the ice, and sail fast,
MJ
BTW I am sharing my favorite version of Steve’s iceboat song. I’d say it a pretty good one! LINK

Via Jane Pegel:

Mary Jane was a significant member of the Lake Geneva YC race committee. She also is a competitive sailor. She handled the front end of Steve’s E scow and his J-24.

She trimmed jib on my class M scow and helped me win Inland Lake YA championships and Blue Chips. She is no doubt, an exceptional woman who is happy to be “involved”.

…Jane

Mary Jane Schalk has been a crucial part of North American iceboating racing, and she’s decided to take a well-earned retirement. You may have seen her smiling face on the ice of Lake Geneva, but she was deeply involved behind the scenes in every Northwest, ISA, Renegade, and many Nite regattas for 30 years. She took care of numerous organizational details so that you ice sailors could book a room, attend a banquet, see your regatta scores, receive your trophies, and pursue your passion for iceboat racing.

MJ and I share many good memories. One of my best was driving on Geneva back to the Fontana landing towards the sunset. We were singing a silly, fun song at the top of our lungs that we had made up about the late Renegade sailor, Arlyn Lafortune, to the marching chant O-Ee-Yah! Eoh-Ah from the Wizard of Oz. (Yeah, you had to be there…) We both probably enjoyed too much red wine later that night but were always ready for the next day. I know she’ll continue to be the first person I call when I have a funny story to share. – Deb Whitehorse

Skeeter Iceboat Club Bestows Honors

Skeeter Iceboat Club Lifetime Member, Mary Jane Schalk

Via Skeeter Iceboat Club member Susie Pegel:

On November 12, at the annual fall meeting of the Skeeter Ice Boat Club, four individuals were honored for their support of the sport of iceboating: Bestowed Life Membership included Fritz Button who races a self-built B Division Skeeter; B Skeeter skipper Bob Mereness whose father was a Life Member and a founding member of the SIBC; and Lou Loenneke who began iceboating when a youngster and eventually won Skeeter and DN championships. Mary Jane Schalk was granted Honorary Membership. When help is needed, she is the first to step forward to do scoring, service the chow line. or hold the end of the tape measure.

2019 Nite Nationals Wrap Up & Photo Gallery

Nite Nationals Gold Fleet Champion, Tom Nordlie 560              Photo: Rick Myslinski

Results

Congratulations to all competitors who hung tough during a week of warm temperatures and rain leading up to the regatta. Many thanks to co- PROs Doug Kolner and Pat Heppert for setting courses, dropping starting blocks, and keeping things running efficiently. Thanks Grant Frautschi and Lars Barber for making the drive to Kegonsa every day before the regatta to check the landings and ice. Thanks to Nite officers John Hayashi (Mimi too!), Mike Peters, Maureen Bohleber, and Don Sanford for their help. Thanks to Steve and Mary Jane Schalk for staffing the off-shore scoring office from Fontana, WI. Thanks to Daniel Hearn for the use of the DN Western Region ATV, marks, and equipment. Thanks to the members of 4LIYC for their continued strong support for the sport of iceboat racing by ensuring the Nite regatta had the best course. And finally, thanks to everyone who jumped into action on Sunday to help take the trailers off the ice when the landing deteriorated. Watching the ingenuity and cooperation was truly iceboating at its finest!

Keeping ‘er movin…

Photos: Rick Myslinski

Geneva Lake Ice Cam

Geneva before the snow deluge.

Mary Jane Schalk alerts us to a live web cam set up at the Lake Geneva Yacht Club. What’s really cool about this one is that by clicking on the left of the image, a menu slides out with links to time-lapse images from previous days. Above is a screen shot from Monday, January 21, where you can see the beautiful sheet of ice now covered by snow.
LGYC Ice Cam