Welcome Aboard to all members of the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club. It will be my pleasure and honor to serve as your Commodore for the new millennium.

I am both excited and nervous about being Commodore this year, but I have the best Team of Flag Officers and Trustees. This should provide the members with an exciting and wonderful season.

Congratulations are in order to Laureen Mooney for accepting the position of President of the Ladies Auxiliary, and to Sam Gregory, Jack Lain, and Larry Zahn for serving as Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, and Fleet Captain, respectively. They are full of ideas and are arranging a fun-filled season both on the water and off. Of course, our Past Commodore, Reni Miller, will be at-hand helping direct the Club through our many upcoming challenges.

The Inter-Lake Yachting Association has again chosen th Put-in-Bay Yacht Club for its Junior and Senior Regattas. These premier events afford us an opportunity to showcase our fine club, so I urge as many of you as possible to participate in its planning and functions.

Our Club Manager, Steve Cooks, will remain for another year. His service last year was indespensable and I am extremely happy Steve has agreed to remain with us another year. Having served as our 1995 Commodore, Steve has a definite vested interest in serving the club.

Every year seems to offer its own form of challenges and 2000 will be no different. We need to maintain and keep the momentum that was established last year. This year we will be seriously pursuing the Club's landscaping and the addition of docks. The success of the Club depends greatly on the personal time and efforts of all its members. I personally urge you to become more active in the operations of your Club. Don't be bashful as you will be welcomed with open arms!

Thank you in advance to all who will make this year a success and a huge thank you to my family and good friends who helped me get here.

- John Jack Attkisson