Commodores Report

Commodores Report

I am hopeful that everyone survived the Holidays and retained their sanity. As we look forward to the New Year I feel obligated to report on the state of White Point Yacht Club and the outlook for 2011.

“The state of White Point Yacht Club is excellent”. I’m happy to report the Club is financially sound and that our Membership is stable. We have gained five new members but lost a couple of long standing members. Most of the annual dues have been received and all new members have paid their initiation fees. The New Year calendar of events is firming up with great participation and new enthusiasm.

The Bridge is listening to the general membership’s suggestions and implementing the will of the majority. Thanks to the previous Board of Directors we have instituted a policy of with or with out alcohol event pricing and the new BOD will sustained that policy for the upcoming New Year. We have eliminated the burden of having one Social Chairmen, for all events, and implemented the policy of a volunteer event Chairperson for each event. The general membership voiced their opinion again suggesting that we have a Christmas Dinner in lieu of a Christmas Brunch. The Bridge listened and we had thirty eight people attend the first annual Christmas Dinner at the Bravo Italiano Restaurant in Fredericksburg’s Virginia. Thanks to all of those who participated.

There are other areas that still need to be addressed in the upcoming year and I’m hopeful that I can receive your full support and participation. Most importantly we must remember that we are a boating club and our first priority is to support boating related activities. Tom Kranz has taken the initiative to coordinate the Boating Safety Class with Jim Colston and a firm date has been established. I hope that all Captains that need this certification attend. Also pleased be advised that even if you aren’t a Captain you can take this course that includes children over sixteen and women. Please contact Vice-Commodore Tom Kranz if you have any questions or wish to register.

White Point Yacht Club was the first Virginia Yacht Club to be accepted to the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Club Association and we should be very proud of our heritage. However we don’t have a delegate to attend CBYCA meeting and advents. In most yacht clubs the past commodore fills this position. I am looking for a volunteer that will actively pursue this position and report to the general membership. The CBYCA has helped in passing legislation that affects all boaters and keeps clubs, like ours, apprised of ongoing events. Most important they promote reciprocity between clubs which allows us to visit other member clubs with privileges. We need to have a voice in this prestige’s organization.

I would like to organize a day cruise to the Cone River for the purpose of Porpoise watching. I need boat Captains to volunteer their boats for the trip and I will assign our Fleet Captain, Jeff Wallace, to organize the cruise. I will ask that the volunteer Captain’s to accept guest that are non-boating Members on their vessels. The Yacht Club will sponsor a box lunch and beverages. There would be no cost to the guest. The flotilla would leave the Club about 10:00 am and than raft up in the Cone about 11:00 am. We could enjoy lunch and watch for the Porpoises. It is reported, by Chesapeake Magazine, that a Pod of Porpoises makes their home in the Cone River. Many of us has seen them swimming in the Yeocomico River. I have had the pleasure of three sightings over the past two years. If you would like to volunteer your boat please contact me. Also if you would like to attend the day cruise as a guest please contact me. We most likely would return around 2:00 pm in the afternoon. A formal date has not been set as this adventure is still in the planning stages.

One last reminder is to make sure that your information in the 2010-2011 White Point Yacht Club Year Book is correct. Please review the 2009-2010 Year Book to make sure that your personal information is correct. If there has been changes to your address, telephone number, e-mail address or boat information please contact Lorna Helal or Cathy Millison with the new information. Remember this is our life line to each member.

Well that will do it for the Commodores Report. I look forward to the next issue of the Dock Lines and Opening day. Bon Voyage.


L. Roger Mason
Commodore,
White Point Yacht Club