CYC Home
January 30, 2009
Jim Miller, who served tirelessly as CYC fleet captain for five years and has been an energetic volunteer in the year since he left that office, has been named an honorary life member, the club's highest honor.
Photo by Peggy Johnson
Jim Miller is the club's newest honorary life member.
The board of directors voted unanimously at its meeting Jan. 12 to give Miller the special honor, and it was announced at the club awards party on Jan. 30. In presenting the award, Staff Commodore Eric Sanderson said, "There are few things in our club he hasn't touched.... It is difficult to overstate the contributions he has made and continues to make."
Dan Falk, sailing his Laser, was the 2008 winner of CYC's Hans Otto Giese Inspirational award.
Also at the awards party, Dan Falk, a four-year board member called an inspirational leader of the club's junior program, was named 2008 winner of the Hans Otto Giese Inspirational Trophy.
Other winners of major awards included North American and U.S. National I-14 Champion Kris Bundy, and Stuart Burnell, owner of the J/109 Tantivy. Burnell's 2008 accomplishments included class victories in Center Sound, PSSR and PSSC.
For a complete list of awards, click here.
Miller was born in Wichita, Kansas, and moved to Seattle in 1964. After earning degrees in horticulture and as a machinist, he pursued a career in cabinet making and presently works at Northwest Building Tech.
He got into sailing by restoring a Snipe, which he subsequently raced with CYC, and later became a partner in a San Juan 24. He became Fleet Captain Race in 2003 after being a member for five years.
"As anyone who is active in the operation of the club knows, fleet captain race is one of the most demanding and important roles in the club," Sanderson said at the awards party. "Without a competent and dedicated person, we simply could not live up to our motto of 'Sailing at its Best.' "
Junior Staff Commodore Joe James presented the award to Falk, a high school history teacher and Laser sailor.
"The father of Emily, Elizabeth and Michael Shalka nominated Dan with the following," James said. "'He has been a constant supporter of the juniors and specifically an inspiration to my son Michael Shalka. His role in Seattle sailing goes somewhat unnoticed since his own sailing sometimes gets sacrificed to help promising juniors along.'"
In addition to running his own successful Laser program, James said Falk has worked hard to develop the successful and competitive CYC Laser Fleet, organizing Sunday racing and barbecues in the winter.
"Every successful one-design class has a member like Dan who supports both racing and social activities," James said.