Third annual GPYC meeting, April 13, 2013
The Great Pond Yacht Club launched the 2013 season with its third annual meeting on April 13. Dick and Sue Greenan hosted an enthusiastic turnout at their lovely camp — thank you, Greenans, for having us all and providing a wonderful spread of mid-morning coffee and treats!
We were delighted to welcome brand-new members, Matti and Chris Bradley, at the meeting — thank you for being there, Bradleys! We look forward to sailing with you!
Here are notes on what we talked about at the meeting:
Youth Sailing: We’ve received many inquiries from people interested in joining, particularly if we offer a youth sailing program. So, over the winter, Barb and I talked with SailMaine and the Center for All Seasons to see what we can do about putting a program together. SailMaine proposed a program in which they would provide instructors and administrative support. The Center For all Seasons would provide boat storage and allow the program to run out of their location. Classes would be open to any youth (GPYC members and non-members) ages 8 to 15. The program would require that we raise $30,000 to run it for the first three years. From there, it would be funded mostly by tuition and would require donations from the community to keep it healthy.
Members at the annual meeting voted to proceed with fundraising efforts, and Barb and I will put together a committee to get the ball rolling.
Women’s Sailing: Barb announced that we’ve found someone to teach a women’s sailing course this summer! Barbara Trentacosta has taught sailing for Outward Bound and the Harraseeket Yacht Club in Freeport. She will not charge us, but we will charge a fee to cover food and Barbara’s travel expenses. This will be one Saturday or Sunday in late June or early July. It will be a members-only event for insurance reasons. If you’re interested, please email Barb (thebfords at gmail.com).
Two board positions are officially handed off (from left to right: Former Treasurer Lisa Perkins; Former Commodore, Ben Ford; New Commodore John Gibbs, New Treasurer, Lynne Gibbs)
Succession Planning: I gave an impassioned speech about the need for other people to step up and take over the reins for the health of the organization. After the meeting was officially concluded, the Gibbs succumbed to my persuasive skills. John Gibbs offered to take over as Commodore, and Lynne Gibbs offered to take over as Treasurer. Relieved of the heavy burden of the Great Office, I promptly agreed to be the new Youth Director. An email vote was taken on April 15 and the three of us were voted in. The PRO’s first two-year term has ended, and Peter McManus has agreed to stay on for another year. Looks like the GPYC is poised to keep growing and getting even better!
John Gibbs, Dick Greenan, Joan Witkin, and Bill Witkin engaged in serious GPYC discussion
Events Calendar: We planned for our four traditional events as follows:
May 25– The Witkin Cup at Camp Runoia hosted by the Heubergers
June 29 – The Rasta Raft-Up, hosted by the Gibbs, location TBD
July 27 – The Milfoil Regatta at the Witkins’ hosted by the Witkins
August 24 – The Hurricane Cup at Loon Cove hosted by the Becks
LOON COUNT! Joan Witkin announced that she is looking for volunteers for the annual loon count on the morning of July 20. If you’ve never done it, it is a lot of fun. For more info please email Joan Jww3 at Columbia.edu
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Ben Ford
Outgoing (and extroverted) Commodore
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