When I agreed to accept the nomination to the board and become Second Trustee, I had the grand delusion that I could arrange my life somehow in the upcoming years in preparation for my year as Commodore, having the time and presence to perform the job well.
What I did not anticipate was the amount of attrition that can occur on a volunteer board, and when I was moved forward by the resignations of senior Board members, the gravity of my position began to sink in.
The recent resignation of the Vice Commodore was unexpected and concurrent with a very difficult personal decision regarding care for my mother. Coupled with COVID 19, an election year, and rioters vandalizing my daughter’s car in Portland, I have felt stretched thin to say the least, and I apologize to the membership for my lack of presence.
However, I was raised to not give up on things that are important with an emphasis where others are counting on you.
With a lack of time on the Board to make up for, I have relied on skills gained from decades at Hewlett Packard and rental management. I have also been lucky to have the guidance, advice, and help of the many wonderful members who pitched in to make the club work. Without all of you, this year would have been much more difficult.
June 2020 Commodore's Corner
Dear EYC,
Here we are in the first half of June and still holding fast. Although Phase 2 of reopening is positive for many businesses, it really does not change our situation at the club.
Reopening the clubhouse, bathrooms, playground, or club-owned boats would require all these facilities to be cleaned after each use by a licensed janitorial service. This is practically impossible and would incur such a high expense that the club simply cannot afford to have a normal summer.
May 2020 Commodore's Corner
Well, here we go on Groundhog Day #63 and counting from Friday, March 13th. The common theme for EYC events now is postponing a year, which has a little more uplifting implication than canceling, although that is the effective outcome for 2020.
As you already know, Memorial Day Regatta has been postponed until 2021, and recently the Chair for the Living on the Edge Regatta has decided, with the input of the multihull fleet, to postpone that regatta as well. At the Board meeting last Tuesday, we discussed event options with the chairs of our upcoming events and unfortunately could not arrive at a better solution. It is quite difficult for me to announce that we are postponing our two largest events, Sail School and Fourth of July.
April 2020 Commodore's Corner
As we move along in our new normal, many of you have been asking if it is okay to go to the club and check on boats, trailers, or just do some work on a project. We as a club need to be in compliance with the governor’s order to remain closed and have canceled all events through mid May at a minimum.
However, everyone must assess their own risk while also keeping the safety of others in mind.
There has been so much instruction on how we should be doing this I don’t feel I need to reiterate it here, but we are counting on everyone to follow those guidelines. Some things to be consider if you do feel you need to visit the club are:
Will you need to use the restroom? (they will be closed)
Do you really need to go into the clubhouse? (it will be locked)
Are you going to use club tools? Which includes touching not only tools, but the locks and door knobs on the tool lockers, even keying in the gate code, etc.
March 2020 Commodore's Corner
I just received the schedule from the Joint Race Committee (JRC) with Thursday Night Race Spring #1 set for April 2. Walking the shoreline the other day, it seems difficult to imagine that we’ll be racing in less than a month.
I’ve been thinking of ways to share the duty of Thursday Night Buck-a-Burger prep and cleanup and haven’t come up with a better plan than to assign this to fleets as we have for the last couple years. However, the offer of full work party credit to organize this stands with time allowed to anyone helping. Even children can earn up to half of a households work party requirement per year. If this is something you’d be interested in, please contact me soon.
February 2020 Commodore's Corner
Hello EYC, and happy February!
First off, I would like to make a correction to the 2020 committee assignment list as posted in the new Member Handbook. Currently no one has stepped up to organize 4 th of July festivities, and I would like to redact Becky Barker and Heidi Leyba’s names. Becky has offered to pass down her notes and experience with whoever would like to take this on for 2020. It is a fun way to earn your work party hours, so if anyone would like to chair, co chair, or is interested in helping out please get in touch with me.
January 2020 Commodore's Corner
Hello EYC! This past week has been a week of firsts.
First, I want to say a big Thank You to Janell Skeen who will be the 2020 Sail School Director assisted by Stacey Anderson. Janell and Stacey will need a lot of help, no job is too small. Please contact them, or myself if you have time to help with any facet of the best thing EYC does each year!
If you’re a newer member, please don’t think you wouldn’t be an asset. Sail School needs people to
help with everything from snow cone socials to on-the-water instruction and it is a great way to meet
people and become further vested in our club—and you get to earn work party hours, too.
The Board met Tuesday for the first meeting of 2020 with a very full agenda. There are so many good things coming together that I’m only able to highlight a couple of the big ones.
November 2019 Commodore's Corner
This last Tuesday was my first board meeting as commodore, and although I feel we had a very productive meeting, it was prefaced with the announcement of another theft. The exact day is not known, but Paul Stephens discovered his trailer had been entered within the last two weeks. Luckily, there was nothing of high value to steal, but the crooks did take his set of spare trailer keys, so re-keying the locks will be necessary.
I would like to ask trailer owners to check on their trailers at their earliest convenience and let me know if you find your trailer has been broken into, and also please report it to the Lane County Sheriff. Also, if your set of club keys is hanging in your trailer, please bring them home with you. If the thieves are targeting sets of keys they may be back to try using them to get into the clubhouse or tool lockers.
The Board is looking into some improvements in lighting, getting an estimate on improved fencing along the back lot, and repositioning some of our cameras, but the reality is these are just further deterrents. With the layout of the club having multiple points of access and egress the only way I see to make the grounds completely secure is to have a night guard on watch during the off season.
I’m looking forward to some improvement projects around the club and grounds this fall and winter, with the first one being the clubhouse deck. I would like to get as many people together as possible with cordless drills one of these upcoming work party days to start removing each and every screw from the old deck. I’ll be coordinating something with Port Commissioner Marji Clune, and get a date set soon. Please look for it in an upcoming “This Week at EYC” Monday email.
October 2019 Commodore's Corner
It’s October and we are still sailing. We have a lot of boats at A and B docks still in the water. This past Sunday I was talking with our Port Captain as we looked from the large hoist into the basin and he said there is still enough water to launch the Santana 20’s. Finally, this Tuesday, Camelot was out with several others to sail another fun race.
Items to mark your calendar for this month. The next work party will be on Saturday, October 19. The Annual Meeting is on Saturday, October 26, and the start time will be at 7:00 pm. At the Annual Meeting the membership will be voting on the removal from the EYC Bylaws of Article V.; Dues and Fees; Section 5. Rebilling fees. Please read Vice-Commodore’s Rob Moline article concerning this change. The membership will also be voting on member dues as stated in the EYC Bylaws; Article 5 Section 2. Annual Dues. Finally, the membership votes on the following positions; Vice-Commodore, Secretary, Treasurer and Second Trustee.
September 2019 Commodore's Corner
The season is changing: the water at the lake is getting shallower and life at EYC is slowing down. We have the last Thursday series race this week and the Steak Bash on the 19th to bring the season to a close. Last weekend, I sailed in the Harvest Regatta. For those that participated, we had good wind and the weather— other than the last race on Sunday±—was perfect. This year we had 39 boats register to sail and again it was a great regatta, maybe even a perfect ending to the sailing season.
Your EYC Board continues to work to improve our club. We approved the replacement of both propane heaters in the clubhouse. This past year they needed some maintenance done on them and, being over 30 years old, their efficiency is significantly lower than when they were new. The Board continues to look at alternatives for wave mitigation and protection of both boats and the docks. Board Member Matt Sprick has taken the lead of this.
August 2019 Commodore's Corner
August is an interesting time at Eugene Yacht Club. The doldrums of summer seem to be creeping in as the lake level is dropping, but the activity level at EYC is busier than ever.
Thursday night racing is in the middle the fall series, the Jim Skeen Youth UnRegatta will be held on August 17, both the Women’s Cup and the Commodore’s Cup winners will be decided on the weekend of August 24 & 25. On the non-racing side, we have Women’s Only weekend will be occurring on August 23 through August 25. I am encouraged by the enthusiasm that this event has created among our women at the club, both young and old. Our Junior Fleet continues sailing on Wednesday and Sunday and they also have a Full Moon sail this weekend.
July 2019 Commodore's Corner
What a wonderful and busy two weeks we have had at Eugene Yacht Club. If you did not have the opportunity to attend Sail School this year, you should definitely put this on your calendar for next year. A big shout out and thank you to Katie Bloom O’Brien and Stephanie Lunceford for organizing and running a fun and educating Sail School. Enrollment for Sail School was up this year with 90 students. I would also like to thank Rich Johnson and the many volunteers for organizing the food for the week, Terri Ward and the rescue boat volunteers for keeping everyone safe, and the dozens of others who pitched in to help. There were so many memorable moments that happened during the week, but one special moment for me was the closing award banquet honoring Dick and Margaret Brust with an annual award to be given out each year in their name for volunteerism to Sail School.
June 2019 Commodore's Corner
Who ordered up summer in June? The weather lately has been wonderful for sailing, and events at EYC have really taken off. The Memorial Day Regatta took place with great wind and some rain on Saturday, but Sunday was sunny with less wind. We had around 53 boats out racing on both days. Many thanks to Regatta Chair Dean Mitchell, to Leta Sellers, Matt Fleischman and the kitchen crew for fabulous meals, to Richard Johnson for heading up the race committee, to Club Host Dan Merritt, and to all who worked behind the scenes.
Last weekend we hosted the “Live on the Edge” Regatta and we had the second largest participation since this regatta began 13 years ago with 30 multihulls registered. There was great wind all weekend. Saturday may have been a bit chilly, but Sunday was absolutely perfect. Thanks to Regatta Chair Roeland Kapsenberg for another great event, and again, to the crew in the kitchen and to Race Chair Richard Johnson.
In less than two weeks, we will host our annual Sail School, which is our largest event of the year! Katie Bloom O’Brien and Stephanie Lunceford have planned an exciting and fun week for all ages. This year we have over 90 people signed up to perfect their sailing skills. If you are not signed up or volunteering, I hope you will come out and share in the fun.
May 2019 Commodore's Corner
What an amazing three-week stretch of warm weather we had. In the middle of the great weather we had the Skippers and Mates Dinner, which started out with a University of Oregon Jazz combo out on the deck with about 100 people gathered listening to great music while dinner was being cooked. We then all leisurely moved inside for dinner and then an unbelievable presentation by Haley Lhamon, Navigator/Tactician and Skipper for Sail Like a Girl, 2018 R2AK winner. A huge thank you to Shelley Johnson and her crew who put together an affordable, entertaining evening. What a wonderful way to begin the year for EYC.
A shout out for their great job of getting the club ready for the season to Paul Stephens, Gordon Mattatall, Marji Clune, Bob Pritchard, Nick Tabet, Gary Powell, Matt Sprick and the many others who came out for all those work parties. The docks and grounds all look great.
April 2019 Commodore's Corner
The lake is more than full! On April 8th, the Army Corps of Engineers had all four gates open releasing water. Everyone downstream—especially in Corvallis area—probably was not happy, since it pushed the Willamette past flood stage and has closed highway 34 the last couple of days. But, we have lots of water in our lake and that is good.
The youth dock is coming along and will probably be placed in the water this weekend. All that will be left is the topside boards. I would like to thank Paul, Gordon, Jim, and Marty, for braving the rain last Saturday to get us in the position to finish this project. I would like to remind everyone that this weekend is a work party weekend and we need lots of people to come out and help. We have an Open House on Saturday, April 20 that we need to prepare for. We want our club to look great for that event!
March 2019 Commodore's Corner
We are less than a month away from the time when members start to seriously think about putting their boat into the water. April 1, which this year falls on Monday, is the day when the club traditionally begins its activities, with water and power being turned on to the trailers. Also the fleets gear up for the first race of the season.
This year April 4 signals the beginning of the spring racing series, so I would like to remind everyone not to overlook your safety equipment before you head out on your boat. Does your boat have life jackets for everyone? Do you have a throwable floating cushion handy? Do you have a signaling device? Have you and your crew practiced a man-overboard plan? Finally, make sure that you have a current Oregon Registration sticker on your boat.
February 2019 Commodore's Corner
The rainy weather the last couple of weeks has been a gift to EYC when we think ahead to summer and remind ourselves that all this rain ends up in the lake. At least from this standpoint, rain is a definite blessing.
Work party projects on Saturday, February 16 will be focusing on the construction of the youth dock, finishing up the swim area wave attenuator, and the beginning of cleaning up our grounds for the start of the season. As with any project, many hands make it easier for all. Please join the crew this Saturday starting about 9:00 am. If you have any questions about how you can help, feel free to contact Marji Clune, Bob Pritchard, Nick Tabet or Paul Stephens.
January 2019 Commodore's Corner
Happy New Year! This year I celebrated the new year on the East Coast, specifically Virginia Beach. It was 72 degrees and sunny, and I had the opportunity to spoil my grandson, which made the new year even better.
I am saddened to report that long-time member Fred Barker passed away over the holidays. There will be a Celebration of Life for Fred on February 2 at 1:00 pm at the club. Our hearts go out to the family.
The first—and perhaps only—free meal of the year is almost upon us. On Saturday, January 26 at 6:00 pm (note the time change!), the annual EYC Board of Trustees Chili Feed happens. Yes, everyone is invited, and yes the Board is preparing, serving, and cleaning up. Bring your appetite and your favorite beverage. Everything else will be provided. The Board does request your participation in voting for the best chili of the night, a highly coveted award by the Board members, which gives the winner bragging rights for the rest of the year.
November 2018 Commodore's Corner
When I look at the EYC Member Handbook and see the list of Past Commodores, I am awed by those who have served before me. It seems that it was just yesterday that Mark Schroeder asked if I would be willing to serve on the Board of Trustees and now here I am, Commodore of Eugene Yacht Club.
EYC exists because of the dedicated volunteers that provide countless hours to the Club. Starting with this year’s Board I ask everyone to join me and thanking each one for their dedicated service: Robert Moline, Vice Commodore; June Chamberlin, Secretary; Matt Sprick, Treasurer; Stephanie Lunceford, 1st Trustee; Al Avey, 2nd Trustee; and Gary Powell, Rear Commodore.
At this year’s Annual Meeting, I was supposed to present my annual budget to the membership as specified in the Bylaws of our Club. Well, I did not do this, and am taking the opportunity now to present the budget as detailed below.
October 2018 Commodore's Corner
With the September draw down of Fern Ridge Lake, our boating season came to an early close. Hats off to those hardy sailors who continued to join in Tuesday fun races up, to and including October 2. I was able to sail on September 25 (as a passenger) and it was a blast!
Looking back, the past year has gone by so quickly. In fact, at times it seems like watching a movie on “fast forward”—you can recognize the scenes but you can’t make out the details. It was a full year in so many ways including improvements to our facilities, exciting regattas, lively social gatherings, and lazy afternoon sails. With that said, let me see if I can “slow the movie” down and capture a few snapshots that stand out.