The Arizona Yacht Club Board of Directors Election Nominating Meeting will be held March 8, 2011 at 6pm immediately prior to the March General Membership meeting.

Eligible members interested in volunteering to run for election to AYC Board of Directors positions, or that would like to nominate eligible AYC members should see their ACTIVE Fleet Captain, Cruising Captain (acting) Mike Parker or Commodore Joe Motil to participate in the Nominating Committee or to submit nominations.

The ELECTION OF OFFICERS and NOMINATING committee and process are defined by the AYC Bylaws as follows:

9.1.2 Election of Officers. The following Club Officers shall be elected annually by the Membership for one (1) year terms: Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Fleet Captain, and Cruising Captain. Each year the following Club Officers shall be elected by the Membership for two (2) year terms: Membership Director, Junior Staff Commodore (who shall become Senior Staff Commodore in the second year of his tenure).

12.1.2 NOMINATING: All members of the Nominating Committee must be Voting Members of the Club. The Fleet Captain of each active fleet shall notify the Commodore of the Fleet’s representative. The Cruising Captain shall select one (1) member from the ranks of the predominately Cruising Voting Membership and the Commodore shall select two (2) members-at-large representatives from the ranks of the non-racing Voting Members of the Club. Such selections by the Active Racing Fleets, Cruising Captain and Commodore shall not be subject to approval or challenge by any other entity or person. For the purposes of this Article, an “Active Racing Fleet” shall mean a racing fleet which qualified for a separate start and has at least four (4) Voting Members registered to race, in the last completed Fall or Spring Series of the Club’s racing calendar just prior to the Nominating Committee’s first meeting. The Chairman of the Nominating Committee shall be the Commodore of the Club who shall have no vote on the Nominating Committee. No other Officers or Board Members may be on the Nominating Committee. There shall be no requirement for the Nominating Committee to nominate any incumbent Officer or Member of the Board of Directors to any Office or Board of Director Membership. The Nominating Committee shall procure approval of each of its nominations from the person being nominated prior to conclusion of its duties for the year. The Nominating Committee may nominate more than one  (1) candidate for each position open. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Commodore shall automatically be nominated for the position of Junior Staff Commodore.

From the membership corner

Please welcome our newest members, Bob Hastings, John Healy, and Bernie Armstrong, to the club. Bob is a Tucson resident and recently took the ASA keelboat 101 class at Lake Pleasant. Bob is interested in crewing on keelboats at lake pleasant. So, if anyone needs crew, please give Bob a call. John recently moved to Phoenix from Ireland. Both he and his son Denis, who sailed in Ireland, are interested in sailing and racing and are anxious to get out on the water. John is also interested in helping the club with equipment maintenance. Several of us had the pleasure of meeting Bernie and his wife Judy at the last membership meeting. Bernie is a long-time sailor and currently sails an Enterprise, Hairy Carry. Bernie is interested in crewing, racing and helping the club with equipment maintenance.

Okay…not quite “Live” but come talk with Greg and Chrisann as they recount their trip to Tonga in stunning photos like these!

The 2011 year has been a busy year already with our Birthday Regatta and many other activities.  The March General Membership presentation will be Nicholas Hayes, an author who has recently been speaking all over the country about how sailing programs are being revitalized. I hope you can attend that session as it will be all of US that will need to help the club go forward.

The club does not go forward on its own, and relies on the continued participation of the membership.  Please step up and ask what you may do to help the club.  I know that each member will bring their strengths to the club if even for an hour a month. Clearly we need your help.

I am looking forward to the Commodores Dinner which will be coming up May 14^th at the Chart House at McCormick Ranch.  We will have a festive evening of great dining along with awards and summary presentations with introductions of the next AYC governing board.  Planning is already under way and details of the event will be made available very soon.  So don’t forget to block that date for a very nice evening and watch the website or look for e-mails coming soon about the event.

Thanks.

Joe

Joe Motil
Commodore
Arizona Yacht Club

Hello Sailors!

The January membership meeting is this Tuesday!  We have two guest speakers coming:

Tom McMahon/Arizona Game and Fish Department – Aquatic Invaders

Rick Amalfi/Aquatic Consulting – Tempe Town Lake Water Quality Management

Also, we’ll get an update on the Birthday Regatta / Leukemia Cup from Greg Jackson, the Regatta Chairman.

Remember – you don’t have to be a member to attend!  If you need to know how to get there, Click Here!

The proceedings of the AYC Annual Christmas Party – A.K.A Buccaneer Gift Exchange (no relation to the fleet, although…) were full of cheer and merriment.  Here is a little bit of what went on…

The Overall Winner of the Governor’s Cup for 2010 was awarded to Gene Muller for best overall corrected time.  Norm Anderson (PHRF Spin) and Trey Harlow (Portsmouth) were on hand to collect their individual fleet trophies.

Mike and Jo Grijalva were on hand to deliver a Burgee from ????  Mike was also the winner (AGAIN) of the Newport to Ensenada race.

The Blunder Bucket was (finally) awarded to Emory Heisler for getting his back window taken out by the mast of his Bucc, Erin Morgan, when his trailer popped off the hitch (because hd didn’t close the latch!) on his way to the fiberglass repair shop (which is an entirely different Blunder Bucket nomination).  And while there were may other nominations, including Bob Worral for his “gift” at the exchange, Emory’s tale of gross bafoonary was by far the favorite of the group.

As always, the Buccaneer Gift Exchange was great fun for all!  Lots of Bootie – some great, some, well…not so great (Trailer tire? Really Bob?)

Arrr Me hardies,

Tiz the season for that favorite of AYC gatherins, the Buccaneer Gift Exchange! This Tuesday eve bring ye bootie to the 19th Tee and prepare for a wild evening.  Ye must bring bootie to get bootie, for that be part of the code.  When you get called to the deck choose wisely, for if yer bootie be too prized, she may get pirated!  But pirated only twice says I, then the prize must lay where she rests.  Don’t miss out mate!  A jolly time will be had by all.

Hi there,

Phillip Freedman, Sailing coach of ASU‘s sailing team will be coming to give the membership a presentation of all that they have been doing. Recently their sailing club has beaten some prominent Californian teams and looking to do more. Phillip, a recent transplant from San Diego with his wonderful daughter is looking forward to some fantastic plans associated with inter collegiate sailing which is often the base for larger programs. Come see an amazing trophy.

Speaking of trophies,

Come see the coveted Governors’ cup trophy and put your registration in to make history.

At the September Membership Meeting we had Joe “Okie” O’Conner and George Sheller give us an update on the status of the Tempe Town Lake dam repairs and future plans for City of Tempe “mixed use” facilities at the lake.

We had some new faces interested in membership.  Gilbert Kanitario who crewed for Ray Gazzera on Opening Day at Lake Pleasant signed up that night!

There were a few burgees exchanged and good fun was had by all!