Welcome to the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club’s 119^th year of operation. I am honored and pleased to serve as your Commodore for the 2005 season - "The year of the Dock." I believe this is an appropriate title since completion of the 124-foot structure helps bring PIBYC closer to becoming a full service yacht club.

Regularly filling the dock is key to the club’s future growth, both in membership and revenue. Our job now is to get the word out about PIBYC as a unique boating destination on the Great Lakes with dockage, food service, stocked bar and friendly members.

We have one person to thank for spearheading the dock project: Past Commodore Bob Bahney Jr. Bob has spent several years working with state officials to obtain a grant covering approximately 60% of the construction cost. Bob then spent endless hours obtaining bids, designing details, ensuring that permits were filed, meeting contractors, checking on job progress and answering correspondence from official agencies. Hats off to Bob for helping to improve our club in such a major way! Please take a moment to personally thank Bob the next time you see him.

A special Thank You is also in order to all the past commodores, board members and this year’s leadership team including: Vice Commodore Robert Bahney III; Rear Commodore Honorable George Smith; Fleet Captains PC David Butz and PC Samuel Gregory, Jr.; Treasurer PC Clark Davies; Recording Secretary Kristin Wygant; Membership Secretary Mary Ellen Werner; Auxiliary President Sally Duffy, and the Board of Trustees.

A second special Thank You goes to Marilyn Paselsky for assembling the yearbook, to Linda Dettmer for her endless hours of compiling the Jib Sheet, and to Jim Dettmer for publishing and mailing the yearbook and monthly Jib Sheet.

In addition, I’d like to thank the daily club management team of Noreen and Chuck Roth, and the catering services of Sharon Conte and her hard-working staff.

As we look to the future, I’d like to ask your help on one of our next proposed projects: creating a front-yard patio with outside food and bar service. Please let me know your comments, designs and thoughts on this new concept.

Since PIBYC is a seasonal volunteer club, we need everyone’s help to make it flourish. Please take time to volunteer during I-LYA week, serve on a committee, join the board of trustees, or consider becoming a bridge officer. With your help, the possibilities for our club are endless.

- Richard L. Meyer