b'C H A P T E R T E NThat level of finesse enabled FCW to analyze its family. Take the years of 2001 and 2003. In 01, the Friends recorded 363 memberships, or 551 individuals. Remarkably, one-third of those memberships (120) were held by people from out-of-state; five were living on the West Coast. Coming up to 2003, FCW rolls now list 371 memberships; translation: 553 individuals. Out-of-state? Still 120, of which seven now call West Coast communities home.Do those two years reflect a pattern? Has FCW reached a plateau? Its too early to tell. But board management is determined to keep reaching out to sailors, boaters and waterways lovers to join up. To George Olmsted, the goal of the six-member membership committee is simple: .to attract allpeople interested in preservation of Chathams character (in and around the waterways and our many neighborhoods). That is why our dues are cheap. We are an informational resource to the public as well as to our membership, but only members receive our WatcrWays newsletters and other specific communications. Never can there be too many members of FCW. One who certainly agrees is his membership committee chairman, Mrs. Bendas, whose efforts are bolstered by five other directors.Im sure we could get more members, says Mrs. Bendas, a race-walker and an upbeat person who exudes hope. If we had something we were working on that really affected everybody, that had to do with waterways in a very basic way, then maybe theyd jump on board. Thats why I got involved in the first place, because FCW was trying to keep our waterways clean.The Case For DuesWhen Friends of Stage Harbor Waterwayss first year of 1983 ended, its cash balance, attested Judith R. Miller, C. P. A., was $1,631, not bad for a vestigial organization. After that, annual balances hiked upward, adding backbone to the institution as they climbed.Paddle ahead to August 1992. On the 29th of that month, FCW reported a balance of $15,004.05; unquestionably, the treasury was healthy. That led to discussion at a Saturday morning board meeting. Reported minutes-taker Maureen Vokey, director Jim Davis talked about investing our money. Treasurer Richard Durkin had an answer: FCW should consider investing some of its wealth in a mutual fund offered by Scudder, yielding 6.9 percent; he advised173'