Bilge Pump: July 2007
1. Commodore's Comments
As usual, spring weather in the northwest was a mixed bag, but when we needed it to be nice Mother Nature came through. Memorial Day, hosted by Andrea and Terry Schock, was a big success. The children's activities and meals were very popular thanks to the efforts of Mike, Tamara and Megan Hillman along with Dave and LuAnne Armstrong. We had over 100 people for both the Saturday BBQ, put on by our big chief smoker Dick Geving, and the Sunday cook your own steak feed. P/C Dave Krows donned his elf hat and along with elfette Traci Hamblin got things started with eye openers. P/C Ron Rolstad and crew served up the traditional morning omelets. Incoming Rear, Ed and Elaine Jennerich were responsible for ticket sales. There were many fun activities and the weather was so nice Monday, I've never seen so many boats stay through get-away day.
Crystal and I attended our fourteenth and last Commodores Ball as officers at Port Orchard on June ninth. It's with a tear and a cheer for the memories and fun we've had. Unfortunately this was the same night as Kyle Bixby's Friday Night Social on Saturday. From what I've heard the food was great, the tequila smooth, and everyone had a great time. Thanks to Kyle and Traci for hosting this fun event. In Kyle's two short years he has made an impact on the club, taking over our web site, which has seen tremendous improvements. With the input from Moorage Chairman, Bruce Ramon and Richard Frisch we are now about as close to real time on the moorage lists as is possible. This information and more is accessed through the members only section of our web site, if you don't know the login or password send an email to webteam@queencity.org.
The annual Old Timers cruise aboard the Likely Lady had a huge turnout. Jim Bailey and 2nd generationer Gerald Fey manned the bar for the thirsty group. Afterwards they all were treated to one of Willie's home made dinners and surprisingly enough most stayed awake for the whole meeting. Thanks to P/C Wes Mauldin who as senior P/C (1971) took over for yours truly at the podium and finished the meeting. Wes' sense of humor has not dimmed as he regaled us with jokes and stories of past QCYC events and members. There was also a special presentation as two members were awarded the coveted Screw UP Flag. Jim Hess was caught by numerous members with the burgee upside down on his dinghy and Ed Allison, who was attending Memorial Day and left and forgot to make sure new Tarette President Misti Allison was aboard. Ed denied it was his fault because the string he tied to her broke but his pleas were ignored. A very special thanks to Margaret Krows for organizing a fund raiser to purchase items to send to my son Scott's army unit in Iraq. Also to the members who donated money and the gals who baked cookies and other goodies to send along.
Hopefully you'll have this in hand before the 4th of July celebration at our Winslow outstation. Steve and Jacquie Weiss are our chairmen and have planned a fun, although abbreviated event because of the odd Wednesday 4th. The highlight of course is the parade where the QCYC kids pass out little American flags to the onlookers. This year we will have the old Husky sideline cart that's shaped like a football helmet and been redecorated in Queen City red, white and blue, thanks to Jim Hess.
Diane and Terry Carlisle will be hosting the Labor Day Clambake at the Winslow outstation. This is a great event for adults and kids so make your plans to be there. We have initiated quite a few new members just recently so if you see and unfamiliar face make sure to welcome them and make them feel apart of the Queen City family.
We now have a break from the business side of the club until September, so we can all go out and enjoy our boats and the summer weather. I hope to see you at the Fleet Captains Summer Cruise or elsewhere on the water. Have a safe and fun season.
Bob Yates
Commodore
2. Vice Commodore's Report
To all of the wonderful members who have stepped up this year, your Club is indebted to you. You have made such a difference for your Club. I hope you had fun participating and found your involvement rewarding. If you haven’t been involved before, opportunities abound. It is a great way to meet other members and help Queen City.
Speaking of volunteers, Captain Al Reiche has volunteered to chair a new event “Closing Day of Boating Season”, Saturday September 29th (boating season is not really closing). This event is the result of a significant “brainstorming” session among many; most notably Captains Al Reiche, Jim Hess, Jess Hill, Nick Castrow and P/C David Krows at the outstation Memorial Day weekend. Meticulous planning emerged from these sober deliberations (or was that consumption of significant libations?). The details of this event are not yet firmed up, but I understand that Nick will serve as Parade Marshall. Put it on your calendar, it should be a fun event.
As you may know if you attended the June 13 general membership meetings, thanks are also in order to Captains Jess Hill, Jim Hess, Richard Frisch, Cary Gould and P/C Chemla. Because they were willing to expend what Jess reports as more than one hundred hours in putting this beauty together, we have a new and really slick portable bar to serve events on the third floor of the Clubhouse. Thanks also to Chef Willie Williamson who was instrumental in getting a great bargain on the basic bones of the bar.
Captains Kelly Stocklin and John Alving (Trustee-elect) have been working with Rear Commodore Roberts and me on a replacement for the transverse dock at Winslow. It is our hope that we can be ready to put the new dock in place sometime this fall or winter.
Thanks also to Captains Craig Ranta, Dick Geving, Tom Kuhn, Treasurer John Rogers and former Treasurer Steve Farber who’s QCYC Technical Advisory Committee is working on upgrading the computer technology at the instation.
The 520 Committee under the leadership of Chairman Gary Stone has a busy agenda this summer. As more certainty about the 520 project emerges, they will be able to better report to the members regarding the impacts, mitigation and timing of the new bridge.
Please try to make the 4th of July and Labor Day cruises to the outstation and if you can, hook-up with the Fleet Captains’ cruise in the San Juan’s and Gulf Islands.
Hopefully by the time you read this everyone who can is out cruising (incidentally, thanks to the efforts of Webmaster Bixby and Editor Mihailov you can read the Bilge Pump online weeks ahead of the printed version). Every member should take great satisfaction from the achievements of our Club. So, fly your burgee with pride, have a great summer and stay safe.
Bill McGillin
Vice Commodore
3. Rear Commodore's Report
I'd like to welcome Ed Jennerich as our Rear Commodore elect to next year's Bridge. Ed and his wife, Elaine, will bring experience and enthusiasm to the leadership of our club. We've seen his excellent work as Membership Chairman and as RBAW Vice-President. Welcome aboard!
Thanks to Mark LaFountaine's diligent efforts as our current Membership Chair, we are inducting six new members in June, including Brett Yates, Chad Morse and his wife Heidi, Mark Nance and his wife Kim, Gordon Niemi, Phillip Strnard, and Don Frissell and his wife Karin, who were brought in at the first general meeting. More will be inducted later in the month. The Membership Chairman's job can be difficult, but Mark makes it look easy. Also, I would like to thank the sponsoring members who brought in new members throughout this year.
My two other responsibilities, grounds and security, were simple for me to oversee with Past Commodore Lynn Montgomery serving as Security Chair, and Past Commodore Rich McCroskey serving as the de facto Grounds Chair. Thank you for all your efforts, and when I think about all you have given to the club in the past, I'm amazed that you still find time to help even more. Thanks. While on the subject of grounds, we now have a bike rack for members who ride their bikes to the club. It's located between the laundry room and the mail box, and is a good secure place to lock up your bike. Dennis Counts first recognized the need for a rack and got the process going.
One final comment before I conclude this article. As many of you probably know, the year spent as Rear Commodore is when you learn how the club's leadership operates, and from what I've seen, I'm really impressed. After attending monthly Board meetings, bi-monthly Planning and Finance, and Architectural Advisory Committee meetings, you realize how much effort and thought goes into ensuring that our club remains as vibrant in the future as it is today. Difficult decisions are made that affect all members and I hope we all take the time to thoughtfully look at the whole picture and support these issues when they come to the membership for a vote. Good luck and good boating!
Dale Roberts
Rear Commodore
Entertainment Night
Fishing Derby
HIGHWAY 520 Now We Need Your Help
QCYC’s has been working hard to reduce the impact of SR 520 on our club. Our mission is to remain whole during and after construction and at the same time be good stewards of Portage Bay. To that extent the Bridge and Board have endorsed the Pacific Interchange option as opposed to the option known as the Base 6 because, in our opinion, the Pacific Interchange option has the least affect on our club and our neighbors. The Club has also taken the position that the use of temporary bridges during construction of the Portage Bay Bridge will have a negative affect on our club and Portage Bay’s environment.
The new bridge will without question effect Montlake, Portage Bay, Ravenna, Laurelhurst, North Capitol Hill, Roanoke, and Boyer, to name but a few. Your Club, your churches, your schools may be adversely impacted by bad decisions.
Several members have asked how they can get involved. Although bridge construction is a long way off political decisions are being made today that can have an adverse affect on our club. Now is the time to speak up.
I ask that you go to our Club’s website where you will find a list of community club contacts. Get involved. Find out what your community club’s position is on the rebuild of SR 520 and let them know what you think.
Captain Gary Stone
QCYC SR 520 Committee Chairman
In Memoriam
Best, Richard (Dick) O.
1931 – 2007
Captain Richard "Dick” Best crossed the bar on May 4th at the age of 76. Dick was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 7, 1931 and lived there until he was four years old. His father was an Electrical Engineer with the Arkansas Power and Light Company and as Dick got older, his Dad let him sit on his workbench and watch him repair and make things. This was the beginning of Dick’s developing his electrical and mechanical talents. When he was in his teens he loved to work on cars.
In 1939, the family moved to West Seattle. Dick attended Jefferson Grade School and James Madison Jr. High where he played clarinet in the Orchestra and enjoyed several shop classes. He attended West Seattle High School graduating in 1949. He played clarinet in the Band, enjoyed auto shop and mechanical drawing. He was active in Demolay and had several jobs during high school.
Dick joined the Navy in February 1951 and served four years, two years at Keyport, Washington and two years on the USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier. He was discharged in January 1955. After returning home, he worked for the Seattle Transit System for 2 years and then Joined Pacific NW Bell where he started his long career in the telephone industry. Dick retired in 1986 after 30 years with Pacific NW Bell, US West and AT&T.
Dick & Betty were married August 20, 1955 at West Seattle Christian Church. They lived in West Seattle in a house they rented from Betty’s Aunt and Uncle. Their daughter Kari was born March 7, 1957 on her Dad’s birthday. They lived in West Seattle until November 1959 at which time they moved to their first home in Lake Hills in Bellevue. Dick enjoyed his new home where he put in a yard, finished the basement and worked to make everything nice for his family. Ken was born June 13, 1961 and soon was a busy little boy. Both children enjoyed the neighbor children.
After Dick’s retirement 1986 and Betty’s from teaching in 1988, they enjoyed their retirement years and in addition to all their boating, began new adventures in motor homing. In February 1993, they took delivery of a new 34’ Safari motor home and went on many Safari Rallies in Washington and Oregon and loved their new lifestyle. In March of 1993, they began to winter in Mesa, AZ in R.V. parks, first for one month and eventually staying longer enjoying old and new friends who wintered in Arizona.
Dick & Betty decided they needed more room so they built a condo in a 55-and-older community call Verde Groves in Mesa. They moved into the condo in March 2000 and loved the space and looked forward to entertaining family and friends. Betty remembers the great neighbors and how they enjoyed the many activities in their beautiful clubhouse
Dick’s primary hobby was working on his boat and cruising.. He purchased the family’s first boat, the “Sea Dog” in 1964, a 1929 classic Grandy, which he spent several years restoring.
Captain Best joined Queen City Yacht Club in 1967. Dick served as Chairman of the Radio Committee in 1971 and on the Moorage Committee in 1988 and worked on many of the work parties building the Winslow outstation. For all his years as a member, Dick was our unofficial “Telephone Officer”! Queen City always had up-to-date telephone service – if there was a problem with the phone, notify Dick! After retirement, Dick was a stalwart regular at the Round Table & loved visiting there with his friends at the club. The family cruised for many years in the San Juans, Canadian Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound and Princess Louisa Inlet. In the mid-seventies Dick sold the Grandy and bought a 34’ Fairliner named “Karaway” and named the dingy “Seedy”. Betty recalls that the Fairliner was quite a change. It went 21 knots and had a shower and many new comforts. The last boat Dick and Betty owned was manufactured in Canada, a 34’ Prowler built to Dick’s specifications. They took delivery of her in July 1986. They enjoyed 20 more years of cruising on the Prowler venturing many new places and enjoyed several trips to Sullivan Bay to visit Sallie & Don Filer. The Bests sold the Karaway in November 2005 as Dick’s health was declining. Betty & family are grateful to everyone who contributed many years of Queen City's hospitality to Dick and to our family.
He is survived by Betty his wife of 52 years, son, Ken Best of Bellevue and daughter, Kari Cutbirth of Louisville, CO. The Best family would like to thank all those who have offered their loving support during Dick's long illness.
Brott, Gerald
1915 – 2007
Captain Gerald Brott passed away peacefully on Feb. 6, 2007and would have been 92 on Feb 11. Gerald was born in Longmont, Colorado and lived in Seattle most of his life.
Captain Brott graduated from the University of Washington where he rowed on the lightweight crew. He was retired from Boeing in the early 80s where was an engineering manager. He loved the Northwest, and was a lifelong boater and member of Queen City. In retirement, he remained active, cruising the world with his loving wife Minabel.
Gerald joined Queen City in 1959 and was a very active participant in the club. He was in charge of the Sunday Cruises in 1960 and 1961 and was also Fleet Captain in 1961 and 1962. Gerald was Chair of Yachting Facilities, the forerunner of ship’s stores, (except that it was a hardware and boating supply store) in 1962 and 1963 and also Regatta Chairman in 1965 and 1966. He was active in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary during the 1961 to 1971 decade.
The Brott family cruised for years in the “B’s Bali Ha’I”, a 34’ Richardson powered by twin 125 hp Chryslers.
Gerry is survived by his loving wife, Minabel; children, Gerald Brott (wife Nikki), and Reed Brott (wife Linda), and grandson, David Brott.
Hurlbut, David B.
1922 – 2007
Dr. David B. Hurlbut crossed the bar at the age of 84, on May 17, 2007. He was born July 29, 1922 in Santa Barbara, California. After receiving a BA from UC Berkley in 1943, he enlisted in the army. He fought as a member of the 161st infantry, 25th Division, in the Battle of Luzon in WWII and received the Purple Heart.
After the war, David attended UW where he received his M.D. in 1951. While at the University, David met Anne Gayhart, his future wife of almost 60 years, on a blind date. Anne was David’s cousin’s roommate, also at UW. Dr. Hurlbut and Anne were blessed with two daughters, Virginia and Joy. The family lived on Mercer Island for almost 50 years. Unfortunately, Anne also died this year in March.
Dr. Hurlbut served his internship in the US Public Health Service in Chicago, and took residency training in surgery in Boston, New York and Seattle. He completed a Fellowship in surgery with Dr. Joel W. Baker at the Mason Clinic prior to entering private practice. He was a member of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Hurlbut was a partner in the Issaquah Medical Clinic and was on House Staff at Virginia Mason Hospital for 28 years, including serving as Medical Staff President in 1985 and 1986. Dr. Hurlbut was an extraordinarily dedicated physician – his colleagues said that he should get the “Grand Rounds” award for dedication and perseverance in maintaining currency by attending, even after his retirement in the late ‘80s, all available lectures and forums to update and maintain current medical knowledge.
Queen City old-timers remember David giving shots to returning WW II soldiers who had been exposed to malaria, TB, small pox, “social diseases” etc., etc. One time, due to overcrowding at the UW Hospital, Dr. Hurlbut was seen giving shots to long lines of soldiers outside the hospital on the sidewalk!
He was known for his integrity, intelligence, humor, humanity and enthusiastic interest in everything. His family, friends, patients and colleagues remember him as an outstanding good, professional, quiet, kind and capable man.
David joined Queen City in 1969. At that time until 1995, the Hurlbuts owned the “Laurel”, a 1920’s fifty foot Admiral’s Barge, which was converted to a pleasure boat in the 1920s and at one point was used as a rum runner. It was powered by a huge CAT 43 which Dr. Hurlbut called “Old Yeller”. The CAT needed a built-in “pony” starter engine which was a bit infamous around the club due to the tremendous noise it made while starting the CAT 43 which was much quieter! David owned the property next to the club that is now populated by floating homes and “Dock Zero”. He offered it to the club for very favorable terms, a fraction of its value today, when the time came for him to sell the property, but at the time, the club could not afford it. His daughter Virginia remembers cruising up to extended-family owned Clio Island, near the entrance to Jervis Inlet, every year where the family would spend at least two weeks and then three to four weeks after Dr.Hurlbut’s retirement. In 1995, Captain Hurlbut sold the “Laurel” to a farmer in Idaho who placed it next to his swimming pool and converted the boat into a playhouse for grandchildren! David then bought the “Kliokanaka”, a beautiful 36’ Grand Banks that the family cruised through last year and had planned to travel North again this summer.
Dr. Hurlbut served officially on the Grounds Committee in 1996 through 1998 and was unofficially the primary keeper and trimmer of the hedge along our entrance drive for many years. He attended the “Pride in Queen City” work party this year at age 84 and was pruning the hedge up until last year when he was so pleased to see someone else had taken on that duty.
He is survived by his daughters, Virginia Harris (David), Joy Kemppainen, and his grandson, David Conor Harris. Virginia has applied for membership in Queen City. A private family memorial is planned at Arlington National Cemetery.
Labor Day Celebration at Winslow
Come Celebrate the Dog Days of Summer
August 31 thru September 3, 2007
Friday: Arrival of the Fleet
1800 – Potluck Dinner – Bring a dish to share (no cost)
Saturday:
0800 – Eye Openers and Pancake Breakfast
1530 – Beer, Wine, Pop and hors d’oevres prepared by Dock A
1800 – Clam Bake: put on by Dick and Sylvia Timmerman featuring clams, chicken, corn on the Cob, salad, and desert
Sunday:
0800 – Eye Openers and the Famous Queen City Omelets
1530 – Beer, Wine, Pop and hors d’oevres prepared by Dock B
1800 – Steak (or chicken) Fry
Monday:
0800 – Eye Openers and Continental Breakfast
1800 – Leftovers and Pick Up Dinner
Mexican Train, Horseshoes, Bocce Ball, Bingo and more (DOGS)
Please reserve with the office or Diane Carlisle.
Cost : $40.00 before August 15 per person or $45.00 after August 15 Kids (12 and under) ½ price tickets or macaroni and cheese & corndogs $2.00
Membership Report
In an effort to recruit more new members, the QCYC Board has approved a temporary membership promotion. Extended terms are being offered to younger prospects who join between now, and September 30, 2007. Our goal is to retain 400 active members. We are currently 32 members short of the goal, at 368. So, we all need to step up our efforts in recruiting. The new "Membership Special" promotion for extended initiation payment, provides an ideal opportunity to get your children and grand-children into the Club.
We also have new advertising which will appear in both Nor'westing Magazine and Northwest Yachting Magazine highlighting the membership drive.
Please take a moment to stop by the office at the Instation, and pick up a couple of the new QCYC brochures. These are hot off the press and include all the info you need to recruit a new member. Common questions about moorage, and the cost to join are answered in the brochure insert. You will also be receiving a couple of copies in the mail shortly. This is proving to be a great tool. Plan on keeping copies aboard your boat for your summer travels. We often meet new friends, and likely Club candidates while cruising. QCYC is a terrific value, with affordable moorage and a full schedule of activities our greatest assets. Promote the fun, and tell a friend or boating aquaintance about the Club. Get them to join. They'll be glad they did!
Keep recruiting!
Mark LaFountaine
Membership
Moorage Report
As a follow-up to the previous report here in the Bilge Pump, I am pleased to announce that in the Board Meeting the 11th of June, the motion to change the category of slip lengths for fire breaks & the open moorage on dock # 1 was approved. This will mean that the 41' & 42' firebreaks & moorages will now be assigned as 44' moorages. This reclassification will allow for placement of Members previously limited to a handful of designated slips. The caveat is that the firebreaks cannot exceed the LOA of the adjacent covered slips, but the open area gained the necessary LOA for "best utilization of club property". I want to thank the Board, and particularly Scott Grimm for proposing the change as suggested by this Moorage Committee.
I have been privileged to have the opportunity to serve as your Moorage Committee Chairman. The position has permitted me to become more acquainted with the Members. I also wish to thank Commodore Bob Yates for his support as well Rear Commodore Roberts, my Co-Chairman Richard Frisch, the Committee Members; Kyle Bixby, David Nelson, Michael Fish, Joanne Martenson, Robert Svedson and Duane Schoeppach & Dan Wilshin for their efforts, including the restructuring of the sub-let process that is now part of the website. In serving at the discression of the Commodore, my abdication as Chairman has been requested at the change of watch. I hope in my term I have engaged the Membership in the issues of the Moorage Committee and the moorage process, as well as advocate the Members in the participation of a fair and orderly moorage assignment process. I look forward to the next Chairman's continuation of the protocols dictated by the Rules and practices initiated by this committee.
To quote one of the great intellectuals of the modern era, John Ruskin...
"WHAT WE THINK, OR WHAT WE KNOW, OR WHAT WE BELIEVE IS, IN THE END, OF LITTLE CONSEQUENCE. THE ONLY CONSEQUENCE IS WHAT WE DO".
Bruce Ramon
Moorage Chairman
