COMODORE'S COMMENTS JUNE 8, 2024 ________________________________________________________________________________ May 24th Commissioning at Pettipaug Yacht Club~ our 2025 and 75th Season is Open! With the skis clearing at 4:45 and members/ guests arriving at 5, the atmosphere on the deck was celebratory! With an immense amount of help from the Board, my friends and so many members who volunteered~ the Memorial, Commissioning and 75th Anniversary Ceremony was wonderful. I wished many more of you were able to attend but there is MORE to come this season! I would be remiss in not thanking those who participated in helping this event and the "to-do list" to come to fruition. We started with a to-do list in January and by the morning of May 24th, 99% of the list was accomplished. WORK PARTIES (WP) were held in the April and May rain, many of you showed up for all work parties sporting foul weather gear and sunny attitudes. Coffee and doughnuts were donated for one of the three WP. Installation of the fence, new mowers and grounds equipment, power washed deck, docks in- the- water, gravel in the boat yard, new signage and stickers! Moving and arranging of boats, 3 new motors, wonderful new "Welcome Sign" (2024) , painting of the main building, staining and painting of building trim, stairs railings etc., new TV and water cooler in Commodore's room, new umbrellas and newly painted picnic tables, plants here and there, new locker in the ladies room, 4 new Adirondack chairs assembled by members and dock box on 2024 new South Deck. Fabulous little wooden chairs loaned to us for the ceremony. Copious proof readers for the new roster! 75th Anniversary Meetings host, PYC's own celebrated songsters: Diane Chodowski and David Coller, new ladders for the docks (to be installed) new stairs for South Deck, road-work (done 6.8.2025) new railings to picnic table area, all screw-holes around the building filled and on and on. Painting, planting and maintaining are on-going works in progress. THANK YOU ALL! SPECIAL THANKS and not enough recognition to all our Past Commodores who donned their blue jackets, sent wonderful PYC Memories and took their seats at the ceremony. We wish that more could have attended and PYC sends our love and thoughts to Ed and Marsha Birch. In attendance: Jeff Going, Jeff Lovelace, James Coan, Diana Coan (first female Commodore) John Kennedy, Sandy Sanstrom, Cameron Taylor, Chris Manero, Vic Hoehnebart and Mischa van Berkel. Each of those present and others who could not attend have contributed and continue to contribute to the sustenance and legacy of this cherished little spot on the Connecticut River. THANK YOU ALL! GRATITUDE to a wonderful Board and Officers: Peter Charbonnier (Treas.), David Wemett (Vice-Commodore), Jeff Going (Rear Commodore), Joanna Roemhild (Secretary) Sandy Sanstrom, Bob Cashman, David Courant, David Courcy, Doreen Joslow, John Walsh, Mary Lee Schroeter (Membership) . THANK YOU ALL! COMMODORE'S RACE: PRO: Bob Cashman and team of devoted race committee members. Results posted. BRAVO to all who participated in this race under challenging weather conditions. CELEBRATION PARTICIPANTS 5 p.m. Welcome: Mary Lee Schroeter 5 p.m. Bartenders: Francine Cornaglia and Valerie Nucci 5-5:30 Snacks on the deck: Roemhild, Bowditch, Robinson, members 5:30 p.m. CEREMONY: Trumpeter: Ethan Dean-VRHS Prayer: Joanna Roemhild (PYC Secretary) Past Commodore announcer: Bob Cashman (PYC & PJSA BOG/IT) "God Bless America" PYC Members: Diane Chodowski and David Coller, POEM: Dick Hutchinson, READING of 2024 and 2025 new members: John Walsh, Stephanie Taylor- list assembled by Membership Chair: Mary Lee Schroeter. " This Land is your Land" Diane and David, 8 Bells in honor of club members who died in 2024-2025: Lucy Bowditch, Doreen Joslow, Toby Doyle. "Opening of 2025 Season" Peter Charbonnier. Canon: Sandy Sanstrom~ Supper: David and Roz Courant and all members who brought a dish to share. THANK YOU ALL! I will be sending an attachment with further details mentioning of these volunteers and their contributions. SPEAKING OF ATTACHMENTS I have been told that I am "fixated on rules". I plead guilty of this because I believe that Pettipaug has so few rules and offers their members so much for the fee that is charged and the amount of work that is consistently and continually done "free" by volunteers for the good of all PYC members. The RULES have been in existence for over the decade plus that I have served on the board. I have attached the "RULES" . This year there has been an addition #3 and changes made to #5. These "RULES" apply to ALL members for the safety and welfare of ALL members. If you are receiving PYC emails, no excuse not to know what the expectations are. Our new attendant, Olivia Cunningham will start on Saturday June 14. Olivia is asked to abide by the rules as are the PYC BOG. PLEASE be respectful to not put the attendant or BOG in compromising situations. Let's ALL have a wonderful season and participate in sailing and racing, water activities, great events and enjoy the beauty of being on the river and one another's company at PYC! This is by far the worst part of being Commodore. COMMUNICATION Hopefully you have all received the 2025 PYC Roster. The Commodore's Comments will be sent once a month. There will be weekly updates and reminders as there are many events being held throughout the season. Please send me any comments, listings (for sale/ wanted/ a story, an observation etc.) Thank you! MID-SUMMER RACE and PARTY Saturday, July 12th. More information will be sent in the weekly reminders regarding the Mid-Summer Regatta and the NOR posted to the web-site. We have approximately 344 members and a month to get your " ACT TOGETHER" for the second annual TALENT SHOW for all ages and all talents! Sign up to be a talent for this event! commodore@pettipaug.org<mailto:commodore@pettipaug.org> Talent show will follow après Regatta summer PYC drinks on the deck and pot-luck supper . Not interested in being a talent but would like to help, please let me know. commodore@pettipaug.org<mailto:commodore@pettipaug.org> PYC WOMEN SUMMER SUPPER PARTY to be held on the PYC Deck and Commodore's Room. WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 at 5:30. BYOB and something edible to share with old friends, new friends and new members . RSVP commodore@pettipaug.org<mailto:commodore@pettipaug.org> team: Nancy Devens , Lisa F., Pat K., Cristina A., Joanna R. 1. PETTIPAUG SAFE POWER BOATING COURSE: GREAT FATHER'S DAY GIFT! June 14 - 15 On land & water. Two-day hands-on Power Boat Operator course (Saturday and Sunday): Sign up NOW! At the end of each course, students are encouraged to take the Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation test. Click here for full details.<mailto:Click%20here%20for%20full%20details.>.Please contact: bob@nerdsintheknow.com<mailto:bob@nerdsintheknow.com> 1. PYC PRIVATE PARTY MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT~ Gather by the river! Click here to access directly<https://pettipaug.org/PDFs/PYC-Agreement&Guidelines.pdf>. Please contact me directly with any questions, dates you would like to use the club or comments that you have. priscilla.robinson04@gmail.com<mailto:priscilla.robinson04@gmail.com> or commodore@pettipaug.org<mailto:commodore@pettipaug.org> 1. SHIP'S STORE: Perfect gifts available for Father's Day! Check out web-site and order today! Alison Charbonnier: shipstore@pettipaug.org<mailto:shipstore@pettipaug.org>. Board Meeting Tonight. More to follow tomorrow.