Bilge Pump: October 2008

With a great sense of gratitude, I humbly take the responsibility of leading our great club, Queen City Yacht Club. Following the traditions and customs set by the ninety-three Commodores who have preceded me, I promise to serve the membership in a way that not only incorporates those traditions and customs, but also pledge to introduce initiatives that will challenge conventional wisdom and perhaps “nudge” the direction we are currently taking. Next month’s Bilge Pump will detail some of the proposals being proffered. This process will involve the formation of special committees that will be given the task of reviewing some of the Clubs By-Laws and Rules. These special committees will be given ninety days to organize, discuss and then present their findings to the Board of Trustees for review. If asked to serve on one of these committees, I hope you will agree to serve.

You probably already know that our club has a steeped tradition in which committees undertake a vital role in the operations of the club’s functions, whether for long term planning or regular events. I have recruited many of you to serve as chairpersons, and I thank you for your commitment. I also want to thank my able Bridge partners for their hard work and support. Vice Commodore Ed Jennerich and Rear Commodore George Austin bring varying ideas to the table and I trust their knowledge and understanding of our club’s purpose. Their duties also include representing Queen City Yacht Club at the Grand Fourteen Yacht Clubs Junior Officer’s Balls. By the end of October, they will have attended balls at Rainier, Tacoma, Bremerton and Everett Yacht Clubs. At these events they network with their counterparts and gain knowledge and support to help as they move through the chairs.

October offers many events and I hope you will consider attending some of them. Closing Day of Boating Season will be held on October 10 and 11th. The co-chairs include Linda Roehl, Jess Hill, Nick Castrow and Jim Hess. Their zany antics promise a good time for all. October 17th offers “Oktoberfest,” a Friday Night Social, featuring beer and traditional German fare. A new event, “Breakfast with the Bridge,” will be held at 9:30 AM on Saturday, October 18th in the Clubhouse. While enjoying a complimentary breakfast of pancakes, eggs and bacon cooked by our caterer Willie, the Bridge will host an informal session that will look into issues and concerns of our members. Everyone is encouraged to attend and your input is welcomed. Regatta Power,

our Predicted Log Racers, have two events this month. The Port Orchard Fall Round-up is being held on October 11, and our club puts on the Flag Officer’s Race on the 17th, 18th and 19th with a burger bash Sunday evening.

Commodore Dale Roberts

This is my first report as your Vice Commodore. I’d like to thank all of you for continued confidence and support. Together, we will continue to make QCYC the premier yacht club in the Northwest!

My responsibilities as Vice Commodore include docks, moorage, house, Club Manager, outstations, supervision of hired personnel, and other duties as assigned. At present, these other duties include serving on the 520 Bridge Committee, representing the Bridge on the Junior Boating Board of Trustees, and being liaison to groups investigating invasive species (nutria). In addition, I attend Board of Trustees meetings, Planning & Finance Committee meetings, and Architectural Advisory Committee meetings. Along with our Rear Commodore, we represent QCYC to the Grand 14. Also, as many of you know, I am Vice President of the Recreational Boating Association of Washington and was chosen to represent RBAW on the newly formed Washington Boating Alliance. Within the WBA, I am Chair of the Puget Sound Partnership Committee (please see article elsewhere in this Bilge Pump). Oh, I also try to go sailing when time permits ☺

I’m looking forward to my new responsibilities. There is much to be done and we face several challenges but I sincerely believe we’re up to meeting them.

Looking ahead, Richard Frisch is chairing the important moorage committee, assisted by Dan Wilshin. Most of our experienced moorage committee team have graciously agreed to continue which will ensure a smooth transition and that the moorage rules will be adhered to. We will continue to address the question of “storage boats” and ensuring all boats are properly registered and insured.

Our docks are clearly a prime asset which needs to be protected and maintained. Randy Garvie has agreed to continue as docks chair along with Art Mauldin and Dave Svendsen. These two captains and their capable team commit untold hours to the upkeep and improvement of our docks. We have several large projects including the completion of the roof project, fire plan upgrades, electrical upgrades and dock surveys which will require a great deal of effort and financial commitment. The Docks Committee can always use additional help and volunteering to assist is a great way to serve your Club.

I’m delighted that Jim Damery will be continuing as chair of the House Committee. We have a wonderful facility and Jim and his crew do a marvelous job of keeping things shipshape. It’s easy to take the Club for granted and most don’t realize the effort it takes to maintain it. So, next time you see Jim and his crew, give them a big thank you. Jess Hill will also be continuing as Club Manager. Jess does an outstanding job as manager and in keeping us well lubricated.

Our outstation at Winslow is one of the large jewels in our crown and it is regally managed by Barb & Eric Wood. We’ll be completing the transverse dock project (hopefully by the time you read this) and we’re looking into improving the lighting inside the outstation, repairs or replacement of the deck, and the possibility of some interior aesthetic upgrades. Barb and Eric do a great job and I’m thankful they will be continuing as Outstation managers.

Before leaving my position as Rear Commodore, I wanted to recap some of the highlights of what was accomplished during the past year:

PROJECTS COMPLETED

• New security computer with upgraded software which also allows for remote access so the Security chair or the Rear Commodore doesn’t have to physically come to the club in the wee hours of the night
• Keypad installed for access for Dock 3 and Clubhouse
• Upgraded security for the Bar
• Parking decals for summer were instituted
• We now have identifying information for the docks so we can be identified from the water by the fire & police departments (and anybody else for that matter)
• Dumpster enclosures were installed with lighting
• Membership has met its goal of 30 new members
• Grounds were maintained in excellent condition throughout the year. We’re still working on some landscape issues which will continue into next year.

We’ve made a lot of progress this year due to the efforts of a great many people. I’d like to particularly recognize and thank:

Dick Geving and Scott Grimm for their work on security. We have a $9 million facility and it takes a lot of work to keep our facilities and property secure.

Linda Roehl and her able assistants Joie & Denny Roehl for their hard work making our grounds look so good throughout the year.

Mark LaFountaine for his excellent work bringing in 30 new members and for his willingness to pursue new initiatives for member recruitment.

And lastly, heartfelt thanks to Past Commodore McGillin and Commodore Roberts for their guidance in teaching me the ropes.

Fair Winds,

Ed Jennerich
Vice Commodore

As the new-guy with responsibilities for Grounds, Security and Membership, plus whatever else the other bridge officers can think of, I want to thank them for the competent chairs of these committees that they have in-place including Linda Roehl, Rod Hilden and Chris Benson and their helpers.

Grounds - We have a beautiful club and the first impression for prospective members would have to be positive with all the efforts by the volunteers to keep the flowers, shrubs and paint looking so good. We have a little pre-commodore ball clean-up scheduled for September 27 from 9 to 12 AM and that will be the last until spring, so the more who can help Linda the better.

Security - I haven’t had any time with Rod Hilden yet about any of his needs for this next year so as a club member so I’ll thank last year’s chair Dick Geving for his past efforts.

Membership – Chris Benson is a fresh face on new member recruitment and will have past chair Mark LaFountaine to help, so let’s (as our Vice Commodore says) ask other boaters to join us in having fun at our outstanding facilities.

I would like to thank the people who supported my nomination to the bridge and hope to represent Queen City members in a most dignified way with the Grand 14 but I also need to thank my wife Nancy for that last little push and all the fellow club members who have pledged support for our club’s efforts.

George Austin