Men’s Club August 17th, 2025, Update

How are you doing? We hope that the Summer of 2025 has again proven that Black Point is the Jewel of the Beaches, whether you actively participate in the multiple events and activities available or just relax at our shores or on neighborhood patios enjoying the hazy, lazy days of summer! It’s not over yet!

A Huge THANK YOU!
The Black Point Men’s Club would like to THANK many of our residents and especially our members that lead events and make things happen!
Special thanks to:
Jimmy Mastria (Our Chef) – Members Welcoming Night and anything food related!
Skip Guzy, Mike Johnson – Setback Tournament, LED Solar Lighting (Woodland)
Tony Parisi – Mystic Noank Community Band. Corn Hole Tournament, Pickleball
Maura Stamm – Murder Mystery
Peter Borgue, Heather Maguire – BP Golf Tournament
Peter Baril – Nehantic Presentation, New Directory (BOG Project)
Shari Weiss, Cathy Walsh, Lil Diachenko – Bocce
Jim Schepker – Bad Dad/Mom Joke Night
Garrett Hickey – Trivia Night, Karaoke Night
John Manuck – If help is needed, he is there!
Bob Guenter, Skip Guzy, John Manuck, Mike Johnson – LED Lighting (Clubhouse)
Mike Johnson, Bob Guenter, others – Bocce Court Maintenance
Al Capozza – Money Man
and the large group of volunteers that help setup & clean up so many events!
Previous Events
Sat 16Aug25 – Music Era Trivia Night – Songs from 50’s, 60’s 70’s and 80’s – Clubhouse 7 PM
A musically talented crowd of approximately 50 showed off their expertise by naming songs and artists from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. The Baril team overtook the Beach Bums (Parulis group) in the last round with the Family Team coming in third (Koenig, Fogarty, Lil). Special thanks go to Les Steele who provides a great deal of music from the 50’s and 60’s. Singing, Dancing, Music…Oh, What a Night!
Upcoming Events
Fri 22 Aug25 – Karaoke Night – Clubhouse – 7 PM Garrett Hickey
You were warned…it’s here: KARAOKE NIGHT. Bring that voice that withers the crowd with swoons or groans. Bring family, neighbors or guests along with beverages and snacks to share with others. This is a free event so why stay home! Music for all genres and decades! You know and we know you got The Voice!
Sat 30 Aug25 – 4th Annual Cardboard Boat Race – Main Beach – 2 PM
Some think it’s all about winning but please read the following from a multi-year competitor, Mike Walsh, who has a different perspective…

👍Creative Cardboard Division👍

The Cardboard Boat Creative Division refers to teams participating in a cardboard boat race who focus on innovative and imaginative boat designs, often prioritizing aesthetics and originality over pure speed. These teams may choose a theme, like pirates or dinosaurs, and let it guide their design and construction, aiming for a visually striking and memorable boat

Key Characteristics:

•Emphasis on Design:
Teams focus on creating a visually appealing and unique boat, often incorporating a theme or story.
• Creative Materials:

While cardboard and duct tape are the primary materials, teams might use additional materials like paint (for decoration only, not waterproofing) or even unconventional items within the rules to enhance their design.
• Costumes and Team Spirit:

Creative teams often coordinate costumes and team names or chants to complement their boat’s design, further enhancing the overall presentation.

Mike Walsh

The Walsh crew of 2024 depicted the crew of the Orca from Jaws – Complete with the theme music, Costumes etc.

________

Winning this event is great in that a team has a fantastic design, with just cardboard and duct tape, and is successful in putting all the pieces together. Add the ability to paddle and one makes it to the top.

But the other perspective is that this event is all about the spirit of working together, maybe with your kids, neighbors or friends! Laughing, having fun and maybe a few beverages along the way! If you are able to finish and not swim in, there is a feeling of victory for doing it! It’s tough work but worth it!

There are two divisions and two starts:

– Middle School and Younger

– Everybody else

Awards are given for finishing at the top of the class, most creative design and the persistence award for the sailor that will not give up! The winner gets a beautiful, handmade Cardboard Trophy (same materials as the boats)!
To get a glimpse of what this race is about, see a past video on the Community Page/Men’s Club on the Black Point Beach Association Website!

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Quick view of Rules:

Two Divisions:

– Youth – Middle School (8th Grade) and below

– Everybody else

· Boats can be made of cardboard and duct tape only

· Duct tape is the only fastening material allowed

· Boat sides need to be at least 6″ high – no surfboard/paddleboard style 

· Crew must have all extremities inside vessel

· Design left to builder

· Decorations encouraged but not within 6″ of bottom – This means any paint used must be 6″above the bottom

· Crew Uniforms encouraged

· No plastic, wood, Styrofoam, fiberglass, etc… No caulking compounds, two-part adhesive mixtures glues, coatings etc.

– No electrical, gasoline, propane, benzene or other propulsion systems

· Bring your own PFD and paddle

· Crew of one or more (no limit) but no pets

We will ask all boats to register for this free event, so we can make sure all that start are accounted for at the finish! Register early by sending an email to blackpointmensclub2021@gmail.com.

Name of vessel:

Team members names:

Name of skipper and crew:
  (besides have fun and paddle fast!)
Community News
NBYC Wednesday Night Races – 6 PM – Watch From our Shoreline
Only two weeks remain to see as many as 40 sailboats racing off our beaches. Bring a friend a chair and beverage and enjoy the amazing beauty of these vessels slicing through the waves!
Christmas Buoy Tree – An event that benefits and inspires the BP community!
One of our highly respected and active members of the BP community has approached the BP Men’s Club to help sponsor an event in which the community purchases a buoy and decorates it with something pertaining to Black Point. It will be displayed during the Christmas season at BP. The Village of Niantic has started a similar program, but this would be only about BPBCA or its members.
This is early stages of planning, but we would like your input! The monies raised would benefit our community or BP programs.
Membership:
We thank those who have already joined the BP Men’s Club. We currently have more members now than last year but are just under 20 short of our goal. For only $30 you can help us bring many activities to Black Point. Remember, we have events all year! Please join us! Thank you for joining us for 2025!
Listen, a few names have been unintentionally left off of these updates as paid members. Let me know if you are one!
Returning/new members:
Harry Mazadoorian
Build Community, Have Fun, Enjoy Black Point,
Rick