Page 4
In Port
Greetings, everyone! Even though
I’m writing this article for the May
Letter Log, I’d like to recount for you
the events of 28 and 29 March,
because I think it will show what
wonderful members we have here in
Fort Walton Yacht Club and why I’m
so proud to be associated with all of
you.
There’s an old adage that says, “March
comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” Well, that
was disproved emphatically on Friday, March 28th, when
a terrible windstorm caused damage to our facilities and
boats just before the weekend on which the Barn Dance,
Mongolian Barbeque, and final race of the Zevin Regatta
were planned. On the day of the storm – during the storm,
in fact – a number of our members and staff braved the
wind and rain to secure boats that had broken free which
mitigated some of the damage from the storm. Luckily,
we had already planned the Spring Self-Help Day for
March 29th, so at least a modest group of members were
already planning to be at the Club on Saturday to help
prepare for the upcoming activities of the spring and
summer; but, after the storm, we had a big turn-out, and
everyone did a lot more work than we had originally
planned! At the end of my column, you’ll see a list of the
people who came out to help – well, it’s the list we were
able to compile; there probably were many more! Whether
or not we got your name on the list, I thank all of you. I’m
proud to be part of the same organization with you.
So, what did we have to deal with? Here’s an example:
the playground set appeared to have been destroyed by the
storm, but our good workers took it apart, sorted out and
repaired the pieces, and put it back together – it’s a
playground set again. A group of workers cleaned the
back porch and all the porch furniture, the porch and
sidewalks were pressure-washed, and the speaker wires
for the dock speakers were repaired and buried in conduit
for greater protection. We also put some damaged and/or
seasonal items away in the storage shed to keep the porch
as uncluttered as possible.
again. Workers also decorated inside the club house and the
back lawn for the Barn Dance that was scheduled for Sunday,
30 March. Well done!
We also had a big team of workers who dedicated themselves
to inspecting and repairing the decking on the docks so that
it’s again safe to walk on the docks. Additional repairs to the
docks will be needed, but the work done by our volunteers
made them safe and secure.
Overall, lots of work was done by a big group of our
members. Everyone worked hard, and I appreciate it. Below
are a list of the members who participated on the post storm
and Self-Help Day. Again, there probably were others – we
just didn’t get their names. Even if we didn’t get your name,
please know that we appreciate your work.
John Farris
Faye Black
Jerry Black
Wini Jimmerson
Mike Jimmerson
Bill Geyer
Craig Stoldt
Cece Stoldt
Terren Niediauer
Al Stearns
Carol Stearns
Sam Grant
Jennifer Grant
Sam Weston
Suz Weston
Jim Williford
Carolyn Williford
Linda Wright
Charles Hine
Jan Hine
Paul Beaudry
David Beaudry
Mike Metruck
Adam Metruck
George Hambleton
Pam Guthrie
June Scroggin
Dub Scroggin
Tammi Brant
Paul Yergens
John Dezzutto
Randy Smyth
Logan Smyth
Matthew Smyth
Don Waterhouse
Seth Cooke
Karen David
Doug Tindall
Carol Baker
Phil Pritchett
Jerry Vaughan
Also, a special THANKS goes to Club Manager Eric
Mattiza and Maintenance David Brown for their help
securing boats after the storm.
We’re so lucky to have all of you in the Club. Let’s all enjoy
it!
Vice Commodore Jerry Vaughan
[email protected]
Our workers did lots of cleanup of the “house and
grounds” as well. All over the point, dry storage, and
lawns around the club house, members picked up trash and
debris, trimmed grass, and made everything look normal
~ Fort Walton Yacht Club, Established in 1951 ~