January 2016 Papoose Article

Happy New Year to all of our skippers, social members, juniors and crew! Our final social event for the year, the Awards Brunch, was held on Nov. 15 at the home of Rich and Gail Miner. Trophies were presented to the various fleet champions and runners up along with special awards to those who did so much for our club in 2015.

Hank Jelinek received the John Myers Service Award for serving as Rear Commodore Docks and Grounds more often than anyone else and especially for his repairs this year to the Buoy Room. Peter Breiling earned the Most Improved Skipper award for his coming in second in the Commodore’s Cup Regatta and his strong showing in several other races. Shirley Miller won the Crew of the Year Award for helping power the Andersons to a strong end to their season with five straight first place finishes, winning the Commodore’s Cup and the Lightning Fall Series. Perry Anderson won the Ed Syracuse Sportsmanship Award for, not only sportsmanship on the water, but helping out everywhere the Yacht Club needed help, including working on the committee boat, installing and de-installing the bubbler system, coordinating the Junior Sailing Program, collecting our dues and paying our bills.

John Miller presented special framed photographs to recognize and thank certain members for their service to the Club over many years. Jan and Ian Oldridge received one of the photos: Jan for administering the Junior Sailing Program over the last several years and Ian for his many photographs of sailing at the Club that he has taken and posted on the LMYC site, which he administers. In fact Gail Miner utilized Ian’s photos to make beautiful Lightning and Snipe skipper and crew trophies. Don and Madeleine Okner were thanked and recognized for their service to the Club: Don for writing the LMYC articles for the Papoose over the last decade and a half and Madeleine for running the Buoy Room. Rich and Gail Miner received a photo of them at the Awards Brunch they hosted two years ago in recognition of the many offices they have served in over more than three decades and in particular hosting meetings and events in their home.

Although it is only January, our 2016 racing and social events will come faster than you can imagine. So why not join our club and get the on the fun? You can visit us on the web at www.lakemohawksailing.org. For more information, email us at lakemohawksailing@gmail.com, or write us care of PO Box 29, Sparta, NJ. Until next month, smooth sailing and God bless America!

Don Okner