RYC LOBSTER PICNIC & ELECTION of OFFICERS Saturday, September 25 Rockport Boat Club

Directions – Rockport – take the driveway by the photographic workshop; go to Rockport Marine; take a right and follow to the boat club.

Social time starts at 2:30 with lobsters and steaks ready between 4 and 4:30 followed by a brief meeting including election of officers concurrent with the end of the meal.

The club provides lobsters or steaks, chips and mixers. Members bring an appetizer, covered dish or dessert to share with others and beverage of your choice. Members who bring guests are charged $7.00 for each guest.

Contact Ivan Hills by 6 pm, Tuesday, September 21 if you plan to attend. Ivan can be reached at hills@midcoast.com or 5948129. If you leave an email (preferred method) or phone message (if email is not available) please give your name AND phone number AND indicate lobster or steak for each person attending. Also note any guests attending. Guests can be paid for at the picnic.

Help wanted! Anyone who wishes to help set up, cook or take down at the lobster picnic please tell Ivan when you call.

From the Commodore's locker:

Wow! Two years have passed since I took over the helm from Toni and will now pass the tiller to Al who will do a great job. It’s been a really interesting, rewarding, and educational cruise from starting line to finish.

I, of course, want to thank the membership for supporting me with my agendas. I especially want to thank the EXCOMM for generously giving time traveling to many meetings (at their own cost), offering valuable advice (so I didn’t get keel-hauled), and responding to over one hundred EXCOMM emails. I really want to acknowledge the volunteer time given and thank: Tay Vaughan for the web site, Maryjane Shiverick for the cruise schedule, cruise reports and maintaining the club history, Mike Sodano (with sidekick Dick Bentzel) for activities, Dave Jones and Patti Dinse for the weekly race series, Ken & Susan Priest and Ian & Holy Kopp for the Rockland / Northport race, Dave Hoy for race publicity, Diane Hebert for lots (and lots) of membership time, Gary Cran keeping financial records with monthly reports, Ivan Hills for doing excellent minutes for both EXCOMM and general meetings along with mailings and collecting data, Al Hodsdon for his council and being prepared to take over as commodore, and Sharon Stedman for managing the clothing. I also need to thank the spouses for letting their ‘other’ half participate. I’m sure I’ve left someone out and I want to apologize now.

This upcoming year will prove to be a challenge for the club, as it will need to consider

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its overall goals and financial situation. A clearer picture will be presented at the lobster picnic for the membership to ponder. The survey results received by Ivan are in this newsletter. The deficit as noted in the letter sent by me in July has changed to less than listed but still a significant number.

After September 25, I’ll take on the role of past commodore and that will change what I do for the club. I’ll no longer write the newsletter or have you suffer all the emails sent by me. Member’s emails to me, currently, for administration purpose will have to go to the appropriate club officer. I’ll no longer be responding to these.

Hope to see you all at the annual RYC Lobster Picnic – now where did I leave my lobster hat?

Sincerely,

Elected Officers:

Commodore: Al Hodsdon Vice Commodore: Charles Faulkingham Rear Commodore: Maryjane Shiverick Secretary: Ivan Hills Treasurer: Gary Cran

If other members are interested in running for an elected office (as listed above) please contact: Mike Sodano at 207-549-5013

RYC End Hunger Raffle

The raffle sponsored by the RYC is for the benefit of the Area Interfaith Outreach. Tickets are still available from Dave Jones and will also be sold at the RYC Lobster Picnic. The winner will receive an all-inclusive 7-night stay for 2 people including all meals and drinks at the Tamarijn Beach Resort in Aruba. Club members Jack and Nancy Callahan generously gave this gift. The drawing will be held during the Lobster Picnic on September 25. Tickets are $5 each or 6 for $25. Contact Dave Jones 207-236-7048

RYC Race Committee Report

Dave Jones informs the RYC EXCOMM that the race committee has selected Doug Pope as the chair for 2004/2005. Doug will be confirmed by the EXCOMM and will also be a member of that group.

RYC Clothing/Burgee Orders

When placing an order for items to be mailed please add a separate check made out to the person who is listed as the contact on the order form for $4.00 for each $30 of ordered items. Postage and packaging are not included in the price but the tax and volunteer time is.

Club Survey Results

The following is from the membership: 38% responded (61 individual members) Numbers in parenthesis reflect information from the forms received.

1. I am primarily interested in (circle all thatapply): a) Cruising (25) b) Racing (13) c) Social events (21) d) Speakers and programs related to boating (15)

2. I am willing to pay higher dues to have a"home base" for the Club that would be available to all members at any time. (17)

3. I would rather have lower dues with meetingspace arranged on an ad hoc basis. (16)

4. Water access through Club facilities isa) Very important to me (13) b) Somewhat important (1) c) Convenient (6) d) Unneeded by me (13)

Commodore’s Note: Information about the most recent club finances and two informal meetings with Warren Kaericher of Atlantic Challenge and members comments will be discussed at the lobster picnic.

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