December, 2008
Happy Holidays to all CYC Members. Thanks in part to the winter wonderland in Bellevue today, I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of you for supporting CYC as a club dedicated to the enjoyment of sailing. As your commodore this year, I have been fortunate to work with a very active and enthusiastic board of officers and directors. Let me tell you about them.
Your commodores have worked closely to address the needs of CYC. Starting with our vice commodore, Bruce Sherman has been our media man taking pictures and working with the editing of our Leadline for Allan Johnson to publish. Bruce has also taken the lead in matching volunteers with tasks needing attention. Rear commodore John Rahn kept a watchful eye on our budget which began with a large deficit and ended with a balanced budget for 2009. He also worked with our insurance agent Cory Anderson to make sure we have the necessary protection for our assets and our members. Junior staff commodore Eric Sanderson led the risk management team together with Bruce Sherman and Mark Bradner. Working with our insurance lawyers and supported by Mike Goldfarb this team worked to settle the claims of those injured in the accident at our Shilshole clubhouse in the spring of 2007. Eric will be leaving the board in 2009 but plans to be a member of our resurrected long range planning committee.
In addition to the commodores, the officers of the 2008 board are our treasurer Jamie Thomas, secretary Suzette Connolly, fleet captain race Lorenzo Migliorini and fleet captain cruise Rod Deyo and his wife Mary. Jamie has been the CYC treasurer for the past three years, a role which is critical for the financial health of the club. We all appreciate the work Jamie has performed and will miss her now that she has been compelled to resign from the board due to the increased responsibilities of her employment. In her place Remmert Wolters was appointed by the board as our treasurer for 2009. We are fortunate Suzette Connolly will remain on the board as secretary who writes the minutes of our meetings and has been helpful in the office with our accounts payable. Lorenzo Migliorini gave us a model for sponsorship of our races which resulted in increased participation in Wednesday racing on the Sound and a very successful North Sails sponsorship of PSSC. Rod and Mary Deyo have been working on an update of our reciprocal partnerships with yacht clubs in the Northwest and throughout the world. Microsoft responsibilities required them to end their role on the board and turn CYC cruising over to the Bill Mains, our 2009 fleet captain cruise.
CYC directors each oversee a role in our club. Steve Travis is our NOOD coordinator working closely with SYC in the planning of this regatta and then overseeing our operations in the actual regatta, which drew 221 boats and approximately 1000 sailors. Lisa Winterhalter wore two hats for CYC: she was our facilities director and our Sound large boat representative. We now have a list of repairs and improvements for our clubhouse which Lisa will oversee. Lisa Dodd is our membership director. You will see new membership cards in 2009 and Lisa will coordinate the 2009 open house drive for new members. Dan Falk worked with our junior sailors in the Laser fleet and in the summers at the Gorge. Under Dan's leadership, the Laser fleet enjoys sailing on Sundays in the winter followed by a barbecue at the clubhouse. Dan continues to compete in the National Laser Masters where he was the winner of the national apprentice masters this year. We appreciate the improvements Dan Heyl made for our whalers and committee boats this past winter before his employment responsibilities limited his involvement with the board in the spring and summer. As a director, Remmert Wolters has kept a close watch on the improvements to the Leschi moorage by the Seattle Parks Department as well as preparing to become our treasurer.
I am confident the CYC board is in very good hands for 2009. Additions to the board are Ken Johnson as incoming rear commodore, Bill Mains as fleet captain cruise, Jerry Diercks as fleet captain race and directors John Fry and Rusty Lhamon.
Your commodore's final wish is for a happy new year for you and your families.