March 2025 Newsletter

 Editor: Mary Lu Hodgins

We did not advertise this trip as it was a spur of the moment idea.  Several boaters expressed an interest in joining us if we were to do this again in the future.  Others have gotten together to arrange club cruises to Cobourg for the Canadian July 1^st holiday.  Again, this was word of mouth and was well attended.  Both Sail and power participated.

I have been asked to organize another club cruise and have chosen the northwest end of Lake Ontario with multiple destinations (marinas and yacht clubs) over a period of approximately three weeks as an itinerary.  See the destinations and dates below.

I understand that most boaters may not be able to join for all of the cruise but would like to participate in joining some of the cruise.  I am setting this up so that those that may be interested can let me know which stops and dates they want to join.  Unfortunately, since covid, marinas and clubs require reservations and reluctantly allow docking only if available, therefore I am going to try and reserve slips at each of the locations for 5 to 7 boats on the dates specified.  If you are interested, please let me know and which segments you want to join.  This is open to both sail and power.

• 6/30, 7/1 - Cobourg (40 miles from OOYC) Reservation by boat owner as deposit required.
• 7/2, 7/3 – Whitby (34 miles from Cobourg)
• 7/4, 7/5 - Frenchman’s Bay Yacht Club – (13 miles from Whitby)
• 7/6, 7/7 - Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club – (3 miles from FBYC)
• 7/8, 7/9 – National Yacht Club (10 miles from ABYC)
• 7/10, 7/11 – Mimico Cruising Club (4 miles from NYC)
• 7/12, 7/13 – Port Credit Yacht Club (5 miles from MCC)
• 7/14, 7/15 – Royal Hamilton Yacht Club (22 miles from PCYC)
• 7/16, 7/17 – New Port Yacht Club (8 miles from RHYC)
• 7/18, 7/19 – Port Dalhousie Yacht Club (19 miles from NPYC)
• 7/20 – OOYC (48 miles from PDYC)

I understand that the season hasn’t started but would like to get feedback as to interest in this cruise.  You can let me know via email at larryt22@hotmail.com.  Use “Club Cruise” as the subject.  You can also call or text me at 561-846-2366.  If I don’t pick up, leave a message. 

Dock Repair/Rebuild Team:

This has been a winter that is reminiscent of winters years ago.  Freezing cold, snow, ice on the creek.  All point to the potential of having increased damage to the docks and more specifically the dock poles.  I am looking for volunteers to be on a team to assist with the replacement of dock poles this coming spring and to also be available to do some minor repairs during the season if needed.  I will also be relying on this team to assist with the rebuild of the main dock that will be started this coming season.  The following are the benefits:

• Pay – None
• Health Care – None
• Profit Sharing – None
• Free coffee
• Title – Assistant Dockmaster Construction
• Lots of “atta boys” from the Board - Priceless
• Self-satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping keep OOYC a “working club”.

I will accept and approve applications from all who would like to be considered for this/these positions.  Please call or email me (see above) to let me know.

All Membership invoices have been emailed as well as snail mailed (USPS).  They are due. Please pay yours if you have not yet.  Thank you to all of those who have paid your membership dues.  I personally appreciate it because it has made my job easier, and the club definitely benefits from prompt payment of invoices.  If you need an additional copy of your invoice, please let me know and I will get it right out to you.

I am very excited to be in the role as treasurer and would like to thank everyone on the board for their assistance in my transition.  A very special thanks goes out to Christine Zimmerman for answering all my ignorant questions and bailing me out when I have made mistakes in the club’s management software, Club Express.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call/text me at 619-708-0397 or email me at treasurer@ooyc.org.

Tim

Cortney envisions her restaurant as a hub where friends gather to enjoy culinary delights that not only tantalize the taste buds but also foster connections and friendships, ultimately enriching the local community through the joy of shared flavors and experiences.

With a focus on locally sourced ingredients and a commitment to fostering community ties, Cortney aims to create not just a dining experience, but a gathering space for members and friends.

Culinary passion serves as the foundation for a chef's career, driving creativity and innovation in the kitchen. For Cortney, this passion began in childhood, inspired by family traditions and local ingredients. The chef's commitment to mastering culinary techniques reflects a dedication to both personal growth and the art of cooking, which is essential for success in the competitive culinary landscape.

We look forward to seeing you at Riverside Retreat, where each dish tells a story, and every gathering strengthens the bonds within our community. As a result, Cortney hopes to create unforgettable experiences that celebrate not only flavor but also the shared moments that define the essence of community, making each visit memorable.

Good luck Cortney!

Cortney will be providing the club with amazing dishes under the restaurant name “Riverside Retreat” at our clubhouse on Friday and Saturday as well as providing food and bar on Thursdays during the racing season.

Opening day will be Friday, May 23^rd at 5:00 PM. We will publish the season schedule along with the menu, special events and more details as soon as practical.

We decided we would create posts on the official business page and “boost” them – turning them into ads that show up on the FB pages of people outside our membership.  I also looked into the on-line version of the Orleans Hub, which allows a similar sort of post-turned-ad that will enable us to reach over 10,000 people each edition.

While our primary objective is to generate interest in club membership, we also have an immediate need for a lead instructor for the sailing instruction program and agreed to boost a post to generate interest in that position.

As Marketing Director, I created a schedule of post topics and a budget for boosting.  We will post a new message daily (REALLY) with the subject rotating through the week. 

Sundays will feature our deep water docks;

Mondays, the restaurant/bar;

Tuesdays, social life at the T dock;

Wednesdays, the clubhouse and facilities;

Thursdays, racing;

Fridays, pickleball;

Saturdays, parties and special events. 

Every post will also feature the special half-price offer for new members. 

I will begin by creating text for each post of the week.  The membership boosted posts will run for 27 weeks.

Yes, this is a lot of work.  And I will need a LOT of help from the rest of the Marketing Team and from every member of the club – first to illustrate the texts that I create and over time to help create posts following the model and the schedule I create.  If YOU can help, perhaps by signing up for one of the days/subjects, either for every week or even just for a few weeks, please contact me so I can get you on the schedule.  It is critical for all of us to grow club membership, so it is equally critical for those who are able to help with this new membership marketing drive.

Trish 

MarketingDirector@OOYC.org

Rear Commodore, Larry Beneway

Larry

RearCommodore@OOYC.org

*We need your help recruiting AND retaining our club members! 

Need an incentive? We’ve got one for the summer of 2025! *See Below*

Prospective Members:

Have you had anyone in mind to recruit as a new club member? It’s a fantastic season for them to join! We have a very unique offer for our new docking members this summer. If we successfully fill our empty docks, we will likely not offer this again so listen up! 

🚨Any new boating member for 2025 will receive 50% off their membership dues and 50% off their dock fees for their first year.

Also, the existing member that recruits that new member will receive $100 off their own membership!

🚨For new social member recruits. They will receive $100 off their new membership and you as a member will also receive $100 off your membership! 

*All rebate checks will go out in August when the board’s duties and demands slow down a bit.*

Where is the limit on rebates? Well, once your membership is paid for, we’ll cut you off. I’d be thrilled if we had that “problem” Let’s go! 🎉

Member notes:

Thank you all who have promptly paid your club dues! Not only does it enable us to pay taxes and bills, but also allows us to plan and budget for the upcoming boating season. Thank you also for not hesitating to reach out when you have questions. 

We want you to understand how very valuable and needed every one of you is to our club family. So many quietly volunteer their time to keep our club running smoothly and our grounds, docks, and clubhouse looking neat and tidy! There is no way a club of 200 people, large grounds with docks, multiple buildings, active sailing schools, bar, restaurant, full racing calendar, social calendar etc. can keep moving forward without your help. Please consider new ways you can get involved this summer. Need ideas? Ask us how!

We would like to announce our newest honorary members! We have had some members who have offered faithful, lifelong service and dedication to our club. This past month we have decided that both Kayleen Muscarella and John Pulver are worthy of this special designation. It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of those who have not only physically built our existing club but have set an example to all of us of faithful exemplary service and a model of how to build a real familial-like community! And a special thanks to both Christian and John Muscarella for stepping into the full membership level to continue the Muscarella legacy of club support and involvement! 

Last, but not least, in case you missed the announcement: One of our existing honorary members, David Sturges, has passed. This was David’s obituary that was posted on the Orleans Hub:

On April 19, 1997, Dave married Jana M. Laxa at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hamilton, New York. After retiring a second time, Dave continued to tutor adults preparing for GED mathematics exams and taught several adult education classes in economics well into his 80s, including classes at the Camp Georgetown Correctional Facility. In addition to a life of fruitful work, he enjoyed reading, cycling, walking, skiing, opera, symphony, lively discussions, traveling, and opening the doors of his and Jana’s lake house to loved ones.

Dave is survived by his wife, Jana; his daughter, Nora Sturges (Geoff Becker) of Baltimore, Maryland; David Vinopal of Boise, Idaho, and Jan Vinopal (Becky), also of Boise, Idaho; Edward (Mette Egstrand) Vinopal of Horsholm, Denmark; his grandchildren, Bruno Becker, Janny Vinopal, Mischa Vinopal, Calvin Vinopal, and Nola Patrick; and his 2 nieces, Linda Moore and Carol Petronio. He was predeceased by his sister, Nancy Woodcook.

The burial service will be held at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Hamilton, New York at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mid-York Senior Homes at Madison Lane, the Hamilton Food Cupboard, and the St. Thomas’ Discretionary Fund. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 25 Broad St., Hamilton, NY 13346.

OOYC Events!

We are beginning to plan our events for 2025! We are looking for any members that would like to join the Events Planning Committee! Contact Carl Engle, Lori Engle or John Zimmerman! Join us and have fun running and planning events for 2025! Last year's events were highly successful. Let's make 2025 even better!