Get current PYC news and join the discussions at PYCnews.com

Our newsletter, Branch Creek Harbor News, is now online and the format is interactive. This is where you can find the most up-to-date PYC news and start or join a discussion with other PYC members. Come take a look at PYCnews.com.

Your 2013 PYC board

• Commodore: Mij Frierson
• Vice Commodore: Ed Hockenberg
• Rear Commodore: Pat Allen
• Secretary: Terri Tilford
• Treasurer: Rich Wells
• Dock Master: Lee Cline
• Sail Education: Help Wanted - Inquire Within!
• Buildings and Grounds: Chris Ross & Ricardo Oben
• Communications Director: Bruce Liese
• Harbor Master: Adam Switzer
• Assistant Treasurer: Doug McCall
• Social Director: Kelly Switzer
• Yearbook Editor: Bill Buckheit
• Past Commodore: Mij Frierson

Commodore's Corner

By Mij Frierson, s/v Let It Breeze

As we approach spring, it is hard to believe how quickly the winter has gone by. It seems like just yesterday that we were completing club closing. As we are all painfully aware, low water continues to be a concern as we anticipate the upcoming sailing season. While we all had hopes of a winter and spring that would bring greater precipitation that has certainly not been the case thus far. It is obviously too early to predict what the coming months will bring, however, the Board of Governors feels it is important to keep members apprised of actions we are taking relating to the low water situation.

As discussed at the fall membership meeting, our intention was to continue to monitor the water situation over the mid winter months and begin formulating a plan of action as we had more timely information and were closer to spring club opening. Please know that the board fully recognizes the impacts and inconveniences the water situation poses to all of us and the actions we are taking are done so with the intention of minimizing impacts to members, remaining focused on the financial health of the club, and maintaining the strength and loyalty of our membership.

If the water is slow to rise the club will offer a prorated dues schedule for lease, owner, and dry sail members based on the following schedule (your deposit will hold your slip reservation until these dates): July 1 – dues reduced to 75%; August 1 – dues reduced to 50%; September 1 – dues reduced to 25%; October 1 – no dues assessed beyond initial deposit.

While we realize there is no way to address the unique situations of each member, we feel the steps above provide options to lessen the impacts to all members while being mindful of the continued operational needs of the club as a whole. Certainly our hope would be that the spring provides the much needed water we all would like. We will discuss these issues in further detail at the upcoming membership meeting on March 9th, but want to make sure we are keeping members apprised in the meantime.

The strength of our membership is a hallmark of PYC and has been a constant through past low water, high water, and other adverse situations impacting the club. The Board of Governors remains committed to the future success of PYC and will continue to focus our actions on those items that best address the greater membership needs in times of challenge such as this. I look forward to seeing all of you on March 9th as we look forward to a hopefully improved sailing season in 2013.

Please visit PYCnews.com for more info about all PYC events. That's where you'll read about all current events at the club.

Hope to see you at the club soon.

Your Commodore,
Mij Frierson
s/v Let it Breeze
beamreach@att.net