The beginning of June is upon us and it seems like we just opened the club. Time is flying by.

This weekend we had our annual Memorial Day weekend bash and I’m pretty sure everyone there had a great time.  In typical Kansas fashion the wind blew hard and I saw lots of boats brave the high winds and heavy waves.  Lots of great food and an evening of good music made for a terrific end to the weekend.

Our next social event is this weekend: The Annual New Member Pot Luck.  Come on out and help us celebrate with our new members. The club will be supplying hamburgers, hot dogs – and either chicken or turkey brats for those that would prefer something besides red meat. Bring a side dish and join the fun.

Also coming soon (this month!) will be the Luekemia Cup Regatta, over the weekend of June 15th.  There is still time to register if you would like to race or just come on out to watch the action from the shore.

Meet our new Buildings and Grounds Co-Directors, Ricardo Oben and Chris Ross

On a board-related matter, it was with a sad heart that I accepted Penny Morgan’s resignation from the board.  Penny has been a great help on the board for several years but unfortunately other projects are consuming her time so she has decided that it’s time to pass the baton.

The board held a meeting at the club on Sunday to discuss her replacement. Chris Ross and Ricardo Oben have accepted the position of Director Buildings and Grounds. The board unanimously accepted them as new board members.

Mij Frierson, Commodore
s/v let it breeze
beamreach@att.net

I was glad to see all who could make it to the Winter Membership meeting.  We had an excellent turnout. The biggest topics for discussion were the breakwater and this year’s budget.

John Anderson gave a very good report for the Long Range Planning Committe on the options for a new breakwater. Four club members (John Anderson, Gary Templeton, Ricardo Oben and I) had traveled to an Arkansas marina that was using three different types of breakwaters – where we could see them in action. We are waiting on some additional engineering data before we make a decision to take to the board and the membership next fall.

The new budget was passed with no changes.

Now we get to look forward to the club opening April 14th and the start of another great sailing season at PYC. Please join us for the club opening where we open up everything after the winter shut down and clean away any issues created by winter weather.  Take a look at the Club’s social calendar and sign up to host one of our great parties.

We look forward to seeing you at the club.

Your Commodore,

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

Monroe Dodd - December, 2011

PYC’s 40th anniversary year finished the way it ought to.

One weekend we donned old clothes and work gloves, fixed things that were broken, cleaned up the grounds and stowed gear for the winter. The next weekend we put on our Sunday best and dined and danced the night away. That’s how Perry Yacht Club has survived so well through its first four decades – by members working and playing with equal passion.

Traditionally the final events of the club season are the fall membership meeting, club-closing work day, and the year-end dinner and dance. This year the Board of Governors combined the first two on October 29. The weather smiled on us that day, providing sunny skies and coolish temperatures for volunteer work crews. And what work we did!

We, the members, re-roofed the storage shed. We removed much of the array of discarded objects from the back storage lot. We repaired the wooden steps that ascend from the east parking lot to the clubhouse. We replaced loose cleats on the end of Rodeo. And we did the annual chores: cleaning and organizing the clubhouse, turning off water to the docks, winterizing the committee boat, storing junior sailing boats and cutting firewood. Property manager Gary Templeton, who each year organizes and gets material for the work day, marveled at this year’s results. That afternoon, a new Board of Governors for 2012 was elected at the fall membership meeting. Sandwiched before and after that session, club committees worked on problems and began figuring out a schedule for the major projects that lie in PYC’s future.

In sum the day was a lot of toil and sweat with excellent results. What better reward for us all than the year-end dinner and dance on November 5? The plans laid by our social director, Sue Clegg, worked out like a charm. The banquet room was good and the food was fine. The ceremony was – fairly – short! And the music kept us hopping until midnight. Once again, John Huffmire found for us a thoroughly great band.

An important part of ever year-end party is recognition and this year’s began with the racers. Congratulations to Bill Mendel and the crew of Fast Lane, this year’s over-all winner. The John Gall Member of the Year Award went to Richard “Ricardo” Oben. The 2011 board was honored for its work and the 2012 board presented.

As always, of course, the recognition belongs to all the members for making Perry Yacht Club an exciting and satisfying place to sail and gather with friends. That makes 40 years, and we’re still going strong.

Thank you for the opportunity and honor of being your commodore. I’ve appreciated your support through the year and urge you to give the same to Mij Frierson as he once again steps up to the commodore’s job.