April 2, 2008 One course sailed 5 races and the other sailed 10 as the wind co-operated at the Sarasota One Design Midwinters last weekend. Bill Johnsen won the tie breaker over Dave Olson in the SR Max class, which contest came down to the last race. Salie O'Malie and crew came on strongly at the end after a slow start. Dave and Karen Thinel came down from Davis Island to give the local boats a lesson in the Flying Scots. John Domaglia was the best local boat in third. Will Stocke and his YSP crew were very fast but had to eat an OCS on their way to fourth place. Bob and Jill Robinson from Columbia, MD, held off a pack of Canadians to win the Albacores by a large margin. Chris and David Kelly of Dunedin won seven of ten races in the Day Sailers. Richard Elsishan eked out a one point victory over Jim Barr in the E Scows. Jim not only raced but also ran the regatta at which everyone had a great time.

March 18, 2008 Racers in the Pot o' Gold Regatta had a great sail in piping breeze. Despite some confusion with the course, Bill Johnsen on his SR Max, Tom Turner on his cruising boat, and Ron Pletsch on his Flying Scot won their classes. Chris Carnell sailed a good race on his Melges.

March 7, 2008 The mooring field morass is becoming deeper and denser. Anyone with an interest in the mooring field should absolutely attend the March 11 board meeting to find out what is going on. Costs of this project continue to accrue. Is there any gold at the end of this rainbow? Will those who think they now have a mooring, still have a mooring after this is sorted out? Will it ever be sorted out? Will there be a final cost? See January 2007 , November 2007 and November 2006 in Previous Reports.

Past Commodore Pressman sent a letter on one of the problems.

Greta Garriques has been hired as manager and is in the process of learning the ropes to effect a smooth change of management. This process should be closely monitored so that the changing of the guard this spring is as painless as possible.

Many important items will be discussed at the March 11 board meeting. All members are encouraged to attend.

February 13, 2008 We received this report from a member who attended the February 12 board meeting:
"Well, Stan Zimmerman stepped down from the secretary position. The Commodore recommended that David Jennings be moved to that postion so he could be on the Executive Committee since he has so much work going on with the mooring field and other committees. Then the Commodore recommended that Sara Allen be appointed as fleet captain. McCormack made the motion and board just sat there with no discussion. (Apparently the exec committee had already made the plan) Anyway, I asked if I could address the board and asked why Charlie Clifton wasn't even considered for the position, I said you were recommended by nominating committee and at least members had voted for you. Commodore then said how overworked Jennings was and that moving him to secretary made sense. I then asked why you or someone that was recommended by nominating commitee wasn't considered for fleet captain? (Race Captain) Rich Muro then said he didn't like the way things were going and stated that the election was just a few months ago, why didn't Jennings run for secretary then? No one else seemed to care and they voted in favor of Commodore's plan with only Rich objecting. I went home disappointed as usual."

January 31, 2008 Scuttlebutt: Reliable sources report Stan Zimmerman has stepped down as Secretary 2˝ months after being elected and that former nominating committee member Greta Garrigues was selected by the Executive Committee to be the new manger after Pat Murphy's retirement.

January 27, 2008 Bill Johnsen's Stiletto 30 blew away the Sunday cruiser fleet and then self destructed on the last reach. The main strut broke and the big catamara folded in half in 15 knot wind. The crew on the boat sailed by Scott Purcell and Pat Echenique executed a flawless rescue of the crew. There were no injuries.

January 16, 2008 Recently elected Commodore John McKay is embroiled in confusion over whether he is attempting to derail and disband the managerial search committee. This confusion comes as volunteers for other committees are turned away while this Commodore simutaneously puts out a call in the Burgee for more committee volunteers. Is this an end run by a Commodore who holds office by virtue of 35 undelivered ballots? This email exchange was submitted in which past Commodore Alan Pressman requests answers to this Commodore's recent actions.

January 8, 2008 Some members took it upon themselves to arbitrarily change the designated time limits by repainting the colors on the docking areas. The board received assurances it would be rectified. Manager: "I told the boys that wouldn't work." No culprits were identified.

January 1, 2008 YSP sailors Abby Featherstone and Chris Stocke placed fifth and sixth repectively in very large fleets at the Orange Bowl Regatta in Miami in December.   Results

November 20, 2007 35 ballots from Luffing Lassies and YSP members that were supposed to have been delivered to the General Membership Meeting have turned up. These ballots are overwhelmingly marked for Doug Kresge - Commodore.

November 19, 2007 John McKay was elected Commodore by 3 votes. Challenges involving the State of Florida problems with excessive number of moorings placed in the mooring field, accounting of SSS finances, dead boats on the premises, and hiring a new manager will face the incoming board.

November 14, 2007 The decision to order a bathymetric survey for the mooring field was tabled at the board meeting last night. Serious potential liabilities for the Squadron could result from mooring field activity according to a member who is experienced with the DEP riparian and submerged lands permitting. All members should take an interest in what is taking place with this project .

November 8, 2007 Uh oh ! More costs ahead for mooring field project. Note that we've requested the application for mooring field management to be withdrawn. A motion will be presented at the next board meeting to contract a signed and sealed bathymetric survey by a licensed engineering company relating to a new request for a Temporary Use Permit. Is it time for cost/benefit analysis yet? See January 2007 and November 2006 in Previous Reports. Next board meeting is November 13.

November 7, 2007 Commodore Pressman addressed part of the mooring field problem noted October 24th in this email.

November 2, 2007 SSS sailor Zeke Horowitz placed 2nd in the Interscholastic Singlehanded High School National Championship held at Shilshole Bay, Washington. Florida sailor David Hernandez won the event as our Florida sailors bested the top high school sailors in the country. Story & results.

October 29, 2007 The Great Pumpkin Regatta had only nine PHRF boats turn out under cloudy skies. The rain held off and nice breeze was there for the race. John Steele's Melges 24 crew won Spinnaker and was first overall. Kevin Ratigan won Non-Spin. Dave Ettinger continued his winning ways in his Ranger in Cruising class. Dave has the Ranger going faster each race.

Eleven Flying Scots turned out. Marsh Pardey won that class in the last race by putting enough boats between him and Ron Pletsch.   Results

Lasers, Sunfish and Optis also sailed. Results for them will be posted when received.

October 24, 2007 The inclusion of John McKay's name on the dead boat list has spurred inquiries as to his status as a member in good standing and his eligibility to hold a Board position.

Bill Niblock has responded to the DEP with a letter   requesting our application for Submerged Land Lease (Mooring Field) be withdrawn. The letter indicates an intention to apply for a Temporary Use Permit. The letter also acknowledges 5 more items DEP is requesting, some of which could be quite expensive. DEP has also been concerned with the number of moorings in the field compared to what is supposed to be there, a concern vociferously noted in the past by former VC Barb Levin. See January 4, 2007, in Previous Reports.

Commodore Alan Pressman sent in his final Commodore's Report

October 22, 2007The Bob Buzzelli Legacy Regatta went off very well with good breeze. Congratulations to winners Peter Wormwood, Katherine Garlick and Bill Johnsen. Results

October 15, 2007 Squadron sailor Jeff DuVal continues to win in southeast Melges class....   Pensacola Results

October 10, 2007The Sarasota boys at the Olympic Trials are in respectable mid-fleet positions as of today. Fred Strammer had a bullet in the third race. Results to date.

On a much sadder note, Bob Buzzelli died yesterday after a sudden affliction. Bob was a well known catamaran afficionado and long time supporter of sailing activities, especially the Sarasota Youth Sailing Program. Bob was 45 years old and will be sorely missed.

October 8, 2007 - The Burgee is out with the ballot for the Board of Directors' election. We recommend votes for Doug Kresge and Charlie Clifton for the two contested positions.

October 6, 2007 - Veteran captain of the seven seas, Chuck Tanner, wrote to report that Sarasota Sailing Squadron progenies, Fred Strammer, Chris Branning, and Zeke Horowitz have all qualified for the U S Olympic Trials. Not bad for a little Florida sailing club!

Sept. 12, 2007 - The Board passed a resolution that will make the owners of the 23 dead boats on the grounds ineligible for membership renewal unless they rectify the problem before membership renewal at the end of this year.

September 4, 2007 Election Recommendations - Please vote!
Doug Kresge - Commodore
David Curry - Vice Commodore
Steve McCormack - Rear Commodore
David Emmerling - Treasurer
Charlie Clifton - Secretary Statement
David Jennings - Fleet Captain
Rich Muro - Race Captain
Allan Capellin - Measurer
Stuart Gilfillen - Education

August 15, 2007 - At the August 14 Board Meeting, Nominating Committee Chairman Peter Robinson presented the NC slate of nominees for the 2007 election. The slate can be viewed   here.

In other business, the board announced their intention to bring the new accounting program on line September 1. Delay in entering data has stymied initiation of the new system. Board members were adamant about their desire to implement this program ASAP.

The New Manager Hiring Committee has made a great deal of progress on procedural details. A plan for hiring the new manager will be available after the September 10 EC meeting. Job description and other details will be available at that time. Resumés will be accepted after the plan has been finalized in September but are not being accepted at this time.

Fleet Captain Jim May unveiled a proposed mandatory mooring tackle system to be instituted in the mooring field. A diagram of the system is available here.

July 23, 2007 - Sarasota Sailing Squadron Board of Directors elections are coming up.
Doug Kresge, who served as Commodore in 1994 and 1995, has thrown his hat into the ring for the same position. Doug was instrumental in negotiating with the City for the acquisition of the beach front land in front of the radio station. He will be invaluable in the upcoming negotiations for our lease renewal.

The Nominating Committee has put together bios on the candidates interviewed. Click   here   for the bios.

April 25, 2007 - The Minutes in the April Burgee had some discussion of this website. Board Member Tom Deeter was reported to have referred to me as "disgruntled" and "holding the Sailing Squadron hostage". He labelled this site "disparaging". Jim May reportedly lamented "so much negative information" on this site.

One of the purposes of this site is to call for transparency and accountability in the management of our organization. Another purpose is to voice a vision for the Squadron that may be different than that of a majority of the current Board members. Board members have their views published in the Minutes (as per discretion of Stan Zimmerman) and personal Burgee columns. They enjoy the soap box of BOD positions. This site is a soap box for members who do not have the opportunities afforded BOD members.

Views alternate to those of some Board members will continue to be expressed here. Just because those views may not coincide with the current Board does not mean they are "disparaging" and "negative", nor that I am "disgruntled". Disagreement with current Board direction does not equate with disloyalty to the Squadron.

There will be another election in seven months. Everyone interested in the future of the Squadron should carefully consider whom they would like to see in Board positions for the future. Occupants of these positions will determine in what direction the Squadron moves forward. The last election had carefully regulated candidates. For the next election we need candidates with vision who will lead in a better direction. We need to start working on that right now.

February 21, 2007 - Alan Pressman called today and requested we remove the logo from this site. He was asked who might own the logo and replied he had no idea. So the logo remains. (2/23/07 - I took the logo off hoping that increasingly lengthy emails would cease.)

As the conversation went on, it appeared that what sparked the call may have been discussion on this site of the mooring field and it's costs. He stated the costs were less than what has been surmised.

An offer was made to the Commodore to publish an accounting of mooring field costs if he would like to provide one. Tranparency is the best way to dispel rumors. He replied, "That's not my job." Then he remarked that the mooring field costs were a small part of the annual squadron budget. - Email exchange about this.

In other news, reports indicate that the hoist is now up and running.

February 14, 2007 - A sudden, recent surge in hits to this site has propelled us close to the top of search engine results pages. Thanks to all for their patronage.

At the February Board meeting, the YSP came forward to request the annual donation that SSS has been making to the program for many years. It has been several years since the donation has been increased. YSP requested the board consider an increase. EC Deiter noted he would like to see the Director of YSP appear before the Board. Secretary Zimmerman expressed reservations about the donation. The board decided to issue a check to the YSP for ˝ of the usual amount and discuss later any further amount.

The hoist saga continues. Once again the boom is dissembled and out of commission pending the ??th attempt at repair. Replacement is still apparently not a consideration.

Since the Board tabled a proposal in December to include in the Burgee a "Letters to the Editor" section, this site will provide such a service. We believe it is important for members to be able to voice their concerns. See below.

We are flattered that this site came up for discussion at the February meeting. Reference was made to an agreement that took place between former Commodore Broadribb and a director of this site. Commodore Broadribb had expressed concern that the members' site could be mistaken for the official administration SSS site. That problem was quickly resolved by placing, at the top and bottom of this home page, a notice that this is an independent member's site. Additionally, a link to the official site was graciously provided at no charge.

January 4, 2007 - There should be some interesting discussions at the upcoming January 9 Board Meeting.

The Mooring Field saga continues to burn money like wildfire. Perhaps we need a cost/benefit analysis of exactly what we are getting and at what cost. Dues and onshore storage rates were raised as of January 1st.

One board member seems to think that the YSP should be moved off the grounds. Secretary Stan Zimmerman wrote about the YSP in an email picked up by NSA monitoring and recently declassified.

Referring to the old Pelican Man sanctuary, Secretary Zimmerman wrote, "However the site could be wonderful for the YSP, and give them their own space. I'm sure we at the SSS can, will and should put all our energies to help the YSP secure that spot. However the lack of response from the YSP leadership to even consider the idea makes me wonder if we are living with a parasite...a 30-something who refuses to consider leaving home." Full text of email  here.

Anyone who thinks the YSP, Luffing Lassies and other racing groups are an integral part of the SSS and should remain on the grounds can make their voices heard January 9.

Should the Squadron support youth and other sailing programs or should it become a nautical Salvation Army?

November 2006 - The elections are over. Reform candidates missed by 20-50 votes for three positions. Changes will have to wait another year. If they are going to take place, more than 120 of the 900 members will have to vote.

The mooring field money pit continues to deepen. After dumping $20 to $30 thousand into the project, word now is that "sea grass mitigation" may be necessary. Maybe details can be obtained at the December 12 board meeting.

At the November board meeting it was decided to raise storage fees 10% and dues 5%. A 30 foot boat on a mooring will continue to incur the same charges as a Sunfish in a dinghy rack.

Cigarette smoking sentries will continue to be stationed in front of the door to the porch. Walt Wyatt will continue sleeping on his boat at the main dock. Convenient kitchen facilities have been installed on the main dock for the residents.

New Vice Commodore Tom Younkman is a nice guy but his lack of regatta expertise will take its toll on the racing program. Among other new board members, Jim May believes "not a single thing" is necessary to improve the Squadron. Tom Dieter returns to the board after a stint as Commodore where he worked so well with others that he saw fit to abolish all committees.

A financial review of accounting procedures completed by a CPA firm was presented at the November board meeting. The report noted significant deficiencies in the design or operation of the internal control structure. Secretary Zimmerman characterised the report as a glowing accolade to management.

It should be an interesting year.