3. Rear Commodore's Report
Since I returned from a month in Maui on December 2nd we have had Breakfast with the Bridge, the QCYC meeting, Special People’s Holiday Cruise, Lighted Boat Parade, QCYC Work Party, and the Children's Christmas Party.
The Richland Yacht Club joined us for the Friday night Chet Gibson Memorial Lighted Boat Parade. Mike Cochran hosted them on his boat, That’s Amazing, and we showed them a good time.
WOW! The Club year is just zipping by! We have a number of items that need to be addressed in the coming weeks.
GROUNDS
1) We need to cut back the ivy and brush to the top of the embankments behind the locker banks to the south end. There is ivy growing down to the drain bed and back up over the back walls of the lockers too. All of it needs to go. We need to clean up the surface of the drain fields so we can sample what's in them and maybe start treating them so that the runoff can be redirected to the lake. There is at least a small amount of oil contamination in them, maybe some toxic agricultural products as well. The contents at one sample point really stink.
2) We need to clear out the back side of Cummings Hall again, and perhaps start to regrade or dig a trench in which we can lay a new drain line for those drainage fields from behind the locker banks. The important thing is to divert the water from the hillsides from going beneath the parking lot and especially to keep it from washing the oil all over the area and down to the seawall where it threatens the bay. We need to do a 100% cleanup of the contaminated soils. This correction is the only thing that stands between us and big fines some time in the future when the retention of the lot and the seawall finally fail us.
3) We've destroyed a part of the chain fence and the hedge up at the Boyer sidewalk. We'll do the same to the north side of the driveway. The AAC Chairman has been informed and he agreed that the fix is to reinstall the removed post and one more back behind the FDC (3' clearance in all directions) and build a square recess for the FDC that can then be backed up by new hedge plants to block off the view. We could start
that job and set the fence posts as a minimum, if the contractor doesn't do that the week of December 14. I think they might. We could continue the job, though. We need to remove one more hedge plant and trim the ends up, too.
4) We need to replant the shrubs removed from the embankment and clean up the plants that got covered with soil. We will have a chance to see if other erosion control measures need to be taken, too. The trench should be covered over by December 16th. Becky Garvie, the Grounds Chairman, could use some assistance replanting the shrubs and cleaning up the area. I have contacted Osvaldo Garcia, our grounds person. He is going to start removing the ivy and brush on December 15th. We could always use bodies to help with grounds work. Contact Becky or myself if you can spend some time helping. Vice Commodore George Austin has agreed to haul away of all the old pipes behind Cummings Hall if we can get them pulled out and stacked up so they are ready to be picked up.
SECURITY
1.) We have had some challenges with the main vehicle entrance gate not operating correctly. The repair company was called and they worked on it December 14th. They were having some difficulty finding the problem. Hopefully they got it repaired.
2.) I would also ask members to be sure and help close up the club when they leave the facility. We still are having problems with doors, especially the main dining room (2nd deck) door, being left held open with a chair.
3.) We are now locking the Captains’ Lounge and members should make arrangements with the office if they want the door left open for an evening meeting.
4.) The Cummings Hall electronic lock wires were accidently cut during the trench cutting in the parking lot. This door will be inoperable until the wire break can be located and repaired.
5.) Members please notify the Security Chairman (Rod Hilden, 206-601-5989 or rodhilden@comcast.net) of any security issues, break-ins, thefts and suspicious people in or around the club facilities. This will allow the club to have a central place for us to track incidents and make certain that we have the right security tools in place to keep QCYC and its members safe.
MEMBERSHIP
Needed: new members! The Boat Show is coming up. If you can volunteer some time, call Chris Benson, Membership Chairman (206-818-7059). After the Boat Show we will host an open house on Saturday, February 20th, from 10AM to 2PM to introduce prospective members to our facility and attending club members. Plan to attend and be a part of welcoming prospective new members. If you know anybody that has a boat, ask them to become part of the Queen City Yacht Club family. Remember, the biggest reason people don't join a yacht club is because they weren’t asked! If you have any ideas or comments regarding membership please let Chris or myself know. Let's all do our part and help our club grow.
We still have some opportunities for chairing committees and working with them to accomplish a number of projects that have to be done throughout the year. If you have skills to manage a project or to work on a project, please contact any of the bridge or project chairman. We need new and old members, even those who feel that they have done their part in the past! What have you done for the club recently? Being involved is the best way to meet members, make new friends and truly be a part of the Queen City Yacht Club family. Please do your part to help us maintain QCYC as the finest yacht club on the West Coast.
