Brueckner-Ferguson Celebration
A Tribute to Honor Paul Ferguson and Bob Brueckner
Hosts: Jim Butler, Alton Chewning and Bobby Simpson
When?
Friday, April 26, 2024
5:00 PM ET – 8:00 PM ET Program begins at 6pm.
Where?
The Plant, Bldg. 2 “The Stage”
AKA, The Chatham Beverage District
220 Lorax Ln,
Pittsboro, NC
Why?
Dear Friends and Fellow Paddlers, welcome to a Carolina Canoe Club event to pay tribute to two extraordinary paddlers who have made an indelible mark on North Carolina’s paddling community: Bob Brueckner and Paul Ferguson. Both are legendary paddlers who have explored and preserved rivers, shared skills and stories, and inspired countless others to embrace our waterways with passion and reverence. Please join us in welcoming Paul and Bob and thanking them for all they have done.
Bob Brueckner: Bob provides humor, camaraderie, and wisdom to every riverbank. Bob brought communications skills, honed from a career in journalism, to the CCC, holding club positions for seventeen years, including four terms as President and seven as Conservation Chair. In 2020, the American Canoe Association presented Bob with the Green Paddle Award for Waterway Conservation.
Paul Ferguson: From a career at IBM and NASA, Paul turned his precise nature and unending curiosity to exploring the rivers of North and South Carolina. His paddle guides became a compass for novices and seasoned adventurers alike. A stalwart of the CCC, as President (also four years), Safety Chair and frequent trip leader, his devotion to our club has helped shape the culture of service we value so much today.
Please join Paul and Bob for an evening of celebration, storytelling, and camaraderie. Share your favorite memories, raise a paddle or a glass, and celebrate the lives of these two remarkable individuals who forever shaped our paddling community. Food and drinks are available from an assortment of vendors at the Plant. Please consult the website. Light beverages and dessert will be provided free of charge. Parking is ample. The site is large so wear comfortable shoes and a big smile. RSVP: Kindly RSVP by April 19th to ensure adequate seating and accommodations. Your presence will make this tribute truly special.
Further details on the facility:
If you haven’t been to the Plant before, take a moment to check out the website above. It’s a large site with several parking areas. The event will be held in Bldg. 2 (the large building on the right in the rear). The Plant has a casual, homey Chatham County feel, just perfect for our paddling club. Dress is casual.
This will be a family friendly event. There are play spaces for children and adults immediately around Bldg. 2. Just out back is a Gazebo area which we also have booked. Feel free to make use of it.
Paul and Bob will be very happy to see you all, however, Bob for health reasons, needs to avoid close physical contact with others. You can, however, give him a virtual hug or handshake. Bob also needs to stay outdoors so he will be holding court just outside the roll up door at Bldg. 2.
Please take time to talk with Paul and Bob. We all have benefitted from their service. We are so lucky to have these gentlemen in our club.
A Carolina Canoe Club event.
Sponsored in part by Great Outdoor Provision Company and many anonymous donors.