November-December 2013 www.mbyc.com

November 2, 2013 Hope College Regatta The sailing continues without a clubhouse

MACATAWA BAY YACHT CLUB • 2157 SOUTH SHORE DRIVE • MACATAWA, MI 49434 • 616-335-5815

1 COMMODORE’S REPORT On October 10th, 2013 I We recently had our first board meeting of the new year with stood looking at the pile of discussion on our new clubhouse project and other topics such debris that was formally our as: our member survey, our continued positive growth of beloved old Clubhouse. At new members, and discussion of our new governance model, first I was filled with a topic we will talk about more in the next issue. As always, nostalgic loss and almost our focus will be to add value to your Macatawa Bay Yacht found myself wishing the old Club membership. girl would rise back up for one more glimpse and a bit I look forward to working with our new Bridge and Board more time to reflect on our for 2013/14. Jeff Elhart as Vice Commodore, whose vision rich club history. and energy are a gift to the Bridge and whose friendship is appreciated. Rear Commodore Dick aka Admiral Becker, a And then I began the replay on how we got to this point in man I have known for many years and someone who will time. How the members backed the recommendation to tear provide a steady helm as we navigate the sometimes turbulent down the old and build anew. The tremendous financial waters of change at our club. support we received and of equal importance the encouragement given to all involved in this major undertaking. At this reading the Holidays are almost upon us. May we all And then suddenly on that beautiful sunny Friday afternoon, enjoy the comfort and joy of our friends and family during I smiled and envisioned how special the new Clubhouse will this special time of the year. As a reminder please join us on be, sitting so majestically on a piece of property which is the Thursday December 12th, at the Piper’s Pier Room for our envy of Lake Macatawa. I could not help but think how lucky MBYC Holiday party. Hope to see many of you there. I am to be your Commodore and to be a part of the legacy we are building for the next 50 years and beyond. And stay tuned for a possible St. Patrick’s party, if we can find the right location. Yes, hopefully I will again be serving the So what happens to a club without a clubhouse? As they say patented Irish coffee. “the show must go on” and it will. As many of you already know, Julie has taken up residence across the street in an office May the visual image of our new Clubhouse make for a very behind the post office and is already enthusiastically planning short Winter for all! for next year. We are grateful to the Eldean family for providing this space as part of their financial support of our Bob Malone building project. Commodore 2013/14

On October 19 and 20 two MBYC still managed a 3rd place. Second was members trailered to Nashville, Tennes- Rebel from Sarnia Yacht Club and First see to participate in the Lake Percy Priest place was won by Brad Boston sailing Yacht Club “Equal- with a izer” Regatta. 17 S2 mixed 7.9s raced. Scott crew of lo- Derby and Jim cals and Hole’s “Smile and Canadi- Wave” improved ans. The their performance fleet party in individual races at Paul but continue to be LaTours Rear Commodore, Dick ‘Admiral’ challenged to house was Becker was elected to the MBYC Bridge achieve a consistent fantastic at the Stockholders’ meeting of 31 Au- results in a series. The Bryant - Gamache and the nightlife in Nashville is memo- gust 2013 team on Matros ran aground, hit the rable. Everyone should plan to compete committee boat (luckily it’s metal...), and next year. Roger Gamache 2 Macatawa Bay

Yacht Club MBYC Flag Officers Commodore Bob Malone Vice Commodore Jeff Elhart Rear Commodore Dick Becker Board of Directors Immediate Past Commodore Tom Slanec Treasurer Tom Sligh Secretary Shae Kobs Director Jim DeWilde Director Alun Wilson Director Diane DeRoseau Director Dave Keegin Manager’s Report for our Logbook. Current members who Director Chris Krimendahl November …What ? I have to get want to update their photos need to either Director Scott Brooks Christmas shopping soon! E-mail, mail or drop off a color photo to Director Dave Shipman Seriously, this has been quite an experience: me as soon as possible. I am also updating Judge Advocate JD Stone seeing every item evaluated, packed and our e-blast list to be sure everyone is getting Management appropriately placed in the process of communication from the club as much as General Manager Julie VanderVeer moving out from a 50 plus year old building. possible. Executive Chef Jevon Reno Irena and I are finally up and running in Outside Manager Douglas Knapp our temporary office that Last but not least. Be sure Restaurant Manager Irena Miller the Eldean family has to join us on Thursday, Wind Scoop Editor Jon Bontekoe generously allowed us to use December 12 at our Web Scoop Nick De Foe free of charge. The office Holiday Celebration www.mbyc.com is located in the same Gathering at the Piper building as the post office Restaurant. The party is Our cover photo this month was all the way to the back (J.D. going to be held in the Pier taken by Tom Slanec on November Stone’s old office is how room and begins at 6:30 2, 2013 during the Hope College most members recognize it). pm. There will be lots of appetizer stations as well as Regatta, the last sailing event of the Our phone system is back up and running with the dessert. Your reservations season. Your editor could not deal same number (616)335-5815, and you can should be made through MBYC at with the emotion of putting an im- always reach me by e-mail at [email protected] or 616-335-5815. age showing the destruction of the [email protected]. Your club account will be charged for the ‘old’ clubhouse on the cover of the food portion of the evening. Drinks will Wind Scoop. See page 7 for pho- This time of year is actually a very busy be available to purchase at a cash bar. The tos to document the new beginnings time for our office. We have sent out 2014 cost is $32 per person for food/dessert, tax represented in the tearing down of slip holder contracts, assessment invoicing, and tip. Please join us for a casual, fun and final statements for the year. Next year’s evening while we wait for our new our aging building. race and social calendars are being put clubhouse. There will be building together and then we begin the process of construction updates available as well! Please send photos to member information updates, which you Before we know it, we will be sharing that [email protected] for our will see mailed to you soon. All of this 2nd level view. club print publications. It’s time to information is then processed and sent to submit a new photo of you for the Jon Bontekoe who will begin to create our Wishing you all a happy and blessed holiday 2014 Logbook. 2014 Log Book. Reminder * If you are a season! Julie VanderVeer new member we will need a member photo 3 September 27, 2013 the Change of Watch and Sailing Awards dinner was held in our clubhouse for the last time. Photographer Cheri Smith was there to proved us with photographic memories of the evening.

4 2013 SAILING AWARDS S2 7.9 Season Championship: Mitena Cup (Best corrected finish in Queen’s Cup): st 1 Place Smith Trophy, Don & Jean Bergman: Second Wind Willie J, Doug Petter nd 2 Place Slade Family Trophy, Jeff & Doug Padnos: K2 Vigilant Trophy (Best corrected time in Chi-Mac Race) RD 3 Place Slade Family Trophy, Peter Schwarz: Ol’ Blue Eyes Sufficient Reason, Mitch Padnos, Tracy Brand Peke Moore Trophy PHRF Tuesday Night Offshore: Old Goat Award ( 25 Chicago to Mackinac Races) Drumbeat Bob Hughes nd 2 Place Sufficient Reason, Mitch Padnos, Tracy Brand Don Thinschmidt rd 3 Place Willie J, Doug Petter Kollen Park Regatta: PHRF Offshore Saturday, May 25, 2013: Open Division: 1st Anthony Norris st 1 Place, Sufficient Reason, Mitch Padnos, Tracy Brand 2nd Don Bergman nd 2 Place, Willie J, Doug Petter 3rd Chris Boerema JY 15 Friday Night Series: PHRF Jib & Main: 1st Jack & Linda Knoblauch st 1 Place, Darren Lance 2nd Steve Haislet nd 2 Place, Josie Cheney JY 15: 1st Josie Cheney/Lexi Petter rd 3 Place, Dave Sligh Jr. 2nd Mitch Padnos/Karen Padnos JY 15 Women’s Thursday Night Series 3rd Grant Cheney/Tim English st st 1 Place Skipper, Josie Cheney, 1 Place Crew, Marcy Beyer Melges 17: 1st Dani Rast/Chris Rast nd nd 2 Place Skipper, Stacy VanHowe, 2 Place Crew, Wendy 2nd Mark Pinny/Patrick Dunn Ryder 3rd Tom Bryant/Mary Bryant rd nd 3 Place Skipper, Rachel Sligh, 2 Place Crew, Sherry Junior Awards: Velthouse Weersing Award: Charlie Sligh VanderLeek Hospice Regatta Plaque: Travis Aiken Award: Catlin Derby Spinnaker 1, Drumbeat, Ted Etheridge West Michigan Youth Sailing Team Trophy: Team Macatawa Spinnaker 2, Wolfe Pack, Joel Wolfe Jib & Main, Watermark, Mike Bremer

5 VICE COMMODORE’S REPORT OURClub MBYC New vote) pledged towards the new Clubhouse. 31% = 47 out of Clubhouse Capital 151 members who pledged have already paid PART OR ALL Campaign Pledges Rolling of their pledge. (Half of each pledge is due by December 1, In! 2013). 70% = 33 out of 47 members who pledged have paid their ENTIRE PLEDGE already! 53% = the total amount of Pledge … a solemn binding pledges that has ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED! promise to give. 151 Macatawa Bay Yacht Club What this means for us as members of MBYC…there is no Members promised to give construction loan interest being paid at this point. OURClub of their personal financial MBYC owes a huge debt of gratitude to each and every one resources in order that of the very generous and passionate members who had the OURClub MBYC could move forward with the next capability and desire to make this exciting new Clubhouse a generation of our clubhouse. Please note these significant reality. Thank you from all Macatawa Bay Yacht Club members! member capital commitment payment updates: 40% = 151 Jeff Elhart out of 382 active members (as of the May 24 Stockholders Building Committee Report Sailing Committee Report Hi members, Dave Shipman here, your I am proud to serve as the Sailing thought to be the main driver, along with representative with the construction Committee Chair for the 2013/2014 the fun season we enjoyed this year under team. I meet with the contractor and season along with a very talented group Julie’s leadership. Please welcome new subcontractors on a weekly basis to review of sailors and race committee volunteers. “Active “ level members : Jeff & Gretchen progress and answer questions that come The goal of the Committee is for Asfour, Jon & Charlene Anderson, up. I report our progress to Jeff Elhart leadership from both Macatawa Bay Richard & Mary Lyons Jr. and am here to help resolve issues under Yacht Club (MBYC) and Macatawa Bay the direction of the flag officers. Junior Association (MBJA) to be Total members: 420. Participating involved in each other’s respective Board members: 395. New members since June Did you get a chance to see the structure discussions so that both entities are 1, 2013: 17 or 57% of our goal of 30 by that has served us so well for the last 50 intentional about working together May 31, 2014 years come down? It was bittersweet but towards the same goal. Our mission as it we saved a lot of the remembrances, relates to the MBJA quote is: “We strive Marketing - Numerous iterations of our tangible and intangible, to put into the to be our community’s preeminent club name and burgee have been used new clubhouse. We want to build on resource for all forms of boating and over the years, including many different those impressions and objects to create a nautical education, including fonts, colors, and layouts. A project team home that will serve us well for the next seamanship, cruising, racing and has been formed to develop 50 years of memorable experiences. sportsmanship. MBYC will partner with recommendations to standardize use of the MBJA and others to provide training our club name and flag on signs, print, At press time, we are in the process of effectively and efficiently.” The MBYC web, apparel, and video. boring the deep pilings and filling them Sailing Committee will play an intricate with concrete and reinforced steel. role in reaching this mission. I look A special thanks to member Nick DeFoe Material removed from the boring will forward to providing the membership for creating, hosting, and managing our be used to elevate the ground so the with periodic updates on our club’s new website this year. Nick has clubhouse will be at the new ground Committee’s progress. David Keegin given a substantial amount of his time height. The pilings will join with the and knowledge as well as that of his footings and floor to create the Marketing & Membership company staff to this effort. The site has foundation and steel sub-structure. Look Committee Report been well received by members and has for the foundation to be poured in the Membership - Surprisingly interest been helpful in attracting new members. next few weeks. remains high with three new members, Alun Wilson plus six inquiries this period, in spite of You can watch our progress via the link winter and no clubhouse. Excitement on theMBYC web site. Dave Shipman about the new clubhouse project is 6 Kids’ Stuff

November 5, 2013 Concrete Forms in Place

Building the new club building: The first step Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 1000 hours was the day they tore the clubhouse down. By November 5 the construction crew was building and filling concrete foundation sections and deep pilings. A small group of long-time members could not stay away and showed up to witness the events of the day. Thanks to Barry Lilly, Doug Slade, Tom Slanec, Jeff Elhart, Bob Brock, Julie VanderVeer and others for submitting photos. You can watch progess on the webcam found on the MBYC homepage. 7 Macatawa Bay Yacht Club 2157 South Shore Drive Macatawa, Michigan 49434

December Social Event Thursday December 12 Holiday Party at Piper’s

Sun.Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. November-December 2013 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 Hope College NOVEMBER 8 Regatta 9 10 11 12 13 1415 16

1718 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

1 2 3 456 7 DECEMBER 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Holiday Party 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 Windscoop30 31 Race Events Copy Due Social Events 8