| How it all started... | | | | vessel safety checks, useful Looping tips and |
| America' Great Loop Cruisers' Association | | | | information about the waterways ahead provide |
| (AGLCA) was formed by Ron and Eva Stob, | | | | the foundation for these three-day events. |
| authors of the Loopers' bible "Honey, Let's Get a | | | | AGLCA members look forward to these social |
| Boat." In 1999, Ron and Eva discovered, cruised | | | | gatherings for months, making plans to be at the |
| and became enchanted with the Great Loop. | | | | right location at the right time. Loopers know how |
| After completing their journey, they established | | | | to have fun; especially popular is the Looper Crawl |
| AGLCA to share general, navigational and cruising | | | | that takes place on members' boats during the |
| information about eastern North America's | | | | Reunions. There are three Rendezvous and |
| waterways, known as the Great Loop. Their | | | | Reunions along the way, the spring one takes |
| mission from the beginning was to enhance the | | | | place in Charleston, South Carolina. In the summer, |
| overall experience of learning about exploring and | | | | members meet in the Canadian Great Lakes. The |
| safely cruising America's Great Loop. Most | | | | most popular and largest rendezvous traditionally |
| importantly, Ron and Eva spent a year living their | | | | takes place in Joe Wheeler State Park, Rogersville, |
| dream on the water and wanted to share it with | | | | Alabama. |
| others. | | | | Any time while cruising the Great Loop, AGLCA |
| Although many join the association because they | | | | members can meet up with friends using |
| own a boat and are ready to undertake this | | | | AGLCA's new Looper Locator feature supported |
| amazing journey; some members, however, don't | | | | by Google Earth. The feature is added as an |
| have a boat YET, what they do have - more | | | | additional benefit for the association's members |
| importantly - is a dream. Being part of the | | | | who cruise a total of 6,300 miles on the North |
| Loopers family helps these members keep their | | | | American waterways. The special map layers will |
| dreams alive as for many, who are determined to | | | | allow members to locate fellow Loopers all over |
| cruise the Great Loop, the planning process can | | | | the Great Loop as well as businesses that provide |
| be very lengthy and at times discouraging. Cursing | | | | services for boaters, including marinas, boat |
| the Great Loop has to be taken seriously as | | | | dealers, boat repair shops, restaurants and hotels. |
| safety is a priority. Beginning an endeavor of such | | | | While navigating the waters of the Great Loop is |
| magnitude could take years of preparation. One | | | | an experience of a lifetime, any unexpected |
| has to think of finances, finding the right boat, | | | | challenges are put to rest using the knowledge |
| buying and outfitting it, learning to pilot it, planning | | | | gained from AGLCA and the supportive Looper |
| the voyage, improving navigational and cruising | | | | community. |
| skills and much more. Ron and Eva had to learn | | | | What is AGLCA... |
| everything from scratch. They devoted months | | | | America' Great Loop Cruisers' Association is an |
| to preparation for the greatest odyssey of their | | | | organization of people who share a sense of |
| lives that was going to take them away from | | | | adventure and a curiosity about America's Great |
| home for a year. | | | | Loop. The association's primary purpose is to |
| What is the Great Loop... | | | | disseminate information and enhance the overall |
| The Great Loop is the continuous waterway that | | | | experience for those who are learning about, |
| encompasses the eastern portion of North | | | | dreaming of - as well as exploring - America's |
| America - including the Atlantic and Gulf | | | | Great Loop. AGLCA's members range from |
| Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, the | | | | experienced Loop cruisers to boaters in the midst |
| Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of | | | | of Looping; those planning on one day cruising the |
| America's heartland. It is considered one of the | | | | Great Loop or just simply dreaming about it. |
| safest long distance cruising routes in the world. | | | | Everyone is welcome at AGLCA, young or young |
| To travel all or a portion of the Great Loop or | | | | at heart, still working or retires, ready to travel |
| any of its magnificent side trips is truly an | | | | fulltime or only occasionally; whether you have a |
| adventure of a lifetime. | | | | powerboat, sailboat, trawler or no boat; whether |
| The saga for most begins in the early spring in | | | | you are doing or dreaming! The association is the |
| southeastern Florida. From the sunny state, the | | | | place where lonely find life-long friends and social |
| Loopers journey north following the Atlantic | | | | butterflies extend their social network...it is an |
| Intracoastal Waterway along the southeastern | | | | association of those who want to belong to a |
| seaboard of the United States all the way into | | | | fun-loving, adventurous group of boating |
| Chesapeake Bay, along the way discovering | | | | enthusiasts! |
| charming barrier islands along the coast of Georgia | | | | People behind AGLCA... |
| and the Carolinas, mysterious river channels and | | | | While scouting out locations for the 2007 Spring |
| estuaries, using bicycles to explore state parks | | | | Rendezvous in Charleston, SC, the Stobs enjoyed |
| and cities. From the crab rich Chesapeake, | | | | a dinner with friends, Steve and Janice Kromer. |
| Loopers head to Montreal in Canada, exploring | | | | Already for some time, the Stobs have been |
| historic towns of immense charm and cruise by | | | | looking for the right people to take over the helm |
| sights such as the Statue of Liberty on the way. | | | | of the association. By the touch of fate or |
| The St. Lawrence River carries them into the | | | | destiny, the Kromers, also avid boaters and |
| Great Lakes. The Great Lakes, although uncertain | | | | longtime AGLCA members, have been looking to |
| and treacherous, are a dreamland of vacation | | | | get involved in a new adventure somewhat |
| cottages, picturesque waterways, granite islands, | | | | related to their passion for boating. One thing led |
| farmland and woods. Boaters must be brave and | | | | to another and Steve and Janice left the dinner |
| adventures to take on the Great Lakes. Once | | | | knowing what they needed to do. Today, their |
| they reach Chicago, it is down South again via the | | | | main goal is to ensure that the association's |
| Mississippi River and Tenn-Tom Waterway, and | | | | purpose and commitment remain the same. |
| then eventually into Mobile, Alabama and the rich | | | | Both Janice and Steve have a significant amount |
| and warm Gulf of Mexico. To close the Great | | | | of boating under their belts as well as a long |
| Loop, cruisers have to go around the Southern tip | | | | history with the US Power Squadron in Charleston. |
| of Florida back to the same point where they | | | | Janice is a former Squadron Commander and |
| started. Many choose to spend warm winter | | | | Steve served six years as Educational Officer. |
| months exploring the amazing Okeechobee River | | | | Although, they are just partially Looped, they |
| and Lake, and tropical Key West before it all | | | | know more about the "blue interstate" than many |
| ends, and they close the loop in the Southeastern | | | | weathered sailors. The Kromers own a 50' Marine |
| Florida. | | | | Trader, No Sense3, and get on the water as |
| While on the journey, Loopers can choose to be | | | | much as their semi retired status allows them. |
| isolated from the daily news of catastrophes, | | | | Steve Kromer is one of the original founders of |
| wars and starving people. For many, this trip is a | | | | KFR Services and was its president from the |
| true radical sabbatical, depending only on the | | | | company's inception in 1975 until July 1, 2008. He |
| camaraderie of fellow boaters and generosity of | | | | was responsible for the design and implementation |
| people they meet along the waterways. This | | | | of the databases Tele-Tech Services produced |
| dependence is deeply bonding and lifelong | | | | prior to 1995. Presently, he serves in an advisory |
| friendships are formed on the Great Loop. The | | | | role on special projects. Outside of work, Steve |
| constant stimulation of a new destination drives | | | | enjoys teaching boating safety for the Charleston |
| cruisers to continue and complete the journey. On | | | | Power Squadron, and when time and weather |
| the rustic and beautiful Mississippi River, as they | | | | permits, loves to cruise the Intracoastal |
| are getting closer to the end of the voyage, | | | | Waterway on his trawler No Sense3. |
| many catch Tom Sawyer's wanderlust that Mark | | | | Janice is also one of the original founders of KFR |
| Twain embedded in his adventurous character. For | | | | Services and has remained active in the company |
| many, the journey never ends, there is always | | | | throughout the years. Janice's interest in and |
| another river or lake to explore, another | | | | knowledge of telecom tariffs began in 1975, when |
| friendship to be made, another lock to navigate. | | | | she was a member of the team that designed |
| Rendezvous and Reunions along the way... | | | | and implemented one of the first call accounting |
| Navigating the Great Loop, or even parts of it, | | | | applications in the telecommunications industry. |
| requires a lot of knowledge and support, and | | | | Today, she devotes the majority of her time to |
| Loopers have an opportunity to attend three | | | | employee issues and the growth of the |
| annual Rendezvous and Reunions which are held | | | | company's newer divisions. She fills her free time |
| throughout the year in destinations along the | | | | as a past Commander of the Charleston Power |
| Great Loop route. The events are designed to | | | | Squadron, serving on the Advisory Council for |
| allow mixing and mingling with old friends and new | | | | The College of Charleston's Family Enterprise |
| members, sharing stories while learning valuable | | | | Forum, cruising the Intracoastal Waterway aboard |
| cruising information for the remainder of the | | | | No Sense3 with Steve, and spending time with |
| journey. Camaraderie among Loopers and | | | | her five grandchildren. Steve & Janice have |
| knowledge of the Great Loop are strengthened | | | | two children, Stephanie Fetchen and Kimberly |
| as seminars and presentations about safety, | | | | Russo, who are today their business partners. |