Albany Yacht Club
NEWS
Commodore’s Message: Sean O’Neill
On behalf of the Officers and Members I would like to thank all who participated in
Docks In this year. The Friday to Sunday effort was excellent and we accomplished
more than ever before as we had all the docks in, anchored and electric running on
all docks by Sunday afternoon. Special thanks to Rear Commodore Bob Wason, Jim
Johnson and Captain Milt Papas for all their efforts in making the all hands activity
safe, efficient and timely. Joe Champion and George Clarity put up the water in cold
and windy conditions.
If you have been down to the docks you already know that we are off to an excellent
fishing season with the strippers right off our docks by April 20. Hopefully this will
encourage even more fishermen to reserve slips for this excellent sport fishing
season.
We are already planning our Opening Day program for Sunday, May 26 at 11 AM
with food and refreshments to follow from 12 noon to 3 PM. Ethel Whiteman has
graciously agreed to Chair the organizing committee so please step up when she puts
out her request for food and other assistance. Many hands make light work. I am
informed that Vice Commodore Jason Doling has secured a guest speaker from the
Ft. Crailo Historic Site just down the street from the Club.
We have heard that there are at least seven and maybe eight member boats for sale.
Currently we are down 25% in regular membership and dockage by members is also
off significantly. If these proposed sales take place the Club will have to redouble
our efforts to bring in new boating regular members to sustain our viability as a Club
and to stabilize our finances. Less members, fewer boats mean costs must be
shared by a shrinking membership so it is critically important for all of us to be
ambassadors for the Club and recruit new members to rebuild our membership. At
the May regular meeting the Board plans to bring a revised regular member initiation
fee proposal to be voted on in June. These revisions are an attempt to entice
boaters to give the AYC a shot in these tough economic times.
…continued on page 2
May 2013
Commodore’s Message (cont.)
Friday dinners and Wednesday Happy Hours have been reasonably well received and
our catered special dinners seem to be a big hit. As the weather is improving, please
support your club and also enjoy some great weather and socializing on the lawn and
deck. Carole is always looking for bar tenders and John Chupka needs cooks so don’t
be shy.
Jason Doling has been doing a great job on the dockside operations modernizing our
practices and making data driven decisions that will hopefully result in more revenue
and more efficient use of staff and available resources.
We are by no means out of the woods financially but we are significantly more solvent
than we were just 12 months ago so we have something to build on as we enter the
2013 season.
Finally, please visit our revamped website engineered by Jeff Gritsavage. Suggestions
and comments are always welcome. Go to www.albanyyachtclub.com
Vise Commodore’s Message: Jason Dooling
Our fuel dock is in full operation staffed from 8am to 8pm 7 days a week by Ron, Tom,
or Shawn. If you notice anything around the club, dock house or docks please let me
know. We also have a few dock slips that are still available for seasonal dockers if you
know of anyone. I am looking forward to seeing everyone in the water.
Visit our web page at www.albanyyachtclub.com
Health & Welfare - Rich Neenan
Gene Molitor was released from the Daughters of Sarah Rehabilitation Center on April
12th, he is now home recuperating after his surgery. Our thoughts and prayers are
with him at this time for a speedy recovery.
Memorial Service/Open House
Our annual Open House will be held Sunday, May 26th with a memorial service at
11:00 AM and refreshments from noon until 3:00 PM. Summer uniforms (white
slacks and navy blazers) are suggested for members for the memorial ceremony.
Each member is requested to bring a food item for the buffet which should be
brought to the Club by noon. Please sign the food donation list on the Club bulletin
board or call Ethel Whiteman at 463-6826 or [email protected] so we can
plan for adequate food.
We will also need help in the kitchen. There is a work detail sign-up sheet on the
bulletin board for volunteers to help for an hour that day serving food and cleaning
up.
Please help out!
This Month in boating: May
May 2, 1933: Although accounts of an aquatic beast living in Scotland's Loch Ness
date back 1,500 years, the modern legend of the Loch Ness Monster is born when a
sighting makes local news.
May 7, 1915: The ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat eight
miles off the coast and sank in just a half-hour with over 1,100 passengers losing
their lives.
May 27, 1941: The British Navy sinks the German battleship Bismarck in the North
Atlantic near France.
Please send articles and items of interest by the 25th of each month to:
[email protected]
MAY BIRTHDAYS
2
Lee Slater
13 Ellen Sinopoli
5
Marcia Leatso
14 Joe Lapetina
7
P/C Don Cusick
16 Len Hunter
10
Liz Skaarup
26 Judy Polsinello
13
Judy Hunter
MAY WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
1
Marie and Tom Mullen
28
Joyce and Gus Lapham
MAY
28
CLUB MEMBERSHIP
Ellen and Tom Sinopoli
ANNIVERSARIES
35 yrs
Stephen Stasack P/C
5 yrs
John Bergmann
32 yrs
George Clarity
4 yrs
John Chupka
31 yrs
Jacqulyn Hurley
4 yrs
Steven Feldman
22 yrs
Vincent Donnelly
4 yrs
Thomas Sinopoli
6 yrs
Douglas Windover
4 yrs
Kay Stafford
5 yrs
Allen Richter
May 6
May 13
May 26
MAY CLUB CALENDAR OF EVENTS
AYC Board of Director’s Meeting, 6pm
AYC General Member Meeting 7pm
AYC Open House 11am Ceremony, 12-3 Food and Festivities
Albany Yacht Club, 75 Broadway, Rensselaer, NY 12144