September 2020 VOL 56 NO 8 Mount Vernon Yacht Club 4817 Tarpon Lane Bosun’s Whistle Alexandria, VA 22309 www.MVYC.net I sat down to write this month’s Bosun’s Whistle after a glorious nine-day Bridge boat trip with friends. There were six MVYC Commodore Commodore boats that made the excursion. Having our Lauren Bazel Lauren Bazel own “flotilla” made the trip just that much better because we each knew there was a [email protected] boat or two watching for you to make it to port; there were friends Vice Commodore who would jump over and help you with dock lines; there was a Dan O’Keefe group to laugh with at the pool; and there would always be someone [email protected] who wanted to take a longer walk to a later dinner to see more of the town. Rear Commodore Gene Diotalevi Our membership process, and all our activities, are designed to foster as much interaction as possible between current and [email protected] prospective members in order to cement in the minds of all involved that MVYC membership is a good fit. Just look at the cohesion of the 2020 Directors swim team or spend time at a raft-up or at one of our float-ins and you easily can see, we are doing something right. But it does take Treasurer – Dave Donock constant effort to keep this good thing going. [email protected] When each of us chose to join MVYC we did so because we wanted Secretary – Mitchell Mutnick to be part of this special community. A nice, friendly group of people [email protected] who are comfortable living by the “golden rule” to treat each other as you would like to be treated. An organization that people want to be Grounds Judy McCarthy a part of and are proud to be a part of. It takes an effort to think more [email protected] about others than about oneself, but that is what being part of a club Marna cott Kraft means. [email protected] When each of us chose to join MVYC we also signed on to the set of House - Terry Stott rules and guidelines that maintain order. Rules that are not there to [email protected] cramp your style, but rather to ensure that everyone’s experience at the Club is pleasant and enjoyable. Membership – Linda Sudhoff [email protected] Everyone is entitled to enjoy their time at the Club but that does not give anyone the right to do so at the expense of others. We can Pool ob Catron have fun at the pool without mayhem; we can relax on the docks [email protected] without making others uncomfortable; we can let our hair down and be ourselves without being disrespectful to the facilities or to other ocial Vacant members. It just takes an effort. [email protected] www.mvyc.net The Beacon September 2020 What makes MVYC special is the people. The friends. The camaraderie. We all share a love of boating and swimming, and the relaxation of being on the water. How we treat others when we fly the MVYC burgee or wear our branded bling should reflect the civilized, decent organization we all chose to join. During our recent flotilla, we also were able to shut out the stress and discord of the “real” 2020 world. It was an effort. Elsewhere in this Beacon is a letter from former MVYC Commodores that reminds us of the tradition in this club to keep our politics at the gate’s edge. I wholeheartedly endorse that sentiment and thank all those who endorsed that letter. This year has challenged us all. Our lives have been disrupted and many have grieved the loss of family members or friends. When we look for a place of calm and comfort, the one place we know we can go is to the Club. We all need to work hard to maintain that sense of calm but it’s worth the effort. Letter to the Beacon Letter to the Beacon Mount Vernon Yacht Club’s long-standing tradition of non-partisanship Request from Former Commodores When members enter the gates to the Mount Vernon Yacht Club, we want to go boating, see friends and picnic. And we are also a swimming club. We have a beautiful pool where members, their children, and friends can swim or just cool off. By long-standing tradition, we are not a club that engages in or endorses political events or slogans. We do not rent the club for political events or rallies. We ask members not to display political flags on their boats while in the marina. On rare occasions, the club has asked that members remove from their boats, signs, placards, flags, or pennants that make political statements, and the members have agreed. This is the way the club has been for as long as we can remember, and we hope it remains so forever. With respect to the upcoming general election, the past commodores listed below are asking club members to help preserve MVYC as a place where members can come to have fun and enjoy a respite from the turmoil of the day and the political season. So please, no political or contentious banners or signs at MVYC. Please keep our club a relaxed and relaxing place. John Mitchell 1985-1986 Ted Pearsall 1989-1990 Stewart Matthews 1997-1998 Jerry Skelly 1999-2000 Bonnie Breneman 2005-2006 Chris Ruckman 2007-2008 Bill Gard 2009-2010 Jerry Gray 2013-2014 Steve Donock 2015-2016 Alexi Stavropoulos 2017-2018 www.mvyc.net The Beacon September 2020 Summer Cruising While 2020 has presented some social challenges, some MVYC members have relied on cruising to meet them. In mid-July, even with the PRYCA Float In cancelled, an eager group (Mutnicks, OKeefes & Waltons) ventured down to Coles Point to enjoy the weekend. While there was no competition involved they did enjoy the company of several other PRYCA members that did not want to drop the Float- In from their schedules either. Since several trips down the Potomac River were planned, some boaters took the oppor- tunity to get long term slip rentals at Coles Point. This provided a home port before & after venturing out onto the Chesapeake Bay. In early Au- gust, after a short delay due to hurricane Isaias, the Hayes, Bonnie Breneman & the OKeefes enjoyed a few days travelling on the Chesapeake Bay. Jim Walton, our Power Fleet Captain, organized the annual Red Brown Fun Cruise. Thanks to our Commodore & Chris, the Waltons, Dyers, Ruckmans, Hollands, Hayes, OKeefes & Bonnie & Deen for making the trip. Thanks go out to Dave Curry for providing “Camp Curry” and to Diane Ruckman for bringing her traditional Monkey Bread & the all important “Yellow Birds”. As is customary, many toasts were offered to ensure all had ample opportunity to consume their share. She still won’t divulge the recipe. Thanks also to Mitchell Mutnick for arranging the Crab Fest www.mvyc.net The Beacon September 2020 Sunday morning, a few of the boaters braved the “sporty” conditions to return to home port, while the others, along with the Stotts, decided to delay a day before venturing out onto the Bay. The wait yielded water condi- tions that were calm as everyone traveled to their desired destinations. The Walton’s even managed to visit with a pod of Dolphins while heading across the Bay. Ports of Call were St Michaels, Safe Harbor Kent Narrows (formerly Mears Point), Cam- bridge Municipal Marina, Herrington Harbor South & Solomons Yachting Center. The OKeefes had a surprise on their visit to the Cambridge Yacht Club. They were greeted at the welcome table by the CYC Commodore, Nancy Johnson, the sister of MVYC member, Janice Spollen, & shared a MVYC burgee. Later on the trip the Waltons & the Dyers came upon the Solomons Island Yacht Club where they enjoyed a live band & were invited to brunch the next morning. After brunch, MVYC Vice Commodore, Dan OKeefe exchanged club burgees with their Commodore, Mike Stanton. Meeting boaters from other marinas is a wonderful part of the boating experience. If you haven’t ventured far from MVYC, you might consider a trip down the Potomac or onto the Chesapeake Bay -Chris Okeefe Grounds News So July was hot. The ground was parched. How will the plants survive? The sprinkler out front kept the gardens alive, thank goodness. And the Water Posse worked feverishly on the new Point Garden. Grounds Director Many thanks to Bonnie Breneman, Gayle Wood, Jo-Ann Muir and Doug Pickett, Judy McCarthy and Paul Raak, and to those last minute substitutes I had to occasionally grab. Most plants survived, a few didn’t. We will be looking for replacements in the fall. And then came August! www.mvyc.net The Beacon September 2020 The ninety degree days continued unabated for about 700 weeks or thereabouts. But if that wasn’t enough; then the rains came. Oh my, the rains! It is still raining now as I write! But with all that heat and sun and clouds and rain, again and again and again (and did I say more rain!) Mother Nature took over and everything grew! We had weeds out the kazoo! We had to call a meeting of the Weed Squad to assault the front garden. With Kathy Ichter, Larry Ichter, Doug Pickett, Adam Engleman, Paul Raak, and Roger Bowers in about two hours and many full bags later, we polished off that front garden, and more, to fare thee well. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You all did a fabulous job! The Point Garden Water Posse got to take some time off for fear of being accused of drowning the plants.