Greetings AYC Members
It’s rather humbling to follow in the footsteps of 60 past Commodore’s whose ideas, drive, and dedication have helped shaped AYC into the club it is today. Having spent my career in the auto industry, I relate my previous positions as Rear and Vice Commodore as a “Proving Grounds” of sorts, which helped prepare me to take the helm as Commodore this year. Vroom vroom…let’s go!
The Club will stay connected with communications being in the capable and organized hands of Vice Commodore Bob Naylor. He’ll be scanning the horizon looking for member stories of interest and wants to add your tale to his publication task list. Your story might be related to a major regatta you participated in or a cruise you experienced. We can live vicariously through your sharing. Bob will also be introducing a few new initiatives for member engagement!
Most of you know our good-humored and sociable Rear Commodore, Marshall Williamson. He is busy identifying and scheduling a great line up of guest speakers for our monthly meetings and is eager to start planning the other fun social events we are accustomed to – think Opening Day Celebration in September. Contact Marshall if you have some ideas for meeting speakers.
Our next monthly meeting is scheduled on Zoom for Tuesday, June 8 and this happens to be World Ocean Day as well. Our guest speaker, Rachael Miller and her work with the Rozalia Project, is well timed.
We took a step in our Vacc to normal planning by exploring a move to in-person meetings at Dave & Buster’s, but things have changed there – for the time being. We are once again faced with no meeting venue. We know our summer meeting attendance is typically low, so we’ll use this time to explore other venues. Stay tuned! Stay positive!
Within our Club the job of our racing Fleet Captain is often described as the toughest. I am indebted to Jeff Coulter for his willingness to commit another year to this position. Jeff envisions many things for our club, like improving our AYC presence during races. Speaking of races…the fall race dates are posted to the club calendar and you can expect to see it populate with additional events as we get them scheduled.
Jeff Bryant, our Cruising Captain, is pumped up and full of new ideas for engaging the cruisers in our club. He is busy exploring options (using terms like recon) and envisions a sea side event, a Catalina Island sail, revisiting the Stars & Stripes event we had to cancel and more. He’ll be looking for some of you to step in and help increase this year’s cruising activities. Email Jeff any ideas/events you’d like to help with.
Our Membership Directors are often the first contact in our club, and they play an essential part in promoting AYC and welcoming new members. Skip Kempff is in the 2nd year of his current term and has the task of bringing our new Director, Gordon Briner, up to speed. Membership renewals are coming soon so look for a renewal email in mid to late June. Let’s all re-up with the first notice and make their job easier. Over the last year our club has grown to a record level of 270 member families, thanks to our membership team and the many ways each of you promote AYC.
Our Staff Commodores serve as directors and provide continuity on the board. We get the insights and talents of Rob Gibbs as our Sr. Staff Commodore, and we are grateful to have the knowledge and experience Cindy Pillote brings as she steps aboard again as Jr. Staff Commodore. We will miss our past Commodore, Marc Danner as he adjusts his course to pursue family and career-related goals.
Lori Reger joins the board as Club Secretary, bringing an abundance of experience after serving three terms in this position since her membership began. We are honored she is rejoining the board and grateful for her prior experience and attention to detail. It will certainly help keep the board on task.
AYC could not function, let alone pay the bills if not for Treasurer and CPA Tony Chapman. He has provided us with his accounting and financial management skills since 2007. That’s 14 years for those of you that are not math people (me). Beyond Tony’s financial savvy, he has provided many of us with coaching, kind words and a calm presence. (Deb, you’re pinching.)
I’m feeling extremely fortunate to work along side this band of sailors for the next 12 months and wish to express my gratitude for their willingness and commitment to serve AYC – Thank you board members!
Get to know us better on this MEET YOUR BOARD page.
With your engagement and help it’ll be a great year!
Deb Heisler
Commodore
“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows