From the Commodore

We started the year with rough seas. Our annual meeting in January was  postponed and the dues increase was the first order of business. It passed. This is my third turn at the helm of the club and I look forward to working with this strong, hard working board. Collectively they have accomplished many good things and we hope to grow on that success. Jim Garrett held an all hands sailing meeting last week that was well attended and has many facets: junior sailing, summer sailing camp, women’s sailing, dinghy racing aka Sunday Series, adult keelboat lessons and cruising. Lookout, we are turning into a sailing center.

 During my last term, as Commodore, I oversaw a dues increase and received quite bit of negative feedback. The most common refrain was that the members used to do all the work and now we hire it out. This is true and thus the dues increase then and now is appropriate. An annual cost of living increase of 5% for dues should be the norm but we try to be thrifty, frugal sailors. This is your clubhouse, dock, pier, boat yard and ramp. We all have to pitch in physically and fiscally to maintain the property.

  We have 136 members. We are authorized to have 175 members. A member is one family unit regardless of whether you are the Waltons with 8 kids or single. We have room to grow and we need to attract more members. The sailing program have been a big draw and we hope to capitalize on this wind. Please spread the word that we are looking for new member applicant and that we have a lot to offer in terms of social activity, boating and access to the water.

 Financing keelboats and tennis courts. I am sensitive to the financial obligations of belonging to the club. We have maintained many boats with baling wire and bubble gum. We have used our club members to repair and build many parts o the club. We have members make anonymous donations to the club, e.g. the large, flat screen television. In 2021 a proposal was put forward for anyone interested to make a specific donation to the club to purchase another keelboat. That fundraising effort was successful and our boat is in the final stages of launch preparation. Likewise a fundraising effort was implemented to restore the tennis courts to their former glory. Thanks to the excellent work of Gary Hermanson, the forest around the courts has been thinned and the resurfacing will commence in 2022.

The pier is slated to be repaired 100 feet at a time. This work will be performed by an outside contractor as we need new pilings, stringers and walk boards. Please be patient as the work takes time but is well worth the effort. 

 It is time the interior of the club gets makeover. Perhaps painting the walls, new carpet, chairs, tables, lights? This is a big, expensive project the board will consider. We welcome your input. 

 I look forward to seeing you at the club. 

John A. Singleton, Commodore