Bilge Pump: May 2012

IMPORTANT! Be aware that the Membership Special instituted at the Boat Show that allowed a $1,000 discount on the initiation will be discontinued as of May 15th. If you know anyone ready to join and they want the discount they have to have the application and money in the office or to Captain Benson no later than 6:00 PM, Monday May 15.

Beware! The lake has another 6 inches to rise so watch your dock lines to avoid damage to your boat or the docks.
By now most of you know that the Proposed By-Law change for Active Membership passed by a 75% margin. There were 136 votes cast. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if attendance at every general meeting were that high? The dollar pot would be a real prize, the bar would make more money and Willie would be very happy. If all of those folks also volunteered their time for club projects just think what we could accomplish!

Oath of membership for eligible s
pouses (prior to March 28, 2012) can be administered at a regular meeting, a special meeting, individually by a bridge officer or mailed to the potential member to be then returned to the office signed and dated. The next induction for those members will be Sunday morning at 11:00 AM at the Winslow outstation.

The new work float arrived at the end of March and by the time you read this it will be installed and functional. Look for pictures in The Bilge Pump.

Captain Ron Stevenson sent me an update on the safety ladders being installed. Before Opening Day you will see the completion of phase one of this project. This is the installation of three ladders in the "U" area, five ladders in the reciprocal and #400 slip area, one on the end of each dock, and a few more in our "patio" areas on Dock One and Two. We will also be adding the stainless steel "Up and Out" folding ladders on the end of our work floats. Captain Mitch Garton has been the lead on this project with help from Captains Ron Stevenson and Mike Cochran, whose original ladder design we modified for several purposes. We did evaluate opinions from the Docks Committee, as there were many factors and issues that had to be considered!

Phase two, which has already been budgeted, will add another 43 ladders replacing some of the existing end-of-pier ladders, and adding new ladders on the main docks at the middle of double and single slips. We just hope that no one ever needs to use them! Thanks to Captains’ Mitch, Ron and Mike plus all the other members that helped with this project.

Judy and I have just completed number ten of our Commodore Balls representing Queen City Yacht Club with the Grand XIV. This means we have only four more to go. One each in April and May and two in June. We have really enjoyed the past two and a half years being your representative at these functions.
As I write this we are in the middle of preparations for Opening Day. By the time you read this we will be at the end of Opening Day events [I hope not – Ed.]. I am sure that Captain Dale & Susie Roberts will have produced a very successful event. Thanks again Dale and Susie for taking this project on.
Our May 9th meeting will feature Captain Brian Calvert’s program on his adventures and travels over the last two and half years of cruising.
May 25 - 28 Captain Lynn and John Sipkens will be hosting the Memorial Day celebration at Winslow. This is always a great event. Don’t miss it! If you want to help with the weekend contact either Lynn or John to see what they need.

Don Wilson
Commodore

By the time you receive this, the TYC Daffodil Festival will have been a huge success and Opening Day 2012 will be well under way to happening. All we need now is for the weather to cooperate.

• The Dock #1 extension permit application continues to make good progress. We have approved a time & materials contract with Waterfront Construction for preparation of the above permit application. Waterfront Const. will be providing Chairman Gary Stone with regular reports on the progress and status of the application.  It is estimated that preparation for submission of our permit application will take approximately two months.
• Work Float #1 has arrived and is now operational and ready for use. Kudos to the Docks Committee for a fine job well done.
• Special thanks to the Docks Committee for all their help in making the necessary adjustment on the new work float location to accommodate extra width for a side tie up to the work float.

• Fire break moorage moves have almost been completed, and was it ever a challenge to find slips and figure out how to do this miracle. Many thanks to Richard Frisch and Pat Dore who worked tirelessly on this task.
• Temporary winter moorage moves have now been returned to their regular assigned moorage. Thank you to those members who agreed to the temporary moves. Your cooperation is appreciated.
• The last of the storage boats have departed from our Seattle Main Station marina which will add another slip for moorage assignment. Thanks to those members who assisted me in this task. 

We see the light…..Finally Laurean and I have moved back into our beautifully restored warm, snug, dry light filled home after nearly 4 months! We are so grateful to everyone who made us feel welcome during our displacement. Thank you!

New Membership:
WELCOME ABOARD!
At the April 11th General meeting Queen City Yacht Club inducted the following new members: Captains Larry Gill, Tom & Diane Schults, Michael Abrejera, Christian & Jeanne Dahl, Lynne Reister, Duane & Jayne Engle, Duane & Karen Parrish, Tara & Jay Giese, Steve Epstein & Charlene, and Doug & Gail Genord. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our terrific new members.

Our current active membership stands at 355 & life membership at 119. The current membership campaign has been successful thanks to the work of Chris Benson, Membership Chair, Mark Vanderwall for outstanding new member orientation program and our outstanding ability to offer viable social, cruising and mooring products to the Seattle boating community.

Grounds:
Parking reminder-Hopefully you have received your 2012 parking placard via snail mail. Please place the parking placard on your rear view mirror or driver’s side dashboard. Also enclosed is a notice defining current parking lot rules which state, “One car space per membership” is allowed. High vehicle use is expected between June 15th & September 15th and at times of scheduled club activities thereby only one vehicle per membership, including trailers, shall be parked on clubhouse property.

Bob Myers
Rear Commodore