Commodores Message November 2017

The club is becoming a beehive of activity. Everyone is working together for a common goal and like in a beehive sweat equity is how it works and has become a common occurrence in the projects we have been working on.  These projects are the new dock lights, redoing the dock water plumbing, the plaque board, sound proofing the mezzanine and the bar foot rail. These projects, by doing them ourselves has saved the club a lot of money in labor and material.
 
I have always said that it’s not how much money you make, it’s how much money you keep. Well, they really go together.
 
All our committees are an example of sweat equity and perform a lot of the work that would
otherwise be farmed out to contractors at great expense. Among them are dock maintenance, building maintenance and grounds maintenance. Our bar committee performs all the maintenance required to keep the bar equipment running property. We have the audit committee that watches the numbers and a communications committee that works to keep the website current. Our galley committee is focused on running a clean efficient kitchen and all save the club money.
 
Sweat equity is a great homogenizer. Club members of all different backgrounds come together and share a common goal. They get to know each other and learn how to work together and end up producing a finished product and the next time they meet at the club they are no longer strangers but friends.
 
To save money, we must make money. That’s where the long hours and hard work of the Kitchen staff and Bar staff come in.
 
The kitchen staff is always adding new items to the menu, keeping the kitchen clean, working on serving you faster and providing a family atmosphere so everyone enjoys their time at the club.
 
The Bar manager and the Bartenders do a great job as well.  The bar manager making sure the bartenders are scheduled and making sure the shelves are stocked ready for your special drink.  And the bartenders, how they can remember how to make all those mixed drinks and still remember your favorite drink the next time is beyond me.  How they can remember who is a member and who is not and making sure everyone is signed in,  keeping the ice bins full and making sure your glasses are clean.  On their feet the whole shift prowling that 30’ long bar looking for empty glasses to refill and on top of all they do they will always greet you with a smile saying " what can I get for you today".
 
So as a member, where and when you can, put in your own sweat equality, help out when you can. If you are sitting in the dining room or outside bring your glasses back to the bar, make sure your guests are always signed in.  Every little bit helps, you will feel good about yourself and your club.
 
Change your thinking!  - instead of saying "I'm going to the club"
try saying "I’m going to my club".
 
I would like to thank my fellow members for their support and the Board of Trustees for their dedication to our club and their overwhelming support and ongoing guidance that they have given me.  
 
Kudos to everyone, I thank you and the Board of Trustee’s thanks you.
 
Your Commodore, Ed Horton