Bilge Pump: December 2008

The month of December can be a hectic time for many of us, yet it’s also a special time of year, and sometimes we’re too busy to take time to enjoy its simple pleasures. December at Queen City Yacht Club offers many social and benevolent activities. Hopefully, you’ll find time to partake in many of them. A long standing tradition is the Tarette Captain’s Dinner, and this year it is on December 4^th. Susie and I have gone to this event every year since we joined Queen City, and have always had a splendid time. Next, on December 7^th, is the Special Peoples Cruise. Captain Bill Field is the event Chairman and in conjunction with Seafair, the event sponsor, our members make available their boats for a cruise on Lake Washington in which some of our less fortunate citizens are treated to an afternoon of Christmas cheer and get a chance to meet Santa. If you haven’t participated in this event yet, it is truly an uplifting time for all. It is also a great way for our members to give something back to the community.

On December 12^th and 13^th, Queen City Yacht Club hosts the Chet Gibson Memorial Christmas Cruise, also known as the Lighted Boat Parade. This event is another long standing tradition, dating back to the 40’s. Randy Jamerson is the event Chairman this year and he promises a good time for all. Also on the 13^th, Sandy Werner is putting on the Children’s Christmas Party, always a popular affair the little ones. Just before Christmas, on December 22^nd, our Fleet Captain, Don Wilson will be hosting an evening cruise on an Argosy vessel that will feature “Jazz with Deems Tsuatakawa.” Finally, New Year’s Eve will offer our annual gala, with dinner by our caterer, Willie Williamson, and dancing to The Tropics. P/C Dick Graddon and Donna, and Larry and Lynette Richards are the hosts.

I’d like to thank Captain Butch Scherrer for chairing the Scotch, Steak and Cigar Night last month. The Fleet Captain’s Apple Cup Cruise to Kingston Cove Yacht Club was another event enjoyed by many of our members. It’s fun to have a reason to get out on the water during an otherwise dismal time of year.

Congratulations to our Predicted Log Racers. Captain Dave Padgett was the overall winner of the Port Orchard Yacht Club Fall Roundup, Captain Bill Anderson was the winner of the QCYC Flag Officers’ Race, and P/C Dean Lentgis was the 2008 Skipper of the Year for Queen City.

Finally, I’ll end with a few odds and ends: Mike Dorgan, one of the hardest working amongst us at the club, was made an Honorary Member at the October Board of Trustees meeting. It is a well deserved accolade for a deserving person in the Queen City family. Roger Courson and Kathy Fish have been busy organizing and selling advertising for the 2008-2009 Annual, and their efforts should be recognized by all of us.

May you all have a wonderful holiday season!

I trust you all had a healthy and happy Thanksgiving. It’s hard to believe the Holiday Season is upon us. Elaine and I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We look forward to celebrating with you in the various holiday happenings around the Club.

What a busy club. Nancy and I attended our new commodore’s ball, which was really a fun event and I recommend everyone go to the next one. We attended Bremerton and Everett’s Junior Officer’s Balls, went to New Hampshire for a week (leaves, lobster and moose), attended AAC, Planning and Finance and Board meetings. After attending these meetings I realize this club has a lot of terrific people paying close attention to the current and future finances, condition of the grounds and docks while keeping the fun level high.

I spent a Saturday morning moving boats around, watching Dave Svendsen’s dock crew (Art Mauldin supervising) while they floated around in a dinghy under the docks checking the condition of pilings, piling caps, cross beams, connectors, etc. They lay on their backs while dirt and spiders cascaded down onto their faces and clothes so that a list of repairs can be compiled, thank you for this effort. This is just one example of the efforts of our members. Come be a part of the continued tradition of “many hands make small work” and attend the many functions this club sponsors. We would love to see you.

Grounds – We did such a good job on the September cleanup that we don’t have to do it again until February. Mark your calendars early so we can tune the grounds up in only a couple of hours. There are only a couple of hours of light during the day in February and you might as well be outside with your friends. Maybe we’ll get Willie to make us hot soup or chowder for lunch.

Security – New contact lists are posted on the doors of the docks. Thanks, Jonelle. I have mentioned to a few of the extended-stay members that we have a need for a fire drill and they should be part of it. We’ll be looking for a date where we can check the hoses and see how wet we can get. Please contact me about this.

New parking rules have been adopted by the board. Parking in the northwest end of the main parking lot is actually part of the city’s property and extended parking there may generate a warning/ticket.

Membership – The Boat Show, The Boat Show, we’re going to the boat show! QCYC has a spanking new booth to put our club in front of potential new members at the show. Chris Benson has a few open slots for 4 hour shifts (we buy the ticket) and would like you to contact him. There is a signup sheet available at the general meeting. There will be an open house for potential new members developed at the show on Feb. 21, 2009, so you can get a free snack also. As I write this we have a new member, John Knickerbocker, who is being inducted at tonight’s general meeting. He already was caught helping Ragnar Schousboe with the Closing Day salmon cooking. Thanks for the help.
Ask your friends to join our club. We have a lot of fun.
 
George Austin
Rear Commodore