Bilge Pump: June 2008

I would like to share some my perspective on what kind of a commitment is made by the officers and other volunteers in this Club. 

The Commodore is the ranking officer of the Club with overall responsibility for the operation of the Club.  He makes a four-year commitment.  The Commodore, Vice Commodore and Rear Commodore form a management team.  They prepare an annual budget which identifies capital projects to be executed and operating expenditures for the year.  They work in conjunction with the Treasurer and Planning and Finance Committee to accomplish this task.  This requires that they work diligently to understand in intricate detail the past budgets, the effects of cost increases on future budgets, the club’s monetary structure and cash flow and anticipated increases or decreases in funds available as well as the overall condition of all of the club’s physical assets and the appropriate level of capital improvement needed to maintain or replace said items.  The Commodore is responsible for appointing chairs for all but one of each standing committee and determining what special committees need to be created.  He must appoint more than 40 members to manage these functions.  He is responsible for publication of the Annual and the monthly Bilge Pump.  He meets with the other Bridge Officers to formulate policy and make management decisions to aid in the execution of the work that must be undertaken for the year.  He presides over twenty bi-monthly membership meetings, sits as a member of the Board and the Planning and Finance Committee and each standing and special committee.  As part of the Grand XIV yacht clubs of Puget Sound, he attends 14 formal commodore balls--that's 14 weekends gone--transportation, meals and motels are at his expense.  He attends all club social functions, which number some 20 event dates. 

The Vice Commodore is even busier.  In addition to participating in many of the duties described above, he is responsible for every aspect of the physical assets of the Club (other than grounds).  He is responsible for House, Docks, Outstations and Moorage and other duties as assigned--he is the workingest member of the Bridge.  He is on duty nearly all week and often all day.  We have been blessed with a great Vice Commodore in Dale Roberts, who together with his lovely wife Susie, have executed every task set before them.  I do not know how they have managed it all, considering their busy work schedules.  The Rear Commodore is also busy with responsibilities in Membership, Grounds and Security.  Ed and Elaine Jennerich are such an excellent team that they tackled these duties and took on more complicated and time consuming duties than those basic duties.  They also attend all club events and 7 Grand XIV Junior Officer Balls, meaning 7 weekends shot. 

The Secretary is an officer of the Bridge and takes and reports all minutes of each meeting and processes all correspondence.  Eric Wood also attends Board meetings and Planning and Finance meetings and keeps close watch on the jewel of our club--Winslow.  The Treasurer is also an officer of the Bridge and has the awesomely complex task of managing the Club's cash and debt, forecasting, accounting and explaining in endless detail the financial ups and downs of the year.  He attends all Board, Membership and Planning and Finance meetings. He is in the office attending to these duties on nearly a daily basis.  Our Club has been fortunate to have John Rogers serve as our Treasurer. 

The Chairman of the Board is the presiding officer of the Board of Trustees.  He must organize and chair each meeting of the Board and sits on both the Planning and Finance and Nominating Committees.  He must work diligently to organize the work of the Board and acts as a liaison between the various offices of the club.  We have had the services of the best board chair I have seen in any context--Rich McCroskey--and my hat is off to you--this club owes you a debt of gratitude that is beyond recounting in this column.  Board members meet at a minimum of once per month and are in endless communication between meetings as they execute their oversight of the Club’s finances.  Planning and Finance Committee Members serve for five years, giving us the benefit of a long-term financial perspective.

Committee chairs spend countless hours organizing the operation, maintenance and improvement of our club.  We are lucky to have the likes of Jim Damery, Jess Hill, Randy Garvie, Dick Geving, Scott Grimm, Eric Wood, Linda Roehl, Kathy Fish, Carol Soffel and Mark LaFountaine, Jess Hill, Lois Stetner, Joie Roehl and Irene Nelson, Jeff Ewell, Ed Allison, Dan Wilshin, Ted Elder, Bob Lindal Bob Mihailov, Bill Field, Tim and Nadeane Rutledge and Ray Meyers.  Dean Lengtis keeps our insurance on track; Ron Dawson heads Planning and Finance; Ken Klett looks after our spiritual side; Paul Grimm organizes our Fleet and Bruce Cullen heals our wounds, while Bob Hutnik helps keep club improvements on track.  Kyle Bixby has improved and maintained our website, while Craig Ranta has ramped up our technology. 

Event chairs create magic out of imagination, sweat and toil:  Scotch Night (Mark Vanderwall), Special People's (Bill Field), Lighted Boats (Butch Scherrer), Children’s Christmas party (Sandy Werner), New Year's (Rich and Chris McCroskey) Martini Madness (Tracy and Scott McPhee) Sweethearts' (Bob and Steffie Marcelynas), Children's Easter (Sherry Weiss), Opening Day (Dave the dauntless and Senior Management Margaret Krows), Memorial Day (Peter and Kathleen Anderson), Old Timers’ (Steve Swingler) Tequila night (Kyle and Traci Bixby) Fourth of July (Don and Judy Wilson) and Labor Day  (Dave and Pam Christianson), Entertainment Night (Mark and Lupe Weiss), Commodore's Ball (Larry and Dorothy Dubia) and Special Events fuel-ups (Tom Youngs).  And each had their own committee members and volunteers--some by the dozen--to help them execute their responsibilities.  The Tarettes have done splendid things for this club including the Captains’ Dinner, Friday Night Socials, Country Store, Dock Party, Sunday Opening Day Brunch.

Some of the heaviest lifting in the Club is done by Gary Stone who chairs our 520 Committee, who has given hundreds of hours and wise guidance in the protection of our interests and those of the boating communities and neighbors of Portage Bay.  His efforts have helped us gain respect and recognition in the debate over what kind of bridge will replace the aging 520 structure.

I know this only scratches the surface.  There are racers, workers, organizers, volunteers-- all giving something of themselves.  Combined, these volunteers have contributed thousands of hours to making this a magical year. 

I know that I am one in a long line of officers who have dedicated a part of their lives to the betterment of our club.  It is my privilege to serve as your leader. 

I would be remiss if I did not point out that for each item described, my wonderful wife who has been my rock and my sounding board, helping me each step of the way.  Cammy and I hope you have a great summer of boating fun.

Bill McGillin
Commodore

Two of the events that consume large quantities of volunteer hours are done for another year, and we can be proud of what we have accomplished.  The “Pride of Queen City” saw over 110 members and guests turn out to clean, paint, weed, sweep or pound nails in the clubhouse, grounds or docks.  By springtime, there are many projects that need tending, and in keeping with the tradition of members taking responsibility for the maintenance of our facilities, it seemed we all had a wonderful time voluntering.  Being responsible for house and docks, I was grateful of all that was accomplished in those areas. We should thank  Dick Geving, Jim Damery, Linda Roehl, and our docks group, Randy Garvie, Art Mauldin and Dave Svendsen for organizing the work party.

The second event was Opening Day.  Wow, Queen City Yacht Club put forth an incredible effort to entertain our members but also in hosting our fellow Grand 14 clubs. It was an all volunteer effort that served over 1200 meals! All this was made possible by our Opening Day Chair,  P/C Dave Krows and his wife Margaret.  He and his minions worked their tails off for six days starting with the preparation of the docks for all the visiting vessels, and ending on Sunday with the Tarettes’  breakfast.  Many of the event chairs and committee members were worked to their limit, and I know many were worn out by the experience.  I would like to thank each and everyone who volunteered.  You made your club proud.

June is the month many of us pay our vessel registrations.  If you are a mooring member, please submit a legible copy to Jonelle in the office.  This, along with you Certificate of Insurance must be submitted annually according to our rules.  Finally, as we move into the best time of year for boaters, I hope to see you out and about.  Have a great summer boating!

Dale Roberts
Vice Commodore

Another Opening Day is behind us.  Unfortunately, I was unable to participate due to a severe attack of sciatica.  As you know, it takes a great deal of hard work prior to and during Opening Day to make the event the grand event that it is.  I’d like to express my gratitude and appreciation to Dick Geving for coordinating the Pride of Queen City, being moorage co-chair (along with Jim Damery) for Opening Day, and putting on the BBQ dinner Friday night; to Linda Roehl for her beautiful work on the grounds; to P/C Dave Krows for chairing the Opening Day committee; and to the many, many volunteers who make this important event happen.  Even the weather cooperated for the Pride of Queen City!  The Clubhouse and Grounds look terrific.  Thank you.

Our security system continues to be a challenge.  The committee and I will be meeting shortly to review and correct the causes of the continuing hiccups to the programming (sorry for the techno-speak).

We are closing in on our membership goal but we’re not there yet.  To achieve our full membership complement, we must not only meet but exceed our budgeted target.  Now is a prime time to recruit new members as our target audience turns their attention to boating. Talk to your friends.  If you’re not moored at the Club, talk to your dock acquaintances. Remember, the number 1 reason people don’t join organizations is because no one asks them to.

Fair Winds,

Ed Jennerich
Rear Commodore