Burnham Park Yacht Club Monthly Newsletter ~ Aug. 2016
Commodore's Log:
One of the best parts of the day is the early morning first cup of coffee.  It is the beginning of a new day, one never experienced.  If you then add that to our location in the City, be it on your boat or condo overlooking the lake, you have a slice of paradise.  Burnham Park Yacht Club is the diamond in the midst of it all.  It puzzles me; however, as to why every boater in our harbor doesn't join our club. I don't think any club could offer much more with all our activities, events, food, cocktails and of course, the pleasure of being able to mingle with all of us.
 
The fun doesn't stop there.  We have a great number of events coming up.  The Casino Night, The New Members Dinner and The Commodore's Ball to mention a few.  Please get involved and for sure attend.
 
The 2016/2017 slate of Officers and Board Members have been selected and the list is posted on the official notice bulletin board.  Some new faces and new ideas.  It should make for another terrific year.  Everyone works so hard for the rest of us.
 
Our last Membership event took place this past Friday, which was a cocktail hour. Something new we tried.  It was a great success.  We signed up two new members and potentially a third.  Thank you to everyone for attending.  The place was full.  Thank you, Tom O'Connell, for all your efforts and time you have put in regarding Membership and Marketing.  We have close to forty new members this year!  Well done everyone.
 
Once again this summer, we had the delightful pleasure of our friends from "across the pond" (Ireland) grace us with their kindness, hard work ethic, smiles and of course that accent.  The past weekend was their last for the season.  We will make every effort to have them back next year.  Such a joy.
 
I hope everyone is enjoying what has turned out to be one of our better seasons in years.  It is such a short season for us anyway, so grab for all the gusto you can.
 
Hope to see you at the club .                                          
                                                      
                                                       
                                                       Sincerely,
                                                   Chris Edmonds
                                                      Commodore
                                                                                  

Vice Commodore:
Hello Fellow Burnham Park Yacht Club Members,
 
I hope you are all enjoying the Summer and are getting a lot of "boating time" on the water.
In our efforts to keep improving and to keep up with technology, cameras are being installed at the Club to assure your security and safety. For your Boating Safety and security, I would like to share the following piece of information:
                                         
  Free Automated Radio Check Service
From your slip or in the downtown area, tune your VHF radio to channel 26. Transmit a short message. When you release the mic, you will hear a reply of your message letting you know how you will sound.   
This can be a lot of fun and helps reduce the volume of nonurgent communication on channel 16.
Fun Facts:
 The Coast Guard has informed us that since May there have been 63 rescues, 400 boarding inspections and 6 BUI (boating under the influence) cases.                              
Important Dates:
Our last open house for this season will be August 19th from 5:30-8:30. Bring a friend or dock mate to tour the Club and see what a great Club and benefits we have.
The New member's dinner is October 1st. Remember yours? This is a fun time to meet new friends and reacquaint with the regulars.
I hope to see you at one of these events or many parties still to come this Season!
 
 
Scott Gordon
Vice Commodore, 
Burnham Park Yacht Club
Rear Commodore:
This summer's weather has been outstanding!  It's been a long time coming and very well deserved.  I hope everyone has been taking advantage of the club.  There's always something fun going on!
Thanks to Paul Stec for arranging the club's 'Rendezvous to Hammond Marina' this year!  It was their Venetian Night, and the majority of the boats in the harbor were decorated with lights and streamers, making it such a festive evening!  There was good food, a live band, fireworks, and a lot of Hoosier hospitality!  
Mark your calendars for the upcoming 'Casino Night' on September 17th.  Phil Edwards is running this event, so it is a must!  Phil will be looking for donations for door prizes such as monetary gifts, sporting event tickets, memorabilia, etc.  The theme is 'The Roaring Twenties'.  Get dressed up, and come on out!  Last month the house was filled with pirates, and next month it's gangsters!  Until next month... 
Steve Theis
Rear Commodore


Treasurer:
Wow, it is already the end of August!  What a great season we are having.
 
We have just hired Dominick as our new bookkeeper.  Everyone please stop in and introduce yourselves to him.  Sam and I are looking forward to working with Dominick and I am excited to have him on board!
 
 Revenues are up at the club and more people are using the club! I think everyone's hard work is paying off and it is certainly fun to be at the club.
 
We are working on next year's budget and will present it to membership at the September 2nd  business meeting.
 
Casino night is back!!  I hope everyone comes out for our "Prohibition Era Casino Night".  Get signed up now for a great event.  The Burnham Park Yacht Club is raising money for Children with Diabetes and Misericordia.  Two great charities that help so many people.  This should be a fun night and we hope to raise a lot of money for these groups!
 
Phil Edwards
Treasurer - BPYC

Membership:
The Final Open house for the 2016 boating season was help on Friday August 19th. Thanks to all the members and board who helped make this and all of the open houses a success! Special thanks to Samantha, Chef Sal and their crew for all of the work they have done to make these gatherings successful. The results very evident as we have close to 40 new members this year! And thanks to all of the members that have brought people in to join the club. Even though the open houses are done, we will continue to reward current members with a club credit if they sponsor a new member. We will also continue our policy of half off the initiation fees for new members. Great things are happening at the BPYC so let's continue to spread the word and bring in new members.
 
The annual New Members Dinner is scheduled for Saturday October 1st. Plans are being finalized and invitations will go our shortly. This years new members will receive their dinner for free and all members are invited to attend!
 
Tom O'Connell
Membership Director





Programs:
Programs Coming Up!!  Aug/Sept 2016
 
Cool Rockin' Daddies
August 27th on the patio          8:00-11:00
Exceptional Band that rocked our Club last year!  Back by popular demand!
 
Puff & Stuff
Sept. 3rd on the patio               3:00 - ?
Cigars and Whiskey
Davidson Country Band will be set up on patio.
 
CASINO NIGHT
Sept. 17th                                7:30 - 11:30
Prohibition Era Themed Event
$35.00             Hors D'oeuvres, Gambling, Live Entertainment
Proceeds will be shared with Juvenile Diabetes Foundation & Misericordia

The Auxiliary:
HOT & COOL STUFF FROM THE AUXILIARY
We are heading into another spectacular season of the year for residents of Chicago.  The Spring holds anticipation, youth, great scents, and green growth.  The Summer is a time of ripening, heat, and activity.  The "Big Blue" stretches its waves out invitingly taking you for a glide then lulls you to sleep in the harbor upon your return. Autumn arrives. It is a time of color, warmth of day, and cool of evening.  Now as Chicago boaters, this season holds feelings that are bittersweet.  All the great running up to being on and part of Lake Michigan is coming to a close.  The "Big Blue" will shortly become the "Big Grey" and beat its sides against the shore in anticipation of the cold and closure of Winter. 
Yet I think the change of the seasons is why many of us remain in the Midwest and specifically on the Great Lakes.  I believe it is all about the anticipation of what is to come that makes us stay and relish the change.  Too much of a good thing often makes us fat, drunk, or jaded.  I suppose if I lived across the street from the Pyramid of Giza, I would think to myself it was indeed a Wonder of The Ancient World.  Six months later, I would still think it was a wonder of the world and I love the desert.  But gee whiz, it sure is hot and the Pyramids and the sand never change.  Enter Chicago....yes sireee, there ya got change.  The city is also a beauty.
But my purpose is to write about the activities of The Auxiliary.  First, many thanks to Joyce Durante, John Billo, and Ken James for work on the Logowear cabinet & sales. Stunning, Stunning!!                      We have one activity for September to be held on Friday September 9.  Jan Edmonds, the lovely wife of our Commodore, is presenting a program to The Auxiliary entitled "Wine & Wellness."  Are there any two words that are more close to our collective hearts?  Please join The Auxiliary in welcoming Jan for a delightful evening.  Keeping on the wine theme, we will be doing a tasting with flights of wine and associated cheese and meats.  This event will be held in November.  The date will be firmed in September.
Come join us as we beautify YOUR Club....
 
Barbara Hetzer-Maloney,
The Auxiliary Treasurer
Calendar Events!!
August 2016


Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
 
1
2
3
 
4
5
The Auxiliary Meeting at 6pm
Social Meeting at 6:30pm
Hammond Rendezvous Weekend
6
Private Patio Party at 1pm
7
 
8
 
9
10
Private Book Club at 6pm
11
12
 
13
Poker Run & Dingy Raft Off
14
 
15
16
Board Meeting at 6:30pm
17
18
19
Last Open House!!
 
20
Air and Water Show
21
Air and Water Show
22
23
Private Party at 6pm
24
25
 
26
Private Party
27
The Auxiliary Paint Party!
Private Party
28
 
 
 
29
 
30
   31
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

September 2016


Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
 
 
 
 
1
2
Business
Meeting 6:30pm
3
Puff & Stuff Party
4
 
5
 
6
7
 
8
9
The Auxiliary Meeting 6pm
10
Large Private Wedding Party Patio and Dining Room
11
 
12
13
Board Meeting 6:30pm
14
15
16
 
17
Casino Night!
18
 
19
20
 
21
22
 
23
 
24
Private Party Patio
25
 
 
 
26
 
27
   28
 
       29
 
 
 
30
 
 
 
 
 

Club Hours In Season


BAR    Tuesday -Thursday & Sunday12pm-10pm
  Friday-Saturday    12pm-12am
 
DINING  Tuesday-Thursday & Sunday  12pm-9pm
   Friday-Saturday  12pm-10pm
                       Saturday & Sunday Breakfast  9am-12pm
 
TENDER SERVICE  Tuesday-Thursday  11am-9pm
                  Friday   11am-12am
                  Saturday  8am-12am
                Sunday  8am-10pm

*Reservations are Requested*

2016 Flag Officers               

Commodore~ Chris Edmonds           
Vice Commodore~ Scott Gordon     
Rear Commodore~ Steve Theis       
Secretary~ Bonnie Riordan                                             
Treasurer~ Phil Edwards                                                 

 2016 Board of Directors                                                              
  Two Year Director~ Tom O'Connell

  One Year Directors~ Algis Baliunas                                                                   ~ Brij Bharteey  
                               ~ Larry Harris
                               ~ Howard Jacobson
                               ~ Pam MacGregor
                               ~ Dr. Paul Stec
                               ~ Bill Van Emburg

Woman's Auxiliary~ Geri Lauric

Past Commodores~ Janet McCarthy
 ~ Charlie Martin