b'Chapter TenFor so many, World War II led to sadoften final -farewells. Composer Frank Loesser wrote a plaintive ballad just right for that time: Spring will be a little late this year. Its a song that still resonates for veteran Chathamites. That war may be back-watered on video store shelves now, but residents know that, inevitably, spring will be a little late this year.Regardless, come rain or come shine, the work goes on for the Friends of Chatham Waterways board, month after month. New members learn quickly that theyre expected to get up in the rigging by tomorrows sunrise and shake out the sails. True, it wasnt always this way. In the early years, summer-only directors kept the business going from late spring till early fall; a hardy few, mostly at home across the Canal, studied current issues through the long winter. For the most part, though, FCW huddled under a taut blue boat cover.These days, its different. Issues seem to have a tenacious quality: they dont drive west to the mainland for the winter, just because Columbus Day has gone over the horizon. On this past February 10, directors convened in a snowstorm at George Olmsteds house.1 At that point, board members had seventeen action projects in tow, as well as thirteen monitoring responsibilities. Four directors (Jim Blankenship, Lew Kimball, George Olmsted, and Martha Stone) serve on five or more board committees. They cover a broad reach, from Membership and Nominating, to Harbor Management Planning, Public Access to Waterways, and Invasive Plants. Its safe to say that the women and men on the board dont forget for long that, in a way, they work for the members. The emphasis there is on work.Crewing For the MembersFrom the beginning, the people of FCW have had something in common: an affection for Chathams waterways strong enough to bring them back yearly from as far away as California and Oregon, Houston and St. Louis. They stand together in their concern for the quality of those waters. And over the years, they have generally stayed aboard ship. Perhaps their numbers are fairly modest -they represent about 5 percent of the towns population. But enough of them sign on regularly to give the institution a dependable base, enabling it to171'