Commodore’s Chart Article – Sept. 2008

 

First things first!  I wish to congratulate our newly elected Boating Family of the Year, Past Commodore Dan and Chris Case!  You have generously made certain that your Commodore and Commodorable attended nearly every cruise, Opening Day, etc., this year.  You truly deserve this award.

 

This is my last official Chart article as Commodore of Port Orchard Yacht Club.  The time has gone by so quickly!  There was so much to do, I blinked, and it’s nearly over. 

 

Being Commodore of this great organization is truly an enormous job.  My phone starts ringing at 8:00 AM, or so, and often doesn’t stop all day, and well into the night.  The Commodore, it seems, is in charge of “putting out brush fires!”  He or she is also the “Complaint Department.”   I’ve been chewed out by irate members for numerous perceived Club deficiencies, from the By-Laws to the ice machine, and everything in between.  I suppose members forget that their Commodore is also merely a volunteer.

 

The Commodore is Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Membership Assembly, and CEO of the Corporation.  He or she must have a working knowledge of Parliamentary Procedure, be intimately knowledgeable about the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations, Club Operations, have every key to everything, and know which one is which.  As chairman of the Membership Assembly, the Commodore must remain neutral and express no opinion in all issues being debated at meetings.  I must admit, that can be the hardest part of the job!  

 

At all times, as Commodore, I must remind myself that this is a Club.  THIS IS A CLUB.  Everyone is an “owner,” so to speak.  Every member has opinions and rights.  A member’s opinion, times 560 (plus or minus) members.  The Commodore must keep order, and protect the rights of members according to a confusing 650 page book called “Robert’s Rules of Order.”  I can best describe the job as having a tiger by the tail.

 

Your Commodore-Elect has just tackled his first job as new Commodore, the official Calendar for the POYC fiscal year 2008-2009, which takes effect on October 1.  His personal calendar would scare most anyone.  It contains dates for Grand 14 social obligations, fourteen formal Commodore’s Balls, from November to June (4 in March?).  That’s 14 formal ball gowns for Commodorable Penni, and 14 trips to the dry-cleaners for Kelly’s tux.  There will be weekend trips cross-sound to attend these balls, hotel reservations, arrangements for the animals to be fed and cared for at home while they are gone.  POYC Club events and business continues, as usual, with no regard to the Commodore’s Grand 14 obligations.  The Commodore must manage officers and committees, and try to attend as many Club cruises and events as possible.  And then there’s the family and personal obligations.  The Commodore’s challenge is to keep all the balls in the air, dot all the “I’s” and cross all the “T’s,” be where he’s supposed to be all the time, on the ready to represent POYC or conduct business.  All of this, while being able to tell Konica Minolta the sheet count on the copy machine.  I guess today we call this multi-tasking.  Remember, he’s a volunteer!

 

In conclusion, I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart, the members of Port Orchard Yacht Club for affording me the opportunity to serve you as your Commodore.  A heartfelt thank you to everyone who was on the team this year, the Board of Trustees, the Committee Chairmen, every member who volunteered to help out.  Your support was, and is, greatly appreciated.   And thanks, also, to my Commodorable, Gary Bess, who quietly stood by my side, and was, and is, my rock.  I hope to see everyone at the Change of Watch on September 23rd.

 

Safe and Happy Boating!

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy Bess, Commodore