COMMODORE Kenneth Suddick Comments . . . . .
Special Meeting Report
At the Special Membership Meeting held on Tuesday, November 6th, an overwhelming majority of members present voted to increase our 2008 dues from $95.00 to $110.00. We will be sending out the 2008 dues notices as soon as possible. I would like to thank all of the members who attended this very brief meeting, which was held before the regularly scheduled November Board meeting.
From The Commodore
This
is my last article as Commodore. This last year has gone by very quickly, and
Lady Gayle and I have had a great year. The Balls and friendship of the other
Commodores are memories that Gayle and I will have forever. It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve
as this club’s Commodore, with many memorable events and cementing of friendships. I am hopeful that the changes that I have had
an opportunity to be a part of have strengthened our club and have met with
your approval.
I would like to thank my Bridge, Com. Tom Fraser, Vice Com. Peter D’Angelo and Rear Com. Bill Kuester for all of their support this year. The Board.of Directors, Tom Caulfield, Denise Cotter, Sheila Behler and Ken Thalan have also been very supportive this past year and I am very appreciative for all they have done with the club’s best interests in mind. I would like to thank all of my Committee Chairs for an outstanding job this year. As most of you know, my job has required me to be out of town a lot this past year and the support of this year’s team has been invaluable.
As most of you are aware, we recently lost a dear member of GPSC, Ron Morketter, and we will miss him very much.
In honor of Ron’s memory, the Sail Club has received donations from a number of his friends. These gifts have been combined to purchase an outdoor public address system. We have great need for such a system, and it will be used at our Regatta and other race award parties to announce the winners. We will place a small plaque on the system that will indicate that it was a gift to the club from the friends of Ron Morketter.
Our Race Chairman, Rear Com. Bill Kuester put on our Annual GPSC Race Awards Party. The Tompkins Center was packed to capacity with winning Captains and crews. A very good time was had by all.
The Steak and Lobster Roast was a huge success. Thank you very much Fred and Debby Chapman. I would also like to thank Com. Tom Fraser, Lady Gayle and the rest of the Entertainment Committee for n great effort.
We
have three events coming up and that I would like you to mark your calendars
for:
-The
Annual Membership Meeting will be held at the Tompkins Center of Friday,
December 7th. We will elect our new rear Commodore and select two
new Board members and I will turn over the reins to Com. Peter D’Angelo.
-On
Sunday December 9th, we will hold our GPSC Children’s Christmas
Party. Please see the flyer that is included in this Anchorline. This is a
wonderful party for your kids and grandchildren to enjoy. The party will start
at 11:00 A.M.
-Beth
Kurta has agreed to organize our Winter Weekend, January 25th, 26th
and 27th. Beth is planning something different. See the enclosed flyer in this issue.
Views From the Vice
…. Vice Commodore
Peter D’ Angelo
On Tuesday, November 6, there was a special meeting to vote on a dues increase to $110.00 annually (spousal and contributing life - $55.00). The by-laws as they stand require a by-law change so that the by-laws recite the current dues amount. A quorum was present and the increased passed by the required two/thirds vote. Thanks to every member who attended. Your presence demonstrated your interest in the good of the club. Members are welcome to attend board meetings. Your presence would go a long way in moving the club forward. At this annual meeting an amendment will be proposed that will change the by-laws so that the dues will no longer be recited in the by-laws. The mechanism to change the dues would however remain the same. That is an increase would require a two/thirds vote of a quorum of the membership. A committee headed by Com. Gordon Morlan crafted the new amendment. Plan on attending the annual meeting for the election of officers, club awards presentation, committee reports and a good time. Did I mention a good time?
The racing season for 2007 reached a grand finale at this year’s awards party. Com Bill Kuester deserves congratulations for the success of this years racing season. Com Kuester will be turning over the 2008 race committee to Chris Behler. Thanks Chris for stepping up to this important responsibility at the heart of our club.
Everyone is planning holiday season events. Your bridge gives a wonderful Christmas party for children and family. Santa is most jolly and food and games for the kids put everyone in a great holiday spirit. This January 25-27 a winter weekend is planned to Frankenmuth. A Frankenmuth chicken dinner is a great attraction. Beyond that Beth Kurta and Fred Chapman are planning a number of activities at this new venue.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. See you at the annual meeting.
WELCOME
Grosse Pointe Sail Club
New Members
Paul D'Angelo
251 McMillan
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
Phone #313-477-1438
Last week’s award party was a huge success. A fitting end to the 2007 racing season. Chris Behler has stepped up to the plate and will be next year’s race chairman. There will be other committee changes. After three years as Race Support, Rob Sharrow is stepping down. This job is probably the biggest of the behind the scene positions. Without the support of the dock workers our program would fail and we need another devoted person to handle the scheduling for the many needed dock jobs.
I tried two new things this year. The novice class flamed out but the Operation Shanghai was a success and about five new crew found rides on Members’ boats. Let’s do it again and get more people on the water.
My sincerest thanks to all of you that assisted this season.. I will look forward to helping Chris and his race committee in any way possible next year..
Smooth sailing,
Bill.
GROSSE POINTE SAIL CLUB
JUNIOR SAILORS
Blake Stackpoole and Joseph Kurta had a great summer
becoming better sailors in Crescent Sail Yacht Club’s Junior Sailing program!
VIEW FROM THE REAR
…. Rear Commodore
William
Kuester
I appreciate the outstanding turn out of Members for the combined November Special Membership and Board meeting. I believe that the almost unanimous vote approving the 2008 dues increase was a great vote of confidence in the Bridge and the people you have all elected.
Thank you Vice Commodre D’Angelo for presenting the 2008 budget.
Nancy McPherson has a neat dry dock planned for the 16th. The feather bowling party was great fun the last time we did it and we will look forward to seeing you there.
The annual meeting is scheduled for December 7th at the Tompkins Center. The Meeting is always well attended and another fun evening as all committee reports are generally humorously presented and the annual elections are conducted.
This year as your Rear Commodore has been very rewarding for me. I never had the full understanding of all the effort that so many people put into this organization to make it work, My special thanks to all of the Rear Commodore’s committee Chairman for their efforts and for keeping me out of trouble.
See you on the 7th.
Smooth sailing,
Bill
DRYA Honors Commodore Jay Deeds
Commodore Jay Deeds was honored by the Detroit Regional Yacht-Racing Association at its Annual Awards Banquet held at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club on November 9th. The Awards Dinner was dedicated to him to honor him for his many years of service to the racing community.
In the mid-1960s, Jay volunteered to serve as a Mark-Set boat for C Course and his boat, Septet was pressed into service. This was the first Mark-Set boat used by the DRYA.
In addition to serving as the Mark-Set Boat, over the years Jay designed and built many pieces of equipment used by the Race Committees at the Saturday races. These included buoys, race number frames, flag staffs, and the entire interior of the DRYA equipment trailer. For more than 40 years, at every regatta, Jay would deliver the trailer to the club hosting the event. He also assumed the responsibility for purchasing shotgun shells used in the signal cannons.
The sailing community salutes a man who has contributed countless hours to the success of racing in the Detroit area. Thank you, Jay.
