AGM Meeting, March 11, 2025, Commodore’s Report

As I wind up my final year as Commodore, I’m pleased to leave the Hope Town Sailing Club in

excellent condition and capable hands. The 2024-25 season has been active and exciting, a

season that continued our remarkable post-Dorian recovery and growth. I will summarize these

accomplishments here but leave it to the Executive Committee chairs to report in detail.

I appreciate the unflagging support of Vice Commodore, John Barr, who provided backup for me

during my recovery from surgery. John also spearheaded several important projects, including

volunteering to head the ad hoc By-Laws Committee and the team that procured and installed a

satellite communication and weather station in the Club.

Under membership chair, Linda Brodie, membership has steadily increased. We are excited by the

enthusiasm shown by existing members who “talk up” the club and have been sponsoring new

members at record rates. Thanks to Linda, the membership application process has been

streamlined applications are approved for posting and voted upon on a rolling basis, so no

applicants have to wait more than thirty days for final approval. Linda is “retiring”, and we are

grateful that Carol Condon has agreed to fill this important position.

Weekly standups have been well-attended and have attracted record numbers of members and

guests, with the club house almost bursting with partygoers during “high season.” Members who

hosted standups have outdone themselves with delicious snacks. Ably assisted by Cindy Todd,

Kim Stoltz and other volunteers, House Chair Nancy Rowell has capably organized over 23 social

events. Sadly, Nancy is stepping down from this position, so HTSC is presently looking for an

events coordinator to manage our social functions.

I am pleased to report that the sailing program has been rejuvenated under the competent

leadership of Vice Commodore, John Barr. Race Committee Chair, Scott Collinson—whose motto

is: No boat, no problem. No crew, no problem—has organized several successful, well-attended

races and introduced exciting new ones such as Small Boat Sunday. Scott has also encouraged

member acquisition of three J-22s and reached out to other sailing organizations, such as

affiliation with the Bahamas Sailing Association and providing support for the first annual Abaco

Cruisers Regatta.

Assistant Fleet Captain, Scott St. Clair, hosted popular group cruises—to Tahiti Beach and Guana Cay,

for example—where a good time was had by all.

We are grateful for the contributions that the Treasurer, Monica MacKinnon, made to the club,

providing comprehensive reports, graphs, and charts and for facilitating the turnover of the

Treasurer’s function to the incoming Treasurer, Barry Thomas. Over the summer, Assistant

Treasurer, Barry Talley, was added as an authorized signee to the Club’s U.S. Truist bank account

with members Charlie and Kim Stoltz as backups. We welcome Barry Thomas, who will be fully

authorized later in April when he returns to the States.

Thanks to Vicky Fuger, Secretary, for taking official minutes of our EC meetings. As Vicky is

stepping down, HTSC is looking for someone to fill this position.

Thanks also go to Rear Commodore, Eric Patterson, who we can count on to provide valuable

advice based on extensive “local knowledge.” We also appreciate the insight provided by Past

Commodore, David Hanafourde—a member since 2008—who is serving his final year on the

Executive Committee. As his last assignment, David ably chaired the Nominating Committee for

2025-26 Officers.

David Fuger and Bill Hand looked after the physical condition of the Club Thank you! Next year,

Bill Hand will take the lead as B&G Chair.

We are delighted with the contribution Quartermaster Lynn Hand has made to the Club—we now

have an online store where members can purchase Club “merch” in advance and pay for it by

credit card. Lynn has been working with local vendors such as Sara Knowles to order baseball

caps, hoodies and other win-win merchandise for everyone.

Kudos to joint webmasters, Glenn and Linda Brodie, whose expertise has allowed for automation

of essential club functions, such as membership records, the online payment of dues/donations,

etc., as well as registering for events. Linda also produced the attractive HTSC directory.

The Club is devastated by the sudden loss on February 21 of Commodore at Large, Will Heyer, who

had been a Hope Town “Harbour Rat,” Cruisers’ Net Anchor, and all-around Good Samaritan since

2006. Our annual picnic on March 28 will be a birthday celebration in Will’s honor. Will would have

turned 73 on the day before.

A huge shout-out to the By-Laws Committee—John Barr, Monica MacKinnon, Scott Collinson, and

Linda Brodie, who worked tirelessly over the past year on a long-overdue, comprehensive revision

of our By-Laws. We hope you, too, approve.

Finally, as immediate Past Commodore Don Meinhold will report in more detail, working with an

attorney in Nassau, the Club has recovered copies of all the deeds, titles and other legal

documents that were lost when our safety deposit box in Marsh Harbour was inundated by Dorian.

We now have confirmation of our non-profit status and have set up our required annual reporting

as a non-profit through Nassau counsel.

Respectfully submitted,

Marcia Talley, Commodore

AGM Report 3/11/25