Commodore's Corner

Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 16:24

On behalf of the Board, I welcome all our fellow LBYC members back for the 2009 season.  Your Board has been busy planning a successful and enjoyable summer for us all.

Steve Rotier spends his time scheduling, planning, and coordinating the Club's primary activity - Sailing.  Frank Rappold continues to monitor all aspects of the Club and to take action when required.  Jay Hiller prepared the PRO & Signal Boat schedule and is in the thick of things through his participation in both the Finance and Bylaws Review Committees.  Candace Porter is busy refining, scheduling, and coordinating the Club's other major activity - Parties!  Hardy Will uses his business and Club experience to identify areas he then improves (see the well organized Sailing Instructions for example).  Joe Bitter continues to ensure the Club facilities are well maintained and that new items (such as the bar dishwasher donated by the Sidestays) are properly integrated into operations.  Jeff Lippert is keeping the Club fiscally sound.  Last but not least, Julie Haeger does all the necessary, tedious tasks that keep the Board functioning effectively.

I thank the Club for voting in such dedicated talented Board members.  My contribution is to stay out of their way and thereby help avoid goof ups.  Also, I need to THANK YOU, Volunteer Club Members, for continuing to implement the Board's plans by willingly accepting and effectively handling your assignments.    You volunteers truly are the favorable wind in the sails that keeps the Club moving at a nice pace, in the correct direction, while having fun.  Like that other marine group, you have a great esprit de corps.  Keep it up!

As you can see from the background in the photograph, this is a year of change on Lake Beulah for the Riedl family, and it is also a year of change for our Club.   Our LBYC Bylaws are under review in order to identify changes that will benefit the Club.  Our Bylaws Review Committee of Tom Atkinson, Brian Brickler, Maryellen Heckman, Jay Hiller, Bill Hudson (chair), Jim Phillips and Carol Stein is working to identify areas for updating and improving.  ALL MEMBERS are encouraged to participate in the bylaws review process by providing input, by helping define changes that would be best for the Club, and by voting on the proposed amendments when they are presented.  With all of us participating in a positive manner, we will be able to update the bylaws so they will serve the Club well into the next decade.

The 2009 season will be busy.  In addition to our full sailing schedule, we will have a few regattas on Beulah (George Dorn MC, Opti Fun, ILYA Opti Championship, and Beulah Challenge C).  The Sailing School will continue to teach our youth the joy of sailing, turning many into highly competitive sailors.  The full party schedule will be varied and fun.  The Sidestays, with Joan Dow at the helm, will continue with their win-win program of using fun filled fund-raisers to ultimately improve the Club and help the Sailing School.  Roy Gerloff will continue to provide members with a good opportunity for exercise, camaraderie and competition through tennis.

Effective communication helps the Club coordinate these many activities.  That communication is provided through this Yearbook (Candace Porter, Nancy Roble, Andrea Jarecki [Nan Norris's understudy] and Vicki Clayton), the Mainsheet (Chrissy Kubicek), and the Web Site "www.lbyc.us" (Rob Hudson).

Please join me in thanking them for helping keep us all on course this season.

Cathy and I look forward to seeing all of you at Club functions and activities.  We wish you a safe and fun filled summer!

Paul Riedl
Your Commodore