From: "Robertson, Eric" To: Subject: [Memberslist] It's time to go Date: 22 February 2008 10:55 Dear Members, As most of you will know after 14 years of Committee (Social, Rescue, Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore and then Commodore) I step down today (Friday) at the AGM as Commodore handing over the reigns of this wonderful Club to Alastair Skinner. I have enjoyed this time making many friends and acquaintances from all over the world. My first big job was running the Social programme for the 1995 Topper Nationals and my last hosting the 2007 Topper Nationals, which involved countless meetings, emails, spreadsheets pleas for help etc. >From my memory in between these events we have run some 9 National Competitions and countless Scottish Championships and travellers. Due to the excellent way you as members have run these events we have a great reputation and have 6 Nationals booked in and two more in the wings desperate to come and sail on our waters (thanks to Jim Sinclair and all the various volunteer teams of race, rescue, shore and catering and bar officials and helpers) . The club itself has grown from around 180 members to nearly 500, and as you know thanks to the efforts of past committees and steering groups we have a wonderful clubhouse (Thanks Gerry, Bruce, John, Geoff and many others). The equipment now is truly wonderful, when I was Rescue Officer we had 1 diesel Launch an Avon RIB and a plastic speedboat. We now have 4 RIBs all in superb condition, and a Tractor to tow them up the beach (have I mentioned my Hernia Operation!). The sail training fleet has also grown from Toppers only, to the present great mix of Laser 2000's (5), Lasers (5), Toppers (10) and the Dart 16, again thanks to the funding efforts of individual members (thanks Bruce). Training itself has settled into a great asset of the club making a profit, employing local talent and helping the membership to grow (thanks Jane and Team). We as a club have been awarded the RYA Scotland Club of the Year award 2007 and just last month received an award from the East Lothian Chamber of Commerce for training youngsters and boosting tourism. Individual receiving awards include ; Jane Robertson; RYA Lifetime achievement award, Ben Wilcox RYA Scotland young Sailor of the year and over the years many of our youngsters have featured in the Scottish and British Sailing Squads. There have been times when the stress has had to be hidden but overall it has been an amazing experience. Catering has now settled down with Vicky at the helm, if you have not yet enjoyed lunch at the club on a Saturday you are missing a real treat. I would like to thank everyone who has supported my ambitious schemes and wish the new committee the very best, I trust you will continue to support them, as volunteers they have a lot of work. If you are coming along on Friday night I will see you there, if not I have no doubt you will see me at the club. Eric Eric Robertson Commodore (Retiring) East Lothian Yacht Club www.elyc.org.uk (M) 07960 521849