1. Commodore's Report

Can you believe that in 2016 our club will be 100 years old? What a fine club we have, with continually helpful members and a strong sense of mission supported by the Bridge, Board, Planning and Finance, 50 chair positions and numerous special committees. We have a long history of giving to the community, continuously striving to be good stewards of our properties, good neighbors and courteous boaters. Thank you for allowing me to be your Commodore for 2010-2011.

During my Commodore year Nancy and I will strive to be open about what is happening in our club. We will promote Queen City’s benefits, meet and embrace new members, make sure we protect and maintain our assets while enjoying them and have some fun with our fellow members.

One of the duties of the Commodore is to fill committee chairs and we have been lucky to have most positions filled by the last year’s chairs, so we continue with knowledge and experience in these efforts. Thanks to all of you who have volunteered. The pay is the same in each position, so the job and respect of fellow members is the reward.

A big “Thank You” to your newest Past Commodore, Ed and wife Elaine, for heading up the Commodore’s Ball. It will be over by the time this printed but I know I am looking forward to it as I write this article.

Your new Vice Commodore, Don and Judy Wilson, and Rear Commodore, Bob and Lois Stettner are energetic, creative and engaging, so let them be part of your club experience. We’ve been working on a few items so watch for these during the year.

I want to thank Steve and Karen Coughlin for a great Labor Day cruise at Winslow. They had it very well organized. There were goldfish races on Saturday with doggy Olympics on Sunday, big screen movies by the Rutledges with popcorn and candy on both Saturday and Sunday night. The P/C Bob Yates Clambake on Saturday turned out well. There was a terrific new menu for the other meals and pretty fair weather. Thanks again for all your support of Steve and Karen’s first big function.

And then there was Jim Damery’s (he’s won it so many times that it feels like his) Fishing Derby. Those who went to Labor Day were able to leave their boats at the outstation if they were going to participate in the Fishing Derby so I left mine and ended up going fishing with “Labor Day Steve Coughlin.” I let a couple of little fish go, Steve got skunked but others decided to keep theirs and the winner was J’Anna Post, wife of Larry Post, with a 10 ¼ lb fish. Their winning fish makes them the Derby Chair for next year with Eric and Barb Wood as assistants. I’m looking forward to this.

Okay, let’s get to more good stuff. We have a new calendar. It’s on-line, and our new Fleet Captain, Steve and Jackie Weiss, have their first cruise that includes a Halloween Party at Winslow on Oct. 29-31. There will be a homemade mac & cheese contest, costumes, pumpkin carving and whatever else that Steve can dredge up from the dark recesses of his spooky mind. Creepy or cute, let’s have fun.

I’m looking forward to this year with you.

George Austin
Commodore