Commodore's Welcome: LYC's 115h Season Shining Bright on the Horizon

LYC's 115th season is shining bright on the horizon. For well over a century the Lavallette Yacht Club has been a wonderful place to enjoy sailing, power boating and spend time with family & friends during the spring, summer and fall on the Barnegat Peninsula. I am pleased to report that we are well-positioned for another successful year thanks to an army of club volunteers who have worked diligently throughout the off-season. Volunteerism continues to be the heart & soul of LYC. If you haven’t already volunteered, there will be many opportunities to do so throughout the season. Volunteering is a fine way to have fun, meet new friends and contribute to our club’s success.

The Board of Governors (BoG) has outstanding members dedicated to ensuring that the club thrives this year as well as into the future. They have provided the necessary guidance and oversight for all committees, and we are continuing to strengthen our financial planning and systems to optimize the budget.

Key programs are now ready for launch, including Sunday Series, Junior Sailing, and Adult Sailing. With the support of the BoG, the House Committee has spearheaded an upgrade to the kitchen and bar service which will improve productivity, cost-effectiveness, as well as improve the quality of the food & beverages offered. We are happy to announce that Gregg Forster is onboard as our Head Chef. Gregg has extensive experience in club settings, teaches culinary programs during the school year, and is excited to be joining the LYC staff. Many of the terrific Stewards from last season will again be returning. We have also engaged ADP to ensure that we comply with NJ state employment regulations and support our dedicated staff accordingly. We are introducing a new portable bar in the 2nd floor Commodores Lounge, which offers the most magnificent view of the bay.

Another exciting new development is our beautiful next generation website, an excellent source of real-time information. LYC Committee chairs can post volunteer requests and sailboat captains can advertise when they need crew. In turn, members can respond online to these requests. Sailing documents and schedules, entertainment schedules, info on how to support environmental & community organizations (e.g. Save Barnegat Bay, Habitat for Humanity), info on theme nights and other club activities are now easier than ever to review. If you have not already done so, please take a moment or two to visit the site and familiarize yourself with the wealth of online photos and other offerings. Also, please ensure that your contact info is kept up-to-date via the website's member portal.

New this season will be the LYC “Can” Help the Hungry program. Look for marked bins to deposit your (unexpired) canned items which will be periodically donated to local food banks. Food-insecurity is most critical in the summer when schools are not in session, when needy children do not receive free breakfasts and lunches. Food pantries rely on donation support more than ever during summer months.

The Planning Committee has made great progress formulating several options for further consideration. Once again, the Buildings & Grounds Committees are working hard to maintain and enhance the club environment.

The Hut is being transformed to fully-leverage online store capabilities. Phase I is now ready for implementation. This phase will provide real-time inventory, allow for the display of merchandise online, as well as enable POS / credit card purchases. (Depending on the success of Phase I, a second phase may be activated during the season. Phase II will enable items to be ordered online, with purchased items to be picked up when you next visit the club.)

It is a great privilege for me to serve as your Commodore, working in partnership with fellow Flag Officers, Past Commodores, Trustees, Treasurer, and Secretary. It is my pleasure to continue to ensure an enjoyable club experience for all members and their guests this season, keeping an eye toward the future success of LYC. I encourage all to take advantage of the fantastic opportunities available through the best club on the bay, LYC. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

Warmest regards,

George Anderson

Commodore