Robert Boudreau, AWSO Conductor and Founder, Tells of His Adventures with US Coast Guard

Dad and Mom got their Captain and First Mate Licenses to pilot the Floating Arts Center. Dad was piloting the boat up the Mississippi River. The Coast Guard had tried to stop dad from piloting the vessel on Lake Michigan. They said it was a passenger vessel, and therefore not properly licensed, as people came on board at times to tour the vessel, (not while moving.) So dad ignored them. The next day, dad was auditioning a clarinet player in WI, as he was in need of an additional clarinet player. The Coast Guard came and took dad away in hand cuffs! Dad hired her as he was being led away! Senator Heinz from PA, hired a lawyer to work to get Dad out of jail. Meanwhile, the people in that community begged the Sheriff to let Dad out of jail to conduct the concert, which had been scheduled there for months. The Sheriff led Dad up on stage in handcuffs, removed them, and sat on the side of the stage while dad conducted the concert, and expressed his views about the Coast Guard. After the concert, the Sheriff took Dad back to jail for non-compliance with the Coast Guard. They had told him not to travel to the concert site, which he ignored. Dad's lawyer advised him to tell the judge that he was sorry. So he told him he was terribly sorry. The judge reduced his possible sentence of five years in jail and a $50,000 fine down to $300 parking fine for the boat!

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[mywakeupcalls]

HI! Thank you for sharing your story! Wow! That must have been very odd. I am sure it was "most interesting!" :) I am glad that "the show went on!"

All the best to you!

Robin Boudreau Palmer

MyWakeUpCallsnet

[jjJunoB]

I remember it well! I played bassoon in the AWSO in 1985. There we were in Charlevoix, wondering if this would mean a premature end to the tour. Fortunately, we went on. Four of the most interesting months in my life, that's for sure.

[mywakeupcalls]

After the concert, the Sheriff took Dad back to jail for non-compliance with the Coast Guard. They had told him not to travel to the concert site, which he had ignored, because he had a concert to do! Dad’s lawyer advised him to tell the judge that he was sorry. So he told him he was terribly sorry. The judge reduced his possible sentence of five years in jail and a $50,000 fine down to $300 parking fine for the boat!