1. Commodore's Comments

Work In Progress In order to be competitive, an organization needs to be a work in progress.  It cannot remain static as the world around it changes.  This fact is true of yacht clubs.  Some members of QCYC benefit from the contributions of others and put little if anything back.  While some of these members have made contributions, one cannot rest on past laurels. I suspect that everyone has worked with someone who would rather tell war stories than actually work in the present.  There is no challenge to drifting at slack water and it is easier to ride the incoming tide using up the energy that was created yesterday without creating something for tomorrow.  But tides change and what is comfortable today can be swept away and the incautious mariner can lose all.  When too many members of an organization chose the easy comfortable path, the result is not positive.  There are myriad examples of organizations that have drifted away because they failed to maintain vigor.  It takes the efforts of every member to make this club thrive.  Ask yourself:  Am I doing what I can to contribute not just to the now but to the future; or am I living
in the past?  Help us be dynamic.  Assure the future of our club.

On The Other Hand Understanding the past and paying homage to it is a very different and a very good thing.  It reminds us of those who came before and created this wonderful club.  At the March 12 meeting, we had the rare honor of having Member #1 Ehrling “Bub” Olsen and Member #2 Ray Meyers in attendance.  Both men joined in 1949.  Everyone in attendance, including two newly inducted Captains, were invited to reflect upon what 59 years of membership means.  In a nice presentation on some of the relevant history of QCYC, P/C Jeff Ewell (Club Historian) pointed out that Captains Olsen and Meyers have been members for 56% of our Club’s entire existence.  Thank you Captains Olsen and Meyers for blazing the
trail.

Thank You To Fleet Captain Paul Grimm for organizing and executing the St. Patrick’s Day Cruise to “St. Andrews Bay”.  Thanks also to Barb and Eric and all of the hard working members who ventured to Winslow to spiff-up the outstation.  P/C David Krows continues to amaze us all with his tireless work organizing our Opening Day celebration.  

Upcoming Events:

April brings us the Tacoma Yacht Club Daffodil Festival April 18-20,which is on the calendar as a Fleet Captains Cruise.  This should be a great event and everyone who can attend should go, if only to root QCYC to victory in the Saturday trivia contest.  

Don’t forget the Pride of Queen City work party at the instation April 26.  There is always a lot to do to get our instation ready for Opening Day.  Lunch and dinner are included.  If you can’t attend, a donation to the food fund is always welcome.  

Opening Day--actually Opening Week is more like it.  The Fleet arrives on Wednesday April 30 and the fun begins.  The Memorial Day Cruise is being organized by Chairs Peter and Kathleen Anderson.  I got a sneak peek at the schedule of events and it looks like a really fun time for adults and kids alike.  Further and more accurate information on these two events is available elsewhere in this edition.

I am looking forward to seeing you at our summer cruise events.  Make plans now and come have a whole bunch of fun.

Bill McGillin
Commodore