Commodore's Letter and Report from Annapolis

[Joe Myerson]

Ahoy Fellow Cape Dory Enthusiasts:

It's been more than a week since the 20th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Annapolis, when I, the former Vice Commodore, was elevated to the position of Commodore. It's a great honor to accept the broad pennant, which flew from my starboard spreader for the first time on Buzzards Bay earlier this week. But far more important, and somewhat intimidating, are the responsibilities that come with my new position. I'll get to that later; first let me give you a brief summary of the meeting. Secretary John Sill will post an official account.

Approximately 50 members attended the event, which took place on a rainy Saturday. Despite the weather, we all enjoyed one another's company and enjoyed the rousing entertainment provided at Saturday night's banquet by the Eastport Oyster Boys. Retired Commodore Sharon Kairis organized the event largely on her own--and deserves thanks for her efforts. The rain stopped on Sunday, when we took a brief but fascinating cruise aboard the three-masted staysail schooner Liberté. If only the wind had come up!

Outgoing Commodore Mike Connell has done a wonderful job of contacting the member fleets, attending fleet events and, working with Membership Chair and former Commodore Steve Kuhar, has helped boost CDSOA membership to a record-breaking 401. Mike stepped down a year early, so he and Toni can visit their grandson in Okinawa for the birth of a great-grandchild and travel to Alaska and other destinations as well. Congratulations, Mike. Now, after a year in the largely ceremonial post of Vice Commodore, I've got to step up the helm.

Jim Walsh, currently the Captain of the Northeast Fleet, will assume the duties of Vice Commodore--and I hope he will prove more active than I was.
Please note: Jim and I have decided that the Northeast Fleet will host next year's Annual Meeting, sometime after Labor Day. Tentative venue: Mystic, CT.

In order to make sure that membership continues at its current level, I've got to step up and maintain active contact with all the fleets. I've also got to follow the sage advice of retired Commodore Leo MacDonald, who once told me that the first thing he did was delegate responsibilities to other members and maintain contact with those whom he tapped. (I remember Leo's persistence in getting me to edit the old printed Masthead. There was no way to turn him down.)

So, please, if you have a skill or talent that you think will help the organization, please step forward. We are, after all, a volunteer organization.

Speaking of skills: Commodore (ret.) Bill Slater is looking for somebody with graphic-arts ability and a copy of the CDSOA logo to help prepare a commemorative coin to be given to participants in the 20th Anniversary meeting.

Please expect to hear from me more often, once I get a hand on submitting material for the MASTHEAD (It's simple, I know).

Fair Winds to all,

==Joe Myerson

[Sea Hunt Video]

Congratulations Commodore Joe M. and Vice Commodore Jim W.