 Commodore's Corner
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Another busy month in the life of our great Club has whizzed by. The last three regattas were held, despite some really interesting weather conditions, capping off a very successful season. Thank you to all the Club volunteers that contributed to make this happen. On October 15th we enjoyed a fantastic Oktoberfest Celebration/Bonfire Night where we were joined by the Cocktail Class Regatta attendees and many of our Club Racing sailors and their guests. Mike and the staff outdid themselves with lots of yummy food and the weather was perfect for standing around a bonfire, enjoying s’mores!
The Board of Directors have been very busy getting ready for the Annual Stockholders Meeting, to be held on November 20th. A 2016/2017 budget has been created for approval by the shareholders and a new Board will be nominated. A minor change to the bylaws concerning membership categories will also be proposed. If you own shares in the Club, you should try to attend this meeting or assign your proxy to another party, as outlined in the proxy you received in the mail.
The pool is now closed for the season. Thank you to Warren Zimmerman for making some minor repairs to the concrete prior to the closing. A trusty band of volunteers, led by Heather Ransom, have finished off the work to the deck. Thank you to Dennis Staples, Buck Young, Todd Steffes, Rich Faulkner, Warren Zimmerman and Betsy Hahn for this latest effort. If Heather Ransom had known how much time she would spend on the deck when she took over the management of the house and grounds, she would probably have run for the hills with her hair on fire! Thank you so much Heather for all the time and effort you have put in to give us our lovely deck, which we have all enjoyed so much this year.
Linda Sholler and Joan Lohkamp have very kindly volunteered to be in charge of our food drive this year. Last year, your generosity enabled us to collect 280 pounds of much needed donations for the Rock Hall Food Pantry. These two very determined ladies are looking to break that record and I have no doubt they will. Some of the items needed now are: fruit cups, individual apple sauce, boxes of individual oatmeal packages, cans of Chef Boyardee pastas, cans of pork and beans and jars of peanut butter. These items are needed for the elderly living alone with limited cooking abilities. Of course anything else you donate will be gratefully received. You can drop off nonperishable items or pet food any time the Club is open. Please, please do not donate expired items. Linda had to throw away a significant number of expired donations this week because, due to the liability involved, the pantry cannot accept them.
The Technology Committee led by Connie Ranney have worked hard this year to put us on the cutting edge of technology. The introduction of the Wild Apricot software to manage many aspects of our membership database is the latest, and one of the most important. Thank you to our current Treasurer David Atlas, our new Treasurer Pat Kramer and Beth Dunn and Debbie Campion from the Membership Committee, for their extensive contribution to this effort. It will be of great benefit to us all, so I hope you have taken time to read the information that has been sent out by the Membership Committee explaining the use of this program. Many of you have already taken advantage of the ability to pay your dues and boat storage fees online. To everyone else, there is still time to take advantage of the dues discount by renewing your membership by November 30th.
Our biggest social evening of the year is the Commodores’ Dinner on November 19th. This is our opportunity to honor past commodores, present awards to our Junior and Club sailors, and recognize those members who over the last year have made a significant contribution to the Club. All three of these groups play an important role in our Club and that is what makes this evening so exceptional. We hope you will join us! Ladies, this is our opportunity to be a little ritzy, and gentlemen, snappy in a coat and tie!
Scroll down to read about all the other wonderful events that your Social Committee and fellow members have in store for the rest of the year. We especially need your feedback on a proposed New Year’s Eve Party. It sounds like a lot of fun to me, so let’s get it on the calendar!
Last but not least, I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with friends and family and enjoys safe travels whether near or far.
Heather Byrne
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Manage Your Membership!
It is membership renewal time and boat storage fees are also due. There is no dues increase for 2017! We are offering a discount if you pay your 2017 dues by November 30, 2016. A quick reminder that Membership Dues and Boat Storage Fees are billed annually and are in effect for the calendar year from January 1 to December 31.
2017 Dues
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If you keep or plan to keep a boat at RHYC, your Boat Storage payment is also due now for 2017. Those rates have remained the same since 2013 and are listed on our website.
Dues payment methods
You may pay by check (made payable to Rock Hall Yacht Club) or credit card by one of the following methods:
- online, by credit card / PayPal
- in person, drop off your check or pay by credit card
- on the phone, call Manager Mike G at 410-639-2182 with your credit card
- by mail, send your check to RHYC, PO Box 317, Rock Hall, MD 21661
Please consider paying your dues now to take advantage of the discounted rates offered until November 30, 2016.
The Rock Hall Yacht Club is now using the Wild Apricot Membership Management database. This will be an improvement to RHYC in many ways:
- It simplifies and automates management of our membership
- Gives members access to online & searchable membership directory
- Allows members to update their own contact information
- Allows secure online payment of membership dues and boat storage fees
- Will allow online ordering and payment of merchandise in the future
- Will allow event registration and payment in the future
- Facilitates easy donations by members
- Gives us the ability to invoice members both automatically and manually
- Easily processes refunds
- Maintains a secure, single source of RHYC membership.
If we have a valid email address for you, you recently received a dues renewal reminder. If you don’t have an email, we will mail you via USPS. It's easy to pay online, if you need any assistance, please contact Connie at Web@RockHallYachtClub.org
We also have a Membership table set up in the lobby of RHYC on the next few Friday evenings from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – if you pay via credit card on these evenings, you’ll receive a free, small gift (while supplies last)!
Let us know if you have questions.
Thank you!
The RHYC Membership Committee
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PLEASE DON'T WAIT
The holidays are rapidly approaching. RHYC emblazoned clothing and accessories make excellent gifts. Don’t procrastinate nor wait for the very last moment, shop now, you’ll feel better and so will we.
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New Year's Eve Party in Discussion!
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Those of us on the Social Committee are considering having a New Year’s Party and would like to know how many of our members would be interested in attending. Since the Club is closed, we’re thinking of it as a big “house party”!
Here’s what we’ve discussed:
8:00-12:30
Formal Wear – or as close as you want to be
Pot Luck – everyone bring an appetizer, hors d'oeuvres or dessert
Bar will Be Open (Kitchen Closed)
Music, Dancing
Hats, Noisemakers
Midnight Prosecco Toast
Charter a Bus from Rock Hall and Chestertown, for pick up and drop off, to alleviate any drinking and driving concerns. Based on our preliminary conversations with a driver, we’d need minimum 30 people and it would be $10 ea. The More people reserve, the less it would cost (this will involve a prepaid reservation).
Please contact me at social@rockhallyachtclub.org to let me know if you would be interested in attending or have anything to add to our discussions. I’ll keep you apprised of the feedback and the result!
Thank you in advance for taking the time to be a part of the discussion!
Debbie Campion |
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Oktoberfest and Bonfire at the Club
Oktoberfest and Bonfire was a great success and they were attended by 80 members and their guests.
We celebrated with delicious food, refreshing beverages and great conversation.
A full moon added charm to the evening as we enjoyed the roaring bonfire. Dessert was served at the bonfire in the form of “make your own s’mores”.
A shooting star was seen during our time around the bonfire, adding to the memories of the night.
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We look forward to gathering with everyone a number of times before year’s end.
Please respond by hitting the reserve button on your emailed invitation for each event.
Entrée choice and seating requests are needed for the Commodore’s Dinner.
November 19th - Commodores' Dinner
December 3rd - Holiday Cocktail Party
December 16th – Last Night at The Club for the Year
December 31st – New Year’s Eve Party
Susan Bowles
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Haven Yacht Club Annual Fall Dinner - A Perfect Evening at the Club
On October 22nd, The Haven Yacht Club had their Annual Fall Dinner at the Club. It was a perfect evening for 60 folks to enjoy the raw oyster bar with shucker, Jamie White, 12 lbs. of steamed shrimp and cheese tray during our Happy Hour. The buffet dinner that was prepared was a huge hit, as well. I was pulled aside throughout the evening to be told what a great job, Mike G and his staff did to make the evening perfect.
Please keep our club in mind when planning any special events for you or local organizations.
Beth Dunn
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Next Oyster Night - January 6, 2017
WOW! Is all I can say about the great turnout we had for our last Oyster Night for 2016. The dining room was packed and not a crumb was leftover at the end of the evening. Our next oyster event is scheduled for Friday, January 6, 2017. PLEASE make sure you make your reservations. It is the only way the kitchen staff can be prepared to have enough food available for everyone.
Beth Dunn
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October 15 RHYC Club Race Results
Race Committee: Lansing Williams and Dyer Harris
Wind: 0 - 1 or 2 Direction variable
A classic drifter. Call it "challenging" if you will. For the RC also. A third race was started, but abandoned with wind at 0. (It came up nicely about an hour later).
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This was the last scheduled Club Race for the season, and certainly a good turnout, weather notwithstanding. Sailing is always fun, and sailors will take whatever the windgods provide. There were 16 people sailing today, plus one person from New Hampshire who picked up a boat that the Sponars had fixed up, and took it back. Then there were two who manned the Race Committee boat (we rotate that duty). Two more boats could not come.
We would like to see more next season. A large number of our club members sail or have sailed, perhaps in another class of boat. All classes are invited; we can handicap. Like to learn to sail? Connie Ranney is waiting for you. Like to try out a Windmill? The RHYC fleet can provide you with loaner for the afternoon. Like to just ride? It seems like every race day one of us needs a crew, and would be delighted to take you out.
Dyer Harris
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RHYC HUNTERS
The Club has a goose blind available to Club members for use during this year’s goose hunting season.
If you wish to reserve a date, Bill Bernhard and Mike Babowicz will be keeping a calendar for the Club. For reservations, required qualifications, instruction or any other questions contact Bill Bernhard at hunting@rockhallyachtclub.org
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Donate your yacht, boat or boating equipment to our RHYC Sailing School! RHYCSS appreciates your donation of good quality boats and boating equipment. RHYCSS can provide a tax-deductible donation receipt.
- POWER BOATS
- SAIL BOATS
- BOATING EQUIPMENT
The RHYC Sailing School is a 501(c)3 educational public charity. Boat and related equipment donations help us to provide scholarships for sailing lessons for children.
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Club Hours
Please watch your email for This Week at the Club to get current club hours.
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Please watch your email for This Week at the Club to get updates and specials. And don't forget our Facebook page, website and club calendar!
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