Fort Walton Yacht Club Letter Log
March 2018
30° 25.60’N 86° 35.58’W
Commodore’s Corner
By Commodore Faye Black
email: [email protected]
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK all members who sent comments to the Board of Directors
and Flag Officers concerning the issue of smoking on the patio. At this point, there are
about an even number of members who have expressed a desire to ban smoking as well
as those who want no smoking ban. There was much discussion, and I might add, calm
debate, at the February Board Meeting. The proposed bylaw change banning smoking
on the patio was defeated. However, the smoking issue will be reviewed by a committee
headed up by Vice Commodore Craig Stoldt. Members of the Smoking Issue Committee
are Director Bob Fisher, Director Matt McGee, P/C David Vaughan, P/C David Seaton,
Director Scott Bailey, and Leslie Hanley. The committee will present recommendations
at the March Board Meeting. If you have not sent a comment to [email protected] and
have a suggestion, comment, or concern on the issue of smoking on the patio, please send
an email in the next few weeks.
Jerry and I attended the two Valentine events held at the club, and each one was out-
standing. The event in the Lounge saw laughter, fun and some creativity. I haven’t
laughed that much in years. On Valentine’s Day, the dinner in the Dining Room was ele-
gant, with wonderful food and outstanding music. Special thanks to Allen Chapman for
providing music for us all night. I encourage you to attend the club events.
Don Marks has agreed to be our FCYC Director. He joins our Associate Director P/C Red-
doch Williams as the FWYC representatives to FCYC. This position is not new to Don and
Sue. Don was Associate Director and Director years ago with John Johnston. Please
share your FCYC experiences with Don when you see him and wish him well as he travels
to other Florida yacht clubs as the emissary for FWYC.
The Emerald Coast Sailing Association (ECSA) has a new president. FWYC member Robert
Harrison was elected in February to head this organization. I bring this up because ECSA
and FWYC are working together to hire a Sailing Director for the Spring and Summer. The
position will hopefully begin 1 April and run through 30 August. ECSA owns most of the
boats for member use in our dry storage area. FWYC members may use the boats as part
of our agreement with ECSA for housing the boats on FWYC property. A Sailing Director
would benefit both organizations who have agreed to finance this position. ECSA is a 501
c3 organization and is currently in a fund-raising phase. Robert will be sending out infor-
mation about this very soon. Our partnership with ECSA began in 1992 and has provided
the area's most extensive sailing lessons since that time.
Last, but not least. Please mark you calendar for the General Membership Meeting to be
held on Sunday, April 8, at 1600 (4PM). There are tremendous happenings at the club
that we would like to share with the Membership. If there is a quorum, which I am plan-
ning on, there will be some important business to be discussed and voted on. There will
be door prizes and a Low Country Shrimp Boil after the meeting. So, please make every
effort to attend, I’m counting on you.
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