By Commodore Harvey Rickert
Here we are at the end of September and boats are being hauled out. The season has gone by quickly, but even with the lousy weather at the beginning of this season, It has been another great year for HBYC members, family, and friends.
As it has been reported in previous articles on the web, our Racing, Cruising, and Social events created an abundance of great new memories in 2019. I enjoyed watching our members using the clubhouse for impromptu dinners and lively conversations around the bar that went into the wee hours of the night. I will have to say I have gotten to know many of you better this year and you all have enriched my life being a member of the Harbor Bay Yacht Club.
John Hukill and Susan Young getting light fixtures drilled and wiring for installation (HBYC’s Susan the Riveter)
Vice Commodore Russ Marcks has spent many hours planning our new LED lighting for the clubhouse and he personally installed close to 50% of the new lights. Last weekend, a large team of helpers that included Mike Zofchak, Steve Gast, John Hukill, Tom Ketchem, Nick Lewis, and Susan Young tackled the installations in the main room. Dewey Hughes and I were on the clean up crew. Most importantly, lunch assistance was provided by Lonnie Zofchak and Susan Young. There are only 9 fixtures to finish the installation in the main room, so look for another workday to finish the entire lighting improvement project.
I might add the main room was cleaned and ready for the Saturday 4 PM Classic Boat Rendezvous speaker (Thank you Nick and Sharon for setting tables up) which was hosted by Sandusky Maritime Museum. The speaker, Katelyn McKindle, a PhD candidate and researcher from Bowling Green State University, spoke on the state of water quality in the Great Lakes and in the Sandusky Bay. It was very interesting and well attended.
Saturday early evening the clubhouse was very busy with the Classic Rendezvous speaker and two separate dinner groups! I was pleased to see many people working three events and cooperating so well. Awesome!
The Classic Boat Rendezvous was a great time with beautiful boats from Michigan, Toledo, and as far away as A Dock! It was interesting meeting the skippers and learning about their boats. Thanks to Safe Harbor Marina, the Maritime Museum, and Harbor Bay Yacht Club for supporting this event.
Later in the evening, many members went to the museum to see the great exhibits and lectures on maritime history in Sandusky, Ohio. Next season put the museum on your must see list of places to visit.
In other matters for the members, at the Sept. 15, 2019 membership meeting, we had a quorum and were able to vote on a number of topics. Previous meeting minutes and club financial statements were approved. These, as always, will be be posted on the HBYC website so that members not in attendance can read them online.
Additionally, membership voted in a new slate of officers, they are. Rear Commodore Janell Lundgren, John Hukill Trustee, who will be serving out Janell Lundgren’s 2020 year, Rick Billheimer - 2020-2021 Trustee, and Joe Ziarko Trustee - 2020-2021, and Russell Marcks as Commodore, and Tim Kemerley as Vice Commodore.
This is talented group who brings great leadership and plans to HBYC for the 2020 season. The new Bridge and Trustees will be installed at the Change of Watch Ceremony during the Winter Rendezvous at the Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center on Saturday February 1st. Stay tuned for details for this event.