Fall Meeting & Winners Dinner Oakland Yacht Club November 7, 2009

(If you like, you can skip down through the prose and go straight to the pictures below, or click on the I-36 Logo to return to the Main Menu!)

The weather pulled a rainy, stinky for the few intrepid Islanders that showed up Friday night. But great spirits Skipper & Nancy Wall with Snowflower, Ron & Karen Damsen with Woodbine, and Rick Vulliet with Paradesia all sailed over to Marina Village. Dan Knox picked up Deb Tucker from San Diego to round out the Friday crowd.

Saturday, however, turned out to be a perfectly beautiful day. Bright blue sky with light north winds warmed into the upper 60s for the afternoon. Rick & Sandy Van Mell came over with Vanishing Animal, and Rob Blenderman and Ruby Wallis brought White Horses to complete the "visiting" Islander list at five.

Islanders resident at Marina Village and Oakland YC brought the boats present total to 12, when you count Luna Sea, Natural High, Brigid, Mischief, Diana, Zenith, and Freedom Won. We count Freedom Won because Nanci Melton was there, even though John Melton & Freedom Won are in Mexico at the end of the Baja Ha Ha. Good for John!

For the main event, we had 75 folks representing 30 boats show up for the Fall Meeting & Winners' Dinner. They came to exchange greetings, nibble on goodies, and generally have an enjoyable and relaxed time. The list is shown below. Names in ( ) were either not scheduled to attend or couldn't make it at the last minute, but they were certainly there in spirit, so they are included in the list.

We joke about it, but it's quite impressive how we all look "with clothes on." Coats, ties, and beautiful dresses were in abundance. Best of all, there was a warm and friendly spirit all evening. Racers got a chance to catch up with other crews and swap stories about skippers and cruisers. We had past Commodore Bruce & Donna Block, and past Islander owners Jack & Sandy Thompson, and super salesman Don & Beverly Wilson - who sold many of the boats that started the Association 35 years ago. It was quite special.

Cocktail hour flew past as everyone arrived. Michele Williams put together a slide show with a selection of pictures from all 12 years that we have on the web site - boy, have some of us changed in 12 years! But, it was great to remember old friends and boats that have come and gone over the years. Here's a link to Michele's Slide Show.. (Be patient, it's 27 MB and takes a while to load, but it's worth it!)

Elaine skillfully moved the whole crowd to the tables to get dinner under way right after 6:30. A light salad started things off, followed by the chosen entrees of Rib Eye, Game Hen or Vegetarian. The excellent entrees didn't need any help, but the bottles of red and white wine on the tables were sure appreciated. A raspberry sorbet and cake topped it all off.

Betsy Fowler, with lots of help from Karen Damsen, organized registration and the great big table full of Door Prizes. Each boat with a reservation had an envelope ready with individual name tags, raffle ticket stubs for each person, and a place card to put on the table of their choice -- and tables were reserved for boats that brought their whole crew. That sure make checking in easy. Sandy Van Mell helped with the door prize table set up and prize drawing, while Betsy & Karen delivered the prizes. When they got down to the last prixe, the B&B stay, they put all of the tickets back in so everyone had a chance at it. The list of prizes and winners appears just after the pictures of the prizes below.

Our wonderful Commodore Corky Stewart was shanghaied by a nasty flu and cough - so Dr. Anna quarantined him at home, and Past Commodore Ron Damsen did the Master of Ceremonies duty for the evening. Ron got things started with Door Prizes as we all sat down. More door prizes with dessert, and then on to the main events.

Committee reports were quick and to the point: minutes read & accepted; Michele Williams noted our membership for Bob Knickerbocker with just over 200 members; Dan Knox reported the kitty in good shape, and encouraged our gifts to clubs that host us to continue and grow; Kris Youngberg said it simply - get measured, new sails too; and Webmaster Rick Van Mell said, 357 web pages, 16,158 pictures, 41,202 files and 4.4 million hits. It was a great year.

After dinner we moved on to a reflection on Bill Higdon, our senior member who passed away at age 90 this year. Bill was always an active member of our fleet, whether racing or cruising. He had a wonderful charm about him - why in his last years he could talk bartenders into a free drink -- especially if it was a woman. Jim Higdon, Bill's son, couldn't be with us, but sent along a letter that Dennis Bush read to all. Jim's Letter. Ron Damsen made up an 11 minute presentation, including pictures of Bill growing up, provided by Jim. A number of years ago, Barb Henderson interviewed Bill and wrote an article for the newsletter, you can read the article here.

Tribute to Bill Higdon (Sounds begins after 2nd picture.)

Of course there was some fun business too. The Fall Meeting is also our Winner's Dinner - time to celebrate the year's victors. that included Season's Championship winner Tom & Dave Newton aboard Captain Hooke, and who also won the Nationals Regatta. The Crew Award went to Beau Woodward aboard Captain Hooke for his 29 years of sailing aboard. Dan Knox, Luna Sea, got the Racing / Cruising award for his continuing commitment to both activities. The cruising Award went to Rick & Sandy Van Mell whose Vanishing Animal (plus Teak) is found at many and many a cruise. After some confusion on scoring, Kit Wiegman, Cassiopeia, was declarded the winner of the "Spinnaker Cup Series" of extra races, but not to be confused with the Ormand trophy.

Steve Newton put together about a 10 minute presentation of slides from the racing season. These were beautiful to watch and showed how gracefull and powerful an Islander can be under sail. If we can, we will add a link here.

The Schneider Trophy goes to an individual for outstanding contribution to the Association. We were fortunate to have Donna (Schneider) Block and her husband Bruce at the dinner. Donna got up and told stories about her father, Russ Schneider, who successfully won with his Islander Absolute for many years, eventually handing it on to Donna's brother, Steve Schneider. Donna married Bruce and their Islander was Blockbuster - the same that Bill Higdon and now Jim Higdon sail. It was Russ Schneider who established the original Schneider Trophy.

Originally this cup was given to the winner of the All Islander Weekend Regatta which saw its last weekend in 1992 or so. This All Islander Weekend was sponsored by the Tiburon Yacht Club. This special weekend was where several of the Islander classes raced together. After the day's racing a big barbeque was held on the club’s large patio. Unfortunately, the original cup has been lost in the intervening years and can not be located. After a diligent search of the various yacht clubs and a letter writing campaign to those who logically might have won the cup, however, the Schneider family and our association have now provided a new champagne bucket with a new purpose. It is now awarded by the Commodore to a deserving individual within the Association.

"This silver plated champagne bucket was donated to the Islander 36 Association, Fleet One, San Francisco Bay, by John R. (Russ) Schneider, a past winner of several Islander 36 championships. This champagne bucket is awarded by the Commodore with the advice of the board of directors, in recognition to one or more individuals for their continued dedication and generous support of our Islander 36 Association. This champagne bucket is to be a perpetual trophy, to be awarded annually at the Islander 36 Association fall meeting." This year's most deserving winner, is Dan Knox of Luna Sea..

The main order of business, and the official purpose of the Fall Meeting, is to elect Officers for the 2010 season. Your 2010 Officers are: Commodore Michele Williams, Vice Commodore Robert Aston, Treasurer Pat Salvo, Secretary Dennis Bush, Measurer Kris Youngberg, Past Commodore Corky Stewart, Fleet Captains David & Tom Newton, Cruise Chair Team Carol Williams & Mary Gleim, Membership Chair Bob Knickerbocker, Newsletter Editor Kathryn Munn-Hodgkins and Debra Tucker, and Webmaster Rick Van Mell.

So enjoy the pictures. We're looking forward to seeing all of our members for at least one function in 2010, and hopefully we'll have new members to join us as well. Our members outside the immediate Bay Area are always welcome to let us know when they are coming to town and we'll do our best to get them out on the water. Now you and your family have a happy and safe holiday season, and we'll see you at the Spring Meeting, March 6th, 2010 at the Richmond Yacht Club!

Pictures by Lou Zevanov & Rick Van Mell. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Beautiful San Francisco	Awaiting a berth	Alameda Naval base ...	guards on duty ...	catching rays ...
you there ...	OK, go on by	Harbor patrol	Starboard guards	a bit casual.
Bay Bridge S curve	Pelican flies by ...	downtown Oakland.	Into the Estuary ...	Star Wars Machines?!!
Oakland ferry	A President is ...	unloading containers ...	one at a time ...	locked on ...
going up.	$500 ride.	Great Egret is ...	dock master.	Time to set up ...
where to put it ...	here? ...	Carol starts ...	Betsy smiles ...	Elaine does it ALL!
Rube Goldberg works!	Beginning pictures set	Door prizes line up ...	great goodies ...	from soft to ...
delicious haul out ...	champagne # 1 ...	champagne # 2 ...	bookends ...	Tradewinds class ...
Texas B & B stay ...	goodies bags ...	necklace from Sandy ...	fine wine & safety!	Skipper bags. (front & back)

Door Prizes & Winners

DONOR	PRIZE	WINNERS
Embroidery Factory	Two T-Shirts	Diane Zevanov
Hood Sails	Skipper Bags	All Skippers
I-36 Association	All Islander T-Shirts	Kathryn Munn Hodgkins
KKMI	Free  Haulout	Harry Farrell
Latitude 38	T-Shirts	Eli Gilliam and Dennis Bush
Richmond West Marine	Two Pair Sailing Gloves	Nancy Wall
Stockton West Marine	Nautica wine glasses	Helena Monica
Svendsen's Boatworks	Gioft Certificates & Assorted Items	Don Wilson and Don Henderson
Anonymous	Gift Basket with Champagne	Rob Blendermann
Anonymous	3 bottles of morellet, 2 sand chairs,	Mary Gleim,Daniel Alleghretti,Sandy Thomson
Anonymous	Antique Basket with Gift Certificate	Gary Salvo
Robert Aston	Custom Greeting Cards (Private Collection)	Betsy Fowler,Steve Newton,Donna Block,Rhonda Shea, Ed Gallagher
Dennis & Judy Bush	Spa Basket	Jason Scott
Ron & Karen Damsen	Baked Goods / Basket	Bruce Block
Don & Barb Henderson	Knit Poncho	Don Scott
Bill & Terry Ray	B & B Gift Certificate	Lou Zevanov
Gary & Pat Salvo	Multi  Tool w / Belt Holder	Tom Newton
Tim & Rhonda Shea	Napa Valley Gift Basket	Lisa Chatelat
Tradewinds	Complimentary Keel Boat Sailing Course	Mark Monica
Rick & Sandy Van Mell	Hand Made Jewelry Art - Necklace  & Wine	Mark Monica
Ruby Wallis	I-36 Towels	Robert Aston, Kris Youngberg, Barbara Cucksey, Ray Duran,Thomas Furlong
Carol Williams & Harry Farrell	Nautical Bookends	Myphi Alloy
Michele Williams	Sculpted firepit	Skipper Wall
Don and Beverly Wilson	Two Bottles of Wine	Barbara Henderson
Anonymous	Sand Chairs	Donna Hallberg
Anonymous	Medical Kit	Richard Doyle
Anonymous	Escape Ladder	Charles Hodgkins
Unknown	Harry and Davids Basket of treats	Ron Damsen

The last of it!	Commodore's plaque.	Old masters	Ormand Cup	Almost ready ...
Party time!	Dapper Tom Newton	All smiles	Harry, Don & Barb	She's everywhere!
Great photos ...	show action	Past Commodores	Lou checks in ...	Charles & Kathryn ...
Genoa waits for Anna & Ed Gallagher	Helping Ed get nibbles	Wonderful treats	They think so	Robert & Tom, not as pretty as ...
Robert & Mary.	Welcome Dickson family!	Hi Bruce & Donna	Sharp Michele	Cruising award.
Strategy session	Rob & Ruby	Carol likes PH crew Mark & Helena	Show time	Great women
Great scarves!	Rick Vulliet checks in	Nationals trophy	Tim & Mike catch up ...	ditto Rhonda & Daphne
Table time ...	as dinner begins ...	Tom's happy ...	Orion crew too	Captains Hooke ...
Big crowd ...	shutter bugs ...	Nanci, Myphi & Dan	Big smiles ...	Richard, Gina & Debra
you don't say ...	Sandy & Jack Thompson	Art, Lou, & Donna & Bruce Block	where'd they go?	right here!
Now, if you're nice ...	who's happier? ...	Proposition? Proposing? ...	Harry, let's talk ....	Rich & Takae
Richard & Gina Doyle Nantucket	Dan gets Racing/Cruising	David picks up Nationals	Beau Woodward gets Crew	What's THIS?????
Harry's Season 3rd Place	Hammond Trophy to Captain Hooke	Rick's mouthfull	Diane likes Art	Cruise award to Vanishing Animal
Cool hand Lou!	RC Team!	Donna Block introduces ...	Schneider Trophy for Dan Knox	Past Commodore Lou Zevanov
What just happened ??!!	2010 Officers	Going home in style Kris Youngberg

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