October 2015 - Sandy Beach Yacht Club

October 2015
The Ditty Bag
Sandy Beach Yacht Club
1851 Winter Road / P.O. Box 513
Grand Island, New York 14072
www.sandybeachyachtclub.com
From the Commodore:
From The Women's Organization:
Another boating season is quickly making its
way into winter storage, but a very warm
September has given us a glorious end to what
looked like the shortest summer in history back
in April and May. The Snowball Cruise is now
behind us and by the time you get this both the
PC Cruise and the Haul out Regatta will be in the
books for 2015. Please take a minute to thank the
folks that put in lots of hard work to make these
events enjoyable for the membership.
By the time you’re reading this, the Haul-Out Regatta
will have come and gone, and the docks will be emptying
out. It was a great summer and with the arrival of
Autumn there’s much to enjoy in the coming months.
With the end of the boating season we have a
long worklist, this year beyond the normal
preparations for winter we need to complete
some repairs to our seawall once the boats are
out. This means that removal of the jetski docks
will be moved to later in the fall and extra help
will be needed for a second workday.
The BOD nominating committee has done a
great job this year and we have a full slate of
nominees to fill the available seats on the BOD.
Please take a couple of minutes to read through
the enclosed resumes before the General
Membership meeting. If you can’t make the
meeting make sure to complete an absentee
ballot and get it back to the Secretary before the
meeting.
Before you forget mark your calendars for the
Harvest Dinner on the 13th of November, if you
have never been the meal is fantastic (including
the deserts) and we get to recognize our members
and just maybe poke a little fun at a few of them.
Kevin O’Neil, Commodore
On Thursday, October 8th, the Women’s Organization is
hosting a card making party. We will have an instructor
to guide us through the activity and each participant will
make four unique cards. The cost is $10 per person. Of
course, we’ll have wine and chocolate goodies to enhance
the creative process. The event starts at 7pm. I will have
Women’s Organization membership applications
available that night, and we encourage new women club
members to join the fun and become a member.
The Harvest Dinner will be held Saturday, November 14th
and this year’s chairperson is Cathy Knight. It’s a fun,
causal event with lots of really good food – don’t miss it!
This is also the annual awards dinner hosted by the Fleet
Captain, Dave Krotz.
The charity of the month for September/October is
Hospice, and we all know many people who were
affected and/or taken by the disease.
I will be sending letters of request to the wives or partners
of SBYC members to join the Women’s Organization.
Please pass this along to make sure the information gets
to everyone. We’re always looking for new members and
welcome new ideas and input!
The Women’s
Organization is an important aspect of SBYC and
provides a great deal of support to ensure this is a wellrounded club. Our meetings are held monthly on the 2nd
Thursday of each month at 6:30pm. If you’re not a
member already, please consider joining us. All are
welcome! Membership letters will be mailed out by the
end of October.
Wendy Brown,
SBYC Women’s Organization Membership Chairman
Commodores Notes
Last month everyone seemed to enjoy a more detailed update on club business so I will make this a regular
update for the membership going forward.
Thank you to everyone who helped with Carl Hepp’s honor guard it was certainly appreciated by family and
friends. The BOD unanimously approved Elaine Hepp for Associate membership.
Club financial review shows we are in good shape however decline in party revenue is troubling, please take a
minute to answer the Entertainment committee questionnaire or express your view in person to a BOD
member.
Long Range planning is pricing out roof and chimney repair and or replacement, this is the next major item on
our capital replacement plan. We hope to have quotes etc. ready for the General Membership meeting.
Should anyone have agenda items for the General Membership meeting please get them to Frank Spagnolo so
that they can be included.
Currently we are planning to make seawall repairs as soon as the boats are out of the water, we will be leaving
the jet docks in place for a couple of weeks to repair the settling behind the seawall before we stack the docks
on top.
The Beach Club next door is moving forward and has funding for their beach restoration project, we are
scheduling a meeting with them to review their plans for possible impacts on SBYC as well as any other
issues. This will be a good opportunity to see what we can do to address the unauthorized dock usage issue
that continues to be a problem for both of us.
The next BOD meeting will be October 21st, all are welcome to attend.
Thank you to our SBYC family....
I am overwhelmed with the love and kindness you all have shown me and my family during
this time of such sadness. The friends we made and the memories we shared during our 29
years at SBYC will help me through and never be forgotten. It warms my heart to know Carl
was so loved and that his smile will be fondly remembered by so many. He was My Life, My
Love and My All and truly my partner in a life filled with love, family, laughter and
sharing....my best friend, proud father and grandfather.....I will miss him so much....I loved
him so.
Love, Elaine Hepp
The following seven photos and short biographies are the candidates who have
decided to run for the office of Board of Director of Sandy Beach Yacht Club for
2016.
Italo Baldassarri
Fourteen years ago, I joined Sandy Beach with my family because we were impressed with
the people that make up the Sandy Beach Family. Since that time, our family and many friendships have
grown in kind. For us, Sandy Beach has become a home away from home. We have enjoyed serving our
membership at the parties we chaired, and the TGIFs we have hosted.
Personally, it has been a pleasure to serve on the Board of Directors and represent our membership as Vice
Commodore. With your support, as a returning member of the Board of Directors I will continue to advocate
for creative and inclusive club activities that promote the ideals of our founders, and continue to make our
club a safe and happy place for all of us to be..
Mike Ceccato
Hello, my name is Mike Ceccato. I have been a member of Sandy Beach since 2012 and a
resident of Grand Island since 2009. My wife Julie and I have twin daughters, Grace and Lucy, who will
turn 2 in December. We have come to enjoy the activities, traditions and relationships of being a member of
the SBYC family. For the past 2 years we have chaired the Corn Roast and are proud of the success and
positive impact the event has had on the club.
I have worked at M&T Bank for the past 8 years, most currently overseeing a team in the Business Planning
and Analytics group of M&T Securities. I feel that my experience of bringing together people with different
perspectives to achieve optimal outcomes can benefit the organization.
I am humbled to be thought of by the nominating committee and look forward to preserving the Sandy
Beach traditions while positioning the club for the future. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Larry Hensel
I have been active in boating my whole life, starting when my family joined Sandy Beach
Yacht Club in 1961. I learned to sail at the club as a junior sailor when I was 11 years old. My wife Jackie and
I have enjoyed being back at the club these last couple of years; reacquainting with old friends and meeting
new ones. Now that I am retired from a plant management position, I would like to assist the club more than
just helping out on work night, so I have decided to run for the board of directors. I have experience with
budgets and decision making which I believe would aid Sandy Beach in staying vibrant and meeting the
needs of its members.
Rick Hensel
I would like to thank the selection committee for asking me to be a candidate for the SBYC
Board of Directors. My parents joined Sandy Beach when I was in my mid-teens. I learned to sail by crewing
for Tom Little and Tom Lafferty. Eventually I moved on to my own boats (4), that I kept at Sandy Beach. In
going from junior to intermediate then full membership, I was able to participate in many of the projects that
have made Sandy Beach what it is today. Professionally, I owned a wood and fiberglass repair shop for over
twenty years. In 1986 I started working for Niagara Mohawk, progressing through the ranks until I retired as a
Chief Control Room Operator in 2012. I moved back to Tonawanda in 2013 and was able to rejoin Sandy
Beach. I am running for the Board because I want to help Sandy Beach continue to be a great place to raise
our kids and associate with good people.
Robin Hoch
I am running for re-election to the BOD. I have served on the board for the last 3 years. I
have enjoyed learning our process and understanding the roles & responsibilities, as a Board member and
those of our Flag Officers. I hope that the membership has been pleased with my service and will vote to
allow me to serve once again. I would continue to serve with the best interest of the members in mind and for
the good of SBYC. Thank you.
David J. Krotz
Retired Deputy Superintendent for the Town of Tonawanda Highway Department. Lifelong
resident of Town of Tonawanda. Volunteer firefighter with the Village of Kenmore since 1970. Serving
many offices within the Kenmore Volunteer Fire Department. Twice elected as President and Chief.
Commissioner for KVFD, to represent the Village of Kenmore.
Past member of the HMAC (Hazardous Material Advisory Council) for the Town of Tonawanda. Chairman
of the Board of Fire Commissioners, representing Kenmore. Past President of Allied Fire Commissioners for
the Town of Tonawanda.
Married to Nancy Krotz for 25 years. Children Dawn, Jonathan and Michael. Initially joined Sandy Beach
Yacht Club in 1987.
I am currently Fleet Captain. I am eager to work for the Sandy Beach Yacht Club. I would greatly appreciate
your consideration to be elected to the Board of Directors. Best Regards.
Steven Vathy
Please let me introduce myself to all of the SBYC Membership. My name is Steven Vathy
I reside at 5400 East River Rd. Grand Island New York. I have been a member at SBYC since 2009. Leslie,
my wife is a member of the SBYC Women’s organization. I’ve been involved in boating all my life on the
Niagara River and Lake Erie. I have been an IT Consultant for 20 years and the owner of R.N.A. Technologies
Inc. For the past year I have been the SBYC Treasurer along with assistance from my wife Leslie; together we
have automated the accounting system from One Write paper system to QuickBooks Accounting System. This
will be my second term on the board. I also served on the boards of Niagara River Fishing Station Club as
Trustee and Secretary for 6 years and Leadership Niagara Board for a 3 year term. As a member of the Board
of Directors, I would promote, along with the assistance of the other board members, a strong and successful
future SBYC.
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
1
9
9
13
14
14
16
17
18
19
21
21
25
27
27
4
4
5
6
6
6
6
10
11
12
12
14
14
17
17
18
18
23
28
Kevin O'Neil
Suzanne Allen
Andrew McNett
Bob Dunlop
Ray Ode
Ed Wargala
David McKay
Kathy Zielinski
Dave Bissonette
Gary LaRussa
Ruth Brinkerhoff
Lisa Fabiano
Judy Carmen
Tena Maguire
Barb Warnock
OCTOBER ANNIVERSARIES
2
3
6
6
10
12
15
16
26
29
Dick & Kathleen Rozicki
Tony & Barbie Giambra
Jose & Dorothy Garcia
Kenneth & Cathy Knight
Bob & Barb Warnock
James & Linda Isenhart
Jose & Dorothy Garcia
Gail & David McKay
Paul & Darlene Hricak
Dennis & Debra Walsh
Russ Bauer
Margot Smith
Jennifer Lenhard
Henry Buck
Kristina Elmer
Tom LaRussa
Norm Stocker
Bill Bosworth
Claudia Knight
Mike Matusiak
Kathy Pruchnowski
Sherry McDonald
Mike Murphy
Leah Baldassarre
Gary Burkhart
Cathy Knight
Kathleen Podgorny
Helen Wargala
Andy Baranyi
NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
1
1
2
7
17
19
24
25
Daniel & Wendy Brown
John & Judy Seebauer
Louis & Lisa Fabiano
Mike & Pat Matusiak
John & Renee Taggart
Charles & Dorothy Kristich
Joe & Michelle Agnello
Rex & Shari Seitz
October 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
4 Podgorny— 5
Private Party
6
11
13
Wed
Fri
3 SBYC
Commodore’s
Ball
7
8 Woman’s
Org. Mtg.
9
10
14
15
16
17 Dock
Clean-up
Work Nite
18 Agnello— 19
Private Party
20
25
27
21 BOD Mtg. 22 P/C Mtg
23 Ditty Bag 24 Dock
Articles Due Clean-up
28
30 Walsh—
31 Walsh—
Private Party Private Party
Work Nite
26
Sat
1 Walsh—
2
Private Party
Work Nite
12
Thu
29
Work Nite
November 2015
Sun
Mon
1 Briggs—
Private Party
2
8
9
Tue
3
Wed
4
Thu
5
16
22 Nizialek—
Private Party
23
29
30
10
11
Work Nite
Veteran’s Day
17
Work Nite
Sat
7 Nizialek—
Private Party
12 Woman’s
Org. Mtg.
13
14 Harvest &
Awards Dnr.
18 BOD Mtg
19 Ditty Bag
Articles Due
20
21 Fall
Clean-up
25
26Baldassarri 27
Private Party
Work Nite
24
6 General
Mem. Mtg.
Work Nite
15 Agnello—
Private Party
Fri
28 Ventry—
Private Party
P/C Robert Dubil, Editor
DITTY BAG
206 Lorfield Drive
Amherst, NY 14226
DITTY BAG DEADLINES
The next deadline for submittals is Friday, October 23rd for the
November 2015 issue
Bob Dubil: Phone 839-0825 Email: Bboater111@aol.com