As Presented Saturday, February 22, 2003 by Kim Colebrook-2003 HBYC Commodore
In 1993, SHM Marina Manager Pete Pftzenmayer had an idea. Why not create an ILYA recognized Yacht Club as part of the Sandusky Harbor Marina. Pete knew the value of ILYA membership and the many benefits enjoyed by ILYA sanctioned clubs. He originally envisioned it as a way to enhance the Admirals club benefits for marina customers. At that time, Venetian marina, another Hoty owned marina, had a relationship with the South Shore Cruising club and enjoyed some ILYA benefits.
But Pete envisioned something more. Pete began to talk about the idea with several marina dock holders. Soon the word was spreading and many additional SHM customers began asking Pete about his idea and expressing their enthusiasm and support to help make the idea a reality. Perhaps you recognize these names as being among the first to get behind the idea: Bob Hope, Dennis Simmerman, Denny Eddinger, Al Chapman.
Knowing he had strong support from his marina customers, Pete presented the idea to Hoty Management. After a lively discussion, Pete was given the go ahead, although there was considerable doubt that the ILYA would approve the club. Without a clubhouse and other requirements, they felt the ILYA would view the idea simply as a plan to attract customers to the marina.
Now, under these circumstances, most folks would have dropped the idea. But not this illustrious group of our Past Commodores! Working together with Pete, post cards were sent to SHM dock holders explaining the idea and asking for their written support and commitment to the idea. Over 200 commitment letters were returned, and armed with this significant level of response; Pete took the evidence of support to the ILYA. After this initial discussion, the meeting was followed with a formal HBYC proposal summarizing the idea. Still, the facility question loomed as a major obstacle, but the ILYA said we’ll consider your proposal if you send us a formal request which includes your constitution and by-laws. Talamon Construction Company had recently vacated what we now call our HBYC home, and with a possible facility solution in hand, the idea kept moving forward. A proposed Constitution and By-laws were quickly assembled using other clubs as models.
Hoty Management continued their support, but knew that the relationship between the club and the marina would be critical. As a result, we have been privileged to have the Marina manager as a trustee, and we have had an excellent working relationship throughout our short 8-year history because of this early solidification of communication and involvement between both parties.
Now, our distinguished past commodores and founding fathers stepped up to the plate. Because of his thorough knowledge of ILYA from his previous involvement with the Mentor Yacht Club, Bob Hope, our first HBYC Commodore, ran with the idea. Bob was very familiar with the inner workings of the ILYA and became the perfectly qualified leader. He knew the ILYA and he knew the Marina. With the help of Dennis Simmerman, Denny Eddinger, and Al Chapman, Bob took the initiative. As our leader, Bob walked our application through the approval process, attending many meetings, and pleading our case for HBYC recognition with ILYA. To quote Pete, “Without Bob, it would have died.” It was a reach and questionable decision for the ILYA, but our leaders convinced them that the future of the ILYA was in facilities like HBYC.
In 1995, HBYC was officially born with 175 charter member families. Our first meeting took place on June 10, 1995, under the north pavilion of the marina. That fall, HBYC received its charter from the State of Ohio, joined the Greater Cleveland Boating Association, and became a probationary member of the ILYA.
In 1996, our HBYC flagpole was erected and dedicated as a visible sign that HBYC had arrived, but it was imperative now that HBYC make its clubhouse a reality. Dennis Simmerman got the project rolling. But the Talamon Construction remains were far from what we today appreciate as our HBYC home! The project concept would need to utilize many resources. Step number one was to get a lease agreement for this facility that made sense. This was no small job and took considerable time and effort. Denny Eddinger and Al Chapman succeeded with a win – win lease agreement for the club and the marina based on plans prepared by past Trustee Bill Buschor. In January of 1997, a special member vote approved a $150 per member assessment to fund the renovation project.
In the fall of 1997, clubhouse construction began. Past Commodore Denny Eddinger led the charge donating countless hours as the “Captain” of the construction / remodeling project. He, along with Past Commodores Bob Hope, Dennis Simmerman, and Al Chapman, Mike Cunningham, Mark Haggard, and Dick Barber were the “Heart and Soul” of the metamorphosis that lasted nearly 2 years. (Honorable mention should also be given to Ed Connor and Terry Was and many others here this evening – please stand and be recognized).
By the fall of 1998, under Commodore Denny Eddinger, the majority of the renovations were complete, and the first official event hosted at the clubhouse was the September 1998 meeting of the GCBA. Thanks to Past Commodore Dick Barber, they even had a place to sit with his (and his church) donation of some 200 folding chairs we are still using today!
By the summer of 1999, many finishing touches had been added, and under Commodore Al Chapman, our clubhouse was in full swing. Nearly $38,000 of improvements were made to our HBYC clubhouse, and Commodore Chapman saw to it that all debt from the project was cleared, including a very thoughtful and appreciated $5000 completion loan in the fall of 1998 from the Hotys. Past Commodore Chapman also focused on utilizing our new clubhouse to promote more club participation by the members. Al spent considerable time and effort in developing our now famous cruising program and participated in authoring and publishing our official clubhouse rules.
In 2000, Commodore Mike Cunningham took the HBYC helm. As Commodore, Mike became very involved in initiating a review and revision of the HBYC Constitution and By-laws. With the help of then Vice Commodore Mark Haggard, the lengthy process of completing needed updates and revisions was accomplished. As a full-fledged Yacht Club now with Official ILYA status, Mike focused on tightening up the business and operating systems of the club. Our social calendar began to heat up too and many new planned activities including “Mike’s Famous Steak Roast” kept our members coming back for more.
2000 saw many new clubhouse creature comforts provided thanks to 2001 Commodore Mark Haggard. The television monitors, VCR’s, and our very luxurious conference table and chairs, and our HBYC computer found their way into the HBYC clubhouse. Mark’s wife, Goldie served as our social chair in 2001, making it a complete family commitment. As Commodore, Mark led the addition of the HBYC “Living room and TV Lounge”. He was certain that our cruising program he helped author continued to grow and became an even bigger benefit for HBYC members. Mark also authored the first official “HBYC Operations Manual” required by our constitution. A special thanks goes to Mark for this enormous undertaking, which has made life easier for all Commodores to follow.
Finally, last year’s Commodore Dick Barber led HBYC into it’s most complete year ever. As our club matured, our social calendar and activities were expanded to larger than ever levels. Our membership reached an all time high since the clubhouse assessment resulted in a 23 member loss in 1997. Under Dick, the now traditional Boat Walk and 50/50 raffles made our club more active, more prosperous and larger than ever, and our treasury also benefited with its largest contribution ever to our Vanguard fund.
It is with deepest sincerity, enthusiasm, and gratitude that we recognize the enormous efforts and personal commitment from our Past Commodores. They have made Harbor Bay Yacht Club something we all take great pride in today.