GSYC

From: "Alan Karpas" <alan.karpas@gmail.com>

Garden State Yacht Club

http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/html/TropEcoImages.html

The sun may be setting

On the 2006 Summer but not the 2006 Season

Margie & I really want to thank all of you for your tremendous support this summer. Without your help,the summer would not have been as successful as it has been.

I would like to go through a list of people that I have special thanks for, as they were with me every step of the way, mostly in the background, in accomplishing what our goals were.

All of the hosts and committee's that ran the events – All of you were extremely creative and dedicated to your event. The whole club thanks you for all of your efforts.

Now to some individual people who I must thank

Steve Berger & Justin Stone – Membership Committee – Steve & Justin are committed to getting this club younger and vibrant. They identified 2 years ago that we were becoming stagnant. Since 2002 we have had only 4 new members, none in 2002, 2 in 2003, 2 in 2004 and none last year. Surely, we were in trouble. Not counting the legacies that might stay this year we added 5. Both were tireless in chasing down leads and possibilites. We had brunches which they ran and 2 parties which they ran as well. If some of the legacies stay, and we believe that a few will, we will have done very well. To see Richie Gaynor & Avery Rosenfeld working on the docks and what they brought to the table made getting the club younger a really worthwhile goal. Hopefully, a few more of the younger members will show up at the docks and some of us slightly older guys can drink more coffeee and make more fun of Hank. Steve's only problem is that he is always away when his idea's comes up for discussion and it's Justin who is circling the wagons.

In addition, I asked Justin to wear a few different hats, one of which was fliers. When I needed a flier, an email went to Justin with all the info and within 24 hours I had it in my hand. Oh, also Justin was the head of the nominating committee. We will leave that as said. Justin, the club & I cannot thank you enough.

Ed Blickstein – Our wine steward. Ed would come up here during the week, take inventory and maybe a sip of wine

(I can't prove that), and then go replace whatever was needed. I never once had to even think about the bar and its workings. Thank you Ed.

Carole Buck – For running the Tuesday Night Bridge nights which were very successful.

Don Buck , Ethelinda Katz and Jimmie Henkle – Food stewards – Thankless and tough job. Dealing with the committee's in attempting to give them a 12 course menu for $1.99. At the beginning of the season we met with the caterer and set up the standards. They did a yeoman's job. Thank you all.

Joel Chontow – Joel, a new member, got right into the spirit of the club. Whenever Hank needed some electrical work done, Joel would show up during the week and take care of it. Now we need to find a clone of Joel who is a plumber.

Larry Cooper – I appointed Larry to the job of parliamentarian and Larry helped me immeasurably in walking me through some very ticklish situations.

Eli Gaynor – Head of the weather committee. He overthrew Beck and gave us great summer weather wise. Although he faltered at the finish line I still need to thank him. He faltered because he was running out of steam and I wouldn't let him bring his mo-ped to the club. Also, he was an advisor with the house and grounds committee and is really stepping in on the cottage situation. It is true that Eli has promised to stop rebuilding parts for the club and will, rather reluctantly, allow us to buy new.

Mark Gruber – Legal advisor to the board. Mark was very helpful in guiding the board through some sticky situations. His advice was priceless.

Sharon Gruber – Sharon, not only did the pool aerobics, but she also set up the bingo games and has been tireless in working to get activities and events for the kids. And as Director of the GSYC Follies, only the cast knows of the effort and rehearsals that they had.

Joe & Sharon Heier – For setting up the tennis program and making sure that it worked. Breathing some life back into Tennis and the tennis courts. (And its not true that Joe fixed it for me to get in the finals, almost true... maybe)

Phyllis (Bialystock) Meranus – Hello Phyllis, we need to be entertained. Voila..we have great cabarets. (Do you think that its a coincidence that out of the 5 Cabarets that Phyllis produced, she wasn't here for one and that has a guy playing a washboard and gazoo?)

Tommy Newmann – I can't say enough about what Tommy has accomplished with our web site. It's great. There wasn't a day or night that Tommy & I didn't communicate. I would send out an email at 11PM and by 2am it was on the website. The pictures that are up there are priceless. The slide shows are fantastic. Now that being said, Tommy, take me off of your joke list. Stop sending me that crap.

Shelly Pressler – When I was in deep green doo doo with the pool, Shelly stepped up and worked on the pool. In addition, I know everyone enjoys the gardens at the lake. Thank you Shelly. Shelly hasn't done crap since May but he was there for me at the beginning when I really needed him.

Steve Redan & Hank Steinman (I need to save you two guys for last)

Wally Reiling – I told Wally at the beginning of the summer that there was a comedy night planned but I wasn't happy with what was planned. Wally said don't worry I will take care of it..and he did. GSYC Follies was born and I hope it becomes a valued staple.

Rick Rosenthal – Dock Chairman another behind the scenes guy. No problems except for seagulls & geese & ducks. He and his partner, Hank, wanted to set up a duck blind, I had to veto that. Besides, the bird problem gave me tons of ammo for my emails. Couldn't let it go away.

Jan Schlosser – Tabs is an impossible and an all encompassing job. Not only that, when I would speak to Jan, which was almost every day, and I asked for some information, I would have it instantaneously. Jan also filled in as acting Secretary at one of our Board meetings.

Dick Sundel - Dick worked hard in getting the club book and wallet book put together. That was back in May. Since then he has disappeared into his boat and hasn't done crap.

Gabe Torok – Gabe also wore a couple of different hats this year. Next year we should set up a budget line item just for Gabe. We have been using the cappuccino machine a lot this year. We grind our own coffee and this was all due to Gabe's perseverance and spending. In addition, the club now has, because of Gabe's spending and perseverance, a state of the art movie set up, which we have been using extensively. Every Tuesday night the Mandelbaums and I would be treated to a movie. At the end, the group grew to include Phil Stein, The Gaynor's and the Rosenfelds with their kids. I had also asked Gabe, along with Don Buck, to fix and simplify the club's sound system. Don helped plan it and Gabe did the work & spending. All the work was done during the week, and very quietly. Gabe was on a ladder outside the pool fence hanging from a tree when he repaired the speaker system at the pool. I cannot thank him enough for everything he has done.

Now to Redan and Steinman… The H & G twins…Don't look like twins do they? One's bald and the other is a whisper away from being bald. One doesn't play tennis and the other one tries to play tennis. One takes his boat out all the time and the other watches his daughter take his boat out, all the time. Must be fraternal twins.

Except for the days that Steve was on that cruise in east oochenvay, (which was when the you know what hit the fan, regarding the pool) I was either on the phone with either of them or saw either of them at the club regarding the House & Grounds every day. This club cannot thank these guys enough for their personal efforts. Hank has been doing this alone for all these years, now he has a partner to shoulder some of the responsibilities. I told these guys that we needed the place to look and operate first class, and guess what? It is and does. Both of these guys have worked tirelessly to make sure that this place functions and are committed to maintaining this facility in first class condition. Hank still runs around with his tools fixing anything that needs to be fixed, just like last weekend when caterer Rick called and said "Uh sir..I think there something wrong as there is a lot of water coming out of the furnace room." Ah music to a Commodore's ear.

A call to Hank who called Eli and reinforcements were on the way. A new heat pump later, I wouldn't let Eli fix it, and we were back to normal.

Steve has donated a lot of equipment to the club which is invaluable. This past thursday I put a call into Steve about the pool having too much water because of the rain. Steve left a business meeting, was at the club within 15 minutes and started a back wash.

And now when we add Eli, Gabe & Joel, "we are in good hands", as the commercial says. But... we still need a friggen plumber.

The Past Commodores - Phil Sclosser & Don Buck who operate that group. The Flags are wonderful and we thank you. (I don't seem to ever remember electing these guys to run this organization. How did they get there? I want an investigation, especially on their dues paying policies)

The Ladies Auxiliary - Invaluable to the club. They bought the wonderful bench that is outside the front door. They bought Caraf's and have offered to help finance new umbrella's for the pool. But the biggest cudo's go to the flower ladies, Led by Kathy Rosenthal, Sandy Gaynor, Linda Berger, Sharon Gruber etal . They are the one's responsible for all of the beautiful plantings that surround the club. Incredible job. Thank you Judy Steinbock for leading them this year.

The Board of Governors – The Board was very supportive of my goals and are a major part of the accomplishment of these goals.

The Flag Officers:

VC Jack Dashosh – Jack and I were connected to the hip this summer. I consulted with him on all issues and included him in all meetings that were held. As the head of the food service committee he worked with Rick, to establish standards and consistency, which I believe most of you, will agree we had a wonderful year.

RC Mike Unger – Mike has supported me from the getgo, even before he was blessed with the Rear Commodore job. In addition to taking a lot of pictures that are on the web site for you to enjoy, Mike & Sandy are constantly working to make the club look better. And I also thank Sandy for pitching in as acting secretary at a very difficult meeting. And a special thanks to Mike for making the placque and certificates that were given out tonight to members who have established milestones.

Treasurer Bob Margolies: Bob has done a superb job of keeping the budget on target and whatever information I asked for I received immediately. As you saw from his presentation tonight he has been fantastic.

Secretary Jean Ellen Kaufman – Impossible job. Everyone speaking at the same time and yet you were able to get it all down on paper and get it right. (although, there were times that I thought you made some of it up) However, Sandy Unger saved you from that last meeting. Your name was constantly on her lips during that meeting. We should have a tape recorder to tape the meetings. Great job! Also, worked hard at proofing the club book with Margie in what seems to be years ago.

Our Caterer – Rick Albanese – Whatever I asked for.. Rick accommodated. The kitchen performed to the standards that were set at the beginning of the year. I couldn't ask for better cooperation and I think his food this year was everything we asked for. If there was a problem, it was corrected immediately. Rick helped make this summer a great one.

Our service staff – They worked hard to make sure all of us were serviced and pleased.

Again, I thank each and every one of you for your support.

Just remember..we aren't done yet. Summer is not over until I say so..

Alan Karpas

Commodore