Commodore's Letter

Dear SYC Member:

I can’t believe that I am writing this piece for the Compass NEWS already. It seems like I was just elected to the Rear Commodore’s position. Man, time really flies!

We had an event filled week at our Club. At Thursday’s Men’s Lunch we had the Annual Candidate’s “Campaign Speeches”. These are more of a “roast” than a speech. They were well done and fun was had by all. The MC for this lunch was Past Commodore John Rasmussen who has traditionally shouldered this responsibility for quite a few years. In fact, John did such a good job this year that those present even laughed at one of his jokes. Way to go John!

On Friday we had our Annual Meeting and Election of Officers. The newly elected officers will appear later in this newsletter, so I won’t list them here. However, I not only want to give a big SYC congratulations to the newly elected officers but to thank all of the nominated candidates for agreeing to “run for election”. This is a very important and vital process in our Club’s governance. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

At the Annual Meeting, our Treasurer gave an informative presentation on our Club’s financial well being. We remembered those who passed this last year, discussed and debated various By-Law proposals, and installed the elected and appointed officers for 2008-2009. If you haven’t ever attended an Annual Meeting, you should plan to attend next year. It is always held on the first Friday in October.

In closing, I want to thank Pam Lowry and Len Rothe (with help from John Bramstedt) for guiding and editing Compass NEWS this past year. They did an outstanding job and when you see them, please say Thanks. They are great! Taking over for Pam and Len are Fred and Rennae Woodard, who I am looking forward to working with!

There is a lot going on at our Club, committees are meeting, power and sail are racing, the Ward and Marine Room are busy, and our wonderful staff is working hard so that we can enjoy our Club.

See you around the Club!

Fred Roed, Commodore

CORRECTION

Friday evening at the Annual Meeting the motion to change By-Law 3.1(b) from requiring 100% approval to 95% approval for the election of an Honorary Life Member I declared that the amendment had passed.  I was under the mistaken understanding that this motion only required a simple majority but according to Roberts Rules of Orders an amendment to the By-Laws requires a 2/3rds majority of those voting.  The vote was 93 to 75 in favor but since the yeas were only 55.4% the motion did not succeed.

Sorry for the confusion.

Jack Sullivan

Election Results

Congratulations everyone!

Click here for more Annual Meeting photos!

CONGRADULATIONS TO THE 2008
CARL F. ZECHER PERPETUAL MEMORIAL AWARD WINNER

The highest Seattle Yacht Club Award for outstanding service to the Seattle Yacht Club

John Q. “Jack” Blondin

Goodbye from the Editors

We have had a wonderful year as Co-editors of Compass NEWS.   We started our tenure as editors by changing the name of the E-newsletter to Compass NEWS, with a new name and format.  We have always strived to provide current information about what is happening at Seattle Yacht Club.  We hope you have enjoyed our weekly editions.  Thank you to Jack Sullivan for writing his weekly Commodore letters that were both entertaining and informational.  And a big thank you to John Bramstedt for his weekly computer expertise.  The new editors are Fred and Rennae Woodard – we know we are leaving it in good hands. 
Pam Lowry and Len Rothe

P.S. Thanks for lunch Jack

You are invited to a Benefit Screening of Morning Light
proceeds benefit the SYC Junior Sailing Program

Monday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Lincoln Square Cinema
700 Bellevue Way NE

Includes Q & A session with Special Guests: Roy Disney & Leslie DeMeuse, Executive Producers

Sponsored by:
CSR Marine
Fisheries Supply
Market Street Shoes - Market Street Athlete
North Sails Seattle
Pacific International Yachting Association
Ward and Company, Certified Public Accountants
William Buchan Homes
West Coast Sailing

Ticket Cost — $25

Hosted By:
Seattle Yacht Club
1807 East Hamlin Street
Call (206) 325-1000 or email Lance Downing for tickets.

Click here to see the trailer!

Ticket pick-up at SYC after 10/3 or Will Call at the theater
MC / Visa / SYC# accepted
limited supply

University Bridge Painting Project

Certified Coatings Company, was awarded the contract to paint the University Bridge. They have requested a change in operations with the USCG, requiring four hours notice for a double-leaf opening, there will also be containment tarps, not more than 4 feet below the bridge on the inactive leaf.

Their request and schedule, starting with the south leaf, they estimate will take 9 to 10 weeks to complete and the north leaf up to 13 weeks due to possible inclement weather. The tentative start date is September 16, 2008. Please contact me with any concerns.

Mary E. Brown
Supervisor, Bridge Operations Roadway Structure

Port Madison Update

The rain has arrived and this will slow down the work at Port Madison.

Well – Last Thursday our contractor for the well finally struck water. The water was at 687 feet. This is the deepest that Mr. Crabtree has had to go. We now have a well that is legal. The electrical to connect it is still in progress.

Property Tax – The Club received a Notice of Value from the Kitsap County Assessor last month. The value of the main property was reduced from $4,921,800 to $4,061,730. This reduction could lead to a reduction in the DNR lease. The Real Estate & Asset Management Committee is working to get the DNR to reduce their lease value by a corresponding amount which has indicated a saving to the Club of about $9,000 a year if they are successful.

Storm Drains – Browne Engineering has completed the drawings for the drainage system. They will submit them to the City this week for approval. With the rain, we need to get this completed.

Electrical – The electricians finished the underground wiring from the new pole to the new meter base. It has been inspected and passed and the ditches have been covered.

Upper Parking Lot – Gravel has been applied and some of the final grading has been completed to assure the proper slope for run off. The required silt fences will be installed between the property and the wetland areas.

Small Boat Center cement ramp – Stacey Wilson has installed the cross bracing on the cement posts and will now begin the installing the posts for the railings. What looked like a simple repair turned out to be a lot of work. Thanks to Stacey, it is now safe and sound. It should last forever.

Landscaping & Irrigation – The grading has been completed, the irrigation installation at the sports court and playground began on Thursday.

UPDATE OF AREAS OF PORT MADISON for the upcoming week.
Docks – Open for use.
Club House, Half Way House and Showers – Open for use.
Sports Court and Playground – Closed until further notice.

Mike Riley
Chairman Port Madison Committee

Yearbook Updates

Good News for SYC Spouses! Responding to overwhelming demand, in 2009 our yearbook roster will include contact information for both spouses. This week the roster update sheet will be mailed to all members. In addition to changes in member contact info, boat ownership, etc the book will include spouse contacts as well as call signs for those with an amateur radio license. Please take time to check with your spouse to see if he or she would like to have an email or telephone number listed and return the form or email Tanya Treat.

Helmsmen Specials

Amateur Radio Meeting

Wednesday, October 8, 2008
6:00 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge

All SYC members and guests are invited to the October Amateur Radio meeting in the Fireside Room this Wednesday.  The topic is the Sailmail program which can be used to send e-mail from your boat.  Jim Corneman, the inventor of the Sailmail, will be giving the presentation.  Hope to see you all there.

Chuck Lowry
K1CRL

Dinghy Group

The October Dinghy Group outing on October 8 will be a visit to the Woodland Park Zoo to view the new Chilean flamingo exhibit, among other zoo highlights. We will be treated to a guided tour by one of the Zoo Ambassadors, with lunch following at the Rain Forest Food Pavilion located on the zoo grounds. Please contact Sue Pruner at (206) 262-1918 to sign up or ask questions.

We will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the SYC and carpool to the SOUTH entrance to meet our Zoo Ambassador at 10:30 a.m. If some people do not wish to carpool, they may meet up with us at the SOUTH entrance. Parking is $4.50 per day in the zoo parking lot. Entry fee to the zoo is $11.00 for adults; there is a $2.00 discount from regular admission prices for persons with disabilities and senior citizens (65+) years.

Power / Sail Dinner

October 9, 2008

"Power / Sail Dinner:  Feature guest speaker - Dan Schwartz, Head of Marine Operations, Department of Oceanography, University of Washington.  Dan will be highlighting events with the Thomas Thompson and other vessels in the University of Washington fleet.

Past Commodore Chris Otorowski will outline and discuss a proposal to conduct a joint cruise with Seattle Yacht Club and the New York Yacht Club late next summer in the Puget Sound."

Launching Party

Meet the newly elected Rear Commodore, Secretary and Trustees at the Launching Party

Friday, October 10 at 6:00 p.m.
in the Fireside Lounge

Complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be provided for all members

Reservations: (206) 325-1000

October Women's Group Luncheon

“SAY CHEESE!” – Rob Rose, professional photographer and owner of Brant Photographers in Bellevue will be our guest speaker on October 15th for the Women’s Group luncheon.

Rob will share with us simple tips for improving our photographic skills, whether we are photographing our children, grandchildren or our treasured friends. He will also help us to better capture the moments of that once-in-a lifetime trip to the far corners of the world.

Travel photography is one of Rob’s specialties as he is associated with humanitarian efforts in Nepal and India and travels there often. His stories of assisting the disadvantaged through the Bellevue Rotary in these countries are fascinating and inspiring. We hope you can join us for this program that will help us all prepare for the holidays and learn some techniques that can make our photos special from a truly exceptional person. So, please make your reservation with the Front Desk and keep your calendar open for a terrific lunch with your SYC girlfriends and a wonderful man!

The menu for the October luncheon is raspberry chicken salad with apples, pecans and gorgonzola, with dessert being cheesecake.

NEED A WASHINGTON STATE BOATER EDUCATION CARD?

You need to have and carry a Washington State Boater Education Card (BEC) if you are…….

SYC and USCG Auxiliary offer a “Fast Track” process to qualify for a BEC

Sign-up & Get the About Boating Safely Course© (ABS) at SYC Front Desk.
Cost $25.00 (Includes $10.00 examination fee).

Self-Study About Boating Safely Course© (ABS) at home

Attend Class October 19, 2008, Sunday Afternoon, Time: 1300 - 1700, SYC Heritage Room

Obtain a Boater Education Card, good for a lifetime, from Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
$10.00 by mail with copy of your ABS Course Completion Certificate or other state approved boating safety course completion credential.

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