Deer Isle Yacht Club
Fall 2019 Commodore's Letter
Greetings All, November 2019
After a wonderful summer here on Deer Isle, I am happy to report that all is well with the Deer Isle Yacht Club. Our floats and ramp have been hauled, stacked and secured for winter. The weather is beginning to turn cooler but we are still getting some warmish sunny days.
Part of our mission as board members is “to provide boating facilities for the convenience and pleasure of its members in the lawful and proper use of Penobscot Bay and its adjacent waters, through sound design, construction and maintenance, for maximum safety, protection of water craft and practical ease of use.”
Consistent with this mission and with our commitment to prioritizing the maintenance of our dock facilities, the Board of Governors (BOG) and especially the Vice Commodore and Harbor Committee are always accessing the condition of our facilities, making repairs as needed.
One of our major concerns recently has been the pier leading from the parking area to the floats. The pier is nearly 30 years old and is showing deterioration. In response, we hired two engineering firms to access the condition and structural integrity of the pier. Their reports have stated clearly that the pier is sound and safe to use but requires periodic maintenance, including scraping, removing old paint and rust and making repairs to supports and our aging walkway. Over time, the cost of making repairs has increased significantly and we have determined that replacing the pier may be a more cost-effective solution.
At our most recent BOG meeting on October 26th the BOG authorized the formation of two new committees to study the condition of the pier. The first, a Pier Assessment Committee, will examine our options for replacement, including design and materials, and will compare the costs of remediation vs replacement.
The second committee, a Pier Funding Committee, will be formed to investigate funding options and to determine when best to undertake a replacement project. Our other assets, floats and structures, are on a replacement schedule and funding is already secured for that purpose. Nonetheless the Funding Committee will consider all capital expenditures and their impact on the Club’s reserves.
We are looking for membership involvement, and if you are interested in joining one of these committees, please feel free to get in contact. Committee work will begin in the next month and will continue through the spring with the goal of making information on the pier available to the membership this summer.
On another topic: Over the years, members have expressed enthusiasm for the idea of a DIYC Scholarship for graduating students at DISHS. In response, the BOG is taking on the task of looking into the details and options of establishing such a fund. Since we are not a 501(c)3 charitable organization, we would need to engage an organization such as The Maine Community Foundation to collect and administer the funds per our direction. The fees that are taken out are more than offset by investments.
The minimum amount to set up an endowed fund is $10,000, some of which has already been raised through unsolicited pledges from Board members and an anonymous donor willing to match up to $5,000. The BOG does not want to proceed with a plan that has not been at least informally vetted by the membership, as the hope is to sustain and grow the endowment through yearly fundraising within the club. There are many more details to be ironed out, but if you have questions or comments, please contact Susan Scholl at Schollhouse@aol.com or 301 365-3357.
Have a good winter everyone. Hope to see you on the dock next summer.
Scott L Miscione
Commodore
Fall 2018 Commodore's Letter
Dear DIYC Members, November 2018
We hope you are looking forward to a Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends. After a wonderful summer here on Deer Isle, I am glad to report that all is well with the Deer Isle Yacht Club and its facilities. The weather has changed here on the island and the trees have turned from flaming orange and yellow to an unseasonable white.
The Board of Governors has been busy this past year analyzing the results of our Member Survey. With what we have learned, we are now able to modify our schedule of events to suit our changing demographics. Our aim is to schedule events when the largest numbers of members are on the island.
A copy of the coming year’s schedule can be found in the Calendar section of the website.
The survey also reflects that you and your fellow club members are an active and generous group! In the spirit of the season, and in an effort to reach out to the Deer Isle community, below is information about Island organizations that you support and participate in.
Island Infrastructure Chase Emerson Deer Isle LibraryMaine Center for Coastal Fisheries Deer Isle Volunteer Fire Department Island Family MedicineIsland Community Center (including the Food Pantry) |
Mooring work continues to be a priority and will continue next spring. Jeff Wakelin along with David Decrow and others continue the effort to make our mooring field as safe as possible and organized in a way to best maximize space for our fleet. Our porch parties are a big hit and some members feel that they should be a weekly event.
Schedules will be posted on the bulletin board. Our BYOB “plus a nibble” will continue to be the rule.
Have a good winter everyone. Hope to see you on the dock next summer.
Scott Miscione
Commodore
Spring Commodore’s Letter 2018
Greetings:
It’s still early and cold but the work has begun to prepare our Yacht Club facilities for the upcoming summer season.
The floats and ramps have fared well over this past severe winter I am told by Vice Commodore David Decrow. Some minor erosion to areas around the pear and parking lot occurred but work is scheduled to begin soon to restore the damage areas and additional rip rap will be installed to help prevent it from occurring next winter. The installation of our floats and ramp will begin some time around the 15th of May, weather permitting, and will be completed by Memorial Day. This year the Board of Governors has agreed it was time to acquire our own Whaler to assist in the placement of floats. Our work-boat, it’s name to be determined soon, will also be used to continue the process of organizing, maintaining and adjusting the mooring field. In the past we have used members boats for these tasks but with the amount of work involved now, that practice has become untenable. Jeff Wakelin who spearheaded the reorganization of our mooring field continues the work this season working along side David, Bo and Brad Laslett - often on-board Buster Peasley’s steel barge - hauling, examining and resetting moorings throughout the cove. A huge effort!
The moorings are now are on scheduled to be inspected and repaired on a three year cycle. Please visit our website to see Rules and Regulations concerning moorings as well as the actual scheduling.
Rear Commodore Tim Vander Mel has developed comprehensive guidelines for the use of the Clubs small fleet of Optis and Lasers. Safety is first. All using the boats will be required to wear a life vest, even adults. Sign in to use a boat is required and there is a minimum age requirement. Please see the website for all details. Rules will also be posted in the clubhouse. Also, please view our calendar of events scheduled activities. Presently there are no sailing instructions being offered this season. Difficulties finding a qualified instructor for our small program continue to be the issue.
Our Treasurer, Bo Chesney assures me that the Clubs finances are sound. Bo along with Betsy Roberson and other Board Members are focused on our long term plans for the Clubs future. Betsy has initiated a Strategic Plan evaluation project. Beginning with an examination of the continuing relevance of the Club’s Mission Statement. Board members have completed a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities threats) analysis and are ready to evaluate the results. The Board will send out a questionnaire to members to insure all voices are heard when charting the future course of the Club. This work will take place over the next several months and an update of the project will be given at the Annual Meeting in August.
Richard Gresham, our most recently retired Commodore has reminded me about our Dinghy Rules. Dinghy space is tight and vessels that don’t meet our guidelines below should tie up at the fisherman’s floats.
• No boats over 12 feet L.O.A.
• No boats with stepped masts.
• No boats with engines over 10 HP. Outboard engines must be kept in the down position to reduce potential damage to other boats.
• Boats not maintained in shipshape condition may be removed to parking lot at owner’s risk.
• Rigid boats shall have fenders to prevent damage to others.
Identification Numbers assigned by the club shall be displayed inside the boat transom. Boats without club assigned numbers may be removed to parking lot at owner’s risk. Also, boats that exceed the above descriptions should tie up at the Fisherman’s Wharf floats.
The summer schedule is posted on the Club’s website, but for your convenience and review here it is to date:
- Board of Governors Meeting , Saturday May 26, 8 AM at Pickering Farm
- Around Pigeon Island Regatta, Saturday July 1, 10 AM
- Porch Party, July 7, 5:30 PM
- Butter Island Picnic, Saturday July 21, Time To Be Determined
- Empty the Cove, Saturday August 4 Time To Be Determined
- Cruise To Eagle Island, August 11
- Bullseye Championship Series, August 15, 16, and 17
- Board of Governors Meeting, August 18
- Annual DIYC Meeting and Annual Dinner, August 18
- Fall Board of Governors Meeting, October 6
I encourage all members to get involved with the Board of Governors and our Committees. There is much to be done and by volunteering you become part of the decision making process.
I’m looking forward to another great summer season in Sylvesters Cove and out in the Bay. Hope to see you there.
Respectfully,
Scott L. Miscione
Commodore
Fall Commodore's Letter 2017 Dear Members, 2017/18 Board of Governors Commodore Scott Miscione Vice Commodore David Decrow Rear Commodore Tim Vander Mel Treasurer Bo Chesney Secretary Alison Corning Clark Clerk Loring Kydd Immediate Past Commodore Richard Gresham Member-at-large Brad Laslett (2018) Member-at-large Betsy Clark Robertson (2019) Member-at-large Chris Childs (2020) Member-at-large Aaron Porter (2021) Membership Committee Chair Sam Howe Nominating Committee Chair Susan Scholl Committees Finance Bo Chesney, Chair, Treasurer House David Decrow, Chair, Vice Commodore Race and Junior Instruction Tim Vander Mel, Chair, Rear Commodore Membership Sam Howe, Chair Harbor Brad Laslett, Chair Nominating Susan Scholl, Chair Events and Clubhouse Grounds Suzanne Decrow, Chair
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