Bilge Pump: May 2011
1. Commodore's Report
It’s May and by now we will have spring-cleaned Winslow and Seattle, found all the Easter Eggs and entertained half of the Grand 14 yacht clubs during Opening Day. Thank you to Eric Wood, Jerry Zuvich, Sherry Weiss, and Dick and Elin Storey for chairing all these events. I’m sure I have forgotten to thank somebody on one of the work parties or events this year but I can tell you that I see a lot of fellow members pitching in and making our club so special. Thank you to all of you.
During our Vice Commodore year at Queen City the future Commodore has the task of finding volunteers for all the committee chairs for the Commodore’s year at our club. This time of year the Vice is talking to members about these positions. Thank you to all of you who continue year after year in these positions and for those who aren’t continuing please give the Vice enough time to have the new person learn the ropes. I made mention that I would like to help Gary Stone with the parade at Winslow on the 4th of July next year and he said I had to buy a red convertible. I may have to think about that part but I enjoy all the activity, games, food, and kids having fun and so why not help out? Pick an event and claim a piece of the action.
Our Bilge Pump is full of information about what is going on in our club. We currently send it out to every member and Grand 14 Yacht Clubs. We are working towards offering this to our members by email. See Bill Field’s article. Also make sure you read the Treasurer’s report this month about payment due dates and late fees. Look for the information about the new outstation at Salt Spring Island and all the events that are coming up.
Look for all the summer events: Fleet Captain’s Cruise to Kingston (reservations needed), Memorial Day, 4th of July, Fleet Captain’s Summer Cruise (reservations may be needed) and Labor Day. Summer is so short in Seattle. Let your burgee fly and let’s go have some fun on the water.
I’m keeping this article short so you can get to the Vice Commodore’s article with important information.
Safe Boating and thank you for being a part of Queen City Yacht Club. I look forward to seeing you at all of the upcoming events.
George Austin
Commodore
2. Vice Commodore's Report
The Bridge and Board on the recommendation of the Membership Committee have drafted two bylaw changes that will have a positive effect on our club: Spousal Membership and Active Social Membership.
Spousal Membership gives the spouses equal membership and gives the club a broader base. In recent times we have had three prospective members choose not to join our club because we do not offer spousal membership. I was recently told by some of our members that if this were not enacted, they would withdraw from the club. I think this change should be approved by the membership. It allows the spouse to be a member with equal standing while retaining those active members. As we all know, our spouses very often do as much or more for the club than the member. The spousal membership would allow one vote, one boat, and one parking place. This change would allow the spouse to remain in the club in the event of the death of the other. We currently force spouses to vacate a slip upon the death of the member within 6 months, even though they participate as much as their spouse. The bylaw change would further allow them to remarry and the new spouse would be a member. This succession would only be extended until the original member resigned or passed away. This would allow a fair and proper treatment of our members. I know many feel that this would affect our moorage turnover. Our research indicates that it would not affect it. When we are losing members because we don’t have spousal membership and don’t have a waiting list of new members it only makes sense to make this change. I would encourage our members to vote for this change when it comes to a vote of the membership. Below is the proposed bylaw change:
PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENT
This amendment would amend Article III, Section 2 of the existing bylaws of the Queen City Yacht Club by replacing subsection (A) (1), granting membership to married couples.
The bylaws would read as follows:
1. Active Membership is granted to those applicants, either single or as a married couple, approved and inducted into the Club as required by Article III, Section 3. A marriage shall be defined as that defined and recognized by the State of Washington. A married couple shall share one membership and one vote, and each shall have all rights and privileges of that membership. The number of members in this category shall not exceed four hundred (400) at any time and shall be obligated to pay annual dues as specified in Article III, Section 5.
If a single member subsequently enters into a legal marriage, all privileges of membership shall be extended to the new spouse. In the event of the death of one person of a married couple, the surviving person will retain the membership and all its rights and privileges. In the event of the dissolution of a marriage, the legal settlement shall determine who retains the Club membership. If a determination cannot be reached by the settlement, the Board of Trustees, at its sole discretion, shall determine ownership of the membership.
The requirements of membership qualification under Article III, Section 1 and member application under Article III, Section 3 are waived for the spouses of existing members who joined prior to July 1, 2011. Existing couples already having separate Active memberships will have the option of retaining their separate memberships or changing to Active membership as a couple.
A second bylaw change to allow a member to become an Active Social Member has been recommended and passed by the Board and is to be brought to a vote of the membership. It would allow a member who has been an active member for ten or more years and no longer has a boat but wants to continue to be active in the club to pay one half dues and stay involved in the social aspects of our club. A copy of this change is below.
PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENT
This amendment would amend Article III, Section 2 of the existing bylaws of the Queen City Yacht Club by adding subsection (A) (4), granting social membership to Active members who have completed ten years of membership and no longer own a boat.
The bylaws would read as follows:
4. Active Social Membership may be granted upon approval by the Board of Trustees to an Active member in good standing who has completed at least ten years of Active membership and does not own a boat. Upon approval, Active Social membership shall take effect at the beginning of the fiscal year following the member’s application and approval. Active Social members may not own a boat. Active Social members shall pay one half of the current regular annual dues and shall have all privileges of Active Membership except voting, holding office, proposing and seconding proposals for membership, temporarily mooring or having permanent moorage at the Club facilities, chairing standing and special committees, utilizing reciprocal moorage, and flying the Club burgee. If an Active Social member wishes to return to Active membership, the member shall pay a new initiation fee, full dues and shall receive a new initiation date and member number.
As to the moorage turnover it would seem that the inactive boats present a greater problem to moorage turnover than spousal membership. To correct those moorage issues we have begun Non-Compliant Vessel Inspections to insure that vessels are moored within our moorage rules and maintain active vessel status. This issue will continue to be vigorously pursued. These inspections will be recorded each month to give us a chance to monitor compliance. If we occasionally list your vessel for something incorrectly, please bring it to our attention. We will note the issue so it doesn’t get listed again. Tabs are often under sunscreens or placed in areas that are hard to see even though we have two inspectors making a real effort to not miss anything. Regarding insurance and registration certificates, this information comes to us directly from Deborah in the office. If there is anything you think is incorrect, please let us know and we will resolve it together.
Below are comments from Judy Wilson regarding Spousal Membership. As she is not a member and cannot speak out as such, I am including her comments in my report.
Don Wilson
Vice Commodore
Don and I have been together for twenty years. We are one of those couples that spend much of our time together. It probably comes from our spending so much time together in our working years. We were together 24/7. We worked well together and we worked as equals towards common goals. All that we have earned and accumulated is ours, regardless of the source.
Most of our social time is spent either with our families, at Queen City, or with our families at Queen City. Don and I think of Queen City as our club. When we decided to join Queen City we made a commitment to actively participate as members. We have enjoyed ourselves whether it is chairing a committee, cooking a Friday night dinner, decorating the Opening Day boat, acting silly in the talent show or going through the chairs and attending every Grand XIV event. I always feel welcomed when I walk into the club. It is our home away from home. My help appears to always be appreciated at Queen City Yacht Club yet I am not a member. What’s up with that? What would Queen City Yacht Club be like if no spouses participated in anything?
Club members are soon going to be faced with a proposal for spousal membership: a proposal that would allow spouses to automatically become members of the club if they so choose. Well, Hallelujah! It’s about time. Queen City Yacht Club is the only club in the Grand XIV that does not have spousal membership. Actually the club is sometimes the butt of jokes and moreover used as an example of a club not to be joined because of it. We have had prospective new members turn us down because we have no spousal membership, especially younger people. We have members ready to resign because of this issue. Some of you may say fine, we don’t need them. Yet that is not true, we do need them. We need new members to keep fresh ideas coming into the club. We need new members (and especially younger members) to participate in work parties. Money is always an issue in the club, so diminishing membership is not a good thing. Do you think there is a correlation when clubs with spousal membership also have waiting lists to join their clubs? There are only so many prospective new members out there and Queen City should make the club as attractive as possible to them. It is an important issue that must be addressed and this is the time to do it. Please support the future of Queen City Yacht Club and when the issue is proposed, please vote positively for spousal membership.
Judy Wilson
3. Rear Commodore's Report
Greetings:
It’s May and the Opening Day celebration is just about ready to launch. What an exciting month. Our club volunteers under the watchful guidance of Opening Day Chairs, Dick and Elin Storey, have worked hard and have done so much to make this celebration successful. Please mark your calendars and plan to join in the celebration.
Lois and I are looking forward to attending the Tacoma Yacht Club (TYC) Daffodil Parade this year and are looking forward to all the festivities and ceremonial activities that we will be taking part in. Our special appreciation to chairs, Capt. Gary and Elaine Halverson, who led over 20 boats from Queen City to TYC to join in the celebration.
GROUNDS: Our annual pruning of the trees and shrubs was successfully completed at the Seattle Main Station all along Boyer including the west bank area in mid-March. By the time you get the May Bilge Pump, the “Pride of Queen City” cleanup, chaired by Jerry Zuvich, will have been successfully completed. I will report all the details and particulars on how it went next month.
MEMBERSHIP: Our membership in March was 473, which includes 357 active members and 116 Senior Life members. Our 2011 goal is to add 45 new memberships; we are currently at 40 % of our goal.
SECURITY: Capt. Rod Hilden confirms that there are no security issues to report either at the Winslow Outstation or the Seattle Main Station. Please note that P/C Scott Grimm serves as Rod’s backup.
PROGRESS NOTE: With a little help from our Winslow Dockmaster Eric Wood, Capt. Rod is making good progress on the installation of the new electronic locking system for the outside access doors to the showers at Winslow. Thanks, gents. We appreciate your good efforts!
REMINDER NOTE: By now each member should have received their 2011 QCYC VEHICLE PARKING PASS for Opening Day and summer parking with your current membership number. As I have noted previously, only one vehicle parking pass per membership will be issued. The parking pass will need to be displayed on the rear view mirror starting on May 5, 2011, to gain entry in to Queen City’s Main Station parking lot. Your cooperation on the club parking Rule 7.01 will be appreciated.
RECEPTION / HOSPITALITY: OPENING DAY CELEBRATION May 5-8, 2011, is one of our flagship events, and we expect many visitors and guests to visit our club during the four-day festivities. As you know, an event of this magnitude requires a great deal of coordination and cooperation by all of our members. With this in mind, the goal of the Queen City Bridge is to make it a safe, enjoyable and fun-filled celebration.
Lois and I are looking forward to the opportunity to welcome and meet other yacht club members and guests to extend Queen City hospitality and to enjoy this year’s wonderful Opening Day theme, “Treasures of the Salish Sea,” Celebration.
Bob Stettner
Rear Commodore
4th of July at Winslow
Board Report
BOARD REPORT, APRIL, 2011
While we may not know it by the weather, it is spring and time to ramp up the deferred maintenance so we can all get back on the water this season! The Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting on April 11th and dealt with some important issues.
Docks Electrical
Gary Stone reported that the final recommendations for addressing electricity issues at the marina should be completed very soon. A preliminary indication is that we will be able to do the work in phases. We hope this is the case as it will increase flexibility for financing the project over time.
520
Gary continues to work with the community group in order to limit the impact construction of the new 520 bridge will have. Many thanks to Gary for his continued hard work.
Ganges
Eric Wood has moved forward in an agreement with Salt Spring Marina for outstation moorage this coming year. Thanks go out to both Eric and Barb for the effort put into this. Their research even included counting the steps from the marina to town!
Defibrillators
While really a Bridge issue, I suggested to planning and finance and the Bridge that we consider AEDs on each dock and on both levels of the clubhouse. While this may be a $3,000 to $5,000 issue, it would certainly be worth the cost to any of us who might need to use one!
Non-Compliant Vessel Report
Moorage at the mainstation is a privilege and many are on the waitlist for that moorage. It is important, mandated actually, that our moorage be utilized by our members who are active in boating. A list of boats that are out of compliance with the moorage rules was presented to the Board. It was agreed that further action will be taken in a number of cases that were deemed serious and ongoing.
Family Membership
A new definition of Active Member was forwarded by the Board for a vote by the general membership. If passed, this would effectively change the definition of Active Member to include both parties of a married couple. The change would be effective for existing members as well as applicants.
Active Social Membership
The creation of a new class of membership, “Active Social,” was forwarded by the Board for a vote by the general membership. This class is would grant social membership status to former Active members who have completed ten years of membership and no longer own a boat. The class would offer reduced annual dues, no moorage privilege and would not count in our 400 active member limit.
On both of the bylaws issues, the Board voted unanimously that these should be moved ahead for further discussion and a vote by the general membership. Stay tuned…
Please make your opinion heard, join us at the next Board meeting on May 9th at 7pm. We are pretty sure there are still seats available!
Tom Johnson
Board Chair
Club Manager's Report
Docks Committee
I have a great deal of pride for the many members who’ve now come around to help make this a great yacht club. We really are getting more participation and a lot more critical work does get done. I see people having a great time together as well. It doesn’t get much better than having a rewarding and fun time, while simultaneously giving future, efficiency, cost savings, and more to the club which really is us all. The last work party saw 14 people hard at it and we have some newly painted and nice looking stuff as result. The real miracle, and there is proof of it, is that the last work party saw yours truly up on the scaffolding swinging a paint brush for the club! Them pigs are soar’n like eagles now, huh? J
Just a little biz here and then let’s think something else. There are committee meetings at 6:00 PM Tuesday, May 24 & June 28 (the 4th Tuesday of every month) and the next scheduled dock work parties are May 14 & June 11 (the 2nd Saturday of each month)
There may not be more than half a dozen or so people who really remember our club back to the early 60’s and 1950’s. Back before the times of flat roof covers, three full docks, and a single combined parking lot. There was a day when that lot was actually two lots, north and south, separated by shoreline that went dry at low water and allowed limited traffic for only part of the year. There was moorage right there in the parking lot to the west of dock 2, too.
The shore-side leg of dock 1 was maybe 70 feet further south than it is today. There’s still one lone symbol of where it used to come ashore. The work floats were then located along the shore near the willow tree and there were only two of them. The grounds there used to host several large cinder block pits where the salmon was barbequed and the potatoes baked. Imagine a truck load of salmon arriving, 750 to 1000 pounds. Even before that we had the annual salmon bake with member caught salmon at Port Ludlow.
Dock 3 was a long row of assorted styles of boat houses and a houseboat dock sat just a short distance south of the old dock three, which is the abandoned row of piling you see south of dock 3 today. Dock 3 only extended a hundred feet or so beyond the bend in those days and dock two didn’t even have finger piers on the south side of the dock.
To my knowledge the only remaining dock from the 1930’s, 40’s, and 50’s is the abandoned dock south of dock 3 which is actually on the Roanoke Street ROW, and the eastern part of dock 1. The pilings out there are old growth giants. There’s a little of that left at parts of Dock 2, and yes we did have covered moorage. Members installed curved pipe style frames over 2 boat wide slips and stretched canvas up and over the frames. It got so hot and so humid under those tents. It got hot and humid in Seattle politics too. I can’t imagine it, but apparently there weren’t permits for those covers and maybe the club didn’t care quite enough until they got the call to care. I won’t name him, but one of those gentlemen on the wall downstairs did a night in jail for us over those covers.
We got the flat roofs and seriously reconfigured docks in about 3 phases from 1959 to 1964. What a fabulous investment that has been and we gained so very much moorage and functionality in the marina. Today, a lot of the club focus is upon preserving the investment in those expensive docks and assuring their long life into the future. It’s all a great gift to us left us by some very generous and forward thinking people. We owe them the favor of preserving what we own as much as we owe it to the next generation who partake of our yacht club.
After the 1999 remodel, I almost broke a window several times over. I know the architect is reading this, so I won’t hesitate to say that it isn’t right that there is no door at the round table and no stairway down the hill! Okay old timers…. I urge you to correct me and add to this. Let’s get some of our history set in words.
Arthur Mauldin,
Docks Chairman
Now available for no extra charge at: docks@queencity.org
(Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be. Ed.)
Fleet Captain's Report
ST. PATRICK’S DAY CRUISE
The weather leading up to this scheduled Fleet Captain event was as usual wet and windy. It seems that weather is always the variable when it comes time for a party involving boats. For a change the St. Patrick’s Gods were smiling down on us. The initial plan was for members and their boats to arrive early to save space on UofW dock and avoid stray boaters nesting on my planned party dock. The reciprocal section in the QCYC annual listed the dock at 200’, but upon arrival there was at least 300’ of dock, which left plenty of room to accommodate the beer boat, the grilled sandwich boat, and even space for Seastorey. Everybody was very happy.
Friday afternoon and most of the evening the rains came. I don’t think anyone cared because most of the early arrivals were in front of TV’s watching the UofW basketball team win their first round game in the NCAA tournament. Saturday morning after a very restful night the sun was up and the day turned out to be glorious! The docks were busy with folks setting up tables and canopies, tapping the keg, and warming the grill. As all this was going on more boats were arriving. I lost count of boats and people, but figured there had to be 18-20 boats with 35-40 members and guests. A very nice turnout. With the first of the grilled reubens coming off the grill at around 1:00 PM and about ½ of the keg and wine consumed, the sun and warm temps made for a perfect day. By late afternoon I even noticed a few sunburned faces! Now doesn’t that beat all!
Sunday we awoke to more sunshine, but the temps didn’t hold. The wind was brisk out of the north, but the planned pot luck breakfast still took place. Many great items were served along with eye openers from the Fleet Captain. Most everyone loaded up on treats and retired to a TV to watch UofW lose their second round game. Bummer!! The fleet departed shortly after the game and the UofW dock once again was quiet.
While I can’t take full credit for this great cruise, talking with a number of participants, they were very happy with the way people could gather around and socialize without having to traverse many boats, cross swim steps, climb over aft cabins, etc., to access the activities of a St. Pat’s cruise. Also, I am happy to announce that we lost no one overboard this year! (Future Fleet Captains please take note). Special thanks to a few special people: Mitch and Lynne Garton for being the beer boat, Jess Hill and Jimmy Hess for grilling the reubens to perfection, Carol Hess for another terrific job with the raffle sales, Scott and Tracy McPhee for agreeing to be the goose poop patrol leaders, P/C David Krows for being the “Dock B_____,” and Assistant Fleet Captain Jacquie for just being her.
Thanks also to the people and companies who donated prizes: Doc’s Marina Grill, Murphy’s Diversified Services, Blanchard Auto Electric, David Kutz, Russell Fastening, Gary Halverson, Carolyn Barton, and Jacquie Weiss.
SUMMER CRUISE
Please find in this issue the itinerary for the summer cruise. The flyer will be posted around the club and on-line on our web site. Follow instructions to make reservations at designated destinations. If you have questions or need further information please call or e-mail me and I will try to help you.
Steve Weiss
Fleet Captain
206-285-5775
Ganges Outstation Update
NOTICE
New Ganges Outstation
Beginning May 1, the Club's Outstation in Ganges Harbor will be located at Salt Spring Marina (the marina to the Northeast of Ganges Marina).
Two procedures will be slightly different:
- Advance reservations will be required – phone (250) 537-5810
- Member stays will be for a maximum of three consecutive nights, with no more than six nights in a 30-day period and a maximum of nine nights per year
Other procedures will be the same:
- All boats must fly a QCYC burgee
- Members will be required to sign in
- Rafting may be required
- Garbage fees will be paid directly by Members
Among the businesses on Salt Spring Marina's property is MOBY's pub, the Rendezvous Cafe (a French bakery/coffee house), a laundromat, and auto and bike rentals. The award-winning Hastings House is next door, and, most important, a liquor store is just across the street!
Late Fee Rule Change
Your Officers and Board appreciate that with the current economy some of our members may be experiencing difficulty. Unfortunately your yacht club also has obligations to meet. Our members previously established the policy for Indebtedness in our By-Laws, Article III, Section 8, which states, “Any member whose indebtedness to the Club exceeds thirty days shall stand suspended.” Our club rules for moorage charges, 1.07, and late fees, 6.01, both state that bills are delinquent after 45 days and late fees may be applied. This has led to a growing sense of entitlement with some member that they have 45 days to pay their bills. A recent review of the October 1, 2010, billing showed that over 28% of our members’ bills were delinquent and still outstanding as of November 1, 2010. A review of the January 1, 2011, billing which is primarily for moorage, showed that on February 1, 2011, 29.7% or almost 30% of the billing was still outstanding.
As a result of this conflict between the By-Laws and Rules and a sense that there was confusion over the bill payment policy your Board of Trustees on March 14, 2011, voted to changed rules 1.07 and 6.01 to state that bills are delinquent if not paid within 30 days and late fees are applicable.
Your Treasurer is required to post delinquent accounts after thirty days outside the office. Also I have to review the delinquent accounts with the Board at each meeting. If you are experiencing difficulty in paying your account, please contact the Treasurer to discuss options and payment plans. Your Treasurer can then ask the Board for latitude with payment and late fees.
John Rogers
Club Treasurer
(This is a reprise of last month’s article, which seemed to merit retelling in the interest of keeping our members informed. Ed.)
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