Upon walking into the monthly membership meeting of the Presque Isle Yacht Club in November of 2000, I was greeted by Past Commodore Sam Best, sporting his inimitable Sam Best grin, with the question “Hey buddy can you help us out”?  Having been a member then for only a short time and being full of a certain naïve, energetic enthusiasm, I blindly answered “Sure”!  Next thing you know I was nominated and elected to the Board of Directors, something of which I had not a clue about.  Roberts Rules of Order might has well been a type of poker game for all I knew.  I was at once overwhelmed, confused and mostly apprehensive of being able to do justice to the position.  Many years have passed since and along the way have included four terms on the Board, with two of those as Board Chairman and three years serving on the Bridge officer ladder.  This year, the culmination of my PIYC education will be in serving the club as Commodore.

 The real story however in this progression from that naïve “sure” to the present, is not about one individual but rather about those who along the way enabled that evolution, both individually and collectively, the membership, the people, of Presque Isle Yacht Club.  From sage advice given by senior members and veteran officers, to countless others that endured foul weather and sacrificed good in attending to the various, constant work of the club at work parties and otherwise, all who gave of themselves for the betterment of the Presque Isle Yacht Club.  From the cooperation and patience of so many over the years, to those who rightly questioned or challenged what they thought wrong, airing grievance through due process.  It is they, who by their leadership, their example, their challenge and by their camaraderie, that ultimately required and facilitated that growth process.  It is they who in the end will have made all these many years worthwhile and fulfilling.  One cannot stand without others.

 It is in that spirit that a principal part of my agenda as Commodore is to challenge the membership to serve the club in unity to our mutual benefit. We, the membership, are the club.  Everything else, from property, to clubhouse, to docks, to the boats themselves, is essentially mere evidence of our combined effort and association.  Standing together, mindful of the legacy of those that have gone before, we will continue to flourish as we have previously enjoyed.  Standing apart, as individuals and bystanders, we will likewise warrant our eventual demise.  The Presque Isle Yacht Club is each and every one of us and WE all need YOU!