Bellingham Yacht Club

Members discuss and listen to Commodore Foti and Project Lead Mike Allsop

December 9, 2009 – Commodore Pete Foti held a General Membership Meeting and presented the proposed remodel for our club. This meeting was the last in a series of presentations on the remodel and a motion was made from the floor, seconded, and overwhelming passed by those in attendance. You can read the Summary Report To Date prepared by Past Commodore Joe Coons that does an excellent job of describing where we stand today.

Heading this project for our Club is Mike Allsop. Mike has already spent hundreds of hours researching and steering this project. As the Project Manager Mike will be coordinating hundreds of small details as well as scheduling the contractors, subcontractors and volunteers. Mike cannot do this alone, and to this end there are multiple subcommittees that have been established:

Demolition & Construction Subcommittee
Committee: Mike Allsop, Craig Henderson, Wayne Kelsoe, Mark Santosuosso

Interior Design Subcommittee
Committee: Maya Allsop, Missy Steffan and Jane Sylvester

Lounge Design Subcommittee
Committee: Jonathan Knowles, Dick Johnson, Joe Orem, Claire Beich

Internal Technology Subcommittee
Committee: Troy Curran, Terry Tavelli, Andy Brown, Ray Poorman, Joe Coons

Finance Subcommittee
Committee: Steve Kersey, Dick Grimshaw, John Gargett

Communications and Documentation Subcommittee
Committee: Joe Coons

Fund Raising & Marketing Subcommittee
Committee: Joe Coons, Jody Erickson, Patti Gargett, Meredith Ross

Over the coming weeks and months the strength of our all volunteer club will be shown as much of the work as can be done by us will reduce the overall cost and help build our pride of ownership.

Finally, we will be providing regular updates on the project here on the BYC Website. Check back regularly for new information or to volunteer.

This quote is attributed to Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism, and was made sometime between the 4th and 6th century BC. Yet here at the Bellingham Yacht Club these words describe our 2009 Sink the Dinghy Campaign.

Since Sink the Dinghy started in 2002 our generosities, and others’ throughout Whatcom County, have made it possible to redeem lives from addiction, tragedy and economic turmoil. But once those chains are broken, what does the future hold for those who graduate from our regions help programs, especially in these tough economic times with unemployment still on the rise? We know that enrollment in technical and community colleges is going up which means that scholarships and grants are harder to come by. Our goal this year is, under the supervision of our Sink the Dinghy Committee and BTC, to create a scholarship fund to enable a graduate from one of the area’s programs like the Lighthouse Mission to successfully enter and complete the Fisheries Technology program at Bellingham Technical College. Our goal is to provide such a graduate, who has overcome so much, hope and a new vocation for the future. This is a wonderful connection between the Bellingham Yacht Club and our Bellingham Community and we hope that you will give generously. So please consider supporting the Sink the Dinghy campaign this year by making a contribution either in cash at the club, or with:

Check Donations – You can mail a check to the Bellingham Yacht Club, 2625 Harbor Loop, Bellingham, WA, 98225. If you would like to receive a tax deduction please make your check out to “BTC” with “Sink the Dinghy Fund” on the comment line. (We will keep your check and present it along with all others and the Clubs check in January) If you are not worried about a tax deduction please make your check out to “BYC” and put on the comment line “Sink the Dinghy Fund”. (We will then combine all such checks into a single check)

Credit Card Donations – You can charge your donation in the lounge when you are visiting the club. Sink the Dinghy is under Special Events in the cash register.

On-Line Donations – You can securely make donations to the Sink the Dinghy fund anywhere you have access to the Internet and Paying Securely with PayPal.

So to all who have contributed thank you. To those who will contribute, thank you. To those who cannot contribute, thank you. And regardless if you have only contributed a dollar, a thousand dollars or no dollars, please watch for the announcement of the January 2010 presentation date where we will literally “Teach a Man To Fish”.

Thank you from your 2009 BYC Sink the Dinghy Committee

John Gargett, Meredith Ross, Fr. Kevin Allen, Matt Dennis

The Bellingham Yacht Club and Bellingham Sister Cities have been Formally Invited to Victoria, BC, Canada for the “Pacific Rim Yacht Challenge 2010” on June 6th through June 12th, 2010.

Committees have been formed and Applications for the Racing Team and Ambassadors are now available.

Check out the PacRim History for background information on this prestigious International event.

We are allowed to send 20 people to Victoria. Travels arrangements and associated costs are participants’ responsibilities. There is a $200 event fee. Participants will be home-stayed for seven days and many meals and activities in addition to racing are included in the event fee. Team clothing is also usually purchased locally for this event, approximately $200 -$300. Traditionally, one night during the week, each participant treats his home stay hosts to dinner at a local Victoria restaurant and provides local themed gifts for home stay families. Another requirement is that each participant must also Become A Member of the Bellingham Sister Cities. The total cost a participant can expect to spend has normally been under $1,000.

You are invited to represent the Bellingham Yacht Club, the City of Bellingham Sister Cities and the United States in international brotherhood and sailing excitement. Apply today!