Hi, this is George Neyssen, Secretary-Treasurer of the Connecticut Ice Yacht Club at Bantam Lake. This purpose of this campaign is to raise funds to support a friend in need.  In early November, Joe Kolodej was doing some welding in a boat and there was an explosion, which caused serious injury to his dominant right arm and hand. In brief, his right hand and arm was extremely damaged and he will not know for quite a while if he will be able to use it again. He has had 3 surgeries and extensive skin grafts among other issues. After a week, Joe is home from the Yale/New Haven Hospital recovering. His business, Marine Fabricators, at Brewers Marina in Branford is now closed temporarily as he recuperates, as he is the sole proprietor and operator. He is a gifted metal worker specializing in quality yacht metalwork and one of the nicest persons you could ever hope to know.

He is happy to be alive but obviously is worried about the future. The boat he was working on was a 42 foot yacht and there was damage done to it as well. He says he has insurance but will now find out how good as he's expecting a law suit may follow. The police have been involved and are still investigating the accident. He said he went on-board to do some welding below deck, which was followed by an explosion, however the details are too gruesome to put in print.

Joe has been a member of the Iceboating community since the mid 1970's, as well as an avid soft water sailor and racer since I have known him.